Page:Richard III (1927) Yale.djvu/79

Richard the Third, III. ii

Mess. Upon the stroke of four.

Hast. Cannot my Lord Stanley sleep these tedious nights?

Mess. So it appears by that I have to say.

First, he commends him to your noble self.

Hast. What then?

Mess. Then certifies your lordship, that this night

He dreamt the boar had rased off his helm:

Besides, he says there are two councils kept;

And that may be determin'd at the one

Which may make you and him to rue at th' other.

Therefore he sends to know your lordship's pleasure,

If you will presently take horse with him,

And with all speed post with him toward the north,

To shun the danger that his soul divines.

Hast. Go, fellow, go, return unto thy lord;

Bid him not fear the separated council:

His honour and myself are at the one,

And at the other is my good friend Catesby;

Where nothing can proceed that toucheth us

Whereof I shall not have intelligence.

Tell him his fears are shallow, without instance:

And for his dreams, I wonder he's so simple

To trust the mockery of unquiet slumbers.

To fly the boar before the boar pursues,

Were to incense the boar to follow us

And make pursuit where he did mean no chase.

Go, bid thy master rise and come to me;

And we will both together to the Tower,

Where, he shall see, the boar will use us kindly.

 5 stroke of four; cf. n.

10 certifies: informs

11 boar: i.e. Richard

rased: torn

20 separated council; cf. n.

25 instance: cause, motive

26 his dreams; cf. n.

27 To: as to

