Page 910 - Shakespeare - Vol. 1

GLOUCEST ER Stabs him.

I’ll hear no more: die, prophet, in thy speech,

For this, amongst the rest, was I ordained.

KING HENRY

Ay, and for much more slaughter after this,
O God forgive my sins, and pardon thee! [60]

Dies.

GLOUCEST ER

What, will the aspiring blood of Lancaster
Sink in the ground? I thought it would have mounted.
See how my sword weeps for the poor king’s death!
O may such purple tears be alway shed
From those that wish the downfall of our house! [65]
If any spark of life be yet remaining,
Down, down to hell, and say I sent thee thither -

Stabs him again.
I that have neither pity, love, nor fear.
Indeed ’tis true Henry told me of,
For I have often heard my mother say [70]
I came into the world with my legs forward.
Had I not reason, think ye, to make haste
And seek their ruin that usurped our right?
The midwife wondered and the women cried
‘O Jesus bless us, he is born with teeth!’ [75]
And so I was, which plainly signified
That I should snarl, and bite, and play the dog.
Then, since the heavens have shaped my body so,
Let hell make crook’d my mind to answer it.
I had no father, I am like no father; [80]
I have no brother, I am like no brother;
And this word ‘love’, which greybeards call divine,
Be resident in men like one another
And not in me: I am myself alone.
Clarence, beware: thou keep’st me from the light; [85]
But I will sort a pitchy day for thee,
For I will buzz abroad such prophecies
That Edward shall be fearful of his life
And then, to purge his fear, I’ll be thy death.