Speeches (Lines) for Second Murderer
in "Richard III"
Total: 30

1

I,4,923

Sir Robert Brakenbury. Yea, are you so brief?

Second Murderer. O sir, it is better to be brief than tedious. Show
him our commission; talk no more.

2

I,4,935

(stage directions). [Exit BRAKENBURY]

Second Murderer. What, shall we stab him as he sleeps?

3

I,4,937

First Murderer. No; then he will say 'twas done cowardly, when he wakes.

Second Murderer. When he wakes! why, fool, he shall never wake till
the judgment-day.

4

I,4,940

First Murderer. Why, then he will say we stabbed him sleeping.

Second Murderer. The urging of that word 'judgment' hath bred a kind
of remorse in me.

5

I,4,943

First Murderer. What, art thou afraid?

Second Murderer. Not to kill him, having a warrant for it; but to be
damned for killing him, from which no warrant can defend us.

6

I,4,946

First Murderer. I thought thou hadst been resolute.

Second Murderer. So I am, to let him live.

7

I,4,948

First Murderer. Back to the Duke of Gloucester, tell him so.

Second Murderer. I pray thee, stay a while: I hope my holy humour
will change; 'twas wont to hold me but while one
would tell twenty.

8

I,4,952

First Murderer. How dost thou feel thyself now?

Second Murderer. 'Faith, some certain dregs of conscience are yet
within me.

9

I,4,955

First Murderer. Remember our reward, when the deed is done.

Second Murderer. 'Zounds, he dies: I had forgot the reward.

10

I,4,957

First Murderer. Where is thy conscience now?

Second Murderer. In the Duke of Gloucester's purse.

11

I,4,960

First Murderer. So when he opens his purse to give us our reward,
thy conscience flies out.

Second Murderer. Let it go; there's few or none will entertain it.

12

I,4,962

First Murderer. How if it come to thee again?

Second Murderer. I'll not meddle with it: it is a dangerous thing: it
makes a man a coward: a man cannot steal, but it
accuseth him; he cannot swear, but it cheques him;
he cannot lie with his neighbour's wife, but it
detects him: 'tis a blushing shamefast spirit that
mutinies in a man's bosom; it fills one full of
obstacles: it made me once restore a purse of gold
that 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.

13

I,4,976

First Murderer. 'Zounds, it is even now at my elbow, persuading me
not to kill the duke.

Second Murderer. Take the devil in thy mind, and relieve him not: he
would insinuate with thee but to make thee sigh.

14

I,4,980

First Murderer. Tut, I am strong-framed, he cannot prevail with me,
I warrant thee.

Second Murderer. Spoke like a tail fellow that respects his
reputation. Come, shall we to this gear?

15

I,4,985

First Murderer. Take him over the costard with the hilts of thy
sword, and then we will chop him in the malmsey-butt
in the next room.

Second Murderer. O excellent devise! make a sop of him.

16

I,4,987

First Murderer. Hark! he stirs: shall I strike?

Second Murderer. No, first let's reason with him.

17

I,4,989

George Plantagenet (Duke of Clarence). Where art thou, keeper? give me a cup of wine.

Second Murderer. You shall have wine enough, my lord, anon.

18

I,4,991

George Plantagenet (Duke of Clarence). In God's name, what art thou?

Second Murderer. A man, as you are.

19

I,4,993

George Plantagenet (Duke of Clarence). But not, as I am, royal.

Second Murderer. Nor you, as we are, loyal.

20

I,4,995

George Plantagenet (Duke of Clarence). Thy voice is thunder, but thy looks are humble.

Second Murderer. My voice is now the king's, my looks mine own.

21

I,4,1007

George Plantagenet (Duke of Clarence). I shall be reconciled to him again.

Second Murderer. Never, my lord; therefore prepare to die.

22

I,4,1021

First Murderer. What we will do, we do upon command.

Second Murderer. And he that hath commanded is the king.

23

I,4,1028

George Plantagenet (Duke of Clarence). Erroneous vassal! the great King of kings
Hath in the tables of his law commanded
That thou shalt do no murder: and wilt thou, then,
Spurn at his edict and fulfil a man's?
Take heed; for he holds vengeance in his hands,
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.

24

I,4,1035

First Murderer. And, like a traitor to the name of God,
Didst break that vow; and with thy treacherous blade
Unrip'dst the bowels of thy sovereign's son.

Second Murderer. Whom thou wert sworn to cherish and defend.

25

I,4,1059

George Plantagenet (Duke of Clarence). Oh, if you 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.

26

I,4,1076

George Plantagenet (Duke of Clarence). It cannot be; for when I parted with him,
He hugg'd me in his arms, and swore, with sobs,
That he would labour my delivery.

Second Murderer. Why, so he doth, now he delivers thee
From this world's thraldom to the joys of heaven.

27

I,4,1085

George Plantagenet (Duke of Clarence). Hast thou that holy feeling in thy soul,
To counsel me to make my peace with God,
And art thou yet to thy own soul so blind,
That thou wilt war with God by murdering me?
Ah, sirs, consider, he that set you on
To do this deed will hate you for the deed.

Second Murderer. What shall we do?

28

I,4,1098

George Plantagenet (Duke of Clarence). Not to relent is beastly, savage, devilish.
Which of you, if you were a prince's son,
Being pent from liberty, as I am now,
if two such murderers as yourselves came to you,
Would not entreat for life?
My friend, I spy some pity in thy looks:
O, if thine eye be not a flatterer,
Come thou on my side, and entreat for me,
As you would beg, were you in my distress
A begging prince what beggar pities not?

Second Murderer. Look behind you, my lord.

29

I,4,1103

(stage directions). [Exit, with the body]

Second Murderer. A bloody deed, and desperately dispatch'd!
How fain, like Pilate, would I wash my hands
Of this most grievous guilty murder done!

30

I,4,1109

First Murderer. How now! what mean'st thou, that thou help'st me not?
By heavens, the duke shall know how slack thou art!

Second Murderer. I would he knew that I had saved his brother!
Take thou the fee, and tell him what I say;
For I repent me that the duke is slain.