Richard stews in inner turmoil as Edward celebrates the Yorkist victory and George jockeys for position. When the question of the captive Henry's fate is raised, Richard is forced to make an irrevocable choice.
As Edward lay bound and sobbing,
I took my sword to his neck and--
Ich habe den unansehnlichen Hals
des in Tränen gefesselten Edwards …
J’ai plongé ma lame dans le cou
d’un Édouard sanglotant.
Edward era legato e si dimenava piangendo. 
Quando gli ho tagliato quella testa indegna,
Enquanto Edward
estava amarrado e soluçando,
Я приставил кинжал к его горлу,
пока он молил о пощаде.