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44

And that a winged Mercury did bear;

Some tardy cripple bare the countermand,

That came too lag to see him buried.

God grant that some, less noble and less loyal,

Nearer in bloody thoughts, and not in blood,

Deserve not worse than wretched Clarence did,

And yet go current from suspicion.

Der. A boon, my sovereign, for my service done!

K. Edw. I prithee, peace: my soul is full of sorrow.

Der. I will not rise, unless your highness hear me.

K. Edw. Then say at once, what is it thou request'st.

Der. The forfeit, sovereign, of my servant's life;

Who slew to-day a riotous gentleman

Lately attendant on the Duke of Norfolk.

K. Edw. Have I a tongue to doom my brother's death,

And shall that tongue give pardon to a slave?

My brother kill'd no man, his fault was thought;

And yet his punishment was bitter death.

Who su'd to me for him? who, in my wrath,

Kneel'd at my feet, and bid me be advis'd?

Who spoke of brotherhood? who spoke of love?

Who told me how the poor soul did forsake

The mighty Warwick, and did fight for me?

Who told me, in the field at Tewkesbury,

When Oxford had me down, he rescu'd me,

And said, 'Dear brother, live, and be a king'?

Who told me, when we both lay in the field,

Frozen almost to death, how he did lap me

 90 bare: bore

91 lag: late

93 blood: relationship

95 go suspicion; ''cf. n.''

104 pardon slave; cf. n.

108 be advis'd: deliberate

113 Oxford; cf. n.

116 lap: enwrap

