QUEEN ELIZABETH A holy day shall this be kept hereafter:
I would to God all strifes were well compounded.
My sovereign liege, I do beseech your majesty
To take our brother Clarence to your grace.
GLOUCESTER Why, madam, have I offer'd love for this
To be so bouted in this royal presence?
Who knows not that the noble duke is dead?
[They all start]
You do him injury to scorn his corse.
RIVERS Who knows not he is dead! who knows he is?
QUEEN ELIZABETH All seeing heaven, what a world is this!
BUCKINGHAM Look I so pale, Lord Dorset, as the rest?
DORSET Ay, my good lord; and no one in this presence
But his red colour hath forsook his cheeks.
KING EDWARD IV Is Clarence dead? the order was reversed.
GLOUCESTER But he, poor soul, by your first order died,
And that a winged Mercury did bear:
Some tardy cripple bore the countermand,
That came too lag to see him buried.
God grant that some, less noble and less loyal,
Nearer in bloody thoughts, but not in blood,
Deserve not worse than wretched Clarence did,
And yet go current from suspicion!
[Enter DERBY]
DORSET A boon, my sovereign, for my service done!
KING EDWARD IV I pray thee, peace: my soul is full of sorrow.
DORSET I will not rise, unless your highness grant.
KING EDWARD IV Then speak at once what is it thou demand'st.
DORSET The forfeit, sovereign, of my servant's life;
Who slew to-day a righteous gentleman
Lately attendant on the Duke of Norfolk.
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