We go to use our hands, and not our tongues. 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 BRAKENBURY. Brak. What was your dream, my lord? I pray 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, Methought, that Gloster stumbled; and, in falling, O Lord! methought, what pain it was to drown! Some lay in dead men's skulls; and, in those holes And mock'd the dead bones that lay scatter'd by.. To Brak. Had you such leisure in the time of death, I pass'd, methought, the melancholy flood The first that there did greet my stranger soul, 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, spare my guiltless wife, and my poor children !— My soul is heavy, and I fain would sleep. Brak. I will, my lord; God give your grace good rest! [Clarence reposes himself on a chair. Sorrow breaks seasons, and reposing hours; Makes the night morning, and the noon-tide night. And, for unfelt imaginations, They often feel a world of restless cares: Enter the two Murderers. 1 Murd. Ho! who's here? Brak. What would'st thou, fellow? and how cam'st 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 The noble duke of Clarence to your hands:I will not reason what is meant hereby, Because I will be guiltless of the meaning. Here are the keys; there sits the duke asleep: I'll to the king; and signify to him, That thus I have resign'd to you my charge. 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, hath 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. 1 Murd. I'll back to the duke of Gloster, and tell him so. 2 Murd. Nay, I prythee, 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 noné, 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 restore a purse of gold, that by chance I found; it beggars any man that keeps it: it is turned 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 not 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-fram'd, 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 malmseybutt, 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! 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? 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 reconcil'd 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? Te threaten me with death is most unlawful. 1 Murd. What we will do, we do upon command. Clar. Erroneous vassal! the great King of kings Take heed; for he holds vengeance in his hand, 2 Murd. And that same vengeance doth he hurl For false forswearing, and for murder too; In quarrel of the house of Lancaster. 1 'Murd. And, like a traitor to the name of God, Didst break that vow; and with thy treacherous blade Unripp'det the bowels of thy sovereign's son. |