Scene Three
[The Same]
Enter Tyrrell.
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 4
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. 8
'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, 12
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; 16
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; 20
They could not speak; and so I left them both,
To bear this tidings to the bloody king:
And here he comes.
Enter Richard.
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
