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2 Murd. Andhe, that hath commanded, is our king. Clar. Erroneous vassal! the great King of kings Hath in the table of his law commanded, That thou shalt do no murder; Wilt thou 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.

2 Murd. And that fame vengeance doth he hurl on

thee,

For false forswearing, and for murder too:
Thou didst receive the facrament, to fight
In quarrel of the house of Lancaster.

1 Murd. And, like a traitor to the name of God, Didst break that vow; and, with thy treacherous

blade,

Unrip'dft the bowels of thy sovereign's fon.

2 Murd. Whom thou walt sworn to cherish and defend.

1 Murd. How canst thou urge God's dreadful law

to us,

When thou hast broke it in such dear degree?
Clar. Alas! for whose fake did I that ill deed?
For Edward, for my brother, for his fake:
He fends you not to murder me for this;
For in that fin he is as deep as I.
If God will be avenged for the deed,
O, know you yet, he doth it publickly;
Take not the quarrel from his powerful arm;
He needs no indirect nor lawless course,
To cut off those that have offended him.

I Murd. Who made thee then a bloody minister, When gallant-springing', brave Plantagenet,

3-Springing Plantagenet,] Blooming Plantagenet; a prince in the spring of life. JOHNSON.

When gallant, fpringing,] This should be printed as one word, I think;-gallant-springing. Shakspeare is fond of these compound epithets, in which the first adjective is to be considered as an adverb. So, in this play he uses childish-foolish, fenfelessobftinare and mortal-staring. TYRWHITT,

1.

That

That princely novice, was struck dead by thee? Clar. My brother's love, the devil, and my rage. I Murd. Thy brother'slove, 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.

5

If you are hir'd for meed, go back again, And I will fend you to my brother Glofter; Who shall reward you better for my life, Than Edward will for tidings of my death.

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.

1

Clar. Tell him, when that our princely father York

Bless'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 Gloster think on this, and he will weep.

1 Murd. Ay, mill-stones; as he leffon'd us to weep.
Clar. O, do not slander him, for he is kind.
1 Murd. Right, as snow in harvest.-Come, you

deceive yourself;

"Tis he that sends us to destroy you here.

Clar. It cannot be; for he bewept my fortune, And hugg'd me in his arms, and swore, with fobs, That he would labour my delivery.

1

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 must die,

my lord.

Clar. Hast thou that holy feeling in thy foul, To counsel me to make my peace with God,

1

*-novice,-] Youth; one yet new to the world. JOHNSON. 5 If you are hired for meed, go back again.) The quarto of

1613, reads for need, which may be right. ceffity which induces you to undertake this murder

If it be ne-
MALONE.
And

And art thou yet to thy own foul so blind,
That thou wilt war with God by murdering me?
O, firs, confider, he, that fet you on
To do this deed, will hate you for the deed.
2 Murd. What shall we do?

Clar. Relent, and save your fouls. Which of you, if you were a prince's fon, Being pent from liberty, as I am now, If two fuch murderers as yourselves came to you,Would not intreat for life? as you would beg, Were you in my distress,

1 Murd. Relent! 'tis cowardly, and womanish. Clar. Not to relent, is beastly, favage, devilish.My friend, I spy some pity in thy looks; O, if thine eye be not a flatterer, Come thou on my fide, and entreat for me: A begging prince what beggar pities not?

2 Murd.

and save your souls, &c.] The fix following lines are

not in the old edition. POPE.

They are not necessary, but fo forced in, that something seems omitted to which these lines are the answer. JOHNSON.

1 what beggar pities not?] I cannot but suspect that the lines, which Mr. Pope observed not to be in the old edition, are now misplaced, and should be inserted here, somewhat after this

manner:

Clar. A begging prince what beggar pities not?
Vil. A begging prince!

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 passage

should be regulated thus.

Clar. Relent and save your fouls.

1 Vil. Relent! 'tis cowardly and womanish.

Clar. Not to relent is beastly, savage, devilish.

Which of you if you were a prince's fon

Being pent

If two fuch

Would not intreat for life?

My friend, I spy

O, if thine eye

VOL. VII.

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2 Murd. Look behind you, my lord. I Murd. Take that, and that; if all this will not serve, [Stabs him. I'll drown you in the malmsey-butt within. [Exit. 2 Murd. A bloody deed, and desperately difpatch'd!

How fain, like Pilate, would I wash my hands
Of this most grievous guilty murder done!

Re-enter first Murderer.

Murd. How now? what mean'st thou, that thou help'st 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 brother! 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 distress.

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 serve,

I'll chop thee in the malmesey but in the next roome.

and then stabs him. STEEVENS,

ACT

:

ACT II.

SCENE Ι.

The Court.

Enter King Edward fick, the Queen, Dorset, Rivers, Hastings, Buckingham, Grey, and others.

K. Edw. Why, fo:-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 now in peace my foul 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.

Riv. By heaven, my foul is purg'd from grudging

hate;

And with my hand I seal my true heart's love.
Haft. So thrive I, as I truly swear the like!

K. Edw. Take heed, you dally not before your

king;

Left he, that is the supreme King of kings,
Confound your hidden falfhood, and award
Either of you to be the other's end.

Haft. So profper I, as I swear perfect love! Riv. And I, as I love Hastings with my heart! K. Edw. Madam, yourself are notexempt in this, Nor your fon 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. There, Haftings;-I will never more re

member

Our former hatred, So thrive I, and mine!

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