Беспокойное бессмертие: 450 лет со дня рождения Уильяма Шекспира

Ah keeper, keeper, I have done these things
Which now bear evidence against my soul
For Edward’s sake, and see how he requites me.
O God, if my deep prayers cannot appease thee,
But thou wilt be avenged on my misdeeds,
Yet execute thy wrath in me alone.
Oh, spare my guiltless wife and my poor children.
Keeper, I prithee sit by me awhile.
My soul is heavy, and I fain would sleep.

Keeper

I will, my lord. God give your grace good rest.

^{Enter Brakenbury, the Lieutenant.}

Brakenbury

Sorrow breaks seasons and reposing hours,
Makes the night morning, and the noontide night.
Princes have but their titles for their glories,
An outward honour for an inward toil,
And for unfelt imaginations
They often feel a world of restless cares;
So that between their titles and low name
There’s nothing differs but the outward fame.

^{Enter two Murderers.}

First Murderer

Ho, who’s here?

Brakenbury

What wouldst thou, fellow? And how cam’st thou hither?

Second Murderer

I would speak with Clarence, and I came hither on my legs.

Brakenbury

What, so brief?

First Murderer

ʼTis better, sir, than to be tedious.
Let him see our commission, and talk no more.

^{Brakenbury reads.}

Brakenbury

I am in this commanded to deliver
The noble Duke of Clarence to your hands.
I will not reason what is meant hereby,
Because I will be guiltless from the meaning.
There lies the duke asleep, and there the keys.
I’ll to the king and signify him
That thus I have resigned to you my charge.

First Murderer

You may, sir, ʼtis a point of wisdom. Fare you well.

^{Exeunt Brakenbury and Keeper.}

Second Murderer

What, shall we stab him as he sleeps?

First Murderer

No. He’ll say ʼtwas done cowardly, when he wakes.

Second Murderer

Why, he shall never wake until the great judgement day.

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