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Original Text |
Modern Text |
|
Flourish. Enter KING EDWARD IV , sick, QUEEN ELIZABETH , Lord Marquess DORSET , RIVERS , HASTINGS , BUCKINGHAM , GREY , and others
|
Flourish. Enter KING EDWARD IV , sick, QUEEN ELIZABETH , Lord Marquess DORSET , RIVERS , HASTINGS , BUCKINGHAM , GREY , and others
|
|
KING EDWARD IV 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,
5 And more in 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.
|
KING EDWARD IV 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 in 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 (taking HASTINGS’s hand) By heaven, my soul is purged from grudging hate,
10 And with my hand I seal my true heart’s love.
|
RIVERS (taking HASTINGS’s hand) By heaven, my soul is purged from grudging hate,
And with my hand I seal my true heart’s love.
|
|
HASTINGS So thrive I as I truly swear the like.
|
HASTINGS So thrive I as I truly swear the like.
|
|
KING EDWARD IV Take heed you dally not before your king,
Lest He that is the supreme King of kings
15 Confound your hidden falsehood, and award
Either of you to be the other’s end.
|
KING EDWARD IV 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.
|
HASTINGS So prosper I as I swear perfect love.
|
|
RIVERS And I as I love Hastings with my heart.
|
RIVERS And I as I love Hastings with my heart.
|
|
KING EDWARD IV (to QUEEN ELIZABETH)
20 Madam, yourself is not exempt in 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.
|
KING EDWARD IV (to QUEEN ELIZABETH)
Madam, yourself is not exempt in 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 25 There, Hastings, I will never more remember
Our former hatred, so thrive I and mine.
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH There, Hastings, I will never more remember
Our former hatred, so thrive I and mine.
|
|
HASTINGS kisses her hand
|
HASTINGS kisses her hand
|
|
KING EDWARD IV Dorset, embrace him.—Hastings, love Lord Marquess.
|
KING EDWARD IV Dorset, embrace him.—Hastings, love Lord Marquess.
|
|
DORSET This interchange of love, I here protest,
Upon my part shall be inviolable.
|
DORSET This interchange of love, I here protest,
Upon my part shall be inviolable.
|
|
HASTINGS 30 And so swear I.
|
HASTINGS And so swear I.
|
|
They embrace
|
They embrace
|
|
KING EDWARD IV Now, princely Buckingham, seal thou this league
With thy embracements to my wife’s allies
And make me happy in your unity.
|
KING EDWARD IV Now, princely Buckingham, seal thou this league
With thy embracements to my wife’s allies
And make me happy in your unity.
|
|
BUCKINGHAM (to QUEEN ELIZABETH)
35 Whenever Buckingham doth turn his hate
Upon your Grace, but with all duteous love
Doth cherish you and yours, God punish me
When I have most need to employ a friend,
With hate in those where I expect most love.
40 And most assurèd that he is a friend,
Deep, hollow, treacherous, and full of guile
Be he unto me: this do I beg of God
When I am cold in love to you or yours.
|
BUCKINGHAM (to QUEEN ELIZABETH)
Whenever Buckingham doth turn his hate
Upon your Grace, but with all duteous love
Doth cherish you and yours, God punish me
When I have most need to employ a friend,
With hate in those where I expect most love.
And most assurèd that he is a friend,
Deep, hollow, treacherous, and full of guile
Be he unto me: this do I beg of God
When I am cold in love to you or yours.
|
|
They embrace
|
They embrace
|
|
KING EDWARD IV A pleasing cordial, princely Buckingham,
45 Is this thy vow unto my sickly heart.
There wanteth now our brother Gloucester here
To make the blessèd period of this peace.
|
KING EDWARD IV A pleasing cordial, princely Buckingham,
Is this thy vow unto my sickly heart.
There wanteth now our brother Gloucester here
To make the blessèd period of this peace.
|
|
BUCKINGHAM And in good time,
Here comes Sir Richard Ratcliffe and the duke.
|
BUCKINGHAM And in good time,
Here comes Sir Richard Ratcliffe and the duke.
|
|
Enter RICHARD and RATCLIFFE
|
Enter RICHARD and RATCLIFFE
|
|
RICHARD 50 Good morrow to my sovereign king and queen,
And, princely peers, a happy time of day.
|
RICHARD Good morrow to my sovereign king and queen,
And, princely peers, a happy time of day.
|
|
KING EDWARD IV Happy indeed, as we have spent the day.
Gloucester, we have done deeds of charity,
Made peace of enmity, fair love of hate,
55 Between these swelling, wrong-incensèd peers.
|
KING EDWARD IV Happy indeed, as we have spent the day.
Gloucester, we have done deeds of charity,
Made peace of enmity, fair love of hate,
Between these swelling, wrong-incensèd peers.
|
|
RICHARD A blessèd labor, my most sovereign lord.
Amongst this princely heap, if any here
By false intelligence, or wrong surmise
Hold me a foe,
60 If I unwittingly, or in my rage,
Have aught committed that is hardly borne
By any in this presence, I desire
To reconcile me to his friendly peace.
'Tis death to me to be at enmity;
65 I hate it, and desire all good men’s love.
First, madam, I entreat true peace of you,
Which I will purchase with my duteous service;—
Of you, my noble cousin Buckingham,
If ever any grudge were lodged between us;—
70 Of you and you, Lord Rivers and of Dorset,
That all without desert have frowned on me;—
Of you, Lord Woodeville and Lord Scales;— of you,
Dukes, earls, lords, gentlemen; indeed, of all.
I do not know that Englishman alive
75 With whom my soul is any jot at odds
More than the infant that is born tonight.
I thank my God for my humility.
|
RICHARD A blessèd labor, my most sovereign lord.
Amongst 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
By 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.
First, madam, I entreat true peace of you,
Which I will purchase with my duteous service;—
Of you, my noble cousin Buckingham,
If ever any grudge were lodged between us;—
Of you and you, Lord Rivers and of Dorset,
That all without desert have frowned on me;—
Of you, Lord Woodeville and Lord Scales;— of you,
Dukes, earls, lords, gentlemen; indeed, of all.
I do not know that Englishman alive
With whom my soul is any jot at odds
More than the infant that is born tonight.
I thank my God for my humility.
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH A holy day shall this be kept hereafter.
I would to God all strifes were well compounded.
80 My sovereign lord, I do beseech your Highness
To take our brother Clarence to your grace.
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH A holy day shall this be kept hereafter.
I would to God all strifes were well compounded.
My sovereign lord, I do beseech your Highness
To take our brother Clarence to your grace.
|
|
RICHARD Why, madam, have I offered love for this,
To be so flouted in this royal presence?
Who knows not that the gentle duke is dead?
|
RICHARD Why, madam, have I offered love for this,
To be so flouted in this royal presence?
Who knows not that the gentle duke is dead?
|
|
They all start
|
They all start
|
|
85 You do him injury to scorn his corse.
|
You do him injury to scorn his corse.
|
|
KING EDWARD IV Who knows not he is dead! Who knows he is?
|
KING EDWARD IV Who knows not he is dead! Who knows he is?
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH All-seeing heaven, what a world is this!
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH All-seeing heaven, what a world is this!
|
|
BUCKINGHAM Look I so pale, Lord Dorset, as the rest?
|
BUCKINGHAM Look I so pale, Lord Dorset, as the rest?
|
|
DORSET Ay, my good lord, and no one in the presence
90 But his red color hath forsook his cheeks.
|
DORSET Ay, my good lord, and no one in the presence
But his red color hath forsook his cheeks.
|
|
KING EDWARD IV Is Clarence dead? The order was reversed.
|
KING EDWARD IV Is Clarence dead? The order was reversed.
|
|
RICHARD But he, poor man, by your first order died,
And that a wingèd Mercury did bear.
Some tardy cripple bear the countermand,
95 That came too lag to see him burièd.
God grant that some, less noble and less loyal,
Nearer in bloody thoughts, and not in blood,
Deserve not worse than wretched Clarence did,
And yet go current from suspicion.
|
RICHARD But he, poor man, by your first order died,
And that a wingèd Mercury did bear.
Some tardy cripple bear the countermand,
That came too lag to see him burièd.
God grant that some, less noble and less loyal,
Nearer in bloody thoughts, and not in blood,
Deserve not worse than wretched Clarence did,
And yet go current from suspicion.
|
|
Enter Lord STANLEY , Earl of Derby
|
Enter Lord STANLEY , Earl of Derby
|
|
STANLEY |
STANLEY |
|
KING EDWARD IV I prithee, peace. My soul is full of sorrow.
|
KING EDWARD IV I prithee, peace. My soul is full of sorrow.
|
|
STANLEY I will not rise unless your Highness hear me.
|
STANLEY I will not rise unless your Highness hear me.
|
|
KING EDWARD IV Then say at once what is it thou requests.
|
KING EDWARD IV Then say at once what is it thou requests.
|
|
STANLEY The forfeit, sovereign, of my servant’s life,
105 Who slew today a riotous gentleman
Lately attendant on the duke of Norfolk.
|
STANLEY The forfeit, sovereign, of my servant’s life,
Who slew today a riotous gentleman
Lately attendant on the duke of Norfolk.
|
|
KING EDWARD IV Have I a tongue to doom my brother’s death,
And shall the tongue give pardon to a slave?
My brother killed no man; his fault was thought,
110 And yet his punishment was bitter death.
Who sued to me for him? Who, in my wrath,
Kneeled at my feet, and bade me be advised?
Who spoke of brotherhood? Who spoke of love?
Who told me how the poor soul did forsake
115 The mighty Warwick and did fight for me?
Who told me, in the field by Tewkesbury,
When Oxford had me down, he rescued me,
And said “Dear brother, live, and be a king”?
Who told me, when we both lay in the field
120 Frozen almost to death, how he did lap me
Even in his garments and did give himself,
All thin and naked, to the numb-cold night?
All this from my remembrance brutish wrath
Sinfully plucked, and not a man of you
125 Had so much grace to put it in my mind.
But when your carters or your waiting vassals
Have done a drunken slaughter and defaced
The precious image of our dear Redeemer,
You straight are on your knees for pardon, pardon,
130 And I, unjustly too, must grant it you.
Stanley rises
But for my brother, not a man would speak,
Nor I, ungracious, speak unto myself
For him, poor soul. The proudest of you all
135 Have been beholding to him in his life,
Yet none of you would once beg for his life.
O God, I fear Thy justice will take hold
On me and you, and mine and yours for this!—
Come, Hastings, help me to my closet.—
140 Ah, poor Clarence.
|
KING EDWARD IV Have I a tongue to doom my brother’s death,
And shall the tongue give pardon to a slave?
My brother killed no man; his fault was thought,
And yet his punishment was bitter death.
Who sued to me for him? Who, in my wrath,
Kneeled at my feet, and bade me be advised?
Who spoke of brotherhood? Who spoke of love?
Who told me how the poor soul did forsake
The mighty Warwick and did fight for me?
Who told me, in the field by Tewkesbury,
When Oxford had me down, he rescued me,
And said “Dear brother, live, and be a king”?
Who told me, when we both lay in the field
Frozen almost to death, how he did lap me
Even in his garments and did give himself,
All thin and naked, to the numb-cold night?
All this from my remembrance brutish wrath
Sinfully plucked, and not a man of you
Had so much grace to put it in my mind.
But when your carters or your waiting vassals
Have done a drunken slaughter and defaced
The precious image of our dear Redeemer,
You straight are on your knees for pardon, pardon,
And I, unjustly too, must grant it you.
Stanley rises
But for my brother, not a man would speak,
Nor I, ungracious, speak unto myself
For him, poor soul. The proudest of you all
Have been beholding to him in his life,
Yet none of you would once beg for his life.
O God, I fear Thy justice will take hold
On me and you, and mine and yours for this!—
Come, Hastings, help me to my closet.—
Ah, poor Clarence.
|
|
Exeunt some with KING EDWARD IV and QUEEN ELIZABETH
|
Exeunt some with KING EDWARD IV and QUEEN ELIZABETH
|
|
RICHARD This is the fruits of rashness. Marked you not
How that the guilty kindred of the queen
Looked pale when they did hear of Clarence' death?
O, they did urge it still unto the king.
145 God will revenge it. Come, lords, will you go
To comfort Edward with our company?
|
RICHARD This is the fruits of rashness. Marked you not
How that the guilty kindred of the queen
Looked pale when they did hear of Clarence' death?
O, they did urge it still unto the king.
God will revenge it. Come, lords, will you go
To comfort Edward with our company?
|
|
BUCKINGHAM We wait upon your Grace.
|
BUCKINGHAM We wait upon your Grace.
|
|
Exeunt
|
Exeunt
|
Original Text |
Modern Text |
|
Flourish. Enter KING EDWARD IV , sick, QUEEN ELIZABETH , Lord Marquess DORSET , RIVERS , HASTINGS , BUCKINGHAM , GREY , and others
|
Flourish. Enter KING EDWARD IV , sick, QUEEN ELIZABETH , Lord Marquess DORSET , RIVERS , HASTINGS , BUCKINGHAM , GREY , and others
|
|
KING EDWARD IV 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,
5 And more in 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.
|
KING EDWARD IV 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 in 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 (taking HASTINGS’s hand) By heaven, my soul is purged from grudging hate,
10 And with my hand I seal my true heart’s love.
|
RIVERS (taking HASTINGS’s hand) By heaven, my soul is purged from grudging hate,
And with my hand I seal my true heart’s love.
|
|
HASTINGS So thrive I as I truly swear the like.
|
HASTINGS So thrive I as I truly swear the like.
|
|
KING EDWARD IV Take heed you dally not before your king,
Lest He that is the supreme King of kings
15 Confound your hidden falsehood, and award
Either of you to be the other’s end.
|
KING EDWARD IV 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.
|
HASTINGS So prosper I as I swear perfect love.
|
|
RIVERS And I as I love Hastings with my heart.
|
RIVERS And I as I love Hastings with my heart.
|
|
KING EDWARD IV (to QUEEN ELIZABETH)
20 Madam, yourself is not exempt in 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.
|
KING EDWARD IV (to QUEEN ELIZABETH)
Madam, yourself is not exempt in 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 25 There, Hastings, I will never more remember
Our former hatred, so thrive I and mine.
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH There, Hastings, I will never more remember
Our former hatred, so thrive I and mine.
|
|
HASTINGS kisses her hand
|
HASTINGS kisses her hand
|
|
KING EDWARD IV Dorset, embrace him.—Hastings, love Lord Marquess.
|
KING EDWARD IV Dorset, embrace him.—Hastings, love Lord Marquess.
|
|
DORSET This interchange of love, I here protest,
Upon my part shall be inviolable.
|
DORSET This interchange of love, I here protest,
Upon my part shall be inviolable.
|
|
HASTINGS 30 And so swear I.
|
HASTINGS And so swear I.
|
|
They embrace
|
They embrace
|
|
KING EDWARD IV Now, princely Buckingham, seal thou this league
With thy embracements to my wife’s allies
And make me happy in your unity.
|
KING EDWARD IV Now, princely Buckingham, seal thou this league
With thy embracements to my wife’s allies
And make me happy in your unity.
|
|
BUCKINGHAM (to QUEEN ELIZABETH)
35 Whenever Buckingham doth turn his hate
Upon your Grace, but with all duteous love
Doth cherish you and yours, God punish me
When I have most need to employ a friend,
With hate in those where I expect most love.
40 And most assurèd that he is a friend,
Deep, hollow, treacherous, and full of guile
Be he unto me: this do I beg of God
When I am cold in love to you or yours.
|
BUCKINGHAM (to QUEEN ELIZABETH)
Whenever Buckingham doth turn his hate
Upon your Grace, but with all duteous love
Doth cherish you and yours, God punish me
When I have most need to employ a friend,
With hate in those where I expect most love.
And most assurèd that he is a friend,
Deep, hollow, treacherous, and full of guile
Be he unto me: this do I beg of God
When I am cold in love to you or yours.
|
|
They embrace
|
They embrace
|
|
KING EDWARD IV A pleasing cordial, princely Buckingham,
45 Is this thy vow unto my sickly heart.
There wanteth now our brother Gloucester here
To make the blessèd period of this peace.
|
KING EDWARD IV A pleasing cordial, princely Buckingham,
Is this thy vow unto my sickly heart.
There wanteth now our brother Gloucester here
To make the blessèd period of this peace.
|
|
BUCKINGHAM And in good time,
Here comes Sir Richard Ratcliffe and the duke.
|
BUCKINGHAM And in good time,
Here comes Sir Richard Ratcliffe and the duke.
|
|
Enter RICHARD and RATCLIFFE
|
Enter RICHARD and RATCLIFFE
|
|
RICHARD 50 Good morrow to my sovereign king and queen,
And, princely peers, a happy time of day.
|
RICHARD Good morrow to my sovereign king and queen,
And, princely peers, a happy time of day.
|
|
KING EDWARD IV Happy indeed, as we have spent the day.
Gloucester, we have done deeds of charity,
Made peace of enmity, fair love of hate,
55 Between these swelling, wrong-incensèd peers.
|
KING EDWARD IV Happy indeed, as we have spent the day.
Gloucester, we have done deeds of charity,
Made peace of enmity, fair love of hate,
Between these swelling, wrong-incensèd peers.
|
|
RICHARD A blessèd labor, my most sovereign lord.
Amongst this princely heap, if any here
By false intelligence, or wrong surmise
Hold me a foe,
60 If I unwittingly, or in my rage,
Have aught committed that is hardly borne
By any in this presence, I desire
To reconcile me to his friendly peace.
'Tis death to me to be at enmity;
65 I hate it, and desire all good men’s love.
First, madam, I entreat true peace of you,
Which I will purchase with my duteous service;—
Of you, my noble cousin Buckingham,
If ever any grudge were lodged between us;—
70 Of you and you, Lord Rivers and of Dorset,
That all without desert have frowned on me;—
Of you, Lord Woodeville and Lord Scales;— of you,
Dukes, earls, lords, gentlemen; indeed, of all.
I do not know that Englishman alive
75 With whom my soul is any jot at odds
More than the infant that is born tonight.
I thank my God for my humility.
|
RICHARD A blessèd labor, my most sovereign lord.
Amongst 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
By 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.
First, madam, I entreat true peace of you,
Which I will purchase with my duteous service;—
Of you, my noble cousin Buckingham,
If ever any grudge were lodged between us;—
Of you and you, Lord Rivers and of Dorset,
That all without desert have frowned on me;—
Of you, Lord Woodeville and Lord Scales;— of you,
Dukes, earls, lords, gentlemen; indeed, of all.
I do not know that Englishman alive
With whom my soul is any jot at odds
More than the infant that is born tonight.
I thank my God for my humility.
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH A holy day shall this be kept hereafter.
I would to God all strifes were well compounded.
80 My sovereign lord, I do beseech your Highness
To take our brother Clarence to your grace.
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH A holy day shall this be kept hereafter.
I would to God all strifes were well compounded.
My sovereign lord, I do beseech your Highness
To take our brother Clarence to your grace.
|
|
RICHARD Why, madam, have I offered love for this,
To be so flouted in this royal presence?
Who knows not that the gentle duke is dead?
|
RICHARD Why, madam, have I offered love for this,
To be so flouted in this royal presence?
Who knows not that the gentle duke is dead?
|
|
They all start
|
They all start
|
|
85 You do him injury to scorn his corse.
|
You do him injury to scorn his corse.
|
|
KING EDWARD IV Who knows not he is dead! Who knows he is?
|
KING EDWARD IV Who knows not he is dead! Who knows he is?
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH All-seeing heaven, what a world is this!
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH All-seeing heaven, what a world is this!
|
|
BUCKINGHAM Look I so pale, Lord Dorset, as the rest?
|
BUCKINGHAM Look I so pale, Lord Dorset, as the rest?
|
|
DORSET Ay, my good lord, and no one in the presence
90 But his red color hath forsook his cheeks.
|
DORSET Ay, my good lord, and no one in the presence
But his red color hath forsook his cheeks.
|
|
KING EDWARD IV Is Clarence dead? The order was reversed.
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KING EDWARD IV Is Clarence dead? The order was reversed.
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RICHARD But he, poor man, by your first order died,
And that a wingèd Mercury did bear.
Some tardy cripple bear the countermand,
95 That came too lag to see him burièd.
God grant that some, less noble and less loyal,
Nearer in bloody thoughts, and not in blood,
Deserve not worse than wretched Clarence did,
And yet go current from suspicion.
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RICHARD But he, poor man, by your first order died,
And that a wingèd Mercury did bear.
Some tardy cripple bear the countermand,
That came too lag to see him burièd.
God grant that some, less noble and less loyal,
Nearer in bloody thoughts, and not in blood,
Deserve not worse than wretched Clarence did,
And yet go current from suspicion.
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Enter Lord STANLEY , Earl of Derby
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Enter Lord STANLEY , Earl of Derby
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STANLEY |
STANLEY |
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KING EDWARD IV I prithee, peace. My soul is full of sorrow.
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KING EDWARD IV I prithee, peace. My soul is full of sorrow.
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STANLEY I will not rise unless your Highness hear me.
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STANLEY I will not rise unless your Highness hear me.
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KING EDWARD IV Then say at once what is it thou requests.
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KING EDWARD IV Then say at once what is it thou requests.
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STANLEY The forfeit, sovereign, of my servant’s life,
105 Who slew today a riotous gentleman
Lately attendant on the duke of Norfolk.
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STANLEY The forfeit, sovereign, of my servant’s life,
Who slew today a riotous gentleman
Lately attendant on the duke of Norfolk.
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KING EDWARD IV Have I a tongue to doom my brother’s death,
And shall the tongue give pardon to a slave?
My brother killed no man; his fault was thought,
110 And yet his punishment was bitter death.
Who sued to me for him? Who, in my wrath,
Kneeled at my feet, and bade me be advised?
Who spoke of brotherhood? Who spoke of love?
Who told me how the poor soul did forsake
115 The mighty Warwick and did fight for me?
Who told me, in the field by Tewkesbury,
When Oxford had me down, he rescued me,
And said “Dear brother, live, and be a king”?
Who told me, when we both lay in the field
120 Frozen almost to death, how he did lap me
Even in his garments and did give himself,
All thin and naked, to the numb-cold night?
All this from my remembrance brutish wrath
Sinfully plucked, and not a man of you
125 Had so much grace to put it in my mind.
But when your carters or your waiting vassals
Have done a drunken slaughter and defaced
The precious image of our dear Redeemer,
You straight are on your knees for pardon, pardon,
130 And I, unjustly too, must grant it you.
Stanley rises
But for my brother, not a man would speak,
Nor I, ungracious, speak unto myself
For him, poor soul. The proudest of you all
135 Have been beholding to him in his life,
Yet none of you would once beg for his life.
O God, I fear Thy justice will take hold
On me and you, and mine and yours for this!—
Come, Hastings, help me to my closet.—
140 Ah, poor Clarence.
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KING EDWARD IV Have I a tongue to doom my brother’s death,
And shall the tongue give pardon to a slave?
My brother killed no man; his fault was thought,
And yet his punishment was bitter death.
Who sued to me for him? Who, in my wrath,
Kneeled at my feet, and bade me be advised?
Who spoke of brotherhood? Who spoke of love?
Who told me how the poor soul did forsake
The mighty Warwick and did fight for me?
Who told me, in the field by Tewkesbury,
When Oxford had me down, he rescued me,
And said “Dear brother, live, and be a king”?
Who told me, when we both lay in the field
Frozen almost to death, how he did lap me
Even in his garments and did give himself,
All thin and naked, to the numb-cold night?
All this from my remembrance brutish wrath
Sinfully plucked, and not a man of you
Had so much grace to put it in my mind.
But when your carters or your waiting vassals
Have done a drunken slaughter and defaced
The precious image of our dear Redeemer,
You straight are on your knees for pardon, pardon,
And I, unjustly too, must grant it you.
Stanley rises
But for my brother, not a man would speak,
Nor I, ungracious, speak unto myself
For him, poor soul. The proudest of you all
Have been beholding to him in his life,
Yet none of you would once beg for his life.
O God, I fear Thy justice will take hold
On me and you, and mine and yours for this!—
Come, Hastings, help me to my closet.—
Ah, poor Clarence.
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Exeunt some with KING EDWARD IV and QUEEN ELIZABETH
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Exeunt some with KING EDWARD IV and QUEEN ELIZABETH
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RICHARD This is the fruits of rashness. Marked you not
How that the guilty kindred of the queen
Looked pale when they did hear of Clarence' death?
O, they did urge it still unto the king.
145 God will revenge it. Come, lords, will you go
To comfort Edward with our company?
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RICHARD This is the fruits of rashness. Marked you not
How that the guilty kindred of the queen
Looked pale when they did hear of Clarence' death?
O, they did urge it still unto the king.
God will revenge it. Come, lords, will you go
To comfort Edward with our company?
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BUCKINGHAM We wait upon your Grace.
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BUCKINGHAM We wait upon your Grace.
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Exeunt
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Exeunt
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