Ah, sirs, consider, he, that set you on To do this deed, will hate you for the deed. 2 Murd. What shall we do? Relent, and save your souls. Clar. 1 Murd. Relent! 'tis cowardly, and womanish. Clar. Not to relent, is beastly, savage, devilish.Which of you, if you were a prince's son, Being pent* from liberty, as I am now, If two such murderers as yourselves came to you,- My friend, I spy some pity in thy looks; Come thou on my side, and entreat for me, 1 Murd. Take that, and that; if all this will not [Stabs him. I'll drown you in the malmsey-butt within. do, [Exit with the body. 2 Murd. A bloody deed, and desperately des patch'd! How fain, like Pilate, would I wash my hands Re-enter first Murderer. 1 Murd. How now? what mean'st thou, that thou help'st me not? By heaven, the duke shall know how slack you have been. 2 Murd. I would he knew, that I had sav'd his brother! Take thou the fee, and tell him what I say; For I repent me that the duke is slain. [Exit. 1 Murd. So do not I; go, coward, as thou art. Well, I'll go hide the body in some hole, For this will out, and then I must not stay. [Exit. * Shut up. ACT II. SCENE I. The same. A room in the palace. Enter King Edward, (led in sick,) Queen Elizabeth, Dorset, Rivers, Hastings, Buckingham, Grey, and others. K. Edw. Why, so:-now have I done a good day's work ; You peers, continue this united league: From my Redeemer to redeem me hence; Riv. By heaven, my soul is purg'd from grudging hate; And with my hand I seal my true heart's love. Lest he, that is the supreme King of kings, Hast. So prosper I, as I swear perfect love! Q. Eliz. There, Hastings; I will never more remember Our former hatred, so thrive I, and mine! K. Edw. Dorset, embrace him,-Hastings, love lord marquis. Dor. This interchange of love, I here protest, Upon my part shall be inviolable. Hast. And so swear I. [Embraces Dorset. K. Edw. Now, princely Buckingham, seal thou this league With thy embracements to my wife's allies, Buck. Whenever Buckingham doth turn his hate Upon your grace, [To the Queen.] but with all duteous love Doth cherish you, and yours, God punish me [Embracing Rivers, &c. K. Edw. A pleasing cordial, princely Buckingham, Is this thy vow unto my sickly heart. There wanteth now our brother Gloster here, Buck. And in good time, here comes the noble duke. Enter Gloster. Glo. Good-morrow to my sovereign king, and queen; And, princely peers, a happy time of day! K. Edw. Happy, indeed, as we have spent the day : Brother, we have done deeds of charity; peers. Glo. A blessed labour, my most sovereign liege.— Among this princely heap, if any here, By false intelligence, or wrong surmise, Hold me a foe; If I unwittingly, or in my rage, Have aught committed that is hardly borne I hate it, and desire all good men's love.- Which I will purchase with my duteous service ;- If ever any grudge were lodg'd between us ;- Q. Eliz. A holy-day shall this be kept hereafter:- Glo. Why, madam, have I offer'd love for this, To be so flouted in this royal presence? Who knows not, that the gentle duke is dead? [They all start. You do him injury, to scorn his corse. K. Edw. Who knows not, he is dead! who knows he is? Q. Eliz. All-seeing heaven, what a world is this! Buck. Look I so pale, lord Dorset, as the rest? Dor. Ay, my good lord; and no man in the pre sence, But his red colour hath forsook his checks. K. Edw. Is Clarence dead? the order was revers'd. Glo. But he, poor man, by your first order died, And that a winged Mercury did bear; Some tardy cripple bore the countermand, That came too lag to see him buried :— God grant, that some, less noble, and less loyal, Nearer in bloody thoughts, and not in blood, Deserve not worse than wretched Clarence did, And yet go current from suspicion. Enter Stanley. Stan. A boon, my sovereign, for my service done! K. Edw. I pr'ythee, peace; my soul is full of sor row. Stan. I will not rise, unless your highness hear me. K. Edw. Then say at once, what is it thou request'st. Stan. The forfeit, sovereign, of my servant's life; Who slew to-day a riotous gentleman, Lately attendant on the duke of Norfolk. K. Edw. Have I a tongue to doom my brother's death, And shall that tongue give pardon to a slave? You straight are on your knees for pardon, pardon; For him, poor soul. The proudest of you all |