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plain Clarence； I do love thee so That I will shortly send thy soul to
heaven； If heaven will take the present at our hands。 But who comes here？
The new…delivered Hastings？
Enter LORD HASTINGS
HASTINGS。 Good time of day unto my gracious lord！
GLOUCESTER。 As much unto my good Lord Chamberlain！ Well are you
welcome to the open air。 How hath your lordship brook'd imprisonment？
HASTINGS。 With patience； noble lord； as prisoners must； But I shall live；
my lord； to give them thanks That were the cause of my imprisonment。
GLOUCESTER。 No doubt； no doubt； and so shall Clarence too； For they
that were your enemies are his； And have prevail'd as much on him as you。
HASTINGS。 More pity that the eagles should be mew'd Whiles kites and
buzzards prey at liberty。 GLOUCESTER。 What news abroad？ HASTINGS。
No news so bad abroad as this at home： The King is sickly； weak； and
melancholy； And his physicians fear him mightily。 GLOUCESTER。 Now；
by Saint John； that news is bad indeed。 O； he hath kept an evil diet long
And overmuch consum'd his royal person！ 'Tis very grievous to be thought
upon。 Where is he？ In his bed？ HASTINGS。 He is。 GLOUCESTER。 Go
you before； and I will follow you。 Exit HASTINGS He cannot live； I hope；
and must not die Till George be pack'd with posthorse up to heaven。 I'll in
to urge his hatred more to Clarence With lies well steel'd with weighty
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arguments； And； if I fail not in my deep intent； Clarence hath not another
day to live； Which done； God take King Edward to his mercy； And leave
the world for me to bustle in！ For then I'll marry Warwick's youngest
daughter。 What though I kill'd her husband and her father？ The readiest
way to make the wench amends Is to become her husband and her father；
The which will I…not all so much for love As for another secret close intent
By marrying her which I must reach unto。 But yet I run before my horse to
market。 Clarence still breathes； Edward still lives and reigns； When they
are gone； then must I count my gains。 Exit
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KING RICHARD III
SCENE 2。
London。 Another street
Enter corpse of KING HENRY THE SIXTH； with halberds to guard it；
LADY ANNE being the mourner； attended by TRESSEL and BERKELEY
ANNE。 Set down； set down your honourable load… If honour may be
shrouded in a hearse； Whilst I awhile obsequiously lament Th' untimely
fall of virtuous Lancaster。 Poor key…cold figure of a holy king！ Pale ashes
of the house of Lancaster！ Thou bloodless remnant of that royal blood！ Be
it lawful that I invocate thy ghost To hear the lamentations of poor Anne；
Wife to thy Edward； to thy slaughtered son； Stabb'd by the self…same hand
that made these wounds。 Lo； in these windows that let forth thy life I pour
the helpless balm of my poor eyes。 O； cursed be the hand that made these
holes！ Cursed the heart that had the heart to do it！ Cursed the blood that let
this blood from hence！ More direful hap betide that hated wretch That
makes us wretched by the death of thee Than I can wish to adders； spiders；
toads； Or any creeping venom'd thing that lives！ If ever he have child；
abortive be it； Prodigious； and untimely brought to light； Whose ugly and
unnatural aspect May fright the hopeful mother at the view； And that be
heir to his unhappiness！ If ever he have wife； let her be made More
miserable by the death of him Than I am made by my young lord and thee！
Come； now towards Chertsey with your holy load； Taken from Paul's to be
interred there； And still as you are weary of this weight Rest you； whiles I
lament King Henry's corse。 ＇The bearers take up the coffin＇
Enter GLOUCESTER
GLOUCESTER。 Stay； you that bear the corse； and set it down。
ANNE。 What black magician conjures up this fiend To stop devoted
charitable deeds？ GLOUCESTER。 Villains； set down the corse； or； by
Saint Paul； I'll make a corse of him that disobeys！ FIRST GENTLEMAN。
My lord； stand back； and let the coffin pass。 GLOUCESTER。 Unmannerd
dog！ Stand thou； when I command。 Advance thy halberd higher than my
breast； Or； by Saint Paul； I'll strike thee to my foot And spurn upon thee；
beggar； for thy boldness。 ＇The bearers set down the coffin＇ ANNE。 What；
do you tremble？ Are you all afraid？ Alas； I blame you not； for you are
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mortal； And mortal eyes cannot endure the devil。 Avaunt； thou dreadful
minister of hell！ Thou hadst but power over his mortal body； His soul thou
canst not have； therefore； be gone。 GLOUCESTER。 Sweet saint； for
charity； be not so curst。 ANNE。 Foul devil； for God's sake； hence and
trouble us not； For thou hast made the happy earth thy hell Fill'd it with
cursing cries and deep exclaims。 If thou delight to view thy heinous deeds；
Behold this pattern of thy butcheries。 O； gentlemen； see； see！ Dead
Henry's wounds Open their congeal'd mouths and bleed afresh。 Blush；
blush； thou lump of foul deformity； For 'tis thy presence that exhales this
blood From cold and empty veins where no blood dwells； Thy deeds
inhuman and unnatural Provokes this deluge most unnatural。 O God；
which this blood mad'st； revenge his death！ O earth； which this blood
drink'st； revenge his death！ Either； heav'n； with lightning strike the
murd'rer dead； Or； earth； gape open wide and eat him quick； As thou dost
swallow up this good king's blood； Which his hell…govern'd arm hath
butchered。 GLOUCESTER。 Lady； you know no rules of charity； Which
renders good for bad； blessings for curses。 ANNE。 Villain； thou knowest
nor law of God nor man： No beast so fierce but knows some touch of pity。
GLOUCESTER。 But I know none； and therefore am no beast。 ANNE。 O
wonderful； when devils tell the truth！ GLOUCESTER。 More wonderful
when angels are so angry。 Vouchsafe； divine perfection of a woman； Of
these supposed crimes to give me leave By circumstance but to acquit
myself。 ANNE。 Vouchsafe； diffus'd infection of a man； Of these known
evils but