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KEEPER； I prithee sit by me awhile； My soul is heavy； and I fain would
sleep。 KEEPER。 I will； my lord。 God give your Grace good rest。
＇CLARENCE sleeps＇
Enter BRAKENBURY the Lieutenant
BRAKENBURY。 Sorrow breaks seasons and reposing hours； Makes
the night morning and the noontide night。 Princes have but their titles for
their glories； An outward honour for an inward toil； And for unfelt
imaginations They often feel a world of restless cares； So that between
their tides and low name There's nothing differs but the outward fame。
Enter the two MURDERERS
FIRST MURDERER。 Ho！ who's here？ BRAKENBURY。 What
wouldst thou； fellow； and how cam'st thou hither？ FIRST MURDERER。 I
would speak with Clarence； and I came hither on my legs。
BRAKENBURY。 What； so brief？ SECOND MURDERER。 'Tis better； sir；
than to be tedious。 Let him see our commission and talk no more。
＇BRAKENBURY reads it＇ BRAKENBURY。 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 from the meaning。 There lies
the Duke asleep； and there the keys。 I'll to the King and signify to him
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That thus I have resign'd to you my charge。 FIRST MURDERER。 You
may； sir； 'tis a point of wisdom。 Fare you well。 Exeunt BRAKENBURY
and KEEPER SECOND MURDERER。 What； shall I stab him as he sleeps？
FIRST MURDERER。 No； he'll say 'twas done cowardly； when he wakes。
SECOND MURDERER。 Why； he shall never wake until the great
judgment…day。 FIRST MURDERER。 Why； then he'll say we stabb'd him
sleeping。 SECOND MURDERER。 The urging of that word judgment hath
bred a kind of remorse in me。 FIRST MURDERER。 What； art thou afraid？
SECOND MURDERER。 Not to kill him； having a warrant； but to be
damn'd for killing him； from the which no warrant can defend me。 FIRST
MURDERER。 I thought thou hadst been resolute。 SECOND MURDERER。
So I am； to let him live。 FIRST MURDERER。 I'll back to the Duke of
Gloucester and tell him so。 SECOND MURDERER。 Nay； I prithee； stay a
little。 I hope this passionate humour of mine will change； it was wont to
hold me but while one tells twenty。 FIRST MURDERER。 How dost thou
feel thyself now？ SECOND MURDERER。 Faith； some certain dregs of
conscience are yet within me。 FIRST MURDERER。 Remember our
reward； when the deed's done。 SECOND MURDERER。 Zounds； he dies； I
had forgot the reward。 FIRST MURDERER。 Where's thy conscience now？
SECOND MURDERER。 O； in the Duke of Gloucester's purse！ FIRST
MURDERER。 When he opens his purse to give us our reward； thy
conscience flies out。 SECOND MURDERER。 'Tis no matter； let it go；
there's few or none will entertain it。 FIRST MURDERER。 What if it come
to thee again？ SECOND MURDERER。 I'll not meddle with it…it makes a
man 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… fac'd spirit that mutinies in a man's bosom； it
fills a man 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 turn'd out of
towns and cities for a dangerous thing； and every man that means to live
well endeavours to trust to himself and live without it。 FIRST
MURDERER。 Zounds； 'tis even now at my elbow； persuading me not to
kill the Duke。 SECOND MURDERER。 Take the devil in thy mind and
believe him not； he would insinuate with thee but to make the sigh。 FIRST
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KING RICHARD III
MURDERER。 I am strong…fram'd； he cannot prevail with me。 SECOND
MURDERER。 Spoke like a tall man that respects thy reputation。 Come；
shall we fall to work？ FIRST MURDERER。 Take him on the costard with
the hilts of thy sword； and then chop him in the malmsey…butt in the next
room。 SECOND MURDERER。 O excellent device！ and make a sop of
him。 FIRST MURDERER。 Soft！ he wakes。 SECOND MURDERER。
Strike！ FIRST MURDERER。 No； we'll reason with him。 CLARENCE。
Where art thou； Keeper？ Give me a cup of wine。 SECOND MURDERER。
You shall have wine enough； my lord； anon。 CLARENCE。 In God's name；
what art thou？ FIRST MURDERER。 A man； as you are。 CLARENCE。 But
not as I am； royal。 SECOND MURDERER。 Nor you as we are； loyal。
CLARENCE。 Thy voice is thunder； but thy looks are humble。 FIRST
MURDERER。 My voice is now the King's； my looks mine own。
CLARENCE。 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？ SECOND MURDERER。 To； to； to… CLARENCE。 To murder me？
BOTH MURDERERS。 Ay； ay。 CLARENCE。 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？ FIRST MURDERER。 Offended us you have
not； but the King。 CLARENCE。 I shall be reconcil'd to him again。
SECOND MURDERER。 Never； my lord； therefore prepare to die。
CLARENCE。 Are you drawn forth among a world of men To slay the
innocent？ What is my offence？ Where is the evidence that doth accuse me？
What lawful quest have given their verdict up Unto the frowning judge； or
who pronounc'd The bitter sentence of poor Clarence' death？ Before I be
convict by course of law； To threaten me with death is most unlawful。 I
charge you； as you hope to have redemption By Christ's dear blood shed
for our grievous sins； That you depart and lay no hands on me。 The deed
you undertake is damnable。 FIRST MURDERER。 What we will do； we do
upon command。 SECOND MURDERER。 And he that hath commanded is
our King。 CLARENCE。 Erroneous vassals！ the great King of kings Hath
in the tables of his law commanded That thou shalt do no murder。 Will you
then Spurn at his edict and fulfil a man's？ Take heed； for he holds
vengeance in his hand To hurl upon their heads that break his law。
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SECOND MURDERER。 And that same vengeance doth