Richard III War Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Act.Scene.Line). Line numbers correspond to the Norton edition.

Quote #10

O, now, let Richmond and Elizabeth,
The true succeeders of each royal house,
By God's fair ordinance conjoin together!
And let their heirs – God, if thy will be so –
Enrich the time to come with smooth-faced peace,
With smiling plenty and fair prosperous days! (5.8.3)

By defeating Richard and marrying Young Elizabeth (a Yorkist), Henry VII (a Lancastrian) has put an end to 14 years of civil war. Hooray!

P.S. Did you notice how Henry uses the phrase "smooth-faced peace" to describe England's tranquility?  Remember how Richard used the same imagery in his opening speech back at 1.1.1.  Why do you think Shakespeare circles back to this idea?