Беспокойное бессмертие: 450 лет со дня рождения Уильяма Шекспира

First Murderer

’Tis 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.

Second Murderer

Nor you, as we are, loyal.

Clarence

Thy voice is thunder, but thy looks are humble.

Second Murderer

My voice is now the king’s, my looks mine own.

Clarence

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?

Second Murderer

To, to, to —

Clarence

To murder me?

Both

Ay, ay.

Clarence

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?

First Murderer

Offended us you have not, but the king.

Clarence

I shall be reconciled to him again.

Second Murderer

Never, my lord. Therefore prepare to die.

Clarence

Are you drawn forth among a world of men To slay the innocent? What is my offence? Where are the evidence that doth 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, By Christ’s dear blood shed for our grievous sins, That you depart and lay no hands on me. The deed you undertake is damnable.

First Murderer

What we will do, we do upon command.

Second Murderer

And he that hath commanded is our king.

Clarence

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 man’s? Take heed, for he holds vengeance in his hand To hurl upon their heads that break his law.

Second Murderer

And that same vengeance doth he hurl on thee For false forswearing and for murder, too. Thou didst receive the holy sacrament to fight In quarrel of the house of Lancaster.

First Murderer

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

Second Murderer

Whom thou wert sworn to cherish and defend.

First 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? 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 aveng`ed for the deed, Oh, know you yet, he doth it publicly. Take not the quarrel from his powerful arm. He needs no indirect nor lawless course To cut off those that have offended him.

First Murderer

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

Clarence

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

First Murderer

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

Clarence

If you do love my brother, hate not me. I am his brother, and I love him well. If you be hired for meed, go back again, And I will send you to my brother Gloucester, Who shall reward you better for my life Than Edward will for tidings of my death.

Second Murderer

You are deceived. Your brother Gloucester hates you.

Clarence

Oh, no, he loves me, and he holds me dear. Go you to him from me.