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FIRST MURDERER.

Remember our reward, when the deed's done.

SECOND MURDERER.

Zounds, he dies; I had forgot the reward.

FIRST MURDERER.

Where's thy conscience now?

SECOND MURDERER.

O, in the Duke of Gloucester's purse!

FIRST MURDERER.

When he opens his purse to give us our

reward, thy conscience flies out.

SECOND MURDERER.

'Tis no matter; let it go; there's few or

none will entertain it.

FIRST MURDERER.

What if it come to thee again?

SECOND MURDERER.

I'll not meddle with it-it makes a man

coward: a man cannot steal, but it accuseth him; a man

cannot swear, but it checks him; a man cannot lie with his

neighbour's wife, but it detects him. 'Tis a blushing shame-

fac'd spirit that mutinies in a man's bosom; it fills a man

full of obstacles: it made me once restore a purse of gold

that-by chance I found. It beggars any man that keeps it.

It is turn'd out of towns and cities for a dangerous thing;

and every man that means to live well endeavours to trust

to himself and live without it.

FIRST MURDERER.

Zounds, 'tis even now at my elbow,

persuading me not to kill the Duke.

SECOND MURDERER.

Take the devil in thy mind and believe

him not; he would insinuate with thee but to make the sigh.

FIRST MURDERER.

I am strong-fram'd; he cannot prevail with me.

SECOND MURDERER.

Spoke like a tall man that respects thy

reputation. Come, shall we fall to work?

FIRST MURDERER.

Take him on the costard with the hilts of

thy sword, and then chop him in the malmsey-butt in the next room.

SECOND MURDERER.

O excellent device! and make a sop of him.

FIRST MURDERER.

Soft! he wakes.

SECOND MURDERER.

Strike!

FIRST MURDERER.

No, we'll reason with him.

CLARENCE.

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

SECOND MURDERER.

You shall have wine enough, my lord, anon.

CLARENCE.

In God's name, what art thou?

FIRST MURDERER.

A man, as you are.

CLARENCE.

But not as I am, royal.

SECOND MURDERER.

Nor you as we are, loyal.

CLARENCE.

Thy voice is thunder, but thy looks are humble.

FIRST MURDERER.

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

CLARENCE.

How darkly and how deadly dost thou speak!

Your eyes do menace me. Why look you pale?

Who sent you hither? Wherefore do you come?

SECOND MURDERER.

To, to, to-

CLARENCE.

To murder me?

BOTH MURDERERS.

Ay, ay.

CLARENCE.

You scarcely have the hearts to tell me so,

And therefore cannot have the hearts to do it.

Wherein, my friends, have I offended you?

FIRST MURDERER.

Offended us you have not, but the King.

CLARENCE.

I shall be reconcil'd to him again.

SECOND MURDERER.

Never, my lord; therefore prepare to die.

CLARENCE.

Are you drawn forth among a world of men

To slay the innocent? What is my offence?

Where is the evidence that doth accuse me?

What lawful quest have given their verdict up

Unto the frowning judge, or who pronounc'd

The bitter sentence of poor Clarence' death?

Before I be convict by course of law,

To threaten me with death is most unlawful.

I charge you, as you hope to have redemption

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

That you depart and lay no hands on me.

The deed you undertake is damnable.

FIRST MURDERER.

What we will do, we do upon command.

SECOND MURDERER.

And he that hath commanded is our King.

CLARENCE.

Erroneous vassals! the great King of kings

Hath in the tables 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.

SECOND MURDERER.

And that same vengeance doth he hurl on thee

For false forswearing, and for murder too;

Thou didst receive the sacrament to fight

In quarrel of the house of Lancaster.

FIRST MURDERER.

And like a traitor to the name of God

Didst break that vow; and with thy treacherous blade

Unripp'dst the bowels of thy sov'reign's son.

SECOND MURDERER.

Whom thou wast sworn to cherish and defend.

FIRST MURDERER.

How canst thou urge God's