Cuts for Act 2, Scene 1

Rules for cuts:
If possible, we will provide the entire speech that contains the cuts.  If a
cut goes across speeches, we will provide enough before and after to show
how it fits in context.  We will provide the page number and the line # where
we start the current speech (not the line where the cuts begin).  If a speech contains
several cuts, we will indicate them in the same section and not one at a time.  If
a whole section of the scene contains suts, we will not break it up, but keep
the section intact and indicate cuts throughout the section.

Cuts are preceded by a '[' and end with a ']'.  If multiple speeches are cut, each
speech will be bracketed separately.
 

Page 45 - Top of Page

KING EDWARD IV

Why, so. Now have I done a good day's work:
You peers, continue this united league:
[I every day expect an embassage
From my Redeemer to redeem me hence;
And now in peace my soul shall part to heaven,
Since I have set my friends at peace on earth.]
Rivers and Hastings, take each other's hand;
Dissemble not your hatred, swear your love.
 
 
Page 46 - after line 31

BUCKINGHAM

Whenever Buckingham doth turn his hate
Upon Your Grace, but with all duteous love
Doth cherish you and yours, God punish me
With hate in those where I expect most love!
When I have most need to employ a friend,
And most assured that he is a friend
Deep, hollow, treacherous, and full of guile,
Be he unto me! this do I beg of God.
[When I am cold in zeal to yours.]

Page 47 - after line 52

GLOUCESTER

A blessed labour, my most sovereign lord.
Amongst this princely heap, if any here,
By false intelligence, or wrong surmise,
Hold me a foe;
If I unwittingly, or in my rage,
Have aught committed that is hardly borne
By any in this presence, I desire
To reconcile me to his friendly peace:
'Tis death to me to be at enmity;
I hate it, and desire all good men's love.
First, madam, I entreat true peace of you,
[Which I will purchase with my duteous service;
Of you, my noble cousin Buckingham,
If ever any grudge were lodged between us;
Of you, Lord Rivers, and, Lord Grey, of you;
That without desert have frown'd on me;]
Dukes, earls, lords, gentlemen; indeed, of all.
[I do not know that Englishman alive
With whom my soul is any jot at odds
More than the infant that is born to-night.]
I thank my God for my humility.
 
QUEEN ELIZABETH
[A holy day shall this be kept hereafter:
I would to God all strifes were well compounded.]
My sovereign lord, I do beseech Your Highness
To take our brother Clarence to your grace.
 
Page 48 - after line 102

KING EDWARD IV

Have I a tongue to doom my brother's death,
And shall the same give pardon to a slave?
My brother slew no man; his fault was thought,
And yet his punishment was bitter death.
Who sued to me for him? Who, in my wrath,
Kneel'd at my feet, and bid me be advised
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 by Tewksbury
When Oxford had me down, he rescued 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
Even in his own garments, and gave himself,
All thin and naked, to the numb cold night?]
All this from my remembrance brutish wrath
Sinfully pluck'd, and not a man of you
Had so much grace to put it in my mind.
But when your carters or your waiting-vassals
Have done a drunken slaughter, and defaced
The precious image of our dear Redeemer,
You straight are on your knees for pardon, pardon;
And I unjustly too, must grant it you
But for my brother not a man would speak,
Nor I, ungracious, speak unto myself
For him, poor soul. The proudest of you all
Have been beholding to him in his life;
Yet none of you would once plead for his life.
O God, I fear thy justice will take hold
On me, and you, and mine, and yours for this!
Come, Hastings, help me to my closet.
Ah, poor Clarence!