RENUCHIO. After his breath was gone, Forced perforce thus from his panting breast, Straight they despoiled him; and not alone Contented with his death, on the dead corpse, Which ravenous beasts forbear to lacerate, Even upon this our villains fresh begun To show new cruelty; forthwith they pierce His naked belly, and unripp'd it so, That out the bowels gush'd. Who can rehearse Their tyranny, wherewith my heart yet bleeds? The warm entrails were torn out of his breast, Within their hands trembling, not fully dead; His veins smok'd, his bowels all-to reeked, Ruthless were rent, and thrown about the place: All clottered lay the blood in lumps of gore, Sprent[80] on his corpse, and on his paled face; His trembling heart, yet leaping, out they tore, And cruelly upon a rapier They fix'd the same, and in this hateful wise Unto the king this heart they do present: A sight long'd for to feed his ireful eyes. The king perceiving each thing to be wrought As he had will'd, rejoicing to behold Upon the bloody sword the pierced heart, He calls then for this massy cup of gold, Into the which the woful heart he cast; And reaching me the same: now go, quoth he, Unto my daughter, and with speedy haste Present her this, and say to her from me, Thy father hath here in this cup thee sent That thing to joy and comfort thee withal, Which thou lovedst best, even as thou wert content To comfort him with his chief joy of all. CHORUS. O hateful fact! O passing cruelty! O murder wrought with too much hard despite! O heinous deed, which no posterity Will once believe! RENUCHIO. Thus was Earl Palurin Strangled unto the death, yea, after death His heart and blood disbowell'd from his breast. But what availeth plaint? It is but breath Forewasted all in vain. Why do I rest Here in this place? Why go I not, and do The hateful message to my charge committed? O, were it not that I am forced thereto By a king's will, here would I stay my feet, Ne one whit farther wade in this intent! But I must yield me to my prince's hest; Yet doth this somewhat comfort mine unrest, I am resolv'd her grief not to behold, But get me gone, my message being told. Where is the princess' chamber? CHORUS. Lo, where she comes. ACT V., SCENE 2. GISMUND _cometh out of her chamber, to whom_ RENUCHIO _delivereth his cup, saying_: RENUCHIO. Thy father, O queen, here in this cup hath sent The thing to joy and comfort thee withal Which thou lovedst best, even as thou wast content To comfort him with his chief joy of all.