Lew. But what shall I gain by young Arthur's fall? Pand. You, in the right of lady Blanch your wife, May then make all the claim that Arthur did. Lew. And lose it, life and all, as Arthur did. Pand How green you are, and fresh in this old world! No scope of nature, no distemper'd day, Lew. May be, he will not touch young Arthur's life, 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; Anon becomes a mountain. O noble dauphin, Lew. Strong reasons make strange actions: Let us go; If you say ay, the king will not say no. [Exeunt. (1) True blood, i. e. the blood of him that has a true and just claim. ACT IV. SCENE I.—Northampton.1 A Room in the Castle. Hub. Heat me these irons hot; and look thou stand Upon the bosom of the ground, rush forth, 1 Attend. I hope your warrant will bear out the deed. [Exeunt Attendants. Young lad, come forth; I have to say with Enter ARTHUR. you. Arth. Good morrow, Hubert. Good morrow, little prince. Arth. Is it my fault that I was Geffrey's son? I were your son, so you would love me, Hubert. [Aside. (1) Northampton. Shakspeare is incorrect in bringing young Arthur to England. He was imprisoned first, at Falaise, and then at Rouen, where he was murdered. (2) Practises, i. e. is meditating, preparing. 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 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! Turning dispiteous torture out of door! I must be brief; lest resolution drop Out at mine eyes, in tender womanish tears. Arth. Too fairly, Hubert, for so foul effect: Must you with hot irons burn out both mine eyes? Hub. Young boy, I must. Arth. Hub. And will you? And I will. [Aside. Arth. Have you the heart? When your head did but ache, I knit my hand-kercher 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; Saying, What lack you? and, Where lies your grief? If heaven be pleas'd that you must use me ill, 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, would do it! Approaching near these eyes, would drink my tears, 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 Hub. Come forth. Re-enter Attendants, with Cords, Irons, &c. Do as I bid you do. [Stamps. Arth. O, save me, Hubert, save me! my eyes are out, Hub. Give me the iron, I say, and bind him here. 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. [Exeunt Attendants. 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 wandering 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. 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 (1) Cut out my tongue, So I may keep mine eyes. Dr. Johnson remarks that this is according to nature: "We imagine no evil so great as that which is near us." In undeserv'd extremes: See else yourself; Hub. But with my breath I can revive it, boy. That mercy which fierce fire and iron extends, Hub. Well, see to live; I will not touch thine eyes For all the treasure that thine uncle owes : Yet am I sworn, and I did purpose, boy, Arth. O, now you look like Hubert! all this while Hub. Arth. [Exeunt. SCENE II.-The same. A Room of State in the Palace. Enter KING JOHN, crowned; PEMBROKE, SALISBURY, and other Lords. The King takes his State. K. John. Here once again we sit, once again crown'd,1 And look'd upon, I hope, with cheerful eyes. Pem. This once again, but that your highness pleas'd, Was once superfluous: you were crown'd before, And that high royalty was ne'er pluck'd off; Sal. Therefore, to be possess'd with double pomp, To guard a title 2 that was rich before, (1) Once again crowned. John was crowned three times. This was the second time; and he was crowned again after the murder of his nephew, Arthur. (2) To guard a title. To guard means to fringe. |