Arth. Have you the heart? When your head did I knit my handkerchief about your brows, And with my hand at midnight held your head; Hub. I have sworn to do it; And with hot irons must I burn them out. Arth. And if an angel should have come to me, And told me Hubert should put out mine eyes, I would not have believed him: no tongue, but Hubert's. Hub. Come forth. Do as I bid [HUBERT stamps, and the EXECUTIONERS enter with the Irons and Cords. you. Arth. O, save me, Hubert, save me! my eyes are out, Even with the fierce looks of these bloody men. For Heaven's sake, Hubert, let me not be bound! 1 I will not stir, nor wince, nor speak a word, Thrust but these men away, and I'll forgive you, Hub. Go, stand within; let me alone with him. Hub. Come, boy, prepare yourself. 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, Then, feeling what small things are boist'rous there, Hub. Is this your promise? Go to, hold your tongue. Arth. Let me not hold my tongue : let me not, Or, Hubert, if you will, cut out my tongue, And would not harm me. Hub. I can heat it, boy. Arth. No, in good sooth; the fire is dead with The breath of Heaven hath blown his spirit out, 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, Hubert. Hub: I will not touch thine eyes, For all the treasure that thine uncle owes. Arth. O, now you look like Hubert! all this while You were disguised. Hub. Peace; no more; Your uncle must not know but you are dead. Arth. O Heaven!-I thank you, Hubert. Hub. Silence: no more. Go closely in with me; Much danger do I undergo for thee. [Exeunt. SCENE II. England. The Palace. Flourish of Drums and Trumpels. KING JOHN upon his Throne, ESSEX, PEMBROKE, SALISBURY, and ENGLISH GENTLEMEN, discovered. K. John. Here once again we sit, once again crown'd, And look'd upon, I hope, with cheerful eyes. Was once superfluous: you were crown'd before, To guard a title that was rich before, Is wasteful and ridiculous excess. K. John. Some reasons of this double coronation I have possess'd you with, and think them strong;Meantime, but ask What you would have reform'd, that is not well; I will both hear, and grant you, your requests. The enfranchisement of Arthur; whose restraint K. John. Let it be so; I do commit his Enter HUBERT. Hubert, what news with you? youth Pem. This is the man should do the bloody deed. The image of a wicked heinous fault Lives in his eye; that close aspéct of his Does show the mood of a much-troubled breast. Sal. The colour of the king doth come and go, Between his purpose and his conscience. K. John. We cannot hold mortality's strong hand. [Exit HUBERT. Good lords, although my will to give is living, The suit which you demand is gone and dead: He tells us Arthur is deceased to-night. Ess. Indeed, we fear'd his sickness was past cure. Pem. Indeed, we heard how near his death he was, 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 on Think you, I bear the shears of destiny? [Exeunt ESSEX, PEMBROKE, and SALISBURY. K. John. They burn in indignation:-I repent: There is no sure foundation set on blood, No certain life achieved by others' death.[Exeunt KING JOHN and ENGLISH GENTLEMEN. SCENE III. England. A Room in the Palace. Enter KING JOHN, meeting the ENGLISH HERALD. K. John. A fearful eye thou hast! Where is that blood, That I have seen inhabit in those cheeks?— How goes all in France? E. Her. From France to England.-Never such a power, For any foreign preparation, Was levied in the body of a land! The copy of your speed is learn'd by them, K. John. O, where hath our intelligence been drunk? Where hath it slept? Where is my mother's care, That such an army could be drawn in France, And she not hear of it? E. Her. My liege, her ear |