To be revenged on Rivers, Vanghan, Grey: With old odd ends, stolen forth of holy writ; Enter two MURDERERS. But soft, here come my executioners.-- 1 Murd. We are, my lord; and come to have thie warrant, That we may be admitted where he is. Glo. Well thought upon, I have it here about me: [Gives the Warrant. When you have done, repair to Crosby-place. But, Sirs, be sudden in the execution, Withal obdurate, do not hear him plead; For Clarence is well spoken, and, perhaps, May move your hearts to pity, if you mark him. 1 Murd. Tat, tut, my lord, we will not stand to prate, Talkers are no good doers; be assured, We go to use our hands, and not our tongues. Glo. Your eyes drop mill-stones, when fools' eyes drop tears: I like you, lads;-About your business straight; 1 Murd. We will, my noble lord. [Exeunt. SCENE IV.-The same.-A Room in the Tower. Enter CLARENCE and BRAKENRURY. Brak. Why looks your grace so heavily to-day? Though 'twere to buy a world of happy days; Brak. What was your dream, my lord? I pray you, tell me? Clar. Methought, that I had broken from the And was embark'd to cross to Burgundy; Upon the hatches; thence we look'd toward England, And cited up a thousand heavy times, Some lay in dead men's skulls; and, in those holes Clar. Methought, I had; and often did I strive Brak. Awaked you not with this sore agony? The first that there did greet my stranger soul, • Body. Environ'd me, and howled in mine ears Brak. No marvel, lord, though it affrighted you; I am afraid, methinks, to hear you tell it. Clar. O, Brakenbury, I have done these things,That now give evidence against my soul,For Edward's sake; and, see, how he requites me! O God! if my deep prayers cannot appease thee, O, spare my guiltless wife, and my poor children {— Brak. I will, my lord; God give your grace good [Clarence reposes himself on rest! a Chair. " Sorrow breaks seasons, and reposing hours, night. Princes have but their titles for their glories, They often feel a world of restless cares: Enter the Two MURDERERS. 1 Murd. Ho! who's here? Brak. What wouldst thou, fellow? And how camest thou hither? 1 Murd. I would speak with Clarence, and I came hither on my legs. Brak. What, so brief? 2 Murd. O, Sir, "tis better to be brief, than tedious: Let him see our commission; talk no more. [A Paper is delivered to Brakenbury, who reads it. Brak. I am, in this, commanded to deliver 1 Murd. You may, Sir; 'tis a point of wisdom: Fare you well. [Exit Brakenbury. 2 Murd. What, shall we stab him as he sleeps? 1 Murd. No; he'll say, 'twas done cowardly, when he wakes. 2 Murd. When he wakes! Why, fool, he shall never wake until the great judgment day. 1 Murd. Why, then he'll say, we stabb'd him sleeping. 2 Murd. The urging of that word, judgment, bath bred a kind of remorse in me. 1 Murd. What? Art thou afraid? 2 Murd. Not to kill him, having a warrant for it; but to be damn'd for killing him, from the which no warrant can defend me. 1 Murd. I thought, thou hadst been resolute. 2 Murd. So I am, to let him live. 1 Murd. I'll back to the duke of Gloster, and tell him so. 2 Murd. Nay, I pr'ythee, stay a little: I hope, this holy humour of mine will change; it was wont to hold me but while one would tell twenty. 1 Murd. How dost thou feel thyself now? 2 Murd. 'Faith, some certain dregs of conscience are yet within me. 1 Murd. Remember our reward, when the deed's done. 2 Murd. Come, he dies; I had forgot the reward. 1 Murd. Where's thy conscience now? 2 Murd. In the duke of Gloster's purse. 1 Murd. So, when he opens his purse to give us our reward, thy conscience flies out. 2 Murd. 'Tis no matter; let it go; there's few, or noue, will entertain it. 1 Murd. What, if it come to thee again? 2 Murd. I'll not meddle with it, it is a dangerous thing, it makes a man a coward; a man cannot steal, but it accuseth him; a man cannot swear, but it checks him; a man cannot lie with his neighbour's wife, but it detects him: 'tis a blushing shame-faced spirit, that mutinies in a man's bosom; it fills one full of obstacles: it made me once re store a purse of gold, that by chance I found it beggars any man that keeps it: it is turn'd out of all towns and cities for a dangerous thing; and every man, that means to live well, endeavours to trust to himself, and live without it. 1 Murd. 'Zounds, it is even now at my elbow, persuading me to kill the duke. 2 Murd. Take the devil in thy mind, and believe him not he would insinuate with thee, but to make thee sigh. 1 Murd. I am strong-framed, he cannot prevail with me. 2 Murd. Spoke like a tall fellow, that respects his reputation. Come, shall we fall to work?, 1 Murd. Take him over the costard with the hilts of thy sword, and then throw him into the malmsey-butt, in the next room. 2 Murd. O excellent device! and make a sop of him. 1.Murd. Soft! he wakes. 2 Murd. Strike. 1 Murd. No, we'll reason with him. Clar. Where art thou, keeper? Give me a cup of wine. 1 Murd. You shall have wine enough, my lord, anon. Clar. In God's name, what art thou? 1 Murd. Nor you, as we are, loyal. Clar. Thy voice is thunder, but thy looks are humble. 1 Murd. My voice is now the king's, my looks mine own. Clar. How darkly, and how deadly dost thou speak! Your eyes do menace me: Why look you pale! Who sent you hither? Wherefore do you come ! Both Murd. To, to, to, Clar. To murder me? Both Murd. Ay, ay. Clar. You scarcely have the hearts to tell me so, And therefore cannot have the hearts to do it. Wherein, my friends, have I offended you! 1 Murd. Offended us you have not, but the king. Clar. I shall be reconciled to him again. 2 Murd. Never, my lord; therefore prepare to die. Clar. Are you call'd forth from out a world of men, To slay the innocent? What is my offence? Inquest, jury. |