Why looks your grace so heavily today?

Oh, I have passed a miserable night,

1.4.4839784So full of ugly sights, of ghastly dreams,

1.4.5840785That as I am a Christian, faithful man

1.4.6841786I would not spend another such a night

1.4.7842787Though 'twere to buy a world of happy days,

1.4.8843788So full of dismal terror was the time.

What was your dream? I long to hear you tell it.

Methoughts I was embarked for Burgundy,

1.4.11847791And in my company my brother Gloucester

1.4.12848792Who from my cabin tempted me to walk

1.4.13849793Upon the hatches; thence we looked toward England

1.4.14850794And cited up a thousand fearful times

1.4.15851795During the wars of York and Lancaster

1.4.16852796That had befallen us. As we paced along

1.4.17853797Upon the giddy footing of the hatches

1.4.18854798Methought that Gloucester stumbled, and in stumbling

1.4.19855799Struck me, that thought to stay him, overboard

1.4.20856800Into the tumbling billows of the main.

1.4.21857801Lord, Lord, methought what pain it was to drown,

1.4.22858802What dreadful noise of waters in my ears,

1.4.23859803What ugly sights of death within my eyes:

1.4.24860804Methought I saw a thousand fearful wracks,

1.4.25861805Ten thousand men that fishes gnawed upon,

1.4.26862806Wedges of gold, great anchors, heaps of pearl,

1.4.27863807Inestimable stones, unvalued jewels;

1.4.28865808Some lay in dead men's skulls, and in those holes

1.4.29866809Where eyes did once inhabit, there were crept,

1.4.30867810As 'twere in scorn of eyes, reflecting gems

1.4.31868811Which wooed the slimy bottom of the deep

1.4.32869812And mocked the dead bones that lay scattered by.

Had you such leisure in the time of death

1.4.34871814To gaze upon the secrets of the deep?

Methought I had, 873for still the envious flood

1.4.36874816Kept in my soul, and would not let it forth

1.4.37875817To seek the empty, vast and wandering air,

1.4.38876818But smothered it within my panting bulk

1.4.39877819Which almost burst to belch it in the sea.

Awaked you not with this sore agony?

Oh no, my dream was lengthened after life.

1.4.42880822Oh, then began the tempest to my soul,

1.4.43881823Who passed, methought, the melancholy flood,

1.4.44882824With that grim ferryman which poets write of,

1.4.45883825Unto the kingdom of perpetual night.

1.4.46884826The first that there did greet my stranger soul

1.4.47885827Was my great father-in-law, renownèd Warwick,

1.4.48886828Who cried aloud, "What scourge for perjury

1.4.49887829Can this dark monarchy afford false Clarence?"

1.4.50888830And so he vanished; then came wandring by

1.4.51889831A shadow like an angel in bright hair,

1.4.52890832Dabbled in blood, and he squeaked out aloud,

1.4.53891833"Clarence is come, false, fleeting, perjured Clarence

1.4.54892834That stabbed me in the field by Tewkesbury.

1.4.55893835Seize on him, Furies, take him to your torments."

1.4.56894836With that, methoughts, a legion of foul fiends

1.4.57895837Environed me about and howled in mine ears

1.4.58896838Such hideous cries that with the very noise

1.4.59897839I trembling waked, and for a season after

1.4.60898840Could not believe but that I was in hell,

1.4.61899841Such terrible impression made the dream.

No marvel, my lord, though it affrighted you.

1.4.63901843I promise you, I am afraid to hear you tell it.

O Brakenbury, I have done those things

1.4.65903845Which now bear evidence against my soul

1.4.66904846For Edward's sake, and see how he requites me.

1.4.67909847I pray thee, gentle keeper, stay by me;

1.4.68910848My soul is heavy and I fain would sleep.

I will, my lord, God give your grace good rest.

1.4.71913850Sorrow breaks seasons, and reposing hours

1.4.72914851Makes the night morning and the noontide night.

1.4.73915852Princes have but their titles for their glories,

1.4.74916853An outward honor for an inward toil,

1.4.75917854And for unfelt imagination

1.4.76918855They often feel a world of restless cares;

1.4.77919856So that betwixt their titles and low names

1.4.78920857There's nothing differs but the outward fame.

1.4.80923859In God's name, what are you, and how came 924you hither?

I would speak with Clarence, and I came hi926ther on my legs.

Yea, are you so brief?

Oh sir, it is better to be brief than tedious.

1.4.84929863[To the first executioner] Show him our commission, talk no more.

I am in this commanded to deliver

1.4.87931865The noble Duke of Clarence to your hands.

1.4.88932866I will not reason what is meant hereby

1.4.89933867Because I will be guiltless of the meaning.

1.4.90934868Here are the keys, there sits the Duke asleep;

1.4.91935869I'll to his majesty, and certify his grace

1.4.92936870That thus I have resigned my charge to you.

Do so, it is a point of wisdom.

What, shall I stab him as he sleeps?

No, then he will say it was done cowardly when he wakes.

When he wakes? Why, fool, he shall never wake till the judg942ment day.

Why, then he will say we stabbed him sleeping.

The urging of that word "judgment" hath bred a 945kind of remorse in me.

What? Art thou afraid?

Not to kill him, having a warrant for it, 948but to be damned for killing him, from which 949no warrant can defend us.

Back to the Duke of Gloucester, tell him so.

I pray thee stay a while, 954I hope my holy humor will change; 955'twas wont to hold me but while one would tell twenty.

How dost thou feel thyself now?

Faith, some certain dregs of conscience are yet with958in me.

Remember our reward when the deed is done.

Zounds, he dies! I had forgot the reward.

Where is thy conscience now?

In the Duke of Gloucester's purse.

So when he opens his purse to give us our reward, 964thy conscience flies out.

Let it go, there's few or none will 966entertain it.

How if it come to thee again?

I'll not meddle with it, it is a dangerous thing. It makes a man a coward: 969a man cannot steal but it accuses him; he cannot 970swear but it checks him; he cannot lie with his 971neighbor's wife but it detects him. It is a blushing 972shamefaced spirit that mutinies in a man's bosom: it 973fills one full of obstacles. It made me once restore a 974purse of gold that I found. It beggars any 975man that keeps it: it is turned out of all towns and cit976ies for a dangerous thing, and every man that means to 977live well endeavors to trust to himself, and to live with978out it.

Zounds, it is even now at my elbow persuading me not to 980kill the Duke.

Take the devil in thy mind and believe him not. 982He would insinuate with thee to make thee sigh.

Tut, I am strong in fraud, he cannot prevail with me, I warrant thee.

Spoke like a tall fellow that respects his reputation. 985Come, shall we to this gear?

Take him over the costard with the hilts of thy 987sword, and then we will chop him in the malmsey butt in 988the next room.

Oh, excellent device, make a sop of him.

Hark, he stirs, 991shall I strike?

No, first let's reason with him.

Where art thou, keeper, give me a cup of wine.

You shall have wine enough, my lord, anon.

In God's name, what art thou?

A man, as you are.

But not as I am, royal.

Nor you as we are, loyal.

Thy voice is thunder, but thy looks are humble.

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

How darkly and how deadly dost thou speak.

1.4.1321003929Tell me who are you, wherefore come you hither?

To, to, to. . .

To murder me?

1.4.1351006Both Aye.

You scarcely have the hearts to tell me so,

1.4.1371008933And therefore cannot have the hearts to do it.

1.4.1381009934Wherein, my friends, have I offended you?

Offended us you have not, but the King.

I shall be reconciled to him again.

Never, my lord, therefore prepare to die.

Are you called forth from out a world of men

1.4.1431014939To slay the innocent? What is my offence?

1.4.1441015940Where are the evidence that do accuse me?

1.4.1451016941What lawful quest have given their verdict up

1.4.1461017942Unto the frowning judge, or who pronounced

1.4.1471018943The bitter sentence of poor Clarence' death

1.4.1481019944Before I be convict by course of law?

1.4.1491020945To threaten me with death is most unlawful.

1.4.1501021946I charge you as you hope to have redemption,

1.4.1511021.1947By Christ's dear blood shed for our grievous sins,

1.4.1521022948That you depart and lay no hands on me.

1.4.1531023949The deed you undertake is damnable.

What we will do, we do upon command.

And he that hath commanded is the King.

Erroneous vassal, the great King of Kings

1.4.1571027953Hath in the tables of his law commanded

1.4.1581028954That thou shalt do no murder, and wilt thou then

1.4.1591029955Spurn at his edict and fulfill a man's?

1.4.1601030956Take heed, for he holds vengeance in his hands

1.4.1611031957To hurl upon their heads that break his law.

And that same vengeance doth he throw on thee

1.4.1631033959For false forswearing, and for murder too.

1.4.1641034960Thou didst receive the holy sacrament

1.4.1651035961To fight in quarrel of the House of Lancaster . . .

And like a traitor to the name of God

1.4.1671037963Didst break that vow, and with thy treacherous blade

1.4.1681038964Unripped the bowels of thy sovereign's son. . .

Whom thou wert sworn to cherish and defend.

How canst thou urge God's dreadful law to us

1.4.1711041967When thou hast broke it in so dear degree?

Alas, for whose sake did I that ill deed?

1.4.1731043969For Edward, for my brother, for his sake.

1.4.1741044970Why, sirs, he sends ye not to murder me for this,

1.4.1751045971For in this sin he is as deep as I.

1.4.1761046972If God will be revengèd for this deed,

1.4.1771048973Take not the quarrel from his powerful arm.

1.4.1781049974He needs no indirect nor lawless course

1.4.1791050975To cut off those that have offended him.

Who made thee then a bloody minister

1.4.1811052977When gallant, springing, brave Plantagenet,

1.4.1821053978That princely novice, was struck dead by thee?

My brother's love, the devil, and my rage.

Thy brother's love, the devil and thy fault

1.4.1851056981Have brought us hither now to murder thee.

Oh, if you love my brother, hate not me;

1.4.1871058983I am his brother and I love him well.

1.4.1881059984If you be hired for meed, go back again

1.4.1891060985And I will send you to my brother Gloucester

1.4.1901061986Who will reward you better for my life

1.4.1911062987Than Edward will for tidings of my death.

You are deceived, 1064your brother Gloucester hates you.

Oh no, he loves me, and he holds me dear.

1.4.1941066990Go you to him from me.

Aye, so we will.

Tell him, when that our princely father York

1.4.1971069993Blessed his three sons with his victorious arm

1.4.1981069.1994And charged us from his soul to love each other,

1.4.1991070995He little thought of this divided friendship.

1.4.2001071996Bid Gloucester think of this and he will weep.

Aye, millstones, as he lessoned us to weep.

Oh do not slander him for he is kind.

Right, as snow in harvest; 1075thou deceiv'st thyself.

1.4.20410761000'Tis he hath sent us hither now to slaughter thee.

It cannot be, for when I parted with him

1.4.20610781002He hugged me in his arms, and swore with sobs

1.4.20710791003That he would labor my delivery.

Why so he doth, now he delivers thee

1.4.20910811005From this world's thralldom to the joys of heaven.

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

Hast thou that holy feeling in thy soul

1.4.21210841008To counsel me to make my peace with God,

1.4.21310851009And art thou yet to thy own soul so blind

1.4.21410861010That thou wilt war with God by murdering me?

1.4.21510871011Ah sirs, consider, he that set you on

1.4.21610881012To do this deed will hate you for this deed.

What shall we do?

Relent, and save your souls.

Relent, 'tis cowardly and womanish.

Not to relent is beastly, savage, devilish.

1.4.22210981017My friend, I spy some pity in thy looks.

1.4.22310991018Oh, if thy eye be not a flatterer,

1.4.22411001019Come thou on my side and entreat for me;

1.4.22511011020A begging prince, what beggar pities not?

Aye, thus, and thus: if this will not serve,

1.4.22811041022I'll chop thee in the malmsey butt in the next room.

A bloody deed and desperately performed.

1.4.23111061024How fain like Pilate would I wash my hand

1.4.23211071025Of this most grievous, guilty murder done.

Why dost thou not help me?

1.4.23511091027By heavens, the Duke shall know how slack thou 1110art.

I would he knew that I had saved his brother.

1.4.23711121029Take thou the fee and tell him what I say,

1.4.23811131030For I repent me that the Duke is slain.

So do not I; go, coward as thou art.

1.4.24111151032Now must I hide his body in some hole

1.4.24211161033Until the Duke take order for his burial,

1.4.24311171034And when I have my meed I must away

1.4.24411181035For this will out and here I must not stay.