Sec. Murd. Why he shall never wake until the great judgment-day.

First Murd. Why, then he'll say we stabb'd him sleeping.

Sec. Murd. The urging of that word “judgment" hath bred a kind of remorse in me. 110 First Murd. What, art thou afraid?

Sec. 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. First Murd. I thought thou hadst been resolute.

Sec. Murd. So I am, to let him live. First Murd. I'll back to the Duke of Gloster, and tell him so.

119

Sec. Murd. Tis no matter; let it go; there's few or none will entertain it.]

First Murd. What if it come to thee again? Sec. Murd. I'll not meddle with it,-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:] 't is a blushing shame-fac'd spirit that mutinies in a man's bosom; it fills a man full of obstacles:

it made me once restore 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.

First Murd. Zounds, it is even now at my elbow, persuading me not to kill the duke. 150

Sec. Murd. Take the devil in thy mind, and believe him1 not: he1 would insinuate 2 with thee but to make thee sigh.

First Murd. I am strong-fram'd, he1 cannot prevail with me.

Sec. Murd. Spoke like a tall3 man that respects his reputation. Come, shall we fall to work?

First Murd. Take him over the costard 5 with the hilts of thy sword, and then throw him into the malmsey-butt in the next room. Sec. Murd. O excellent device! and make a sop of him.

First Murd. Soft! he wakes.
Sec. Murd. Strike!

162

First Murd. No, we'll reason' with him. Clar. [Waking] Where art thou, keeper? give me a cup of wine.

First Murd. You shall have wine enough, my lord, anon.

170

[Clar. In God's name, what art thou? First Murd. A man, as you are. Clar. But not, as I am, royal. First Murd. Nor you, as we are, loyal. Clar. Thy voice is thunder, but thy looks are humble.

First 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. I shall be reconcil'd to him again. Sec. Murd. Never, my lord; therefore prepare to die.

Clar. Are you drawn forth among a world of men

To slay the innocent? What is my offence? Where is the evidence that doth accuse me? What lawful quests have given their verdict up

189,

Unto the frowning judge? or who pronounc'd The bitter sentence of poor Clarence' death?? Before I be convict by course of law,

To threaten me with death is most unlawful.
I charge you, as you hope to have redemption
By Christ's dear blood shed for our grievous
sins,

That you depart, and lay no hands on me:
The deed you undertake is damnable.

First Murd. What we will do, we do upon command.

Sec. Murd. And he that hath commanded is our king.

Clar. Erroneous 10 vassals! the great King

5 Costard, head.

7

Reason, i.e. talk.

11 In quarrel of in the cause of.

to

Clar. O, do not slander him, for he is kind. First Murd. Right,

As snow in harvest.-Come, you deceive yourself:

T is he that sends us to destroy you here. 250 Clar. It cannot be; for he bewept my fortune,

And hugg'd me in his arms, and swore, with sobs,

That he would labour my delivery.

First Murd. Why, so he doth, when he delivers you

From this earth's thraldom to the joys of heaven.

Sec. Murd. Make peace with God, for you must die, my lord.

Clar. Hast thou that holy feeling in thy soul, To counsel me to make my peace with God, And art thou yet to thy own soul so blind, That thou wilt war with God by murdering me?

O, sirs, consider, he that set you on

To do this deed will hate you for the deed.

200

Sec. Murd. What shall we do?
Clar.
Relent, and save your souls.
First Murd. Relent! 't is cowardly and
womanish.

My friend, I spy some pity in thy looks; 270
O, if thine eye be not a flatterer,

Come thou on my side, and entreat for me:
A begging prince what beggar pities not?
First Murd.] Ay, thus, and thus [Stabs him]: 2
if all this will not do,

I'll drown you in the malmsey-butt within.
[Exit, with the body.

Sec. Murd. A bloody deed, and desperately dispatch'd!

How fain, like Pilate, would I wash my hands Of this most grievous murder!

Re-enter First Murderer.

280

First Murd. How now! what mean'st thou, that thou help'st me not?

By heaven, the duke shall know how slack you 've been.

Sec. 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.
First Murd. So do not I: go, coward as thou
art.-

Well, I'll go hide the body in some hole,
Till that the duke1 give order for his burial:
And when I have my meed, I will away; 259
For this will out, and then I must not stay.

[Exit.

[They embrace.]

K. Edw. Now, princely Buckingham, seal thou this league

With thy embracements to my wife's allies, 30 And make me happy in your unity.

Buck.[To the Queen] Whenever Buckingham doth turn his hate

Upon your grace, but with all duteous love Doth cherish you and yours, God punish me With hate in those where I expect most love! [When I have most need to employ a friend, And most assured that he is a friend, Deep, hollow, treacherous, and full of guile, Be he unto me!-this do I beg of God,] When I am cold in zeal to you or yours. [Embracing Rivers, &c. K. Edw. A pleasing cordial, princely Buckingham,

40

Is this thy vow unto my sickly heart.
There wanteth now our brother Gloster here,
To make the perfect period of this peace.

} Buck. And, in good time, here comes the noble duke.

Enter GLOSTER, attended by RATCLIFF.

Glo. Good morrow to my sovereign king and queen;

And, princely peers, a happy time of day!