King Richard The Third

1 Enter Clarence and Keeper.
2 KEEPER.
3 Why looks your Grace so heavily today?
4 CLARENCE.
5 O, I have passed a miserable night,
6 So full of fearful dreams, of ugly sights,
7 That, as I am a Christian faithful man,
8 I would not spend another such a night
9 Though ’twere to buy a world of happy days,
10 So full of dismal terror was the time!
11 KEEPER.
12 What was your dream, my lord? I pray you tell me.
13 CLARENCE.
14 Methoughts that I had broken from the Tower,
15 And was embarked to cross to Burgundy;
16 And in my company my brother Gloucester,
17 Who from my cabin tempted me to walk
18 Upon the hatches. Thence we looked toward England,
19 And cited up a thousand heavy times,
20 During the wars of York and Lancaster,
21 That had befall’n us. As we paced along
22 Upon the giddy footing of the hatches,
23 Methought that Gloucester stumbled, and in falling,
24 Struck me, that thought to stay him, overboard
25 Into the tumbling billows of the main.
26 O Lord, methought what pain it was to drown,
27 What dreadful noise of waters in my ears;
28 What sights of ugly death within my eyes.
29 Methoughts I saw a thousand fearful wracks;
30 A thousand men that fishes gnawed upon;
31 Wedges of gold, great anchors, heaps of pearl,
32 Inestimable stones, unvalued jewels,
33 All scattered in the bottom of the sea.
34 Some lay in dead men’s skulls, and in the holes
35 Where eyes did once inhabit there were crept—
36 As ’twere in scorn of eyes—reflecting gems,
37 That wooed the slimy bottom of the deep,
38 And mocked the dead bones that lay scattered by.
39 KEEPER.
40 Had you such leisure in the time of death
41 To gaze upon these secrets of the deep?
42 CLARENCE.
43 Methought I had; and often did I strive
44 To yield the ghost, but still the envious flood
45 Stopped in my soul, and would not let it forth
46 To find the empty, vast, and wand’ring air,
47 But smothered it within my panting bulk,
48 Who almost burst to belch it in the sea.
49 KEEPER.
50 Awaked you not in this sore agony?
51 CLARENCE.
52 No, no, my dream was lengthened after life.
53 O, then began the tempest to my soul.
54 I passed, methought, the melancholy flood,
55 With that sour ferryman which poets write of,
56 Unto the kingdom of perpetual night.
57 The first that there did greet my stranger-soul
58 Was my great father-in-law, renowned Warwick,
59 Who spake aloud, “What scourge for perjury
60 Can this dark monarchy afford false Clarence?”
61 And so he vanished. Then came wand’ring by
62 A shadow like an angel, with bright hair
63 Dabbled in blood; and he shrieked out aloud
64 “Clarence is come—false, fleeting, perjured Clarence,
65 That stabbed me in the field by Tewksbury!
66 Seize on him, Furies! Take him unto torment!”
67 With that, methoughts, a legion of foul fiends
68 Environed me, and howled in mine ears
69 Such hideous cries that with the very noise
70 I trembling waked, and for a season after
71 Could not believe but that I was in hell,
72 Such terrible impression made my dream.
73 KEEPER.
74 No marvel, lord, though it affrighted you;
75 I am afraid, methinks, to hear you tell it.
76 CLARENCE.
77 Ah, Keeper, Keeper, I have done these things,
78 That now give evidence against my soul,
79 For Edward’s sake, and see how he requites me.
80 O God, if my deep prayers cannot appease Thee,
81 But Thou wilt be avenged on my misdeeds,
82 Yet execute Thy wrath in me alone;
83 O, spare my guiltless wife and my poor children!
84 Keeper, I prithee sit by me awhile.
85 My soul is heavy, and I fain would sleep.
86 KEEPER.
87 I will, my lord; God give your Grace good rest.
88 [_Clarence reposes himself on a chair._]
89 Enter Brakenbury the Lieutenant.
90 BRAKENBURY.
91 Sorrow breaks seasons and reposing hours,
92 Makes the night morning, and the noontide night.
93 Princes have but their titles for their glories,
94 An outward honour for an inward toil;
95 And, for unfelt imaginations,
96 They often feel a world of restless cares,
97 So that between their titles and low name,
98 There’s nothing differs but the outward fame.
99 Enter the two Murderers.
100 FIRST MURDERER.
101 Ho, who’s here?
102 BRAKENBURY.
103 What wouldst thou, fellow? And how cam’st thou hither?
104 SECOND MURDERER.
105 I would speak with Clarence, and I came hither on my legs.
106 BRAKENBURY.
107 What, so brief?
108 FIRST MURDERER.
109 ’Tis better, sir, than to be tedious. Let him see our commission, and
110 talk no more.
111 [_Brakenbury reads the commission._]
112 BRAKENBURY.
113 I am in this commanded to deliver
114 The noble Duke of Clarence to your hands.
115 I will not reason what is meant hereby,
116 Because I will be guiltless of the meaning.
117 There lies the Duke asleep, and there the keys.
118 I’ll to the King and signify to him
119 That thus I have resigned to you my charge.
120 FIRST MURDERER.
121 You may, sir; ’tis a point of wisdom. Fare you well.
122 [_Exeunt Brakenbury and the Keeper._]
123 SECOND MURDERER.
124 What, shall I stab him as he sleeps?
125 FIRST MURDERER.
126 No. He’ll say ’twas done cowardly, when he wakes.
127 SECOND MURDERER.
128 Why, he shall never wake until the great Judgement Day.
129 FIRST MURDERER.
130 Why, then he’ll say we stabbed him sleeping.
131 SECOND MURDERER.
132 The urging of that word “judgement” hath bred a kind of remorse in me.
133 FIRST MURDERER.
134 What, art thou afraid?
135 SECOND MURDERER.
136 Not to kill him, having a warrant, but to be damned for killing him,
137 from the which no warrant can defend me.
138 FIRST MURDERER.
139 I thought thou hadst been resolute.
140 SECOND MURDERER.
141 So I am—to let him live.
142 FIRST MURDERER.
143 I’ll back to the Duke of Gloucester and tell him so.
144 SECOND MURDERER.
145 Nay, I prithee stay a little. I hope this passionate humour will
146 change. It was wont to hold me but while one tells twenty.
147 FIRST MURDERER.
148 How dost thou feel thyself now?
149 SECOND MURDERER.
150 Faith, some certain dregs of conscience are yet within me.
151 FIRST MURDERER.
152 Remember our reward, when the deed’s done.
153 SECOND MURDERER.
154 Zounds, he dies! I had forgot the reward.
155 FIRST MURDERER.
156 Where’s thy conscience now?
157 SECOND MURDERER.
158 O, in the Duke of Gloucester’s purse.
159 FIRST MURDERER.
160 So, when he opens his purse to give us our reward, thy conscience flies
161 out.
162 SECOND MURDERER.
163 ’Tis no matter; let it go. There’s few or none will entertain it.
164 FIRST MURDERER.
165 What if it come to thee again?
166 SECOND MURDERER.
167 I’ll not meddle with it; it makes a man coward. A man cannot steal but
168 it accuseth him; a man cannot swear but it checks him; a man cannot lie
169 with his neighbour’s wife but it detects him. ’Tis a blushing
170 shamefaced spirit that mutinies in a man’s bosom. It fills a man full
171 of obstacles. It made me once restore a purse of gold that by chance I
172 found. It beggars any man that keeps it. It is turned out of towns and
173 cities for a dangerous thing; and every man that means to live well
174 endeavours to trust to himself and live without it.
175 FIRST MURDERER.
176 Zounds, ’tis even now at my elbow, persuading me not to kill the Duke.
177 SECOND MURDERER.
178 Take the devil in thy mind, and believe him not. He would insinuate
179 with thee but to make thee sigh.
180 FIRST MURDERER.
181 I am strong-framed; he cannot prevail with me.
182 SECOND MURDERER.
183 Spoke like a tall man that respects thy reputation. Come, shall we fall
184 to work?
185 FIRST MURDERER.
186 Take him on the costard with the hilts of thy sword, and then throw him
187 in the malmsey-butt in the next room.
188 SECOND MURDERER.
189 O excellent device—and make a sop of him.
190 FIRST MURDERER.
191 Soft, he wakes.
192 SECOND MURDERER.
193 Strike!
194 FIRST MURDERER.
195 No, we’ll reason with him.
196 CLARENCE.
197 Where art thou, keeper? Give me a cup of wine.
198 SECOND MURDERER.
199 You shall have wine enough, my lord, anon.
200 CLARENCE.
201 In God’s name, what art thou?
202 FIRST MURDERER.
203 A man, as you are.
204 CLARENCE.
205 But not as I am, royal.
206 SECOND MURDERER.
207 Nor you as we are, loyal.
208 CLARENCE.
209 Thy voice is thunder, but thy looks are humble.
210 FIRST MURDERER.
211 My voice is now the King’s, my looks mine own.
212 CLARENCE.
213 How darkly and how deadly dost thou speak!
214 Your eyes do menace me; why look you pale?
215 Who sent you hither? Wherefore do you come?
216 SECOND MURDERER.
217 To, to, to—
218 CLARENCE.
219 To murder me?
220 BOTH MURDERERS.
221 Ay, ay.
222 CLARENCE.
223 You scarcely have the hearts to tell me so,
224 And therefore cannot have the hearts to do it.
225 Wherein, my friends, have I offended you?
226 FIRST MURDERER.
227 Offended us you have not, but the King.
228 CLARENCE.
229 I shall be reconciled to him again.
230 SECOND MURDERER.
231 Never, my lord; therefore prepare to die.
232 CLARENCE.
233 Are you drawn forth among a world of men
234 To slay the innocent? What is my offence?
235 Where is the evidence that doth accuse me?
236 What lawful quest have given their verdict up
237 Unto the frowning judge? Or who pronounced
238 The bitter sentence of poor Clarence’ death?
239 Before I be convict by course of law,
240 To threaten me with death is most unlawful.
241 I charge you, as you hope to have redemption,
242 By Christ’s dear blood shed for our grievous sins,
243 That you depart, and lay no hands on me.
244 The deed you undertake is damnable.
245 FIRST MURDERER.
246 What we will do, we do upon command.
247 SECOND MURDERER.
248 And he that hath commanded is our King.
249 CLARENCE.
250 Erroneous vassals! The great King of kings
251 Hath in the table of his law commanded
252 That thou shalt do no murder. Will you then
253 Spurn at His edict and fulfil a man’s?
254 Take heed, for He holds vengeance in His hand
255 To hurl upon their heads that break His law.
256 SECOND MURDERER.
257 And that same vengeance doth He hurl on thee
258 For false forswearing, and for murder too.
259 Thou didst receive the sacrament to fight
260 In quarrel of the house of Lancaster.
261 FIRST MURDERER.
262 And like a traitor to the name of God
263 Didst break that vow, and with thy treacherous blade
264 Unrippedst the bowels of thy sovereign’s son.
265 SECOND MURDERER.
266 Whom thou wast sworn to cherish and defend.
267 FIRST MURDERER.
268 How canst thou urge God’s dreadful law to us,
269 When thou hast broke it in such dear degree?
270 CLARENCE.
271 Alas, for whose sake did I that ill deed?
272 For Edward, for my brother, for his sake.
273 He sends you not to murder me for this,
274 For in that sin he is as deep as I.
275 If God will be avenged for the deed,
276 O, know you yet He doth it publicly;
277 Take not the quarrel from His powerful arm;
278 He needs no indirect or lawless course
279 To cut off those that have offended Him.
280 FIRST MURDERER.
281 Who made thee then a bloody minister
282 When gallant-springing, brave Plantagenet,
283 That princely novice, was struck dead by thee?
284 CLARENCE.
285 My brother’s love, the devil, and my rage.
286 FIRST MURDERER.
287 Thy brother’s love, our duty, and thy faults,
288 Provoke us hither now to slaughter thee.
289 CLARENCE.
290 If you do love my brother, hate not me.
291 I am his brother, and I love him well.
292 If you are hired for meed, go back again,
293 And I will send you to my brother Gloucester,
294 Who shall reward you better for my life
295 Than Edward will for tidings of my death.
296 SECOND MURDERER.
297 You are deceived. Your brother Gloucester hates you.
298 CLARENCE.
299 O no, he loves me, and he holds me dear.
300 Go you to him from me.
301 FIRST MURDERER.
302 Ay, so we will.
303 CLARENCE.
304 Tell him when that our princely father York
305 Blessed his three sons with his victorious arm,
306 And charged us from his soul to love each other,
307 He little thought of this divided friendship.
308 Bid Gloucester think of this, and he will weep.
309 FIRST MURDERER.
310 Ay, millstones, as he lessoned us to weep.
311 CLARENCE.
312 O, do not slander him, for he is kind.
313 FIRST MURDERER.
314 Right, as snow in harvest. Come, you deceive yourself.
315 ’Tis he that sends us to destroy you here.
316 CLARENCE.
317 It cannot be, for he bewept my fortune,
318 And hugged me in his arms, and swore with sobs
319 That he would labour my delivery.
320 FIRST MURDERER.
321 Why, so he doth, when he delivers you
322 From this earth’s thraldom to the joys of heaven.
323 SECOND MURDERER.
324 Make peace with God, for you must die, my lord.
325 CLARENCE.
326 Have you that holy feeling in your souls
327 To counsel me to make my peace with God,
328 And are you yet to your own souls so blind
329 That you will war with God by murd’ring me?
330 O sirs, consider: they that set you on
331 To do this deed will hate you for the deed.
332 SECOND MURDERER.
333 What shall we do?
334 CLARENCE.
335 Relent, and save your souls.
336 FIRST MURDERER.
337 Relent? No, ’tis cowardly and womanish.
338 CLARENCE.
339 Not to relent is beastly, savage, devilish.
340 Which of you—if you were a prince’s son,
341 Being pent from liberty, as I am now—
342 If two such murderers as yourselves came to you,
343 Would not entreat for life? Ay, you would beg,
344 Were you in my distress.
345 My friend, I spy some pity in thy looks.
346 O, if thine eye be not a flatterer,
347 Come thou on my side, and entreat for me;
348 A begging prince what beggar pities not?
349 SECOND MURDERER.
350 Look behind you, my lord.
351 FIRST MURDERER.
352 Take that, and that! [_Stabs him._] If all this will not do,
353 I’ll drown you in the malmsey-butt within.
354 [_Exit with the body._]
355 SECOND MURDERER.
356 A bloody deed, and desperately dispatched.
357 How fain, like Pilate, would I wash my hands
358 Of this most grievous murder.
359 Enter First Murderer.
360 FIRST MURDERER.
361 How now? What mean’st thou that thou help’st me not?
362 By heavens, the Duke shall know how slack you have been.
363 SECOND MURDERER.
364 I would he knew that I had saved his brother.
365 Take thou the fee, and tell him what I say,
366 For I repent me that the Duke is slain.
367 [_Exit._]
368 FIRST MURDERER.
369 So do not I. Go, coward as thou art.
370 Well, I’ll go hide the body in some hole
371 Till that the Duke give order for his burial.
372 And when I have my meed, I will away,
373 For this will out, and then I must not stay.
374 [_Exit._]