First Murderer
What? Art thou afraid?
Second Murderer
Not to kill him, having a warrant,
But to be damned 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
Some certain dregs of conscience are yet within me.
First Murderer
Remember our reward when the deed’s done.
Second Murderer
Come, he dies. I had forgot the reward.
First Murderer
Where’s thy conscience now?
Second Murderer
In the Duke of Gloucester’s purse.
First Murderer
So when he opens his purse to give us our reward, thy conscience flies out.
Second Murderer
ʼTis 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 a 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, shamefaced 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 turned out of all towns and cities for a dangerous thing, and every man that means to live well endeavours to trust to himself and to live without it.
First Murderer
ʼTis 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 thee sigh.
First Murderer
I am strong framed, 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 over the costard with the hilts of thy sword, and then throw him in the malmsey butt in the next room.
Second Murderer
Oh, excellent devise. 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?
Second 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.
Second 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
Clarence
To murder me?
Both
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 reconciled 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 are the evidence that doth accuse me?
What lawful quest have given their verdict up
Unto the frowning judge? Or who pronounced
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 for any goodness,
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 table 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.
Second Murderer
And that same vengeance doth he hurl on thee
For false forswearing and for murder, too.
Thou didst receive the holy sacrament to fight
In quarrel of the house of Lancaster.
First Murderer
And, like a traitor to the name of God,
Didst break that vow, and with thy treacherous blade
Unripped’st the bowels of thy sovereign’s son.
