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KING EDWARD。 Madam； yourself is not exempt from this； Nor you； 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。 QUEEN ELIZABETH。 There； Hastings； I will never
more remember Our former hatred； so thrive I and mine！ KING EDWARD。
Dorset； embrace him； Hastings； love Lord Marquis。 DORSET。 This
interchange of love； I here protest； Upon my part shall be inviolable。
HASTINGS。 And so swear I。 ＇They embrace＇ KING EDWARD。 Now；
princely Buckingham； seal thou this league With thy embracements to my
wife's allies； And make me happy in your unity。 BUCKINGHAM。 ＇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
love to you or yours。 ＇They embrace＇ KING EDWARD。 A pleasing cordial；
princely Buckingham； Is this thy vow unto my sickly heart。 There wanteth
now our brother Gloucester here To make the blessed period of this peace。
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BUCKINGHAM。 And； in good time； Here comes Sir Richard Ratcliff and
the Duke。
Enter GLOUCESTER； and RATCLIFF GLOUCESTER。 Good
morrow to my sovereign king and Queen； And； princely peers； a happy
time of day！ KING EDWARD。 Happy； indeed； as we have spent the day。
Gloucester； we have done deeds of charity； Made peace of enmity； fair
love of hate； Between these swelling wrong…incensed peers。
GLOUCESTER。 A blessed labour； my most sovereign lord。 Among this
princely heap； if any here； By false intelligence or wrong surmise； Hold
me a foe… If I unwittingly； or in my rage； Have aught committed that is
hardly borne To any in this presence； I desire To reconcile me to his
friendly peace： 'Tis death to me to be at enmity； I hate it； and desire all
good men's love。 First； madam； I entreat true peace of you； Which I will
purchase with my duteous service； Of you； my noble cousin Buckingham；
If ever any grudge were lodg'd between us； Of you； and you； Lord Rivers；
and of Dorset； That all without desert have frown'd on me； Of you； Lord
Woodville； and； Lord Scales； of you； Dukes； earls； lords； gentlemen…
indeed； of all。 I do not know that Englishman alive With whom my soul is
any jot at odds More than the infant that is born to…night。 I thank my God
for my humility。 QUEEN ELIZABETH。 A holy day shall this be kept
hereafter。 I would to God all strifes were well compounded。 My sovereign
lord； I do beseech your Highness To take our brother Clarence to your
grace。 GLOUCESTER。 Why； madam； have I off'red love for this； To be so
flouted in this royal presence？ Who knows not that the gentle Duke is
dead？ ＇They all start＇ You do him injury to scorn his corse。 KING
EDWARD。 Who knows not he is dead！ Who knows he is？ QUEEN
ELIZABETH。 All…seeing heaven； what a world is this！ BUCKINGHAM。
Look I so pale； Lord Dorset； as the rest？ DORSET。 Ay； my good lord； and
no man in the presence But his red colour hath forsook his cheeks。 KING
EDWARD。 Is Clarence dead？ The order was revers'd。 GLOUCESTER。
But he； poor man； by your first order died； And that a winged Mercury did
bear； Some tardy cripple bare the countermand That came too lag to see
him buried。 God grant that some； less noble and less loyal； Nearer in
bloody thoughts； an not in blood； Deserve not worse than wretched
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Clarence did； And yet go current from suspicion！
Enter DERBY
DERBY。 A boon； my sovereign； for my service done！ KING
EDWARD。 I prithee； peace； my soul is full of sorrow。 DERBY。 I Will not
rise unless your Highness hear me。 KING EDWARD。 Then say at once
what is it thou requests。 DERBY。 The forfeit； sovereign； of my servant's
life； Who slew to…day a riotous gentleman Lately attendant on the Duke of
Norfolk。 KING EDWARD。 Have I a tongue to doom my brother's death；
And shall that tongue give pardon to a slave？ My brother killed no man…
his fault was thought； And yet his punishment was bitter death。 Who sued
to me for him？ Who； in my wrath； Kneel'd at my feet； and bid me be
advis'd？ Who spoke of brotherhood？ Who spoke of love？ Who told me
how the poor soul did forsake The mighty Warwick and did fight for me？
Who told me； in the field at Tewksbury When Oxford had me down； he
rescued me And said 'Dear Brother； live； and be a king'？ Who told me；
when we both lay in the field Frozen almost to death； how he did lap me
Even in his garments； and did give himself； All thin and naked； to the
numb cold night？ All this from my remembrance brutish wrath Sinfully
pluck'd； and not a man of you Had so much race to put it in my mind。 But
when your carters or your waiting…vassals Have done a drunken slaughter
and defac'd The precious image of our dear Redeemer； You straight are on
your knees for pardon； pardon； And I； unjustly too； must grant it you。
＇DERBY rises＇ But for my brother not a man would speak； Nor I；
ungracious； speak unto myself For him； poor soul。 The proudest of you all
Have been beholding to him in his life； Yet none of you would once beg
for his life。 O God； I fear thy justice will take hold On me； and you； and
mine； and yours； for this！ Come； Hastings； help me to my closet。 Ah； poor
Clarence！ Exeunt some with KING and QUEEN GLOUCESTER。 This is
the fruits of rashness。 Mark'd you not How that the guilty kindred of the
Queen Look'd pale when they did hear of Clarence' death？ O； they did
urge it still unto the King！ God will revenge it。 Come； lords； will you go
To comfort Edward with our company？ BUCKINGHAM。 We wait upon
your Grace。 Exeunt
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KING RICHARD III
SCENE 2。
London。 The palace