Act III, Scenes 3-4: Pomfret and Hastings' Execution — Richard III

At Pomfret, Ratcliffe leads Rivers, Grey, and Vaughan to execution. Rivers names the castle a bloody prison where Richard II was hacked to death. Grey says Margaret's curse has fallen on their heads for standing by when Richard stabbed her son. They embrace and go to heaven together, prophecy fulfilled in plain sight.

At the Tower council the lords set the coronation day. Hastings says Richard knows and loves him well. Richard arrives cheerful, sends Ely for strawberries, and withdraws with Buckingham, who reports Catesby's test: Hastings will lose his head before he crowns Richard's nephew. When Richard returns he asks what conspirators deserve. Hastings eagerly says death. Richard shows his withered arm and claims Elizabeth and Shore bewitched it. Hastings says only if they have done this deed. Richard seizes the word if, calls him traitor, and orders his head off before dinner.

Lovell and Ratcliffe stay with Hastings. He names Stanley's boar dream, his horse stumbling thrice, and his triumph over the Pomfret deaths as the warnings he scorned. Margaret's curse lands on him now. He speaks of momentary grace of mortal men, prophesies the fearfullest time for England, and goes to the block while Richard's allies smile.