Page:Richard III (1927) Yale.djvu/112

98 

Tyr. The tyrannous and bloody act is done;

The most arch deed of piteous massacre

That ever yet this land was guilty of.

Dighton and Forrest, whom I did suborn

To do this piece of ruthful butchery,

Albeit they were flesh'd villains, bloody dogs,

Melted with tenderness and mild compassion,

Wept like to children in their death's sad story.

'Oh! thus,' quoth Dighton, 'lay the gentle babes:'

'Thus, thus,' quoth Forrest, 'girdling one another

Within their alabaster innocent arms:

Their lips were four red roses on a stalk,

And in their summer beauty kiss'd each other.

A book of prayers on their pillow lay;

Which one,' quoth Forrest, 'almost chang'd my mind;

But, O, the devil'—there the villain stopp'd;

When Dighton thus told on: 'We smothered

The most replenished sweet work of nature,

That from the prime creation e'er she fram'd.'

Hence both are gone with conscience and remorse;

They could not speak; and so I left them both,

To bear this tidings to the bloody king:

And here he comes.

All health, my sovereign lord!

 2 arch: principal

4 suborn: procure by bribery

5 ruthful: pitiable

6 flesh'd: hardened; cf. n.

8 in: in relating

9 Dighton; cf. n.

10 Forrest; cf. n.

11 alabaster: marble-white

18 replenished: complete, perfect

19 prime: first in time

fram'd: formed

20 gone: completely overcome

