To him that did but yesterday suspire, * There was not such a gracious+ creature born. But now will canker sorrow eat my bud, And chase the native beauty from his cheek, And he will look as hollow as a ghost; As dim and meagre as an ague's fit; And so he'll die; and, rising so again, When I shall meet him in the court of heaven I shall not know him: therefore never, never Must I behold my pretty Arthur more. Pand. You hold too heinous a respect of grief. Const. He talks to me, that never had a son. K. Phi. You are as fond of grief as of your child. [child, Const. Grief fills the room up of my absent Lies in his bed, walks up and down with me; Puts on his pretty looks, repeats his words, Remembers me of all his gracious parts, Stuffs out his vacant garments with his form; Then have I reason to be fond of grief. Fare you well: had you such a loss as I, I could give better comfort than you do.- I will not keep this form upon my head,
[Tearing off her head-dress. When there is such disorder in my wit. O lord! my boy, my Arthur, my fair son! My life, my joy, my food, my all the world! My widow-comfort, and my sorrows' cure! [Exit. K. Phi. I fear some outrage, and I'll follow her. [Exit. Lew. There's nothing in this world can make Life is as tedious as a twice-told tale, [me joy: Vexing the dull ear of a drowsy man; [taste, And bitter shame hath spoil'd the sweet world's That it yields naught but shame and bitterness.
Pand. Before the curing of a strong disease, Even in the instant of repair and health, The fit is strongest; evils, that take leave, On their departure most of all show evil : What have you lost by losing of this day?
Lew. All days of glory, joy, and happiness. Pand. If you had won it, certainly, you had. No, no; when fortune means to men most good, She looks upon them with a threatening eye. 'Tis strange to think how much King John hath In this which he accounts so clearly won: [lost Are not you griev'd that Arthur is his prisoner? Lew. As heartily as he is glad he hath him. Pand. Your mind is all as youthful as your blood.
Now hear me speak with a prophetic spirit; For even the breath of what I mean to speak Shall blow each dust, each straw, each little rub, Out of the path which shall directly lead [mark. Thy foot to England's throne; and, therefore, John hath seiz'd Arthur; and it cannot be, That, whiles warm life plays in that infant's veins, The misplac'd John should entertain an hour, One minute, nay, one quiet breath of rest: A sceptre, snatch'd with an unruly hand, Must be as boisterously maintain'd as gain'd: And he that stands upon a slippery place, Makes nice of no vile hold to stay him up: That John may stand, then Arthur needs must So be it, for it cannot be but so.
Lew. But what shall I gain by young Arthur's fall? [wife, Pand. You, in the right of Lady Blanch your May then make all the claim that Arthur did. Lew. And lose it, life and all, as Arthur did. Pand. How green are you, and fresh in this old world!
John lays you plots; the times conspire with you; For he that steeps his safety in true blood,
Shall find but bloody safety, and untrue. This act, so evilly born, shall cool the hearts Of all his people, and freeze up their zeal; That none so small advantage shall step forth, To check his reign, but they will cherish it: No natural exhalation in the sky, No scape of nature, no distemper'd day, No common wind, no customed event, But they will pluck away his natural cause, And call them meteors, prodigies, and signs, Abortives, présages, and tongues of heaven, Plainly denouncing vengeance upon John. [life, Lew. May be, he will not touch young Arthur's But hold himself safe in his prisonment.
Pand. O, sir, when he shall hear of your approach,
If that young Arthur be not gone already, Even at that news he dies: and then the hearts Of all his people shall revolt from him, And kiss the lips of unacquainted change; And pick strong matter of revolt and wrath Out of the bloody fingers'-ends of John. Methinks I see this hurly all on foot : And, O, what better matter breeds for you Than I have nam'd!-The bastard Faulconbridge Is now in England, ransacking the church, Offending charity: If but a dozen French Were there in arms, they would be as a call To train ten thousand English to their side; Or, as a little snow, tumbled about, Anon becomes a mountain. O noble Dauphin, Go with me to the king: 'Tis wonderful 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.
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 scruples! 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 nobody 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 I 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, Hubert. 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 toIn sooth, I would you were a little sick; [day: That I might sit all night, and watch with you: I warrant I 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! Aside.
Turning dispiteous torture out of door! 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.
And I will. [did but ache, Arth. Have you the heart? When your head 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 you will: If heaven be pleas'd that you must use me ill, Why, then you must.-Will you put out mine eyes ?
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. [it! Arth. Ah, none, but in this iron age, would do The iron of itself, though heat red-hot, [tears, Approaching near these eyes, would drink my And quench his fiery 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 him ;-no tongue but Hubert's.
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. [rough! Arth. Alas, what need you be so boist'rous- 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. [him. Hub. Go, stand within; let me alone with
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. [tongues Arth. Hubert, the utterance of a brace of Must needs want pleading for a pair of eyes: Let me not hold my tongue; let me not, Hubert! 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 repentan. 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, [bert: And glow with shame of your proceedings, Hu- 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. All things that you should use to do me wrong, Deny their office: only you do lack That merey which fierce fire and iron extends, Creatures of note, for mercy-lacking uses.
Hub. Well, see to live; I will not touch
For all the treasure that thine uncle owes : + Yet am I sworn, and I did purpose, boy, With this same very iron to burn them out. Arth. O, now you look like Hubert! all this You were disguis'd. [while
Hub. Peace: no more. Adieu; Your uncle must not know but you are dead : I'll fill these dogged spies with false reports. And, pretty child, sleep doubtless, and secure, That Hubert, for the wealth of all the world, Will not offend thee.
Arth. O heaven!-I thank you, Hubert. Hub. Silence; no more: Go closely in with me;
Much danger do I undergo for thee. [Exeunt.
Was once superfluous: you were crown'd before, And that high royalty was ne'er pluck'd off; The faiths of men ne'er stained with revolt; Fresh expectation troubled not the land, With any long'd-for change, or better state. Sal. Therefore, to be possess'd with double pomp,
To guard a title that was rich before, To gild refined gold, to paint the lily, To throw a perfume on the violet, To smooth the ice, or add another hue Unto the rainbow, or with taper-light To seek the beauteous eye of heaven to garnish,+ Is wasteful, and ridiculous excess. [done, Pem. But that your royal pleasure must be This act is as an ancient tale new told; And, in the last repeating, troublesome, Being urged at a time unseasonable.
Sal. In this, the antique and well-noted face Of plain old form is much disfigured: And, like a shifted wind unto a sail,
It makes the course of thoughts to fetch about; Startles and frights consideration; Makes sound opinion sick, and truth suspected, For putting on so new a fashion'd robe.
Pem. When workmen strive to do better than They do confound their skill in covetousness: And, oftentimes, excusing of a fault, Doth make the fault the worse by the excuse; As patches, set upon a little breach, Discredit more in hiding of the fault, Than did the fault before it was so patch'd. Sal. To this effect, before you were new- crown'd, [highness We breath'd our counsel: but it pleas'd your To overbear it; and we are all well pleas'd; Since all and every part of what we would, Doth make a stand at what your highness will. K. John. Some reasons of this double corona- tion
I have possess'd you with, and think them strong; And more, more strong, (when lesser is my fear,) I shall indue you with: Meantime, but ask What you would have reform'd, that is not well: And well shall you perceive, how willingly I will both hear and grant you your requests. Pem. Then I, (as one that am the tongue of these,
To sound the purposes of all their hearts,) Both for myself and them, (but, chief of all, Your safety, for the which myself and them Bend their best studies,) heartily request The enfranchisement of Arthur; whose restraint Doth move the murmuring lips of discontent To break into this dangerous argument, If, what in rest you have, in right you hold, Why then your fears (which, as they say, attend The steps of wrong) should move you to mew up Your tender kinsman, and to choke his days With barbarous ignorance, and deny his youth The rich advantage of good exercise? That the time's enemies may not have this To grace occasions, let it be our suit, That you have bid us ask his liberty; Which for our goods we do no further ask, Than whereupon our weal, on you depending, Counts it your weal, he have his liberty.
K. John. Let it be so; I do commit his youth Enter HUBERT.
To your direction.-Hubert, what news wath you? [deed; Pem. This is the man should do the bloody
*Lace. + Decorate. ? Publish.
+ Desire of excelling. || Owned.
| He show'd his warrant to a friend of mine: The image of a wicked heinous fault Lives in his eye; that close aspect of his Does show the mood of a much-troubled breast, And I do fearfully believe, 'tis done, What we so fear'd he had a charge to do.
Sal. The colour of the king doth come and go, Between his purpose and his conscience, Like heralds 'twixt two dreadful battles set; His passion is so ripe, it needs must break. Pem. And when it breaks, I fear, will issue thence
The foul corruption of a sweet child's death. K. John. We cannot hold mortality's strong hand :-
Good lords, although my will to give is living, The suit which you demand is gone and dead: He tells us, Arthur is deceas'd to-night.
Sal. Indeed, we fear'd his sickness was past cure. [was, Pem. Indeed, we heard how near his death he Before the child himself felt he was sick : This must be answer'd, either here or hence.
K. John. Why do you bend such solemn brows Think you I bear the shears of destiny? [on me? Have I commandment on the pulse of life?
Sal. It is apparent foul play; and 'tis shame That greatness should so grossly offer it: So thrive it in your game! and so farewell. [thee, Pem. Stay yet, Lord Salisbury; I'll go with And find the inheritance of this poor child, His little kingdom of a forced grave. [isle That blood, which ow'd the breath of all this Three foot of it doth hold; Bad world the while! This must not be thus borne: this will break out To all our sorrows, and ere long, I doubt.
[Exeunt Lords. K. John. They burn in indignation; I repent; There is no sure foundation set on blood; No certain life achiev'd by others' death.- Enter a Messenger.
A fearful eye thou hast; Where is that blood That I have seen inhabit in those cheeks? So foul a sky clears not without a storm: Pour down thy weather:-How goes all in France? [a power, Mess. From France to England.-Never such For any foreign preparation, Was levied in the body of a land! The copy of your speed is learn'd by them; For, when you should be told they do prepare, The tidings come that they are all arriv'd.
K. John. O, where hath our intelligence been drunk? [care? Where hath it slept? Where is my mother's That such an army could be drawn in France, And she not hear of it? Mess.
My liege, her ear Is stopp'd with dust; the first of April, died Your noble mother: And, as I hear, my lord, The lady Constance in a frenzy died [tongue Three days before: but this from rumour's I idly heard; if true or false, I know not.
K. John. Withhold thy speed, dreadful occa- sion!
O, make a league with me, till I have pleas'd My discontented peers!-What! mother dead? How wildly then walks my estate in France !- Under whose conduct came those powers of France,
That thou for truth giv'st out, are landed here? Mess. Under the Dauphin.
Enter the Bastard and PETER of Pomfret. K. John.
Thou hast made me giddy
With these ill tidings.-Now, what says the world To your proceedings? do not seek to stuff My head with more ill news, for it is full.
Bast. But if you be afeard to hear the worst, Then let the worst, unheard, fall on your head. K. John. Bear with me, cousin; for I was amaz'd
Under the tide but now I breathe again Aloft the flood; and can give audience To any tongue, speak it of what it will. Bast. How I have sped among the clergymen, The sums I have collected shall express. But, as I travelled hither through the land, I find the people strangely fantasied; Possess'd with rumours, full of idle dreams; Not knowing what they fear, but full of fear: And here's a prophet, that I brought with me From forth the streets of Pomfret, whom I found With many hundreds treading on his heels; To whom he sung, in rude harsh-sounding rhymes,
That, ere the next Ascension-day at noon, Your highness should deliver up your crown. K. John. Thou idle dreamer, wherefore didst thou so? [so. Peter. Foreknowing that the truth will fall out K. John. Hubert, away with him; imprison And on that day at noon, whereon, he says, [him; I shall yield up my crown, let him be hang'd: Deliver him to safety, and return, For I must use thee.-O my gentle cousin, [Exit HUB. with PETER. Hear'st thou the news abroad, who are arriv'd? Bast. The French, my lord; men's mouths are full of it:
Besides, I met Lord Bigot, and Lord Salisbury, (With eyes as red as new-enkindled fire,) And others more, going to seek the grave Of Arthur, who, they say, is kill'd to-night On your suggestion.
K. John. Gentle kinsman, go, And thrust thyself into their companies: I have a way to win their loves again; Bring them before me.
I saw a smith stand with his hammer, thus, The whilst his iron did on the anvil cool, With open mouth swallowing a tailor's news; Who, with his shears and measure in his hand, Standing on slippers, (which his nimble haste Had falsely thrust upon contráry feet,) Told of a many thousand warlike French, That were embattéled and rank'd in Kent: Another lean unwash'd artificer
Cuts off his tale, and talks of Arthur's death. K. John. Why seek'st thou to possess me with these fears?
Why urgest thou so oft young Arthur's death? Thy hand hath murder'd him; I had mighty [him.
To wish him dead, but thou hadst none to kill Hub. Had none, my lord! why, did you not
K. John. It is the curse of kings to be attended By slaves, that take their humours for a warrant To break within the bloody house of life: And, on the winking of authority, To understand a law; to know the meaning Of dangerous majesty, when, perchance, it frowns More upon humour than advis'd respect.+ Hub. Here is your hand and seal for what I did. [ven and earth K. John. O, when the last account 'twixt hea- Is to be made, then shall this hand and seal Witness against us to damnation!
How oft the sight of means to do ill deeds, Makes deeds ill done! Hadst not thou been by, A fellow by the hand of nature mark'd, Quoted, and sign'd, to do a deed of shame, This murder had not come into my mind: But, taking note of thy abhorr'd aspéct, Finding thee fit for bloody villany, Apt, liable, to be employ'd in danger,
I faintly broke with thee of Arthur's death; And thou, to be endear'd to a king,
K. John. Nay, but make haste: the better Made it no conscience to destroy a prince.
Go after him; for he, perhaps, shall need Some messenger betwixt me and the peers; And be thou he.
Mess. With all my heart, my liege. [Exit. K. John. My mother dead!
Hub. My lord,- [made a pause, K. John. Hadst thou but shook thy head, or When I spake darkly what I purposed; Or turn'd an eye of doubt upon my face, As bid me tell my tale in express words; Deep shame had struck me dumb, made me break off, [me: And those thy fears might have wrought fears in But thou didst understand me by my signs, And didst in signs again parley with sin, Yea, without stop, didst let thy heart consent, And, consequently, thy rude hand to act The deed, which both our tongues held vile to
Out of my sight, and never see me more! My nobles leave me; and my state is brav'd, Even at my gates, with ranks of foreign powers:
Hub. My lord, they say, five moons were seen Nay, in the body of this fleshly land," to-night:
Four fixed; and the fifth did whirl about The other four, in wondrous motion. K. John. Five moons? [the streets Hub. Old men, and beldams, in Do prophesy upon it dangerously: [mouths Young Arthur's death is common in their And when they talk of him, they shake their heads,
*Safe custody. Noted, observed.
This kingdom, this confine of blood and breath, Hostility and civil tumult reigns Between my conscience and my cousin's death. Hub. Arm you against your other enemies, I'll make a peace between your soul and you. Young Arthur is alive: This hand of mine Is yet a maiden and an innocent hand, Not painted with the crimson spots of blood. Within this bosom never enter'd yet The dreadful motion of a murd'rous thought, + Deliberate consideration. And you have slander'd nature in my form; Which, howsoever rude exteriorly,
SCENE III.-Before the Castle. Enter ARTHUR, on the walls. Arth. The wall is high; and yet will I leap down:
Good ground, be pitiful, and hurt me not! There's few or none do know me; if they did, This ship-boy's semblance hath disguis'd me 1 am afraid; and yet I'll venture it. [quite. If I get down, and do not break my limbs, I'll find a thousand shifts to get away : As good to die and go, as die and stay. [ Leaps down. O me! my uncle's spirit is in these stones :Heaven take my soul, and England keep my [Dies.
Enter PEMBROKE, SALISBURY, and BIGOT. Sal. Lords, I will meet him at Saint Edmund'sIt is our safety, and we must embrace This gentle offer of the perilous time.
Pem. Who brought that letter from the cardinal? Sal. The Count Melun, a noble lord of France; Whose private with me, * of the Dauphin's love, Is much more general than these lines import.
Big. To-morrow morning let us meet him, then. Sal. Or, rather then set forward: for 'twill be Two long days' journey, lords, or e'er we meet. Enter the Bastard.
Bast. Once more to-day well met, distemper'd † lords!
The king, by me, requests your presence straight. Sal. The king hath dispossess'd himself of us; We will not line his thin bestained cloak With our pure honours, nor attend the foot That leaves the print of blood where'er it walks; Return, and tell him so; we know the worst. Bast. Whate'er you think, good words, I think, were best.
Sal. Our griefs, and not our manners, reason Bast. But there is little reason in your grief; Therefore, 'twere reason you had manners now. Pem. Sir, sir, impatience hath his privilege. Bast. "Tis true; to hurt his master; no man else.
Sal. This is the prison: What is he liès here? [Seeing ARTH. Pem. O death, made proud with pure and princely beauty!
The earth had not a hole to hide this deed. Sal. Murder, as hating what himself hath done, Doth lay it open, to urge on revenge.
Big. Or, when he doom'd this beauty to a grave, Found it too precious-princely for a grave. Sal. Sir Richard, what think you? Have you beheld,
Or have you read or heard ? or could you think ?
Or do you almost think, although you see, That you do see? could thought, without this object,
Form such another ? This is the very top, The height, the crest, or crest unto the crest, Of murder's arms: This is the bloodiest shame, The wildest savag'ry, the vilest stroke, That ever wall-ey'd wrath, or staring rage, Presented to the tears of soft remorse.‡
Pem. All murders past do stand excus'd in And this, so sole, and so unmatchable, Shall give a holiness, a purity,
To the yet-unbegotten sin of time;
| And prove a deadly bloodshed but a jest, Exampled by this heinous spectacle.
Bast. It is a damned and a bloody work; The graceless action of a heavy hand, | If that it be the work of any hand.
Sal. If that it be the work of any hand?We had a kind of light what would ensue : It is the shameful work of Hubert's hand; The practice and the purpose of the king:From whose obedience I forbid my soul, Kneeling before this ruin of sweet life, And breathing to his breathless excellence The incense of a vow, a holy vow; Never to taste the pleasures of the world, Never to be infected with delight, Nor conversant with ease and idleness, Till I have set a glory to this hand, By giving it the worship of revenge. Pem., Big. Our souls religiously confirm thy Enter HUBERT.
By heaven, I think my sword's as sharp as yours: I would not have you, lord, forget yourself, Nor tempt the danger of my true defence; Lest I, by marking of your rage, forget Your worth, your greatness, and nobility. Big. Out, dunghill! dar'st thou brave a no- bleman?
Hub. Not for my life: but yet I dare defend My innocent life against an emperor. Sal. Thou art a murderer. Hub. Do not prove me so ; || [false, Yet, I am none: Whose tongue soe'er speaks Not truly speaks; Who speaks not truly, lies. Pem. Cut him to pieces. Bast. Keep the peace, I say. Sal. Stand by, or I shall gall you, Faulcon- bridge. [bury : Bast. Thou wert better gall the devil, Salis- If thou but frown on me, or stir thy foot, Or teach thy hasty spleen to do me shame, I'll strike thee dead. Put up thy sword betime. Big. What wilt thou do, renowned Faulcon- bridge?
Second a villain, and a murderer? Hub. Lord Bigot, I am none. Big. Who kill'd this prince! Hub. "Tis not an hour since I left him well: I honour'd him, I lov'd him; and will weep My date of life out, for his sweet life's loss.
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