Page 1141 - Shakespeare - Vol. 1

II MURDERER

I’ll not meddle with it; 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 [130]
lie with his neighbour’s wife but it detects it. ’Tis a blushing, shamefaced
spirit, that mutinies in a man’s bosom. It fills a man full of obstacles; it
made me once restore a purse of gold that by chance I found. It beggars
any man that keeps it; it is turned out of towns [135] and cities for a
dangerous thing; and every man that means to live well endeavours to
trust to himself, and live without it.

I MURDERER

Zounds, ’tis even now at my elbow, [140] persuading me not to kill the
Duke.

II MURDERER

Take the devil in thy mind, and believe him not: he would insinuate with
thee but to make thee sigh.

I MURDERER

I am strong-framed; he cannot prevail with me.

II MURDERER

Spoke like a tall man that respects thy reputation! Come, shall we fall to
work? [145]

I MURDERER

Take him on the costard with the hilts of thy sword, and then throw him
into the malmsey-butt in the next room.

II MURDERER

Oh excellent device! and make a sop of him.

I MURDERER

Soft, he wakes. [150]

II MURDERER

Strike!

I MURDERER

No, we’ll reason with him.