Keeper What was your dream, my lord? I pray you, tell me. Clarence Methoughts that I had broken from the Tower, And was embarked to cross to Burgundy, And, in my company my brother Gloucester, Who from my cabin tempted me to walk Upon the hatches. There we looked toward England And cited up a thousand heavy times During the wars of York and Lancaster That had befallen us. As we paced along Upon the giddy footing of the hatches, Methought that Gloucester stumbled, and in falling Struck me, that thought to stay him, overboard Into the tumbling billows of the main. O Lord, methought, what pain it was to drown, What dreadful noise of waters in mine ears, What sights of ugly death within mine eyes. Methoughts I saw a thousand fearful wracks, Ten thousand men that fishes gnawed upon, Wedges of gold, great anchors, heaps of pearl, Inestimable stones, unvalued jewels, All scattered in the bottom of the sea. Some lay in dead men’s skulls, and in the holes Where eyes did once inhabit there were crept, As ʼtwere in scorn of eyes, reflecting gems, Which wooed the slimy bottom of the deep And mocked the dead bones that lay scattered by. Keeper Had you such leisure in the time of death To gaze upon the secrets of the deep? Clarence Methought I had, and often did I strive To yield the ghost; but still the envious flood Stopped in my soul and would not let it forth To seek the empty, vast and wandering air, But smothered it within my panting bulk, Which almost burst to belch it in the sea. Keeper Awaked you not in this sore agony? Clarence No, no, my dream was lengthened after life. Oh, then began the tempest to my soul. I passed, methought, the melancholy flood, With that sour ferryman which poets write of, Unto the kingdom of perpetual night. The first that there did greet my stranger-soul Was my great father-in-law, renownèd Warwick, Who spake aloud, ʼWhat scourge for perjury Can this dark monarchy afford false Clarence?’ And so he vanished. Then came wandering by A shadow like an angel, with bright hair Dabbled in blood, and he shrieked out aloud, ʼClarence is come: false, fleeting, perjured Clarence, That stabbed me in the field by Tewksbury. Seize on him, furies, take him unto torment.’ With that, methought, a legion of foul fiends Environed me, and howlèd in mine ears Such hideous cries that with the very noise I trembling waked, and for a season after Could not believe but that I was in hell, Such terrible impression made my dream. Keeper
No marvel, lord, though it affrighted you. I am afraid, methinks, to hear you tell it. Clarence Ah keeper, keeper, I have done these things Which now bear evidence against my soul For Edward’s sake, and see how he requites me. O God, if my deep prayers cannot appease thee, But thou wilt be avenged on my misdeeds, Yet execute thy wrath in me alone. Oh, spare my guiltless wife and my poor children. 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. 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 titles and low name There’s nothing differs but the outward fame. Enter two Murderers. First Murderer Ho, who’s here? Brakenbury What wouldst thou, fellow? And how cam’st thou hither? Second Murderer I would speak with Clarence, and I came hither on my legs. Brakenbury What, so brief? First Murderer ʼTis better, sir, than to be tedious. Let him see our commission, and talk no more. Brakenbury reads. 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 him That thus I have resigned to you my charge. First Murderer You may, sir, ʼtis a point of wisdom. Fare you well. Exeunt Brakenbury and Keeper. Second Murderer What, shall we stab him as he sleeps? First Murderer No. He’ll say ʼtwas done cowardly, when he wakes. Second Murderer Why, he shall never wake until the great judgement day. First Murderer Why, then he’ll say we stabbed him sleeping. Second Murderer The urging of that word judgment hath bred a kind of remorse in me. |
