Беспокойное бессмертие: 450 лет со дня рождения Уильяма Шекспира

Шекспир Уильям

^{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, ’tis 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 ’twas 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

’Tis 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

’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