First Murderer
Why, then he’ll say we stabbed him sleeping.
Second Murderer
The urging of that word judgment hath bred a kind of remorse in me.
First Murderer
What? Art thou afraid?
Second Murderer
Not to kill him, having a warrant,
But to be damned for killing him, from the which
No warrant can defend me.
First Murderer
I thought thou hadst been resolute.
Second Murderer
So I am, to let him live.
First Murderer
I’ll back to the Duke of Gloucester and tell him so.
Second Murderer
Nay, I prithee, stay a little.
I hope this passionate humour of mine will change.
It was wont to hold me but while one tells twenty.
First Murderer
How dost thou feel thyself now?
Second Murderer
Some certain dregs of conscience are yet within me.
First Murderer
Remember our reward when the deed’s done.
Second Murderer
Come, he dies. I had forgot the reward.
First Murderer
Where’s thy conscience now?
Second Murderer
In the Duke of Gloucester’s purse.
First Murderer
So when he opens his purse to give us our reward, thy conscience flies out.
Second Murderer
ʼTis no matter, let it go. There’s few or none will entertain it.
First Murderer
What if it come to thee again?
Second 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 lie with his neighbour’s wife, but it detects him. ’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 all towns and cities for a dangerous thing, and every man that means to live well endeavours to trust to himself and to live without it.
First Murderer
ʼTis even now at my elbow, persuading me not to kill the duke.
Second Murderer
Take the devil in thy mind, and believe him not. He would insinuate with thee but to make thee sigh.
First Murderer
I am strong framed, he cannot prevail with me.
Second Murderer
Spoke like a tall man that respects thy reputation. Come, shall we fall to work?
First Murderer
Take him over the costard with the hilts of thy sword, and then throw him in the malmsey butt in the next room.
Second Murderer
Oh, excellent devise. And make a sop of him.
First Murderer
Soft, he wakes.
Second Murderer
Strike!
First Murderer
No, we’ll reason with him.
Clarence
Where art thou, keeper? Give me a cup of wine.
Second Murderer
You shall have wine enough, my lord, anon.
Clarence
In God’s name, what art thou?
Second Murderer
A man, as you are.
Clarence
But not, as I am, royal.