Беспокойное бессмертие: 450 лет со дня рождения Уильяма Шекспира

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

’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