Re-enter first Murderer. 1 Murd. How now? what mean'st thou, that thou help'st me not? By heaven, the duke shall know how slack you have been. 2 Murd. I would he knew, that I had sav'd his brother! Take thou the fee, and tell him what I say; [Exit. 1 Murd. 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. The same. A Room in the Palace. Enter King EDWARD, (led in 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: From my Redeemer to redeem me hence; * Dissemble not your hatred,] i. e. do not gloss it over, Riv. By heaven, my soul is purg'd from grudging hate; And with my hand I seal my true heart's love. Lest he, that is the supreme King of kings, Hast. So prosper I, as I swear perfect love! this, Nor your son Dorset,-Buckingham, nor you;- your hand; Q. Eliz. There, Hastings;-I will never more remember Our former hatred, so thrive I, and mine! K. Edw. Dorset, embrace him,-Hastings, love lord marquis. Dor. This interchange of love, I here protest, Upon my part shall be inviolable. Hast. And so swear I. [Embraces Dorset. K. Edw. Now, princely Buckingham, seal thou this league With thy embracements to my wife's allies, Buck. Whenever Buckingham doth turn his hate Upon your grace, [To the Queen.] but with all du teous love Doth cherish you, and yours, God punish me Deep, hollow, treacherous, and full of guile, Be he unto me! this do I beg of heaven, [Embracing RIVERS, &c. K. Edw. 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. Buck. And, in good time, here comes the noble duke. Enter GLOSTER. Glo. Good morrow to my sovereign king, and queen; And, princely peers, a happy time of day! K. Edw. Happy, indeed, as we have spent the Brother, we have done deeds of charity; By false intelligence, or wrong surmise, If I unwittingly, or in my rage, Have aught committed that is hardly borne To reconcile me to his friendly peace: I hate it, and desire all good men's love.- you, If ever any grudge were lodg'd between us ;- With whom my soul is any jot at odds, Q. Eliz. A holy-day shall this be kept hereafter :- Glo. Why, madam, have I offer'd love for this, To be so flouted in this royal presence? Who knows not, that the gentle duke is dead? [They all start. You do him injury, to scorn his corse. K. Edw. Who knows not, he is dead! who knows he is? Q. Eliz. All-seeing heaven, what a world is this! Buck. Look I so pale, lord Dorset, as the rest? Dor. Ay, my good lord? and no man in the pre sence, But his red colour hath forsook his cheeks. K. Edw. Is Clarence dead? the order was revers'd. Glo. But he, poor man, by your first order died, And that a winged Mercury did bear; Some tardy cripple bore the countermand, God grant, that some, less noble, and less loyal, Enter STANLEY. Stan. A boon, my sovereign, for my service done! K. Edw. I pr'ythee, peace; my soul is full of sorrow. Stan. I will not rise, unless your highness hear me. K.. Edw. Then say at once, what is it thou re quest'st. Stan. The forfeit,3 sovereign, of my servant's life; Who slew to-day a riotous gentleman, Lately attendant on the duke of Norfolk. K.Edw. Have I a tongue to doom my brother's death,* But, when your carters, or your waiting-vassals, 3 The forfeit,] He means the remission of the forfeit. 4 Have I a tongue to doom my brother's death,] This lamentation is very tender and pathetick. The recollection of the good qualities of the dead is very natural, and no less naturally does the King endeavour to communicate the crime to others. |