FIRST MURDERER. Ay, millstones; as he lesson'd us to weep.

CLARENCE. O, do not slander him, for he is kind.

FIRST MURDERER. Right, as snow in harvest.--Come, you deceive yourself: 'Tis he that sends us to destroy you here.

CLARENCE. It cannot be; for he bewept my fortune, And hugg'd me in his arms, and swore, with sobs, That he would labour my delivery.

FIRST MURDERER. Why, so he doth, when he delivers you From this earth's thraldom to the joys of heaven.

SECOND MURDERER. Make peace with God, for you must die, my lord.

CLARENCE. Have you that holy feeling in your souls, To counsel me to make my peace with God, And are you yet to your own souls so blind That you will war with God by murdering me?-- O, sirs, consider, they that set you on To do this deed will hate you for the deed.

SECOND MURDERER. What shall we do?

CLARENCE. Relent, and save your souls.

FIRST MURDERER. Relent! 'tis cowardly and womanish.

CLARENCE. Not to relent is beastly, savage, devilish. Which of you, if you were a prince's son, Being pent from liberty, as I am now,-- If two such murderers as yourselves came to you,-- Would not entreat for life?-- My friend, I spy some pity in thy looks; O, if thine eye be not a flatterer, Come thou on my side, and entreat for me, As you would beg, were you in my distress: A begging prince what beggar pities not?

SECOND MURDERER. Look behind you, my lord.

FIRST MURDERER. [Stabs him.] Take that, and that: if all this will not do, I'll drown you in the malmsey-butt within.

[Exit with the body.]

SECOND MURDERER. A bloody deed, and desperately dispatch'd! How fain, like Pilate, would I wash my hands Of this most grievous murder!

[Re-enter FIRST MURDERER.]

FIRST MURDERER. How now, what mean'st thou that thou help'st me not? By heavens, the duke shall know how slack you have been!

SECOND MURDERER. I would he knew that I had sav'd his brother! Take thou the fee, and tell him what I say; For I repent me that the duke is slain.

[Exit.]

FIRST MURDERER. So do not I: go, coward as thou art.-- Well, I'll go hide the body in some hole, Till that the duke give order for his burial: And when I have my meed, I will away; For this will out, and then I must not stay.

[Exit.]

ACT II.

SCENE I. London. A Room in the palace.

[Enter KING EDWARD, led in sick, QUEEN ELIZABETH, DORSET, RIVERS, HASTINGS, BUCKINGHAM, GREY, and others.]

KING EDWARD. Why, so. Now have I done a good day's work:-- You peers, continue this united league: I every day expect an embassage From my Redeemer, to redeem me hence; And more at peace my soul shall part to heaven, Since I have made my friends at peace on earth. Rivers and Hastings, take each other's hand; Dissemble not your hatred, swear your love.

RIVERS. By heaven, my soul is purg'd from grudging hate; And with my hand I seal my true heart's love.

HASTINGS. So thrive I, as I truly swear the like!

KING EDWARD. Take heed you dally not before your king; Lest He that is the supreme King of kings Confound your hidden falsehood, and award Either of you to be the other's end.

HASTINGS. So prosper I, as I swear perfect love!

RIVERS. And I, as I love Hastings with my heart!

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.

[Embraces Dorset.]

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. Whenever Buckingham doth turn his hate Upon your grace [to the queen], 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 heaven When I am cold in love to you or yours.

[Embracing Rivers &c.]

KING EDWARD. A pleasing cordial, princely Buckingham, Is this thy vow unto my sickly heart. There wanteth now our brother Gloster here, To make the blessed period of this peace.

BUCKINGHAM. And, in good time, here comes the noble duke.

[Enter GLOSTER.]

GLOSTER. 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. Gloster, we have done deeds of charity; Made peace of enmity, fair love of hate, Between these swelling wrong-incensed peers.

GLOSTER. 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.--