earls and barons and the commonalty of the realm, according as it hath been heretofore accustomed. THE MURDER OF THE KING (1327). SOURCE.--Christopher Marlowe's _Edward the Second_ (1592). ACT V., SCENE 5. SCENE: _In Berkeley Castle_. (MATREVIS and GURNEY having received the BISHOP OF HEREFORD'S well-known cryptic message, through the hands of LIGHTBORN, a creation of MARLOWE'S own mind, the KING is called up from the dungeon.) KING EDWARD. And there in mire and puddle, have I stood This ten days' space; and lest that I should sleep, One plays continually upon a drum; They give me bread and water, being a King; So that for want of sleep and sustenance My mind's distempered and my body's numbed, And whether I have limbs or no I know not. O, would my blood dropp'd out from every vein, As doth this water from my tattered robes! Tell Isabel, the Queen, I look'd not thus, When for her sake I ran at tilt in France, And there unhors'd the Duke of Cleremont. LIGHTBORN. O, speak no more, my lord! this breaks my heart. Lie on this bed, and rest yourself awhile. K. EDW. These looks of thine can harbour nought but death; I see my tragedy written in thy brows. Yet stay a while; forbear thy bloody hand, And let me see the stroke before it comes, That even then when I shall lose my life My mind may be more steadfast on my God. LIGHT. What means your highness to mistrust me thus? K. EDW. What mean'st thou to dissemble with me thus? LIGHT. These hands were never stained with innocent blood, Nor shall they now be tainted with a King's. K. EDW. Forgive my thought for having such a thought. One jewel have I left; receive thou this: (_Giving jewel._) Still fear I, and I know not what's the cause, But every joint shakes as I give it thee. O, if thou harbour'st murder in thy heart, Let this gift change thy mind, and save thy soul! Know that I am a King: O, at that name I feel a hell of grief! Where is my crown? Gone, gone! and do I remain alive? LIGHT. You're overwatch'd, my lord; lie down and rest. K. EDW. But that grief keeps one waking, I should sleep; For not ten days have these eye-lids clos'd. Now, as I speak, they fall; and yet with fear Open again. O wherefore sitt'st thou here? LIGHT. If thou mistrust me, I'll be gone, my lord. K. EDW. No, no; for if thou mean'st to murder me, Thou wilt return again; and therefore stay. (_Sleeps._) LIGHT. He sleeps. K. EDW. (_waking_) O! Let me die; yet stay, O stay a while! LIGHT. How now, my lord? K. EDW. Something still buzzeth in mine ears, And tells me, if I sleep, I never wake; This fear is that which makes me tremble thus; And therefore tell me, wherefore art thou come? LIGHT. To rid thee of thy life.--Matrevis, come. _Enter_ MATREVIS _and_ GURNEY. K. EDW. I am too weak and feeble to resist.-- Assist me, sweet God, and receive my soul! LIGHT. Run for the table.