First Murd. Thy brother's love, our duty, and thy fault, Provoke us hither now to slaughter thee.

Clar. Oh, if

you love my brother, hate not me;

I am his brother, and I love him well.

If you be hired for meed, go back again,
And I will send you to my brother Gloucester,
Who shall reward you better for my life,

Than Edward will for tidings of my death.

231

Sec. Murd. You are deceived, your brother Gloucester hates you.

Clar. O, no, he loves me, and he holds me dear :

Go you to him from me.

Ay, so we will.

Both.
Clar. Tell him, when that our princely father York
Bless'd his three sons with his victorious arm,
And charged us from his soul to love each other,
He little thought of this divided friendship:

240

Bid Gloucester think of this, and he will weep. First Murd. Ay, millstones; as he lesson'd us to weep. Clar. O, do not slander him, for he is kind. First Murd. Right,

As snow in harvest. Thou deceivest thyself: "Tis he that sent us hither now to slaughter thee. Clar. It cannot be; for when I parted with him, 251

He hugg'd me in his arms, and swore, with sobs,

That he would labour my delivery.

Sec. Murd. Why, so he doth, now he delivers thee From this world's thraldom to the joys of heaven. First Murd. Make peace with God, for you must die,

Clar. Hast thou that holy feeling in thy soul,

To counsel me to make my peace with God,
And art thou yet to thy own soul so blind,
That thou wilt war with God by murdering me?
Ah, sirs, consider, he that set you on

To do this deed will hate you for the deed.
Sec. Murd. What shall we do?

Clar.

261

Relent, and save your souls.
First Murd. Relent! 'tis cowardly and womanish.
Clar. 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?
Sec. Murd. Look behind you, my lord.

270

First Murd. Take that, and that: if all this will not do,

[Stabs him.

I'll drown you in the malmsey-butt within.

[Exit, with the body.

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

Re-enter First Murderer.

280

First Murd. How now! what mean'st thou, that thou help'st me not?

By heavens, the duke shall know how slack thou art!
Sec. Murd. I would he knew that I had saved his brother!
Take thou the fee, and tell him what I say;
For I repent me that the duke is slain.

First Murd. So do not I: go, coward as thou art.
Now must I hide his body in some hole,
Until the duke take order for his burial:
And when I have my meed, I must away;
For this will out, and here I must not stay.

[Exit.

289 [Exit.

Act Second.

Scene I.

London. The palace.

Flourish. Enter King Edward sick, Queen Elizabeth, Dorset, Rivers, Hastings, Buckingham, Grey, and others. K. Edw. 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 now in peace my soul shall part to heaven, Since I have set my friends at peace on earth. Rivers and Hastings, take each other's hand; Dissemble not your hatred, swear your love. Riv. By heaven, my soul is purged from grudging hate; And with my hand I seal my true heart's love.

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

K. Edw. 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.

Hast. So prosper I, as I swear perfect love!
Riv. And I, as I love Hastings with my heart!

IO

K. Edw. Madam, yourself are not exempt in this,
Nor your 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.

Q. Eliz. Here, Hastings; I will never more remember
Our former hatred, so thrive I and mine!

20

K. Edw. Dorset, embrace him; Hastings, love lord

marquess.

Dor. This interchange of love, I here protest,

Upon my part shall be unviolable.

Hast. And so swear I, my lord.

[They embrace.

K. Edw. Now, princely Buckingham, seal thou this

league

With thy embracements to my wife's allies,
And make me happy in your unity.

30

Buck. [To the Queen] Whenever Buckingham doth tun his hate

On

you or yours, 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 God,