Imagini ale paginilor
PDF
ePub

What may be wrought out of their discontent :
Now that their souls are topfull of offence,
For England go; I will whet, on the King.
Lew. Strong reasons make strong actions;
Let us go;

If you say, ay, the King will not say, no.
Exeunt.

[blocks in formation]

Northampton. A Room in the Castle.

Enter HUBERT, and two Attendants.

Hub. Heat me these irons hot; and, look thou stand

Within the arras: when I strike my foot
Upon the bosom of the ground, rush forth;
And bind the boy, which you shall find with

me,

Fast to the chair: be heedful: hence, and watch. 1 Attend. I hope, your warrant will bear out the deed.

Hub. Uncleanly scruple! Fear not you: look

to't

[Exeunt Attendants. Young lad, come forth; I have to say with you.

Enter ARTHUR.

Arth, Good morrow, Hubert.

Hub. Good morrow, little Prince.

Arth. As little Prince (having so great a title To be more Prince,) as may be. You are sad. Hub. Indeed, I have been merrier.

Arth. Mercy on me!

Methinks, no body should be sad but I:
Yet, I remember, when I was in France,
Young gentlemen would be as sad as night,
Only for wantonness. By my christendom,
So I were out of prison, and kept sheep,
I should be as merry as the day is long;
And so I would be here, but that I doubt
My uncle practises more harm to me:
He is afraid of me, and 1 of him:

Is it my fault that I was Geffrey's son?

No, indeed, is't not; And I would to heaven, I were your son, so you would love me, Hu bcrt.

Hub. If I talk to him, with his innocent prate He will awake my mercy, which lies dead; Therefore I will be sudden, and despatch.

[Aside Arth. Are you sick, Hubert? you look pale to-day :

In sooth, I would you were a little sick;
That I might sit all night, and watch with you:
I warrant, 1 love you more than you do me,
Hub. His words do take possession of my

bosom.

Read here, young Arthur. [Showing a paper.} How now, foolish rheum!

Turning dispiteous torture out of door!

[Aside,

I must be brief; lest resolution drop
Out at mine eyes, in tender womanish tears,
Can you not read it? is it not fair writ?

Arth. Too fairly, Hubert, for so foul effect: Must you with hot irons burn out both mine eyes?

Hub. Young boy, I must.

Arth. And will you?

Hub. And I will.

Arth. Have you the heart? When your head did but ake,

I knit my handkerchief about your brows,
(The best I had, a Princess wrought it me,)
And I did never ask it you again:

And with my hand at midnight held your head;
And, like the watchful minutes to the hour,
Still and anon cheer'd up the heavy time;
Saying, What lack you? and, Where lies your

grief?

Or, What good love may I perform for you?
Many a poor man's son would have lain still,
And ne'er have spoke a loving word to you;
But you at your sick service had a Prince.
Nay, you may think, my love was crafty love,
And call it, cunning; Do,
an if will:
If heaven be pleas'd that you must use me ill,
Will you put out mine
eyes?

Why, then you must.

[ocr errors]

you

These eyes, that never did, nor never shall,
So much as frown on you?

Hub. I have sworn to do it;

And with hot irons must I burn them out.
Arth. Ah, none, but in this iron age,

1

do it!

would

The iron of itself, though heat red-hot, Approaching near these eyes, would drink my

tears,

And quench his firy indignation,

Even in the matter of mine innocence:
Nay, after that, consume away in rust,
But for containing fire to harm mine eye.
Are you
more stubborn-hard than hammer'd

iron?

An if an angel should have come to me,
And told me, Hubert should put out mine eyes,
I would not have believ'd no tongue, but Hu-
bert's.

Hub. Come forth.

[Stamps.

Re-enter Attendants, with cords, irons, &c.

Do as I bid you do.

Arth. O, save me, Hubert, save me! my

eyes are out,

Even with the fierce looks of these bloody men. Hub. Give me the iron, I say, and bind him here.

Arth. Alas, what need you be so boist'rousrough?

I will not struggle, I will stand stone-still. For heaven's sake, Hubert, let me not be bound! Nay, hear me, Hubert! drive these men away, And I will sit as quiet as a lamb;

I will not stir, nor wince, nor speak a word, Nor look upon the iron angerly:

Thrust but these men away, and I'll forgive

you,

Whatever torment you do put me to.

Hub. Go, stand within; let me alone with him.

1 Attend. I am best pleas'd to be from such a deed. [Exeunt Attendants. Arth. Alas! I then have chid away my friend; He hath a stern look, but a gentle heart :Let him come back, that his compassion may Give life to yours.

Hub. Come, boy, prepare yourself.
Arth. Is there no remedy?

Hub. None, but to lose your eyes.
Arth. O heaven! that there were but a mote
in yours,

A grain, a dust, a gnat, a wand'ring hair,
Any annoyance in that precious sense!
Then, feeling what small things are boist❜rous
there,

Your vile intent must needs seem horrible.
Hub. Is this your promise? go to, hold your

tongue.

Arth. Hubert, the utterance of a brace of tongues

Must needs want pleading for a pair of eyes:
Let me not hold my tongue; let me not, Hu-
bert!

Or, Hubert, if you will, cut out my tongue,
So I may keep mine eyes; O, spare mine eyes:
Though to no use, but still to look on you!
Lo, by my troth, the instrument is cold,
And would not harm me.

Hub. I can heat it, boy.

Arth. No, in good sooth; the fire is dead with grief,

Being create for comfort, to be us'd

In undeserv'd extremes: See else yourself;
There is no malice in this burning coal;

The breath of heaven hath blown his spirit out,
And strew'd repentant ashes on his head.

Hub. But with my breath I can revive it, boy. Arth. And if you do, you will but make it blush,

And glow with shame of your proceedings, Hu

bert:

Nay, it, perchance, will sparkle in your eyes; And, like a dog that is compell'd to fight, Snatch at his master that doth tarre him on.

« ÎnapoiContinuă »