his? Y. Mor. Strike off his head, he shall have martial law. Kent. Strike off my head! base traitor, I defy thee. King. Sweet mother, if I cannot pardon him, Queen. Son, be content; I dare not speak a word. King. Nor I, and yet methinks I should command; But, seeing I cannot, I'll entreat for him,— My lord, if you will let my uncle live, I will requite it when I come to age. 90 Y. Mor. 'Tis for your highness' good, and for the realm's. How often shall I bid you bear him hence? 100 Kent. Art thou king? must I die at thy command? him. Kent. Let me but stay and speak; I will not go. And none of both them thirst for Edmund's blood. [They hale KENT away, and carry him to be beheaded. King. What safety may I look for at his hands, If that my uncle shall be murdered thus? Queen. Fear not, sweet boy, I'll guard thee from thy foes; Had Edmund lived, he would have sought thy death. 110 King. And shall my uncle Edmund ride with us? Queen. He is a traitor; think not on him; come. [Exeunt omnes. SCENE V. Enter 1 MATREVIS and GURNEY. Mat. Gurney, I wonder the king dies not, Mat. He hath a body able to endure More than we can inflict: and therefore now Gur. Send for him out thence, and I will Enter LIGHTBORN. Light. My Lord Protector greets you. anger him. Gur. What's here? I know not how to construe it. Mat. Gurney, it was left unpointed for the nonce; Edwardum occidere nolite timere, That's his meaning. 10 Light. Know ye this token? I must have the king. Mat. I, stay awhile, thou shalt have answer straight. 20 1 Scene: Berkeley Castle. VOL. II. P This villain's sent to make away the king. Gur. I thought as much. Mat. And when the murder's done, See how he must be handled for his labour. [Aside. [Aside. [Aside. What else? here is the keys, this is the lake,1 Do as you are commanded by my lord. Light. I know what I must do; get you away. Yet be not far off, I shall need your help; See that in the next room I have a fire, And get me a spit, and let it be red-hot. Mat. Very well. Gur. Need you anything besides? Light. What else? A table and a feather-bed. Light. I, I; so, when I call you, bring It in. Mat. Fear not thou that. Gur. Here's a light, To go into the dungeon. Light. So now 30 [Gives light, and exit with MATREVIS. Must I about this gear ; ne'er was there any Foh, here's a place indeed, with all my heart! Edw. Who's there? what light is that? wherefore com'st thou? 1 I.e., the dungeon full of mire and puddle. But perhaps we should read "lock." 2 A curtain is drawn and the king is discovered in the dungeon. 3 Business. Light. To comfort you, and bring you joyful news. 40 Edw. Small comfort finds poor Edward in thy looks. Villain, I know thou com'st to murder me. Light. To murder you, my most gracious lord! The queen sent me to see how you were used, And what eyes can refrain from shedding tears, Edw. Weep'st thou already? list awhile to me. Light. O villains! Edw. And there in mire and puddle have I stood They give me bread and water, being a king; As doth this water from my tattered 1 robes. Tell Isabel, the queen, I looked not thus, 1 So eds. 1598, 1612.-Ed. 1622 "tottered." 50 60 Light. O speak no more, my lord! this breaks my heart. Lie on this bed,1 and rest yourself awhile, Edw. These looks of thine can harbour nought but death: I see my tragedy written in thy brows. 70 Yet stay; awhile forbear thy bloody hand, And let me see the stroke before it comes, That 2 even then when I shall lose my life, Light. What means your highness to mistrust me thus ? thus? Light. These hands were never stained with innocent blood, Nor shall they now be tainted with a king's. 79 Edw. Forgive my thought 3 for having such a thought. One jewel have I left, receive thou this. [Giving jewel. Still fear I, and I know not what's the cause, But every joint shakes as I give it thee. O, if thou harbour'st murder in thy heart, Let this gift change thy mind, and save thy soul ! 1 The feather-bed mentioned in 1. 32. "It was no doubt thrust upon the stage from the wing after the exit of Gurney and Matrevis."-Dyce. 2 Old eds. "That and even." 3 Mr. Fleay would read “fau't" (i.e. fault), comparing Richard III, ii. 1, 104 :-" His fault was thought.' So ed. 1598.-Omitted in eds. 1612, 1622. |