And will avouch his saying with the sword, QUEEN. Lord Mortimer, now take him to your charge. Enter SOLDIERS with the EARL of KENT, prisoner. Y. MOR. What traitor have we there with blades and bills? SOL. Edmund, the earl of Kent. KING. What hath he done? SOL. He would have taken the king away perforce, As we were bringing him to Killingworth. Y. MOR. Did you attempt his rescue, Edmund? speak. KENT. Mortimer, I did; he is our king, And thou compell'st this prince to wear the crown. 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 com mand; But seeing I cannot, I'll intreat for him My lord, if you will let my uncle live, Y. MOR. "Tis for your highness' good, and for the How often shall I bid you bear him hence? KENT. Art thou king? must I die at thy command? Y. MOR. At our command! once more, away with him. KENT. Let me but stay and speak; I will not go. Either my brother or his son is king, And neither of them thirst for Edmund's blood. [They hale Kent away, and carry him to be 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 liv'd, he would have sought thy death. Come, son, we'll ride a hunting in the park. KING. And shall my uncle Edmund ride with us? QUEEN. He is a traitor, think not on him; come. [Exeunt omnes. SCENE V. Enter MATREVIS and GURNEY. MAT. Gurney, I wonder the king dies not, That were enough to poison any man, MAT. He hath a body able to endure GUR. Send for him out thence, and I will anger him. MAT. But stay, who's this? Enter LIGHTBORN. LIGHT. My lord protector greets you. 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. LIGHT. Know ye this token? I must have the king. MAT. Ay, stay awhile, thou shalt have answer straight. 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. What else? here is the keys, this is the lake, 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, GUR. Need you any thing besides? LIGHT. Aye, aye; so, when I call you, bring it in. GUR. Here's a light; go into the dungeon. LIGHT. So now must I about this geer, ne'er was there any So finely handled as this king shall be. Foh, here's a place indeed, with all my heart! EDW. Who's there? what light is that? wherefore com'st thou ? LIGHT. To comfort you, and bring you joyful news. 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! And what eyes can refrain from shedding tears, EDW. Weep'st thou already? list awhile to me, And then thy heart, were it as Gurney's is, Or as Matrevis', hewn from the Caucasus, Yet will it melt, ere I have done my tale. This dungeon where they keep me, is the sink, Wherein the filth of all the castle falls. EDW. And there, in mire and puddle have I stood This ten day' space; and, lest that I should sleep, One plays continually upon a drum. They give me bread and water, being a king; And there unhors'd the duke of Cleremont. Lie on this bed, and rest yourself awhile. EDW. These looks of thine can harbour nought but death: I see my tragedy written in thy brows. thus? EDW. What mean'st thou to dissemble with me thus? LIGHT. These hands were never stain'd with innocent blood, |