ACT IV. SCENE I. Northampton1. A Room in the Castle. Enter HUBERT and two Attendants. Hub. Heat me these irons hot: and, look thou stand Within the arras2: 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. with you. Young lad, come forth; I have to say 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, 1 There is no circumstance, either in the original play or in this of Shakspeare, to point out the particular castle in which Arthur is supposed to be confined. The castle of Northampton has been mentioned merely because, in the first act, King John seems to have been in that town. It has already been stated that Arthur was in fact confined at Falaise, and afterwards at Rouen, where he was put to death. 2 Tapestry. .. Only for wantonness3. By my Is it my fault that I was Geffrey's son? That I might sit all night, and watch with you: Hub. His words do take possession of my bo som. Read here, young Arthur. [Showing a paper.] foolish rheum! How now, Turning dispiteous torture out of door! I must be brief, lest resolution drop Out at mine eyes, in tender womanish tears. you not read it? is it not fair writ? Can [Aside. Arth. Too fairly, Hubert, for so foul effect: Must you with hot irons burn out both mine eyes? 3 This is a satirical glance at the fashionable affectation of his time by Shakspeare: which Lyly also ridicules in his Midas:Now every base companion, being in his muble-fubles, says he is melancholy.' Again: Melancholy is the crest of courtiers, and now every base companion says he is melancholy.' 4i. e. by my baptism. The use of this word for christening or baptism is not peculiar to Shakspeare; it was common in his time. Hearne has published a Prone from a MS. of Henry the Seventh's time, in the glossary to Robert of Gloucester in a note on the word midewinter, by which it appears that it was the ancient orthography. The childer ryzt schape & chrystyndome. It is also used by Lyly, Fanshaw, Harington, and Fairfaxe. Hub. Young boy, I must. Arth. Hub. And will you? And I will. Arth. Have you the heart? When your head did I knit but ake, my hankerchief 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. Ah, none, but in this iron age, would do it! The iron of itself, though heat 5 red-hot, Approaching near these eyes, would drink my tears, Even in the matter of mine innocence: 5 The participle heat, though now obsolete, was in use in Shakspeare's time. He commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heat.'-Daniel, iii. 19. An if an angel should have come to me, And told me, Hubert should put out mine eyes, 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 Even with the fierce looks of these bloody men. 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. 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, 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 extremes7: See else yourself; 8 6 This is according to nature,' says Johnson. no evil so great as that which is near us.' 'We imagine 7 The fire being created, not to hurt, but to comfort, is dead with grief for finding itself used in acts of cruelty, which, being innocent, I have not deserved.' again in Ham 8 i. e. stimulate, set him on. The word occurs let: And the nation holds it no sin to tarre them on to controversy.' And in Troilus and Cressida : 'Pride alone must tarre the mastiffs on.' It has been derived from Tαρárтw, excito; but H. Tooke says that it is from Tyfan, A. S. exacerbare, irritare. |