3 But smother'd it within my panting bulk, I pass'd, methought, the melancholy flood, The first that there did greet my stranger soul, Brak. No marvel, lord, though it affrighted you; Clar. O, Brakenbury, I have done these things, That now give evidence against my soul, - For Edward's sake; and, see, how he requites me! --O God! if my deep prayers cannot appease thee, But thou wilt be aveng'd on my misdeeds, Yet execute thy wrath on me alone : O, spare my guiltless wife, and my poor children! — I pray thee, gentle keeper, stay by me; My soul is heavy, and I fain would sleep. 3 within my panting bulk,] Bulk is often used by Shakspeare and his contemporaries for body. THAT STABB'D ME IN THE FIELD BY TEWKSBURY, London, Published by F. C& J. Rivington, and Partners. Feb 1822 Brak. I will, my lord; God give your grace good rest![CLARENCE reposes himself on a Chair. Sorrow breaks seasons, and reposing hours, Makes the night morning, and the noon-tide night. They often feel a world of restless cares : Enter the Two Murderers. 1 Murd. Ho! who's here? Brak. What would'st thou, fellow? and how cam'st thou hither? 1 Murd. I would speak with Clarence, and I came hither on my legs. Brak. What, so brief? 2 Murd. O, sir, 'tis better to be brief than tedious: Let him see our commission +; talk no more. [A Paper is delivered to BRAKENBURY, who Brak. I am, in this, commanded to deliver That thus I have resign'd to you my charge. ‡ [Exit BRAKENBURY. 2 Murd. What, shall we stab him as he sleeps? 1 Murd. No; he'll say, 'twas done cowardly, when he wakes. + "Show him our commission;"-MALONE. "my charge to you." MALONE. 2 Murd. When he wakes! why, fool, he shall never wake until the great judgment day. 1 Murd. Why, then he'll say, we stabb'd him sleeping. 2 Murd. The urging of that word, judgment, hath bred a kind of remorse in me. 1 Murd. What? art thou afraid? 2 Murd. Not to kill him, having a warrant for it; but to be damn'd for killing him, from the which no warrant can defend me. 1 Murd. I thought, thou had'st been resolute. 2 Murd. So I am, to let him live. 1 Murd. I'll back to the duke of Gloster, and tell him so. 2 Murd. Nay, I pr'ythee, stay a little: I hope †, this holy humour of mine will change; it was wont to hold me but while one would tell twenty. 1 Murd. How dost thou feel thyself now? 2 Murd. 'Faith, some certain dregs of conscience are yet within me. 1 Murd. Remember our reward, when the deed's done. 2 Murd. Come, he dies; I had forgot the reward. 1 Murd. Where's thy conscience now? 2 Murd. In the duke of Gloster's purse. 1 Murd. So, when he opens his purse to give us our reward, thy conscience flies out. 2 Murd. 'Tis no matter; let it go; there's few or none, will entertain it. 1 Murd. What, if it come to thee again? 2 Murd. I'll not meddle with it, it is a dangerous thing, it makes a man a 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-faced spirit, that ተ my holy humour," &c. - MALONE. |