"First Murderer: How dost thou feel thyself now? Second Murderer: Faith, some certain dregs of conscience are yet within me. First Murderer: Remember our reward, when the deed's done. Second Murderer: Zounds, he dies; I had forgot the reward. First Murderer: Where is thy conscience now? Second Murderer: In the Duke of Gloucester's purse. First Murderer: So, when he opens his purse to give us our reward, thy conscience flies out. Second Murderer: Let it go; there's few or none will entertain it. First Murderer: How if it come to thee again? Second Murderer: I'll not meddle with it, it is a dangerous thing, it makes a man a coward; a man cannot steal, but it accuseth him; a man cannot swear, but it checks him; a man cannot lie with his neighbour's wife, but it detects him: 'tis a blushing shame-faced spirit, that mutinies in a man's bosom; it fills one full of obstacles: it made me once restore a purse of gold, that I found; it beggars any man that keeps it: it is turned out of all towns and cities for a dangerous thing; and every man that means to live well, endeavors to trust to himself, and live without it. First Murderer: Zounds, it is even now at my elbow, persuading me not to kill the duke."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
Scene iv
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Richard_III_(play)
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Richard III (play)
61 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Richard III (play) β
Related Quotes
"Now is the winter of our discontent Made glorious summer by this sun of York; And all the clouds, that lour'd upon ouβ¦"
"Lady Anne: Villain, thou know'st no law of God nor man; No beast so fierce but knows some touch of pity. Richard: Butβ¦"
"To leave this keen encounter of our wits."
"Look, how this ring encompasseth thy finger, Even so thy breast encloseth my poor heart; Wear both of them, for both β¦"
"Was ever woman in this humour woo'd? Was ever woman in this humour won? I'll have her; β but I will not keep her long."
"A sweeter and a lovelier gentleman, β Fram'd in the prodigality of nature, Young, valiant, wise, and, no doubt, rightβ¦"
"I cannot tell: the world is grown so bad, That wrens make prey where eagles dare not perch: Since every Jack became aβ¦"
"Thy friends suspect for traitors while thou liv'st, And take deep traitors for thy dearest friends! No sleep close upβ¦"
"But then I sigh, and, with a piece of scripture, Tell them that God bids us do good for evil: And thus I clothe my naβ¦"
"A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!"