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An outward honour, for an inward toil;
And, for unfelt imaginations, (7)

They often feel a world of reftlefs cares:
So that between their titles, and low name,
There's nothing differs but the outward fame.

SCENE VI.

Enter the two Murderers.

1 Vil. Ho, who's there?

Brak. In God's name, what art thou? How cam'ft thou hither?

2. Vil. I would fpeak with Clarence, and I came hither on my legs.

Brak. What, fo brief?

1 Vil. 'Tis better, Sir, than to be tedious.-Let him fee our Commiffion, and talk no more.

Brak. [Reads.] 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 guiltlefs of the meaning, There lies the Duke asleep, and there the keys. I'll to the King, and fignify to him,

That thus I have refign'd to you my Charge.

1 Vil. You may, Sir, 'tis a point of wildom. Fare you well. [Exit Brakenbury. 2. Vil. What fhall we ftab him as he fleeps? 1 Vil, No; he'll say 'twas done cowardly when he wakes.

2 Vil. When he wakes? why, Fool, he shall never wake until the great Judgment-day.

An outguard honour, for an inward toil.] The first line may be understood in this fenfe. The Glories of princes are nothing more than empty titles: but it would more imprefs the purpose of the fpeaker, and correfpond better with the following lines, if it were read,

Princes have but their titles for their troubles.

(7) For unfelt imaginations,

They often feel a world of refilefs cares:] They often fuffer real miferies for imaginary and unreal gratifications.

ing.

1 Vil. Why, then he'll fay, we ftabb'd him fleep

2 Vil. The urging of that word, Judgment, hath bred a kind of remorfe in me.

i Vil. What, art thou afraid?

2 Vil. Not to kill him, having a Warrant for it: But to be damn'd for killing him, from the which no Warrant can defend me.

1 Vil. I'll back to the Duke of Glofter, and tell him fo.

2 Vil. Nay, pr'ythee, ftay a little: I hope, this holy humour of mine will change; it was wont to hold me but while one would tell twenty.

1 Vil. How doft thou feel thyfelf now?

2. Vil. Faith, fome certain Dregs. of conscience are yet within me.

1 Vil. Remember the reward, when the deed's done.. 2 Vil. Come, he dies. I had forgot the reward. 1 Vil. Where's thy confcience now?

2 Vil. O, in the Duke of Glofter's purfe.

1 Vil. When he opens his purfe to give us our re ward, thy confcience flies out.

2 Vil. 'Tis no matter, let it go; there's few or none will entertain it.

1 Vil. What if it come to thee again?

2 Vil. I'll not meddle with it; it is a dangerous Thing, it makes a man a coward; a man cannot fteal, but it accufeth him; a man cannot fwear, but it checks him ; a man cannot lie with his neighbour's wife, but it detects him. 'Tis a blufhing fhame-fac'd fpirit, that mutinies in a man's bofom: it fills one full of obftacles. It made me once reftore a purfe of gold, that by chance I found. It beggars any man, that keeps it. It is turned out of towns and cities for a dangerous thing; and every man, that means to live well, endea vours to trust to himself, and live without it.

1 Vil. 'Tis even now at my elbow, perfuading me not to kill the Duke.

2 Vil. Take the devil in thy mind, and believe him not: he would infinuate with thee but to make thee figh. (8)

I Vil. (8) Take the Devil in thy mind, and believe HIM not: HE

[graphic]

me.

1 Vil. I am ftrong fram'd, he cannot prevail with

2 Vil.* Spoke like a tall fellow that respects his reputation. Come, fhall we fall to work?

1 Vil. Take him over the coftard, with the hilt of thy fword; and then throw him into the malmfie-butt in the next room.

2 Vil. O excellent device, and make a fop of him. 1 Vil, Soft, he wakes. Shall I ftrike?

2 Vil. No, we'll reason with him. (9)

Clar. Where art thou, Keeper? Give me a cup wine.

of

2 Vil. You fhall have wine enough, my Lord, anon. Clar. In God's name, what art thou?

1 Vil. A man, as you are.

Clar. But not, as I am, royal.

1 Vil. Nor you, as we are, loyal.

Clar. Thy voice is thunder, but thy looks are hum

ble.

1 Vil. My voice is now the King's, my looks mine

own.

Cla. How darkly, and how deadly doft thou fpeak? Your eyes do menace me. Why look you pale ? Who fent you hither? Wherefore do you come? Both. To, to, to

Clar. To murder me?

Both. Ay, ay.

Clar. Ye fcarcely have the hearts to tell me fo, And therefore cannot have the hearts to do it. Wherein, my friends, have I offended you?

1 Vil. Offended us you have not, but the King. Clar. I fhall be reconcil'd to him again.

2 Vil. Never, my Lord, therefore prepare to die.

would infinuate with thee, &c.] One villain fays, Confcience is at his elbows perfuading him not to kill the Duke. The other fays, take the devil into thy nearer acquaintance, into thy mind, who will be a match for thy confcience, and believe it not, It is plain then, that H&M in both places in the text should be IT, namely confcience. WARBURTON.

r.

Spoke like a tall fellow,- -] The meaning of tall, in old Englife, is ftout, daring, fearless and strong. (9) We'll reafon.] We'll talk.

Clar

Clar. Are you call'd forth from out a world of men, (1)

To flay the innocent? What's my offence?

Where is the evidence, that doth accufe me?
What lawful Quest have given their verdict up (2)
Unto the frowning judge? Or who pronounc'd
The bitter fentence of poor Clarence' death?
Before I be convict by courfe of law,

To threaten me with death is moft unlawful.
I charge you, as you hope to have Redemption,
That you depart, and lay no hands on me:
The deed, you undertake, is damnable.

1 Val. What we will do, we do upon Command..
2 Vil. And he that hath commanded, is our King.
Clar. Erroneous vaffals! 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.

2 Vil. And that fame vengeance doth he hurl on

thee

For falfe forfwearing, and for murder too;
Thou didst receive the Sacrament, to fight
In Quarrel of the Houfe of Lancaster.

1 Vil. And like a Traitor to the name of God, Didft break that vow; and, with thy treacherous blade, Unrip'dft the bowels of thy Sovereign's fon.

2 Vil. Whom thou wert fworn to cherish and defend.. 1 Vil. How canft thou urge God's dreadful Law to.

us,

When thou haft broke it in fuch high degree?

Clar. Alas! for whofe fake did I that ill deed? For Edward, for my brother, for his fake.

He fends you not to murder me for this,

For in that fin he is as deep as I

If God will be avenged for the deed,
O, know you yet, he doth it publickly;

(1) Are you call'd forth from out a world of men.] Ithink it

[graphic]

may be better read,

Are ye cull'd forth.

(2) Quest is inquast, of jury..

Take not the quarrel from his powerful arm;
He needs no indirect, nor lawless course,

To cut off those that have offended him.

*

1 Vil. Who made thee then a bloody minister, When gallant, fpringing, brave Plantagenet, (3), That Princely novice, was ftruck dead by thee? Clar. My brother's love, the devil, and my rage. 1 Vil. Thy brother's love, our duty, and thy fault, Provoke us hither now, to flaughter thee.

Clar. If you do love my brother, hate not me:
I am his brother, and I love him well.
If you are hir'd for Meed, go back again,
And I will fend you to my brother Glofter,
Who will reward you better for my life,
Than Edward will for tidings of my death.

2 Vil. You are deceiv'd, your brother Glofter hates you.

Cla. Oh, no, he loves me, and he holds me dear. Go you to him from me.

Both. Ay, fo we will.

Clar. Tell him, when that our Princely father Fork Bleft his three fons with his victorious arm,

And charg'd us from his foul to love each other,
He little thought of this divided friendship.
Bid Glo'fter think on this, and he will weep.

1 Vil. Ay, mill-ftones; as he leffon'd us to weep.
Clar. O do not flander him, for he is kind.

1 Vil. As fnow in harveft:-you deceive yourself; 'Tis he, that fends us to destroy you here.

Cla. It cannot be, for he bewept my fortune, And hugg'd me in his arms, and fwore with fobs, That he would labour my delivery.

1 Vil. Why fo he doth, when he delivers you From this earth's thraldom to the joys of heav'n. 2. Vil. Make peace with God, for you muft die, my

Lord.

Cla. Have you that holy feeling in your foul, To counfel me to make my peace with God, And are you yet to your own fouls fo blind,

(3) Springing Plantagenet.] Blooming Plantagenet; prince in the /pring of life.

*Novice, Youth; one yet new to the world..

That

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