le; 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 stain'd 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: [_Gives 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 [still] remain alive?
_Light._ You're overwatch'd, my lord: lie down and rest.
_K. Edw._ But that grief keeps me waking, I should sleep;
For not these 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 you 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 not die yet! 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.
_K. Edw._ O, spare me, or despatch me in a trice!
[_Matrevis brings in a table. King Edward is murdered
by holding him down on the bed with the table, and
stamping on it._
_Light._ So, lay the table down, and stamp on it,
But not too hard, lest that you bruise his body.
_Mat._ I fear me that this cry will raise the town,
And therefore let us take horse and away.
_Light._ Tell me, sirs, was it not bravely done?
_Gur._ Excellent well: take this for thy reward.
[_Stabs Lightborn, who dies._
Come, let us cast the body in t