2 Murd. And he, that hath commanded, is our king. Clar. Erroneous vaffal! the great King of kings Hath in the table of his law commanded, That thou shalt do no murder; Wilt thou then Take heed; for he holds vengeance in his hand, 2 Murd. And that fame vengeance doth he hurl on thee, For false forfwearing, and for murder too: i Murd. And, like a traitor to the name of God, Didft break that vow; and, with thy treacherous blade, Unrip'dft the bowels of thy fovereign's fon. 2 Murd. Whom thou waft fworn to cherish and defend. 1 Murd. How canft thou urge God's dreadful law to us, When thou haft broke it in fuch dear degree? Clar. Alas! for whofe fake did I that ill deed? If God will be avenged for the deed, O, know you yet, he doth it publickly; Take not the quarrel from his powerful arm; I Murd. Who made thee then a bloody minifter, When gallant-fpringing', brave Plantagenet, 3 -Springing Plantagenet,] Blooming Plantagenet; a prince in the spring of life. JOHNSON. When gallant, fpringing,] This fhould be printed as one word, I think gallant-fpringing. Shakspeare is fond of thefe compound epithets, in which the first adjective is to be confidered as an adverb. So, in this play he uses childish-foolish, fenfelessobftinate and mortal-faring. TxRWHITT, That That princely novice, was ftruck dead by thee? Clar. My brother's love, the devil, and my rage. Murd. 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, 2 Murd. You are deceiv'd, your brother Glofter hates you. Clar. 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 York Blefs'd 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 Glofter think on this, and he will weep. 1 Murd. Ay, mill-ftones; as he leffon'd us to weep. Clar. O, do not flander him, for he is kind. 1 Murd. Right, as fnow in harvest.-Come, you deceive yourself; "Tis he that fends us to deftroy you here. Clar. 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 Murd. Why, fo he doth, when he delivers you From this earth's thraldom to the joys of heaven. 2 Murd. Make peace with God, for you muft die, my lord. Clar. Haft thou that holy feeling in thy foul, To counsel me to make my peace with God, • —novice,—] Youth; one yet new to the world. JOHNSON. If you are hired for meed, go back again.] The quarto of 1613, reads- -for need,-which may be right. If it be neceffity which induces you to undertake this murder MALONE. And And art thou yet to thy own foul fo blind, To do this deed, will hate you for the deed. Clar. Relent, and save your fouls. 1 Murd. Relent! 'tis cowardly, and womanish. Come thou on my fide, and entreat for me: 2 Murd. —and fave your fouls, &c.] The fix following lines are not in the old edition. POPE. They are not neceffary, but fo forced in, that fomething feems omitted to which these lines are the answer. JOHNSON. 7 what beggar pities not?] I cannot but fufpect that the lines, which Mr. Pope obferved not to be in the old edition, are now misplaced, and should be inferted here, fomewhat after this manner: Clar. A begging prince what beggar pities not? Clar. Which of you, if you were a prince's fon, &c. Upon this provocation, the villain naturally strikes him. JOHNSON. Mr. Pope's note is not accurately stated. I believe this paffage fhould be regulated thus. Clar. Relent and fave your fouls. 1 Vil. Relent! 'tis cowardly and womanish. Clar. Not to relent is beastly, favage, devilish. Which of you if you were a prince's fon Being pent If two fuch Would not intreat for life? My friend, I fpy O, if thine eye VOL. VII. E Come 2 Murd. Look behind you, my lord. ferve, I Murd. Take that, and that; if all this will not [Stabs him. I'll drown you in the malmfey-butt within. [Exit. 2 Murd. A bloody deed, and defperately dif patch'd! How fain, like Pilate, would I wash my hands Re-enter first Murderer. 1 Murd. How now? what mean'st thou, that thou help'ft me not? By heaven, the duke shall know how flack you have been. 2 Murd. I would he knew, that I had fav'd his bro ther! Take thou the fee, and tell him what I fay; For I repent me that the duke is flain. [Exit. I Murd. So do not I; go, coward, as thou art.Well, I'll go hide the body in fome 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, with the body. Come thou on my fide, and intreat for me, As you would beg, were you in my diftrefs. A begging prince what beggar pities not? TYRWHITT. A begging prince what beggar pities not?] To this in the quarto, the murderer replies: I, thus and thus: if this will not ferve, I'll chop thee in the malmefey but in the next roome. and then ftabs him. STEEVENS, ACT ACT II. SCENE I. The Court. Enter King Edward fick, the Queen, Dorfet, Rivers, Haftings, Buckingham, Grey, and others. K. Edw. Why, fo:-now have I done a good day's work ; You peers, continue this united league: From my Redeemer to redeem me hence; Riv. By heaven, my foul is purg'd from grudging hate; And with my hand I feal my true heart's love." K. Edw. Take heed, you dally not before your king; Left he, that is the fupreme King of kings, Haft. So profper I, as I fwear perfect love! Queen. There, Haftings;-I will never more re member Our former hatred, So thrive I, and mine! |