Act V, Scene 3 (cont.): The Ghosts & Richard's Conscience — Richard III

Richard and Richmond sleep while the dead arrive in order. Prince Edward, Henry VI, Clarence, Rivers, Grey, Vaughan, Hastings, the smothered princes, Anne, and Buckingham each tell Richard to despair and die, then bless Richmond with cheer, angels, or victory. Buckingham's ghost closes the parade: the first helped Richard to the crown, the last felt his tyranny, and God and good angels fight on Richmond's side.

Richard starts from the dream crying give me another horse and have mercy Jesu, then insists it was only a dream. Conscience afflicts him anyway. He asks whether he fears himself, whether Richard loves Richard, whether a murderer is here, and answers yes to his own trap. He calls himself villain, hears a thousand several tongues condemning him for perjury and murder, and concludes no creature loves him and he finds no pity in himself.

Ratcliffe enters at cock-crow saying friends buckle on armour. Richard says O Ratcliffe, I fear, I fear, and tells him not to be afraid of shadows. Then he confesses by the Apostle Paul that shadows tonight have struck more terror to his soul than ten thousand soldiers armed in proof. He will play the eavesdropper under the tents to hear if any mean to shrink from him.