The tyrannous and bloody deed is done. The most arch of piteous massacre That ever yet this land was guilty of. Dighton and Forrest, whom I did suborn To do this ruthless piece of butchery, Although they were flesh’d villains, bloody dogs, Melting with tenderness and kind compassion Wept like two children in their deaths’ sad stories. ’Lo, thus’ quoth Dighton, ’lay those tender babes:’ ’Thus, thus,’ quoth Forrest, ’girdling one another Within their innocent alabaster arms: Their lips were four red roses on a stalk, Which in their summer beauty kiss’d each other. A book of prayers on their pillow lay; Which once,’ quoth Forrest, ’almost changed my mind; But O! the devil’--there the villain stopp’d Whilst Dighton thus told on: ’We smothered The most replenished sweet work of nature, That from the prime creation e’er she framed.’ Thus both are gone with conscience and remorse; They could not speak; and so I left them both, To bring this tidings to the bloody king. And here he comes.
The bloody and tyrannical deed is done. The most horrible massacre That this land has ever been guilty of. Dighton and Forrest, whom I bribed To carry out this heartless act of murder, Even though they were wicked men, cruel dogs, Were moved with pity and kindness And wept like children as they told their stories. "Look," Dighton said, "lay these innocent babes down:" "Yes, yes," Forrest said, "holding each other In their pure white arms. Their lips were like two red roses on a stem, That kissed each other in their summer beauty. A book of prayers lay on their pillow; Which once," Forrest said, "almost made me change my mind; But oh! the devil..."—there the villain stopped While Dighton continued: "We smothered The most perfect creation of nature, That ever she made since the beginning of time." And so both men are gone, full of guilt and remorse; They couldn’t say a word; and I left them there, To bring this news to the bloody king. And here he comes.
James Tyrrel · Act 4, Scene 3
Tyrrel describes in horrifying detail the murder of the two young princes, how even the hired killers wept at the beauty and innocence of their victims. The speech endures because it transforms the murder into an act of cosmic evil—even villains cannot perform it without being moved to tears. It shows that Richard has crossed a line from which no redemption is possible.
