Out of my sight, and never see me more! This kingdom, this confine of blood and breath, Between my conscience, and my cousin's death. The dreadful motion of a murd'rous thought, Is yet the cover of a fairer mind Than to be butcher of an innocent child. K. John. Doth Arthur live? O, haste thee to the Throw this report on their incensed rage, Presented thee more hideous than thou art. I conjure thee but slowly; run more fast. [Exeunt. 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! If I get down, and do not break my limbs, [Leaps down. O me! my uncle's spirit is in these stones [Dies. Enter PEMBROKE, SALISBURY, and BIGOT. Sal. Lords, I will meet him at Saint Edmund'sBury; It 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 3, 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. 4 Bast. Once more to-day well met, distemper'd + lords! The king, by me, requests your presence straight. 3 Private account. 4 Out of humour. 4 Bast. Whate'er you think, good words, I think, were best. Sal. Our griefs, and not our manners, reason now. 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 lies here? [Seeing ARTHUR. 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 ob ject, Form such another? This is the very top, The height, the crest, or crest unto the crest, Pem. All murders past do stand excus'd in this: And this, so sole, and so unmatchable, Shall give a holiness, a purity, To the yet-unbegotten sin of time; Bast. It is a damned and a bloody work; The graceless action of a heavy hand, Sal. If that it be the work of any hand? Pem. Big. Our souls religiously confirm thy Enter HUBERT. Hub. Lords, I am hot with haste in seeking you: Arthur doth live; the king hath sent for you. Sal. O, he is bold, and blushes not at death:Avaunt, thou hateful villain, get thee gone! Hub. I am no villain. Sal. Must I rob the law? [Drawing his sword. Bast. Your sword is bright, sir; put it up again. Sal. Not till I sheath it in a murderer's skin. Hub. Stand back, lord Salisbury, stand back, I say; By heaven, I think, my sword's as sharp as yours: Big. Out, dunghill! dar'st thou brave a nobleman? 6 Honest. I dare defend Hub. Not for my life: but yet My innocent life against an emperor. Sal. Thou art a murderer. Do not prove me so1; Hub. Yet, I am none: Whose tongue soe'er speaks false, 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, Faulconbridge. Bast. Thou wert better gall the devil, Salisbury: If thou but frown on me, or stir thy foot, Or teach thy hasty spleen to do me shame, 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. Sal. Trust not those cunning waters of his eyes, For villainy is not without such rheum '; And he, long traded in it, makes it seem Like rivers of remorse and innocency. Away, with me, all you whose souls abhor The uncleanly savours of a slaughter-house, For I am stifled with this smell of sin. Big. Away, toward Bury, to the Dauphin there. Pem. There, tell the king, he may inquire us [Exeunt Lords. out. Bast. Here's a good world! - Knew you of this fair work? Beyond the infinite and boundless reach Of mercy, if thou didst this deed of death, 7 By compelling me to kill you. 8 Moisture. 9 Pity. |