Unto the frowning judge? or who pronounced To threaten me with death is most unlawful. The deed you undertake is damnable. 1 Murd. What we will do, we do upon command. 2 Murd. And he, that hath commanded, is our king. Clar. Erroneous vassal! the great King of kings Hath in the table of his law commanded That thou shalt do no murder. Wilt thou then Take heed; for he holds vengeance in his hand, 2 Murd. And that same vengeance doth he hurl on thee, For false forswearing, and for murder too. Thou didst receive the sacrament to fight 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, Unrip'dst the bowels of thy sovereign's son. 2 Murd. Whom thou wast sworn to cherish and defend. 1 Murd. How canst thou urge God's dreadful law to us, When thou hast broke it in such dear degree? Clar. Alas! for whose sake did I that ill deed? For in that sin he is as deep as I. If God will be avenged for the deed, of attainder was afterwards passed against him. According to sir Thomas More, his death was commanded by Edward; but he does not assert that the duke of Gloster was the instrument. Polydore Virgil says, though he talked with several persons who lived at the time, he never could get any certain account of the motives that induced Edward to put his brother to death. Take not the quarrel from his powerful arm; To cut off those that have offended him. 1 Murd. Who made thee then a bloody minister, When gallant springing, brave Plantagenet,' That princely novice,2 was struck dead by thee? Clar. My brother's love, the devil, and my rage. 1 Murd. Thy brother's love, our duty, and thy fault, Provoke us hither now to slaughter thee. Clar. If you do love my brother, hate not me; I am his brother, and I love him well. If you are hired for meed, go back again, And I will send you to my brother Gloster; Who shall reward you better for my life, Than Edward will for tidings of my death. 2 Murd. You are deceived; your brother Gloster hates you.3 Clar. O, no; he loves me, and he holds me dear. Go you to him from me. Both Murd. Clar. Tell him, when Aye, so we will. that our princely father York Blessed his three sons with his victorious arm, And charged us from his soul to love each other, 1 Murd. Ay, mill-stones; as he lessoned us to weep. Clar. O, do not slander him, for he is kind. 1 Murd. Right, as snow in harvest.-Come, you deceive yourself; 'Tis he that sends us to destroy you here. Clar. It cannot be; for he bewept my fortune, And hugged me in his arms, and swore, with sobs, That he would labor my delivery. 1 Blooming Plantagenet, a prince in the spring of life. 2 Youth, one yet new to the world. 3 Walpole rightly suggested, from the Chronicle of Croyland, that the true cause of Gloster's hatred to Clarence was, that Clarence was unwilling to share with his brother that moiety of the estate of the great earl of Warwick, to which Gloster became entitled on his marriage with the younger sister of the duchess of Clarence, lady Anne Neville, who had been betrothed to Edward prince of Wales. you 1 Murd. Why, so he doth, when he delivers From this earth's thraldom to the joys of heaven. 2 Murd. Make peace with God, for you must die, my lord. Clar. Hast thou that holy feeling in thy soul, That thou wilt war with God, by murdering me?- To do this deed, will hate you for the deed. 2 Murd. What shall we do? Clar. Relent, and save your souls. 1 Murd. Relent! 'tis cowardly, and womanish. 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 do, I'll drown you in the malmsey-butt within. [Stabs him. [Exit, with the body. 2 Murd. A bloody deed, and desperately despatched! How fain, like Pilate, would I wash my hands Of this most grievous, guilty murder done! 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 saved his brother! Take thou the fee, and tell him what I say; [Exit. 1 Murd. So do not I; go, coward, as thou art.- [Exit. ACT II. SCENE I. London. 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. I every day expect an embassage From my Redeemer to redeem me hence; And now in peace my soul shall part to heaven, Riv. By Heaven, my soul is purged from grudging hate; And with my hand I seal my true heart's love. Hast. So thrive I, as I truly swear the like! K. Edw. Take heed, you dally not before your king, Lest he that is the supreme King of kings, Confound your hidden falsehood, and award Either of you to be the other's end. Hast. So prosper I, as I swear perfect love! 1 i. e. do not merely cloak and conceal your ill-will to each other, but eradicate it altogether from your bosoms. VOL. V. 6 Riv. And I, as I love Hastings with my heart! K. Edw. Madam, yourself are not exempt in this,— Nor your son Dorset,-Buckingham, nor you;— You have been factious one against the other. Wife, love lord Hastings; let him kiss your hand; And what you do, do it unfeignedly. 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, And make me happy in your unity. Buck. Whenever Buckingham doth turn his bate 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, To make the blessed period of this peace. 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! |