CLARENCE

His Majesty tendering my persons safety, Hath appointed this Conduct, to convey me to the Tower Because my name is George. Yea Richard, when I know: but I protest As yet I do not: But as I can learn, He hearkens after Prophecies and Dreams, And from the Crossrow plucks the letter G: And says, a Vizard told him, that by G, His issue disinherited should be. And for my name of George begins with G, It follows in his thought, that I am he. These (as I learn) and such Like toys as these, Hath moved his Highness to commit me now. By heaven, I think there is no man secure But the Queens Kindred, and nightwalking Heralds, That trudge betwixt the King, and Mistress Shore. Herd you not what and humble Suppliant Lord Hastings was, for her delivery? I know it pleases neither of us well. I must perforce: Farewell. Oh, I have passed a miserable night, So full of fearful Dreams, of ugly sights, That as I am a Christian faithful man, I would not spend another such a night Though 'twere to buy a world of happy days: So full of dismal terror was the time. Me thoughts that I had broken from the Tower, And was embarked to cross to Burgundy, And in my company my Brother Glouster, Who from my Cabin tempted me to walk, Upon the Hatches: There we looked towards England, And cited up a thousand heavy times, During the wars of York and Lancaster That had befallen us. As we paced along Upon the giddy footing of the Hatches, Me thought that Glouster stumbled, and in falling Struck me (that thought to stay him) overboard, Into the tumbling billows of the main. Oh Lord, me thought what pain it was to drown, What dreadful noise of water in mine ears, What sights of ugly death within mine eyes. Me thoughts, I saw a thousand fearful wracks: A thousand men that Fish gnawed upon: Wedges of Gold, great Anchors, heaps of Pearl, Inestimable Stones, valued Jewels, All scattered in the bottom of the Sea, Some lay in dead-men's Skulls, and in the holes Where eyes did once inhabit, there were crept (As 'twere in scorn of eyes) reflecting Gems, That wooed the slimy bottom of the deep, And mocked the dead bones that lay scattered by. Me thought I had, and often did I strive To yield the Ghost: but still the envious Flood Stopped in my soul, and would not let it forth To find the empty, vast, and wandering air: But smothered it within my panting bulk, Who almost burst, to belch it in the Sea. Ah Keeper, Keeper, I have done these things (That now give evidence against my Soul) For Edwards sake, and see how he requits me. Oh God! if my deep prayres cannot appease thee, But thou wilt be avenged on my misdeeds, Yet execute thy wrath in me alone: Oh spare my guiltless Wife, and my poor children. Keeper, I prithee fit by me awhile, My Soul is heavy, and I feign would sleep. Where art thou Keeper? Give me a cup of wine. In Gods name, what art thou? But not as I am Royal. Thy voice is Thunder, but thy looks are humble. How darkly, and how deadly dost thou speak? Your eyes do menace me: why look you pale? Who sent you hither? Wherefore do you come? To murder me? You scarcely have the hearts to tell me so, And therefore cannot have the hearts to do it. Wherein my Friends have I offended you? I shall be reconciled to him again. Are you drawn forth among a world of men To slay the innocent? What is my offence? Where is the Evidence that does accuse me? What lawful Quest have given their Verdict up Unto the frowning Judge? Or who pronounced The bitter sentence of poor Clarence death, Before I be convict by course of Law? To threaten me with death, is most unlawful. I charge you, as you hope for any goodness, That you depart, and lay no hands on me: The deed you undertake is damnable. Erroneous Vassals, the great King of Kings Hath in the Table of his Law commanded That thou shalt do no murder. Will you then Spurn at his Edict, and fulfil a Men? Take heed: for he holds Vengeance in his hand, To hurl upon their heads that break his Law. Alas! for whose sake did I that ill deed? For Edward, for my Brother, for his sake. He sends you not to murder me for this: For in that sin, he is as deep as I. If God will be avenged for the deed, Oh know you yet, he does it publicly, Take not the quarrel from his powerful arm: He needs no indirect, or lawless course, To cut off those that have offended him. My Brother's love, the Devil, and my Rage. If you do love my Brother, hate not me: I am his Brother, and I love him well. If you are hired for meed; go back again, And I will send you to my Brother Glouster: Who shall reward you better for my life, Then Edward will for tidings of my death. O no, he loves me, and he holds me deer; Go you to him from me. Tell him, when that our Princely Father York, Blessed his three Sons with his victorious Arm, He little thought of this divided Friendship: Bid Glouster think on this, and he will weep. Oh do not slander him, for he is kind. It cannot be, for he be wept my Fortune, And hugged me in his arms, and swore with sobs, That he would labour my delivery. Have you that holy feeling in your souls, To counsel me to make my peace with God, And are you yet to your own souls so blind, That you will war with God, by murdering me. Oh sirs consider, they that set you on To do this deed, will hate you for the deed. Not to relent, is beastly, savage, devilish: My Friend, I spy some pity in thy looks: Oh, if thine eye be not a Flatterer, Come thou on my side, and entreat for me, A begging Prince, what beggar pities not. We know thy charge Brakenbury, and will obey. No, no, my Dream was lengthened after life. Oh then, began the Tempest to my Soul I passed (me thought) the Melancholy Flood, With that sour Ferryman which Poets write of, Unto the Kingdom of perpetual Night. The first that there did greet my Stranger-soule, Was my great Father-in-Law, renowned Warwick, Who spoke aloud: What scourge for Perjury, Can this dark Monarchy afford false Clarence ? And so he vanished. Then came wandering by, A Shadow Like and Angel, with bright hair Dabbel'd in blood, and he shrieked out aloud Clarence is come, false, fleeting, perjured Clarence, That stabbed me in the field by Tewksbury: Seize on him Furies, take him unto Torment. With that (me thought) a Legion of foul Fiends Environed me, and howled in mine ears Such hideous cries, that with the very Noise, I (trembling) waked, and for a season after, Could not believe, but that I was in Hell, Such terrible Impression made my Dream. Relent, and save your souls: Which of you, if you were a Princes Son, Being penned from Liberty, as I am now, If two such murderers as your selves came to you, Would not entreat for life, as you would beg Were you in my distress.