What may be wrought out of their discontent.
Now that their Souls are top-full of offence,
For England go; I will whet on the King.

Lewis. Strong reafon makes strong actions : let us go; If you fay ay, the King will not fay no.

[Exeunt.

H

ACT IV.

SCENE I.

Changes to England.

A Prifon.

Enter Hubert and Executioner.

HUBERT.

EAT me thefe irons hot, and look you ftand
Within the arras; when Iftrike my foot
Upon the bofom of the ground rufh forth,
And bind the boy which you shall find with
me,

Faft to the chair: be heedful; hence, and watch.
Exe. I hope your warrant will bear out the deed.
Hub. Uncleanly fcruples! fear not you; look to't.—
Young lad come forth; I have to say with you.

Enter Arthur.

Arth. Good morrow, Hubert.

Hub. Morrow, little Prince.

Arth. As little Prince (having fo great a title To be more Prince) as may be. You are fad. Hub. Indeed I have been merrier.

Methinks no body should be fad but I,
Yet I remember when I was in France,
Young gentlemen would be as fad as night,
Only for wantonnefs. By my Christendom,
C 2

So

7

So were I out of prifon, and kept sheep,
I fhould be merry as the day is long.
And fo I would be here, but that I doubt
My uncle practifes more harm to me.
He is afraid of me, and 1 of him.
Is it my fault that I was Geffery's fon ?
Indeed it is not, and I would to heav'n

I were your fon, fo you would love me Hubert.
Hub. If I talk to him, with his innocent prate
He will awake my mercy, which lyes dead;
Therefore I will be fudden, and dispatch.

[Afide. Arth. Are you fick, Hubert? you look pale to day;

In footh, I would you were a little fick,
That I might fit all night and watch with you.
Alas, I love you more than you do me.

Hub. His words do take poffeffion of my bosom.
Read here, young Arthur

How now, foolish rheum,

[Shewing a paper.

Turning dif-piteous torture out of door!

I must be brief, left resolution drop-
Out at mine eyes in tender womanish tears.
Can you not read it? is it not fair writ?

Arth. Too fairly, Hubert, for fo foul effect.
Muft you with irons burn out both mine eyes?
Hub. Young boy, I must.

Arth. And will

Hub. And I will.

Arth. Have you ake,

I knit

you?

[Afide.

the heart? when your head did but

my handkerchief about your brows, (The best I had, a Princefs wrought it me) And I did never ask it you again;

And with my hand at midnight held your head;
And like the watchful minutes to the hour,
Still and anon chear'd up the heavy time,

Saying, what lack you ? and where lyes your grief?
Or what good love may I perform for you?
Many a poor man's fon would have lain still,
And ne'er have spoke a loving word to you;
But you at your fick fervice had a Prince.

2

Nay,

Nay, you may think my love was crafty love,
And call it cunning. Do, and if you will:
If heav'n be pleas'd that you must use me ill,
Why then you must-

Will you put out mine eyes? and never. fhall

These eyes that never did,
So much as frown on you?

Hub. I've fworn to do it;

And with hot irons must I burn them out. *
Arth. Oh if an angel fhould have come to me,

And told me Hubert Thould

put out

mine eyes, I would not have believ'd a tongue but Hubert's. Hub. Come forth; do as I bid you do.

[Stamps, and the men enter. Arth. O fave me, Hubert, fave me! my eyes are

out

Ev'n with the fierce looks of thefe bloody men.

Hub. Give me the iron I fay, and bind him here,
Arth. Alas, what need you be fo boift'rous rough?
I will not ftruggle, I will ftand ftone-ftill.
For heav'n fake, Hubert, let me not be bound.
Nay, hear me, Hubert, drive thefe men away,
And I will fit as quiet as a lamb.

I will not ftir, nor wince, nor fpeak a word,
Nor look upon the iron angrily:

Thruft but these men away, and I'll forgive you,
Whatever torment you do put me to.

Hub. Go, ftand within; let me alone with him.
Exe. I am beft pleas'd to be from fuch a deed. [Exit

C 3

-muft I burn them out.

Arth.

Arth. Ah, none but in this iron age would do it. The iron of it felf, tho heat red-hot,

Approaching near these eyes, would drink my tears, And quench its fiery indignation,

Even in the matter of mine innocence :

Nay, after that, confume away in ruft,
But for containing fire to harm mine eye.

Are you more ftubborn hard, than hammer'd iron?
Oh if an angel should, &c.

Arth. Alas, I then have chid away my friend,
He hath a ftern look, but a gentle heart;

Let him come back, that his compassion may
Give life to yours.

Hub. Come, boy, prepare your felf.
Arth. Is there no remedy?

Hub. None, but to lofe your eyes.

Arth. O heav'n! that there were but a moth in yours,~ A grain, a duft, a gnat, a wand'ring hair,

Any annoyance in that precious fenfe:

Then feeling what fmall things are boift'rous there,
Your vile intent muft needs feem horrible.

Hub. Is this your promife? go to, hold your tongue. Arth. 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 fpare mine eyes!
Though to no ufe, but ftill to look on you.
Lo, by my troth, the inftrument is cold,
And would not harm me.

Hub. I can heat it, boy.

Arth. No, in good footh, the fire is dead with grief. Being create for comfort, to be us'd

In undeferv'd extreams; fee elfe your self,

There is no malice in this burning coal

The breath of heav'n hath blown its spirit out,
And ftrew'd repentant ashes on its head.
Hub. But with my breath I can revive it, boy.

*

Arth.

*

hold your tongue.

Arth. Hubert, the utterance of a brace of tongues Muft needs want pleading for a pair of eyes: Let me not hold, c.

*

I can revive it, boy.

Arth. And if you do, you will but make it blush, And glow with fhame of your proceedings, Hubert: Nay, it perchance will sparkle in your eyes:

And,

Arth. All things that you should ufe to do me wrong, Deny their office; only You do lack

That mercy which fierce fire and iron extend,

Creatures of note for mercy-lacking uses.

Hub. Well, fee to live; I will not touch thine eye For all the treasure that thine uncle owns:

Yet am I fworn, and I did purpofe, boy,
With this fame 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 deal.
I'll fill thefe dogged fpies with falfe reports:
And, pretty child, fleep doubtless and fecure,
That Hubert, for the wealth of all the world,
Will not offend thee.

· Arth. O heav'n! I thank you, Hubert.
Hub. Silence, no more; go clofely in with me.
Much danger do I undergo for thee.

SCENE II.

The Court of England.

[Exeunt.

Enter King John, Pembroke, Salisbury, and other Lords.

R. John. H

ERE once again we fit, crown'd once again,

And look'd upon, I hope, with chearful eyes.

Pemb. This once again, but that your Highness pleas'd,

Was once fuperfluous; you were crown'd before,
And that high royalty was ne'er pluck'd off" :

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And, like a dog that is compell'd to fight,
Snatch at his mafter that doth tarre him on.

All things that you, &c.

c In the first edition.

The