Page 1144 - Shakespeare - Vol. 1

II MURDERER

And that same vengeance doth He hurl on thee, [190]
For false forswearing, and for murder too:
Thou didst receive the sacrament to fight
In quarrel of the House of Lancaster.

I MURDERER

And like a traitor to the name of God
Didst break that vow, and with thy treacherous blade [195]
Unrip’st the bowels of thy sovereign’s son.

II MURDERER

Whom thou wast sworn to cherish and defend.

I MURDERER

How canst thou urge God’s dreadful law to us,
When thou hast broke it in such dear degree?

CLARENCE

Alas, for whose sake did I that ill deed? [200]
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,
O know you yet, He doth it publicly; [205]
Take not the quarrel from His powerful arm.
He needs no indirect or lawless course
To cut off those that have offended Him.

I MURDERER

Who made thee then a bloody minister,
When gallant-springing, brave Plantagenet, [210]
That princely novice, was struck dead by thee?

CLARENCE

My brother’s love, the devil, and my rage.

I MURDERER

Thy brother’s love, our duty, and thy faults
Provoke us hither now to slaughter thee.