Within the arras.1 When I strike my foot 1 Atten. I hope deed. your warrant will bear out the Hub. Uncleanly scruples! Fear not you; look to't. [Exeunt Attendants. Young lad, come forth; I have to say with you. 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. Mercy on me! Arth. Is it my fault that I was Geffrey's son? 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. 1 Tapestry. 2 i. 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. 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 to-day In sooth, I would you were a little sick; 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! Out at mine eyes, in tender, womanish tears Arth. Hub And will you? And I will. Arth. Have you the heart? When your head did but ache, I knit my handkerchief about your brows, (The best I had; a princess wrought it me,) And with my hand at midnight held your head; Saying, What lack you? and, Where lies your grief? 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! The iron of itself, though heat' red-hot, Approaching near these eyes, would drink my tears, Even in the matter of mine innocence; Are you more stubborn-hard than hammered iron ? And told me, Hubert should put out mine eyes, I would not have believed him; no tongue, but Hu 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 are out, Even with the fierce looks of these bloody men. Hub. Give me the iron, I say, and bind him here. Arth. Alas! what need you be so boisterous-rough? I will not struggle, I will stand stone-still. For Heaven's sake, Hubert, let me not be bound! 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 Atten. I am best pleased 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. 1 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. Let him come back, that his compassion may Give life to yours. Arth. Is there no remedy? Hub. Come, boy, prepare yourself. 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, Then, feeling what small things are boisterous there, 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 used In undeserved extremes.1 See else yourself; The breath of heaven hath blown his spirit out, Hub. But with my breath I can revive it, boy. 1 "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." 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;1 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 while You were disguised. Hub. Peace; no more. Adieu; Your uncle must not know but you are dead: O Heaven!—I thank Arth. you, Hubert. Hub. Silence; no more. Go closely in with me; Much danger do I undergo for thee. [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 crowned, And looked upon, I hope, with cheerful eyes. Pem. This once again, but that your highness pleased, Was once superfluous.3 You were crowned before, Sal. Therefore, to be possessed with double pomp, 1 Owns. 2 i. e. secretly. 3 i. e. this one time more, was one time more than enough. It should be remembered that king John was now crowned for the fourth time. |