SALISBURY
. . .
Discomfort guides my tongue,
And bids me speak of nothing but despair.
One day too late I fear me, noble lord,
Hath clouded all thy happy days on earth.
O call back yesterday, bid time return,
And thou shalt have twelve thousand fighting men.
. . .

In this moment from Shakespeare’s Richard II, Salisbury delivers a sobering dose of reality to Richard. The lines poignantly capture the futility of clinging to past glories when faced with present crises. Salisbury’s statement, "O call back yesterday, bid time return," underscores the irrevocable nature of time and lost opportunities. He laments that had Richard been more timely, he would have commanded a formidable force of twelve thousand men. The imagery of trying to "call back yesterday" emphasizes Richard's disconnect from the present and his failure to act decisively. This sentiment reflects the broader theme of the play, where Richard’s inability to navigate the political landscape leads to his downfall. Salisbury’s report shatters Richard’s illusion of divine support and highlights the stark contrast between Richard's idealism and the harsh reality that now surrounds him.