Now, noble peers, the cause why we are met
Is to determine of the coronation.
In God’s name speak. When is the royal day?
Now, noble peers, we meet here to settle the question of the coronation. In God's name, tell us—when is the royal day?
Alright, everybody, we're here to decide when the coronation happens. When should it be?
we're here to set the coronation date when is it?
Is all things ready for that royal time?
Is everything prepared for that royal occasion?
Is everything ready?
everything ready?
It is, and wants but nomination.
It is, and needs only formal nomination.
Yeah, all set. Just needs the official announcement.
yes just needs the nomination
Tomorrow, then, I judge a happy day.
Tomorrow, then, I judge would be a happy day.
Tomorrow sounds good to me.
tomorrow would be perfect
Who knows the Lord Protector’s mind herein?
Who is most inward with the noble Duke?
Who knows the Lord Protector's mind in this matter? Who is closest to the Duke?
Does anyone know what Richard actually thinks? Who's closest to him?
who knows what richard really wants?
Your Grace, we think, should soonest know his mind.
Your Grace, I imagine, should best know his mind.
I think you'd know better than anyone, my lord.
you probably know best
We know each other’s faces; for our hearts,
He knows no more of mine than I of yours,
Or I of his, my lord, than you of mine.
Lord Hastings, you and he are near in love.
We know each other's faces well, but for our hearts—he knows no more of mine than I know of his, or I of yours, than you know of mine. Lord Hastings, you and he are close in affection.
We see each other's faces, but as for what's in our hearts—nobody really knows anybody else's mind. Hastings, you're close to Richard, right?
we see faces not hearts hastings you're close to richard
I thank his Grace, I know he loves me well;
But for his purpose in the coronation
I have not sounded him, nor he delivered
His gracious pleasure any way therein.
But you, my honourable lords, may name the time,
And in the Duke’s behalf I’ll give my voice,
Which I presume he’ll take in gentle part.
I thank his Grace—I know he loves me well. But about his intentions for the coronation, I haven't asked him, nor has he told me his pleasure in the matter. But you, my honorable lords, can name the time. On the Duke's behalf, I'll give my voice, which I'm sure he'll accept graciously.
I appreciate that—he does care for me. But honestly, I haven't asked him about the coronation and he hasn't told me anything. You guys can pick the date. I'll vote for it in his name, and I'm sure he'll be fine with it.
he loves me but i haven't asked him about coronation you can choose i'll vote for it in his name
The strawberry request is one of Shakespeare's most studied dramatic devices. Richard arrives at a meeting where a man is about to be condemned and executed — and he asks for fruit. The social grace serves multiple purposes: it sends Ely away so Richard can brief Buckingham in private without a witness; it establishes Richard as a pleasant, domestically interested person before the explosion; and it creates the tonal contrast that makes the scene's violence so shocking. Directors have used the strawberries in countless ways — some have Richard return eating them during the accusation. The device teaches a lesson about power: the most dangerous people in a room are often the most socially charming. The pleasantness isn't a mask over the violence; it's the delivery mechanism for it. Richard is at his most dangerous when he's being delightful.
In happy time, here comes the Duke himself.
Good fortune brings him here—the Duke comes now himself.
Perfect timing—here he is now.
here he comes
My noble lords and cousins all, good morrow.
I have been long a sleeper; but I trust
My absence doth neglect no great design
Which by my presence might have been concluded.
My noble lords and cousins, good morning. I've been a long sleeper, but I trust my absence hasn't prevented any important business that my presence might have concluded.
Good morning, everybody. Sorry I'm late—I was sleeping in. But I don't think I missed anything critical, right?
good morning sorry i'm late i was sleeping did i miss anything important?
Had you not come upon your cue, my lord,
William Lord Hastings had pronounced your part—
I mean your voice for crowning of the King.
If you hadn't come exactly now, my lord, William, Lord Hastings, would have given your position—I mean, spoken your voice for the King's coronation.
If you hadn't shown up right now, Hastings would've voted for you on the coronation decision.
hastings was about to vote for you
Than my Lord Hastings no man might be bolder.
His lordship knows me well and loves me well.
My lord of Ely, when I was last in Holborn
I saw good strawberries in your garden there;
I do beseech you, send for some of them.
No man could be bolder or more loyal than my Lord Hastings. His lordship knows me well and loves me dearly. My lord of Ely, when I was last in Holborn, I saw beautiful strawberries in your garden there. I beg you, send for some of them.
Nobody's more loyal than Hastings. He knows me and likes me. Ely, I remember seeing great strawberries in your garden in Holborn last time. Can you send for some?
hastings is loyal and bold ely, i remember your strawberries in holborn send for some?
Marry, and will, my lord, with all my heart.
Yes, and I will, my lord, with all my heart.
Of course, my lord. I'll send for them right now.
yes right away
Cousin of Buckingham, a word with you.
Cousin of Buckingham, I need a word with you.
Buckingham, can I talk to you for a minute?
buckingham private word
Lord Hastings is not stupid, not cowardly, not without warning. He has four warnings in a single morning, each more explicit than the last. He ignores them all. Shakespeare is not suggesting Hastings is a fool — he's showing how self-confidence becomes self-destruction. Hastings has survived the complex politics of Edward IV's reign for decades. He is experienced. His confidence isn't irrational; it's earned from a long career of successfully reading political situations. The tragedy is that this experience is exactly wrong for Richard. The old rules — loyalty protects you, friendship counts, service earns safety — don't apply. Richard operates outside every rule Hastings knows. Hastings' final speech is his recognition of this: 'O momentary grace of mortal men / Which we more hunt for than the grace of God.' He's not condemning Richard. He's condemning the system of political dependence he's spent his life perfecting.
Withdraw yourself awhile. I’ll go with you.
Excuse yourself for a moment. I'll come with you.
Come on, let's talk outside.
let's go private
We have not yet set down this day of triumph.
Tomorrow, in my judgement, is too sudden,
For I myself am not so well provided
As else I would be, were the day prolonged.
We haven't yet set down this day of triumph. Tomorrow seems too sudden to me, for I myself am not adequately prepared—I would prefer if the day were postponed.
We haven't decided on the actual coronation day yet. Tomorrow is too fast. I'm not ready—can we push it back?
we haven't set the date tomorrow is too soon i need more time
Where is my lord the Duke of Gloucester?
I have sent for these strawberries.
Where is the Duke of Gloucester? I sent for those strawberries for him.
Where is Richard? I sent for the strawberries he asked for.
where's richard? i sent for the strawberries
His Grace looks cheerfully and smooth this morning.
There’s some conceit or other likes him well
When that he bids good morrow with such spirit.
I think there’s never a man in Christendom
Can lesser hide his love or hate than he,
For by his face straight shall you know his heart.
His Grace looks cheerful and smooth-faced this morning. There's something that pleases him well, when he greets us so good-naturedly. I think there's never a man in Christendom who can hide his love or hate less than he can—by his face you will straight know his heart.
Richard looks happy and calm this morning. Something's making him pleased. I swear, I've never seen a man whose face shows his feelings more clearly than his. Just look at him and you'll know exactly what he's thinking.
he looks cheerful contented he can't hide how he feels his face shows everything
What of his heart perceive you in his face
By any livelihood he showed today?
What of his heart do you perceive from his face? What does his expression today suggest?
What's he feeling right now? Can you read it from his face?
what does his face tell you? what's he feeling?
Marry, that with no man here he is offended,
For were he, he had shown it in his looks.
He seems content—he's offended with no man here, for if he were offended, he would show it in his expression.
He's happy. If anything was bothering him, it would show on his face.
he's fine nothing bothers him it would show
The council meeting and Hastings' execution are among the most historically documented moments in Shakespeare's history plays. The primary source is Thomas More's History of King Richard III, written under Henry VIII's patronage. More describes Richard's sudden anger, the witchcraft accusation, the display of the withered arm, and the immediate execution with unusual vividness — he claims to have spoken with participants. The historical Hastings was indeed executed on 13 June 1483, apparently without a formal trial. Contemporary accounts describe the council meeting, the accusation of witchcraft involving the Queen and Jane Shore, and the immediate execution in the Tower gardens. Shakespeare follows More closely. The historical detail that More adds — and Shakespeare uses — is Richard's comment about not dining until he saw Hastings' head: a tidbit so specific it either comes from a genuine witness or is More's invention. The historical Jane Shore was later prosecuted for sorcery under Richard's orders and made to do public penance. The question of whether More's account is itself propaganda for the Tudors has been debated for five centuries.
I pray you all, tell me what they deserve
That do conspire my death with devilish plots
Of damned witchcraft, and that have prevailed
Upon my body with their hellish charms?
I pray you all, tell me: what do those deserve who conspire my death with devilish witchcraft plots and have attacked my body with their hellish charms?
I want to know: what should happen to people who are plotting to kill me using witchcraft?
what do people deserve who plot my death with witchcraft?
The tender love I bear your Grace, my lord,
Makes me most forward in this princely presence
To doom th’ offenders, whosoe’er they be.
I say, my lord, they have deserved death.
The love I bear your Grace, my lord, makes me eager in your presence to condemn the offenders, whoever they may be. I say they deserve death.
My lord, I love you and I want them dead—whoever they are.
they deserve death whoever they are
Then be your eyes the witness of their evil.
Look how I am bewitched! Behold, mine arm
Is like a blasted sapling withered up!
And this is Edward’s wife, that monstrous witch,
Consorted with that harlot, strumpet Shore,
That by their witchcraft thus have marked me.
Then let your eyes be witness to their evil. See how I am bewitched! Behold my arm—it's withered like a blasted tree! This is Edward's wife, that monstrous witch, working with that harlot Mistress Shore. By their witchcraft they've marked me like this.
Look at my arm—it's withered. That's their witchcraft. Edward's wife—the Queen—and that whore Jane Shore did this to me.
look at my arm withered bewitched by the queen and jane shore
If they have done this deed, my noble lord—
If they have truly done this deed, my noble lord—
If they actually did this, my lord—
if...
If? Thou protector of this damned strumpet,
Talk’st thou to me of “ifs”? Thou art a traitor.
Off with his head! Now by Saint Paul I swear
I will not dine until I see the same.
Lovell and Ratcliffe, look that it be done.
The rest that love me, rise and follow me.
If? You protector of this damned whore! You dare say 'if' to me? You are a traitor. Off with his head! By Saint Paul I swear I will not eat until I see it. Lovell and Ratcliffe, make sure it's done. The rest of you who love me, rise and follow me.
If? You're defending that whore? You're a traitor. Cut off his head! By God, I'm not eating until I see it. Lovell, Ratcliffe—do it now. Everybody else who's with me, let's go.
if? traitor off with his head i won't eat until he's dead come with me
Woe, woe, for England! Not a whit for me,
For I, too fond, might have prevented this.
Stanley did dream the boar did raze his helm,
And I did scorn it and disdain to fly.
Three times today my foot-cloth horse did stumble,
And started when he looked upon the Tower,
As loath to bear me to the slaughter-house.
O, now I need the priest that spake to me;
I now repent I told the pursuivant,
As too triumphing, how mine enemies
Today at Pomfret bloodily were butchered,
And I myself secure in grace and favour.
O Margaret, Margaret, now thy heavy curse
Is lighted on poor Hastings’ wretched head.
Woe, woe for England! Not for myself—I could have prevented this if I hadn't been so fond of certainty. Stanley dreamed the boar would tear his helmet off, and I scorned it and was too arrogant to flee. Three times today my horse stumbled, and startled at the Tower, as if unwilling to carry me to slaughter. Now I need the priest who spoke to me—I regret now I told the Pursuivant so triumphantly how my enemies were butchered at Pomfret today, and I myself secure in grace. Oh Margaret, oh Margaret, your heavy curse has fallen on poor Hastings' wretched head!
This is terrible for England. For me, though—I'm an idiot. I could have gotten away. Stanley dreamed about the boar and warned me, I laughed at him. My horse refused the Tower twice. Now I need that priest I blew off. I was bragging to that guy about how safe I was while my enemies were dying. Margaret cursed me and it came true.
woe for england i ignored every warning stanley's dream my horse refused the priest i dismissed my boasting margaret's curse has fallen
Come, come, dispatch. The Duke would be at dinner:
Make a short shrift. He longs to see your head.
Come, come, hurry up. The Duke is waiting for dinner. Make a quick confession. He longs to see your head.
Let's go. The Duke wants to eat. Say your prayers quick. He's in a hurry to see you dead.
move the duke wants dinner say a quick prayer he wants your head
O momentary grace of mortal men,
Which we more hunt for than the grace of God!
Who builds his hope in air of your good looks
Lives like a drunken sailor on a mast,
Ready with every nod to tumble down
Into the fatal bowels of the deep.
Oh, the fleeting grace of mortal men—we hunt it more than the grace of God! Whoever builds his hope on the breath of your good looks lives like a drunken sailor balanced on a mast, ready with every nod to tumble down into the fatal depths below.
We chase power and favor more than God himself. Anyone who depends on a powerful person's approval is like a drunk sailor on a rope—one little gesture and he falls into the ocean.
we hunt political favor more than god's grace it's like being a drunken sailor on a mast one gesture and you fall
Come, come, dispatch. ’Tis bootless to exclaim.
Come, come, hurry up. It's pointless to protest.
Let's go. There's no point talking.
come it's pointless
O bloody Richard! Miserable England,
I prophesy the fearfull’st time to thee
That ever wretched age hath looked upon.
Come, lead me to the block. Bear him my head.
They smile at me who shortly shall be dead.
Oh bloody Richard! Miserable England—I prophesy the most fearful time that ever a wretched age has looked upon. Come, lead me to the block. Take my head to show him. Those who smile at me will soon be dead.
Richard the murderer. England's done for. This is the worst thing that's ever going to happen. I'm ready. Those guys who are smiling now—they're going to die for this.
bloody richard miserable england fear full times coming those smiling now will be dead soon
The Reckoning
[object Object]
If this happened today…
A board meeting where the executive you've been warned about arrives late with coffee and a compliment about your garden, then steps out for a sidebar. You tell your colleagues he seems like a transparent, easy-to-read person — you'd know if anything was wrong. He comes back ten minutes later, slams down a folder, and says the legal team has discovered that several board members have been engaged in fraud against the company. He turns to you and says: someone who has been defending these criminals is clearly a co-conspirator. You start to say 'if there's evidence—' and he says: 'If? You're fired, and the police are already outside.' You walk out through the building you walked into an hour earlier thinking you ran the place.