Arth. Too fairly, Hubert, for so foul effect : Deny their office : only you do lack
Must you with hot irous burn out both mine eyes? That mercy, which fierce tire, and iron, extends,
Hub. Young boy, I must.

Creatures of note, for mercy-lacking uses.
Arth.
And will you?

Hub. Well, see to live : I will not touch thine eyes Hub.

And I will

For all the treasure that thine uncle owes : Arth. Have you the heart? When your head did Yet am I sworn, and I did purpose, boy, but ache,

With this same very iron to burn them out. I knit my handkerchief about your brows

Arth. O now you look like Hubert ! all this while (The best I had, a princess wrought it me),

You were disguised. And I did never ask it you again :

Hub.

Peace: no more. Adieu ; And with my hand at midnight held your head;

Your uncle must not know but you are dead : And, like the watchful ininutes to the hour,

L'Il fill these dogged spies with false reports. Still and anon cheer'd up the heavy time;

And, pretty child, sleep doubtless and secure, Saying, What lack you ? and, Where lies your grief? That Hubert, for the wealth of all the world, Or, What good love may I perform for you!

Will not offend thee. Many a poor man's son would have lain still,

Arth.

O heaven! I thank you, I ubert. And ne'er bave spoke a loving word to you ;

Hub. Siience; no more : Go closely in with me; But you at your sick service bad a prince.

Much danger do I undergo for thee. [Ereunt. Nay, you may think, my love was crafty love, SCENE 11. The same. A Room of State in the And call it cunning; Do, an if you will :

Palace, If heaven be pleas'd that you must use me ill, Why, then you must. Will you put out inine eyes?- Enter King John, crowned; Pembroke, Salisbury, These eyes, that never did, nor never shall,

and other Lords. The King takes his State. So much as frown on you !

K. John. Here once again we sit, once again Hub. I have sworn to do it;

crown'd, And with hot irons must I burn them out.

And look'd upon, I hope, with cheerful eyes. Arth. Ah, none, but in this iron age, would do it; Pem. This once again, but that your highness pleas'a, The iron of itself, though heat red-hot,

Was once superfluous : you were crowu'd before, Approaching near these eyes, would drink my tears, and that high royalty was pe'er pluck'd off ; And quenchi his tiery indignation,

The faiths of men ne'er stained with revolt; Even in the matter of mine innocence :

Fresh expectation troubled not the land, Nay, after that, consume away in rust,

With any long'd-for change, or better state. Bat for containing fire to harm mine eye.

Sal. Therefore, to be possess'd with double pomp, Are you more stubborn-hard than hammer'd iron ? To guard a title that was rich before, An if an angel should have come to me,

To gild retined gold, to paint the lily, Aud told me, Hubert should put out mine eyes,

To throw a perfume on the violet, would not bave liey'd no tongue, but t's. To smooth the ice, or add another lige Hub. Come forth.

[Stamps. Unto the rainbow, or with taper-light

To seek the beauteous eye of beaven to garnish, Re-enter Attendants, with Cord, Irons, &c. Is wasteful, and ridiculous excess. Do as I bid you do.

Cout, Pem. But that your royal pleasure must be done, Arth. O, save me, Hubert, save me! my eyes are

This act is as an ancient tale new told; Even with the fierce looks of these bloody men. And, in the last repeating, troublesome,

Hub. Give me the iron, I say, and bind him here. Being urged at a time unseasonable.

Arth. Alas, what need you be so boisi'rous rough? Sal. In this, the antique and well-noted face I will not struggle, I will stand stone-still.

Of plain old form is much disfigured : For heaven's sake, Hubert, let me not be bound !

And, like a shifted wind unto a sail, Nay, hear me, Hubert ! drive these men away,

It makes the course of thoughts to fetch about; And I will sit as quiet as a lamb ;

Startles and frights consideration; I will not stir, nor wince, nor speak a word,

Makes sound opinion sick, and truth suspected, Nor look upon the iron angerly

For putting on so new a fashion'd robe. Tbrust but these men away, and I'll forgive you, Pem. When workmen strive to do better than well, Whatever torment you do put me to.

They do confound their skill in covetousness : Hub. Go, stand within ; let me alone with him. And, oftentimes, excusing of a fault, 1 Attend. I am best pleas'd to be from such a deed. Doth make the fault the worse by the excuse ;

[Exeunt Attendants. As patches, set upon a little breach, Arth. Alas! I then have chid away my friend ; Discredit more in hiding of the fault, He hath a stern look, but a gentle heart :

Than did the fault before it was so patch'd. Let him come back, that his compassion may

Sal. To this effect, before you were new-crown'd, Give life to yours.

We breath'd our counsel: but it pleas'd your highness Hub.

Come, boy, prepare yourself. To overbear it; and we are all well pleas'd; Arth. Is there no remedy !

Since all and every part of what we would, Hub.

None, but to lose your eyes. Doth make a stand at what your highness will. Arth. O heaven !--that there were but a mote in K. John. Some reasons of this double coronation A grain, a dust, a gnat, a wand'ring hair,

I have possess'd you with, and think them strong; Any annoyance in that precious sense!

And more, more strong (when lesser is my fear), Then, feeling what small things are boist'rous there, I shall ipdue you with : Meau time, but ask Your vile intent must needs seein horrible.

What you would have reform'd, that is not well; Hub. Is this your promise ? go to, hold your tongue. And well shall you perceive, how willingly Arth. Hubert, the utterance of a brace of tongues

I will both hear and grant you your requests. Must needs want pleading for a pair of eyes :

Pem. Thep I (as une that am the tongue of these,
Let me not hold my tongue ; let me not, Hubert ! To sound the purposes of all their hearts),
Or, Hubert, if you will, cut out my tongue,

Both for myself, and them (but, chief of all,
So I may keep mine eyes; O spare mine eyes; Your safety, for the which myself and them
Though to no use, but still to look on you! Bend their best studies), beartily request
Lo, by my troth, the instrument is cold,

The entranchisement of Arthur; whose restraint And would not harm me.

Doth move the murmuring lips of discontent
Hub.
I can heat it, boy.

To break into this dangerous argument,
Arth. No, in good sooth; the fire is dead with grief, If, what in rest you have, in rigit you hold,
Being create for comfort to be us’d,

Why then your fears (which, as they say, attend In undesery'd extremes: See else yourself;

The steps of wrong), should move you to mew up There is no malice in this burning coal;

Your tender kinsmau, avd to choke his days
The breath of heaven hath blown his spirit out, With barbarous ignorance, and deny bis youth
And strew'd repentant ashes on his head.

The rich advantage of good exercise !
Hub. But with my beath I can revive it, boy. That the time's enemies may not have this

Arth. And if you do, you will but make it blush, To grace occasions, let it be our suit,
And glow with shame of your proceedings, Hubert: That you have bid is ask his liberty
Nay, 'it, perchance, will sparkle in your eyes; Which for our goods we do no further ask,
And, like a dog that is compell’d to fight,

Than whereupou our weal, on you depending,
Snatch at his master that doth tarre hiin on.

Counts it your weal, he have his liberty. All things, that you should use to do me wrong, K. John. Let it be so; I do commit bis youth

[yours,

Enter Hubert.

To whom he song, in rude harsh-sounding rhymes, To your direction.-Hubert, what news with you!

That, ere the next Ascension-day at noon, Pem. This is the man should do the bloody deed ;

Your highness should deliver up your crown. (so! He show'd his warrant to a friend of mine :

K. John. Thou idle dreamer, wherefore didst thou The image of a wicked heinous fault

Peter. Foreknowing that the trath will fall out so. Lives in his eye ; that close aspect of his

K. Joha. Hubert, away with him ; imprison him; Does show the mood of a much-troubled breast;

And on that day, at noon, whereon he says, And I do fearfully believe, 'tis done

I shall yield up my crown, let him be hang'd: What we so fear'd he had a charge to do.

Deliver him to safety, and return, Sal. The colour of the king doth come and go,

For I must use thee.-O my gentle cousin, Between his purpose and his conscience,

[Exit Hubert, with Peter. Like heralds 'twixt two dreadful battles set :

Hear'st thou the news abroad, who are arriv'd! His passion is so ipe, it needs most break.

Bast. The French, my lord; men's mouths are Pem. And, when it breaks, I fear, will issue thence

full of it: The foul corruption of a sweet child's death.

Besides, I met lord Bigot, and lord Salisbury K.John. We cannot hold mortality's strong hand:- And others more, going to seek the grave

(With eyes as red as new-enkindled fire), Good lords, although my will to give is living, The suit which you deinand is gone and dead :

Of Arthur, who, they say, is kill'd to-night He tells us, Arthur is deceas'd to-night.

On your suggestion. Sal. Indeed, we fear'd, his sickness was past cure.

K. John.

Gentle kinsman, go, Pem. Indeed we heard how near his death he was,

And thrust thyself into their companies : Before the child himself felt he was sick:

I have a way to win their loves again; This must be answer'd, either here or hence.

Bring them before me. K. John. Why do you bend such solemn brows on

Bast.

I will seek them out. Think you, I bear the shears of destiny? [me?

K. John. Nay, but make baste ; the better foot he

fore. Have I commandment on the pulse of life!

0, let me have no subject enemies, Sal. It is apparent foul-play; and 'tis shame,

When adverse foreigners affright my towns
That greatness should so grossly offer it :--
So thrive it in your game! and so farewell.

With dreadful pomp of stout invasion !
Pem. Stay yet, lord Salisbury ; l'll go with thee, Be Mercury, set feathers to thy heels;
And find the inheritance of this poor child,

And fly, like thought, from them to me again. His little kingdom of a forced grave.

Bast. The spirit of the time shall teach me speed. That blood, which ow'd the breath of all this isle,

[Exit. Three foot of it doth hold ; Bad world the while!

K. John. Spoke like a spriteful noble gentleman.This must not be thas borne : this will break out

Go after him ; for he, perhaps, shall need To all our sorrows, and ere long, I doubt.

Some messenger betwixt me and the peers;

(Exeunt Lords. And be thou he. K. John. They burn in indignation ; I repent;

Mess. With all my heart, my liege. (Exit. There is no sure foundation set o: blood;

K. John. My mother dead !
No certain life achiev'd by others' death

Re-enter Hubert.
Enter a Messenger.

Hub. My lord, they say, five moons were seen toA fearful eye thou bast; Where is that blood,

Four fixed; and the fifth did whirl about (night; That I have seen inhabit in those cheeks?

The other four, in wond'rous motion. So foul a sky clears not without a storm :

K. John. Five moons ? Pour down thy weather :- How goes all in France ?

Hub.

Old men, and beldams, in the streets Mess. From France to England.-Never such a Do prophesy upon it dangerously : For any foreign preparation,

(power

Young Arthur's death is common in their mouths : Was levied in the body of a land !

And when they talk of him, they shake their heads, The copy of your speed is learn'd by them;

And whisper one another in the ear; For, when you should be told they do prepare,

And he, that speaks, doth gripe the hearer's wrist; The tidings come, that they are all arriv'd.

Whilst he, that hears, makes fearful action, K. John. o, where hath our intelligence been With wrinkled brows, with pods, with rolling eyes, drunk 1

I saw a smith stand with his bamider, thus, Where hath it slept! Where is my mother's care ;

The whilst his iron did on the anvil cool, That such an army could be drawn in France,

With open mouth swallowing a tailor's news; And she not hear of it!

Who, with his shears and measure in his hand,
Mess.
My liege, her ear

Standing on slippers (which his nimble haste
Is stopp'd with dust; the first of April, died Rad falsely thrust opon contrary feet),
Your noble mother: And, as I hear, my lord, Told of a inany thousand warlike French,
The lady Constance in a frenzy died

That were embattled, and rank'd in Kent :
Three days before : but this from rumour's tongue

Another lean onwash'd artiticer I idly heard ; if true, or false, I know not.

Cats off his tale, and talks of Arthur's death. K. John. Withhold thy speed, dreadful occasion ! K. John. Why seek'st thou to possess me with o, make a league with me, till I have pleas'd

these fears? My discontented peers ! - What! mother dead? Why urgest thou so oft young Arthur's death! How wildly then walks my estate in France !-

Thy hand hath murder'd him: I had mighty cause Under whose conduct came those powers of France,

To wish him dead, but thou hadst none to kill him. That thou for truth giv'st out, are landed here ! Hub. Had none, my lord ! why, did yon not proMess. Under the dauphin.

voke me?

K. John. It is the curse of kings, to be attended Enter the Bastard, and Peter of Pomfret.

By slaves, that take their humours for a warrant K. John.

Thou hast made me giddy To break within the bloody house of life :
With these ill tidings.-Now, what says the world And, on the winking of authority,
To your proceedings ? do not seek to stuff

To understand a law; to know the meaning
My head with more ill news, for it is full.

Of dangerous majesty, when, perehance, it frowns Bast. But, if you be afeard to hear the worst, More upon humour than advis'd respect. Then let the worst, unbeard, fall on your head. Hub. Here is your hand and seal for what I did.

K. John. Bear with me, cousin ; for I was amaz'd K. John. 0, when the last account 'twixt heaven Under the tide : bat now I breathe again

and earth Aloft the flood; and can give audience

Is to be made, then shall this hand and seal
To any tongue, speak it of what it will.

Witness against us to damnation !
Bast. How I have sped among the clergymen, How oft the sight of means to do ill deeds,
The sums I have collected shall express.

Makes deeds ill done! Hadst not thou been by, But, as I travelled hither through the land,

A fellow by the hand of nature mark',
I find the people strangely fantasied ;

Quoted, and sign'd, to do a deed of shame,
Possess'd with runours, full of idle dreams; This murder had not come into my mind :
Not knowing what they fear, but full of fear : But, taking note of thy abhorr'd aspect,
And here's a prophet, that I brought with me Finding thee fit for bloodly villany,
Forth from the streets of Pomfret, whom I found Apt, liable, to be employ'd in danger,
With many hundred treading on his heels;

I faintly broke with thee of Arthur's death;

And thou, to be endeared to a king,

Sal. Sir Richard, what think you? Have you beheld, Made it no conscience to destroy a prince.

Or have you read, or heard ! or could you think? Hub. My lord,

Or do you almost think, although you see, K. John Hadst thou bat shook thy head, or made That you do see! could thought, without this object, When 1 spake darkly what I purposed ; (a pause, Form such another ! This is the very top, Or turn's an eye of doubt opon my face,

The height, the crest, or crest unto the crest,
As bid me tell my tale in express words;

Of murder's arms: this is the bloodiest shame,
Deep shame had struck me dumb, made me break off, The wildest savag'ry, the vilest stroke,
And those thy fears might have wrought fears in me: That ever wall-ey'd wrath, or staring rage,
But thou didst understand me by my signs,

Presented to the tears of soft remorse.
And didst in signs again parley with sin;

Pem. All murders past do stand excus'd in this :
Yea, without stop, didst let thy heart consent, And this, so sole, and so unmatchable,
And, consequently, thy rude hand to act

Shall give a boliness, a purity,
The deed, which both our tongues held vile to name. To the yet-unbegotten sin of time;
Out of my sight, and never see me more !

And prove a deadly bloodshed but a jest,
My nobles leave me ; and my state is brav'd, Exampled by this heinous spectacle.
Even at my gates, with ranks of foreign powers : . Bast. It is a damned and a bloody work ;
Nay, in the body of this fleshly land,

The graceless action of a heavy band,
This kingdom, this confine of blood and breath, If that it be the work of any hand.
Hostility and civil tumult reigns

Sal. If that it be the work of any hand!
Between my conscience, and my cousin's death. We had a kind of light, what would ensue:

Hub. Arm you against your other enemies, It is the shamefnl work of Hubert's hand;
I'll make a peace between your soul and you. The practice, and the purpose, of the king :-
Young Arthur is alive: This hand of mine

From whose obedience I forbid my soul,
Is yet a maiden and an innocent hand,

Kneeling before this rain of sweet life,
Not painted with the crimson spots of blood. And breathing to his breathless excellence,
Within this bosom never enter'a yet

The incense of a vow, a holy vow;
The dreadful motion of a murd'rous thought,

Never to taste the pleasures of the world, And you have slander'd nature in my form ;

Never to be infected with delight, Which, howsoever rude exteriorly,

Nor conversant with ease and idleness, Is yet the cover of a fairer mind

Till I hare set a glory to this hand, Than to be butcher of an innocent child.

By giving it the worship of revenge. K. John. Doth Arthur live? O, haste thee to the Pem. Big. Our souls religiously confirm thy words, Throw this report on their incensed rage, [peers; And make them tame to their obedience !

Enter Hubert. Forgive the comment that my passion made

Hub. Lords, I am hot with haste in seeking you: Upon thy feature ; for my rage was blind,

Arthur doth live; the king hath sent for you. And foul imaginary eyes of blood

Sal. O, he is bold, and blush not at death: Presented thee more hideous than thou art.

Avaunt, thou bateful villain, get thee gone ! 0, answer not; but to my closet bring

Hub. I am no villain, The angry lords, with all expedient haste :

Sal.

Must I rob the law ! I conjure thee but slowly ; run more fast. (Ereunt,

(Drawing his Sword.

Ba st. Your sword is bright, sir: put it up again. SCENE III. The same. Before the Castle.

Sal. Not till I sheath it in a murderer's skin Enter Arthur, on the Walls.

Hub. Stand back, lord Salisbury, stand back, I say ; Arth. The wall is bigh; and yet will I leap down:- By heaven, I think, my sword's as sharp as yours : Good ground, be pititul, and hurt me pot!

I would not have you, Iord, forget yourself,
There's few, or none, do know me; il they did, Nor tempt the danger of my true defence ;
This ship-boy's semblance hath disguis'd ne quite. Lest I, by marking of your rage, forget
I am afraid and yet l'Il veuture it.

Your worth, your greatness, and nobility,
If I get down, and do rot break my limbs,

Big. Out, dunghiul! dar'st

thou brave a nobleman ? I'll find a thousand shifts to get away :

Hub. Not for my life: but yet I dare defend
As good to die, and go, as die, and stay. [ Leaps doron. My innocent life against an emperor.
O me! my uncle's spirit is in these stones -

Sal. Thou art a murderer.
Heaven take my soul, and England keep my bones! Hub.

Do not prove me so ; [ Dies. Yet, I am none: Whose tongue soe'er speaks false, Enter Pembroke, Salisbury, and Bigot.

Not truly speaks; who speaks not truly, lies.

Pem. Cut him to pieces. Sal. Lords, I will meet himn at St. Edmund's Bury:

Bast. It is our safety, and we must embrace

Keep the peace, I say.

Sal. Stand by, or I shall gall you, Faulconbridge. This gentle offer of the perilous time. Pem. Who brought that letter from the cardinal ?

Bast. Thou wert better gall the devil, Salisbury:

If thou but frown on me, or stir thy foot, Sal. The count Melun, a noble lord of France ;

Or teach thy hasty spleen to do me shame, Whose private with me, of the dauphin's love,

I'll strike thee dead. Put up thy sword betime; Is much more general than these lines import.

Or I'll so maul you and your toasting-irov,
Big. To-morrow morning let us meet him then.
Sal. Or, rather then set forward : for 't will be

That you shall think the devil is come from hell. Two long days' journey, lords, or e'er we meet.

Big What wilt thou do, renowned Faulconbridge ?

Second a villain, and a murderer!
Enter the Bastard.

Hub. Lord Bigot, I am pone.
Bast. Once more to-day well met, distemper'd lords! Big

Who kill'd this prince ! The king, by me, requests your presence straight. Hub. "Tis not an hour since I left him well :

Sal. The king bath dispossess'd himself of us ; I honour'd him, I lov'd him; and will weep We will not line his thin bestained cloak

My date of lite out, for his sweet life's loss. With our pure honours, nor attend the foot

Sal. Trust not those cunning waters of his eyes, That leaves the print of blood where'er it walks : For villany is not without such rheum; Return, and tell him so ; we know the worst. And he, long traded in it, makes it seem Bast. Whate'er you think, good words, I think, Like rivers of remorse and innocency. were best.

Away, with me, all you whose souls abbor Sal. Our griefs, and not our manners, reason now. The uncleanly savours of a slaughter-house;

Bast. But there is little reason in yon grief; For I am stilled with this smell of sin. Therefore, 'twere reason. you had manners now. Big Away, toward Bury, the dauphin there! Pem. Sir, sir, impatience hath his privilege.

Pemb. There tell the king, he may inquire us out. Bast. "Tis true; to hurt his master, no map else.

(Eseunt Lords. Sal. This is the prison : What is he lies here! Bast. Here's a good world !-Knew you of this fair

(Seeing Arthur. Beyond the infinite and boundless reach (work? Pem. O death, made prond with pare and princely or mercy, if thou didst this deed of death, The earth had not a hole to hide this deed. [beauty! Art thou damn'd, Hubert. Sal. Murder, as hating what himself bath done, Hub.

Do but hear me, sir. Doth lay it open, to urge on revenge.

Bast. Ha ! I'll tell thee what; Big. Or, when he doom'd this beauty to a grave, Thou art damn'd as black--bay, nothing is so black; Found it too precious-princely for a grave.

Thou art more deep dama'd than prince Lucifer :

Bast.

There is not yet so ugly a fiend of hell

K. John. That villain, Hubert, told me, he did live. As thou shalt be, if thou didst kill this child.

Bast. So, on my soul, he did, for aught he knew. Hub. Upon my soul,

But wherefore do yon droop? why look you sad ? Bast.

If thou didst but consent Be great in act, as you have been in thought;
To this most cruel act, do but despair,

Let not the world see fear, and sad distrust,
And, if thou want'st a cord, the smallest thread Govern the motion of a kingly eye:
That ever spider twisted from her womb

Be stirring as the time; be fire with fire;
Will serve to strangle thee; a rush will be

Threaten the threat'ner, and outface the brow A beam to hang thee on; or wouldst thou drown of bragging horror : so shall inferior eyes, Put but a little water in a spoon,

[thyself, That borrow their behavioars from the great, And it shall be as all the ocean,

Grow great by your example, and put on Enough to stitle such a villain up.

The dauntless spirit of resolution. I do suspect thee very grievously.

Away; and glister like the god of war, Hub. If I in act, consent, or sin of thought, When he intendeth to become the field: Be guilty of the stealing that sweet breath

Show boldness and aspiring confidence. Which was embounded in this beauteous clay, What, shall they seek the lion in his den, Let hell want pains enough to torture me!

And fright him there ? and make him tremble there? I left him well.

o, let it not be said !-Forage, and run Bast.

Go, bear him in thine arms. To meet displeasure further from the doors.; I am amaz'd, methinks; and lose my way

And grapple with him, ere he come so pigh. Among the thorns and dangers of this world.

K. John. The legate of the pope hath been with me, How easy dost thou take all England up!

And I have made a happy peace with him ;
From forth this morsel of dead royalty,

And he hath promis'd to dismiss the powers
The life, the right, and truth of all this realm Led by the dauphin.
Is fled to heaven; and England now is left

O inglorious league !
To tug and scamble, and to part by the teeth Shall we, upon the footing of our land,
The unowed interest of proud-swelling state. Send fair-play orders, and make compromise,
Now, for the bare-picka bone of majesty,

Insinuation, parley, and base truce,
Doth dogged war bristle his angry crest,

To arins invasive ! shall a beardless boy,
And snarleth in the gentle eyes of peace :

A cocker'd silken wanton, brave our fields,
Now powers from home, and discontents at home, And flesh bis spirit in a warlike soil,
Meet in one line; and vast confusion waits

Mocking the air with colours idly spread, (As doth a raven on a sick-fallen beast),

And find no check ? Let us, my liege, to arms: The imminent decay of wrested pomp.

Perchance, the cardinal cannot make your peace ; Now happy, he, whose cloak and cinctare can Or if he do, let it at least be said, Hold out this tempest. Bear away that child, They saw we had a purpose of defence. [time. And follow me with speed ; I'll to the king :

K. John. Have thou the ordering of this present A thousand businesses are brief in hand,

Bast. Away then, with good courage ; yet, I know, And heaven itself doth frown upon the land. (Exeunt. Our party may well meet a prouder toe, (Ereunt.

SCENE JI. A Plain near St. Edmund's-Bury.

Enter, in Arms, Lewis, Salisbury, Melan, Pembroke, ACT V.

Bigot, and Soldiers. SCENE I. The same.

A Room in the Palace. Lew. My lord Melun, let this be copied out, Enter King John, Pandolph with the Crown, and And keep it safe for our remembrance Attendants.

Return the precedent to these lords again; K. John. Thus have I yielded up into your hand

That, having our fair order written down, The circle of my glory.

Both they, and we, perusing o'er these notes,

May know wheretore we took the sacrament,
Pand.
Take again

And keep our faiths firm and inviolable.
[Giving John the Crown.

Sal. Upon our sides it never shall be broken. From this my hand, as holding of the pope, And, noble dauphin, albeit we swear Your sovereign greatness and authority K. John. Now keep your holy word: go meet the To your proceedings ; yet, believe ine, prince,

A voluntary zeal, and anurg'd faith, And from his holiness use all your power (French: I am not glad that such a sore of time To stop their marches, 'fore we are inflam'd.

Should seek a plaster by contemn'd revolt,
Our discontented counties do revolt;

And heal the inveterate canker of one wound
Our people quarrel with obedience ;
Swearing allegiance, and the love of soul,

By making many: 0, it grieres my soul,

That I must draw this metal from my side To stranger blood, to foreign royalty.

To be a widow-maker; 0, and there, This inundation of mistemper'd bumour

Where honourable rescue, and defence, Rests by you only to be qualified..

Cries out upon the name of Salisbury :
Then pause not ; for the present time's so sick,

But such is the infection of the time,
That present medicine must be minister's,
Or overthrow incurable ensues.

That, for the health and physic of our right,
Pand. It was my breath tbat blew this tempest up, of stern injustice and confused wrong:-

We cannot deal but with the very hand
Upon your stubborn usage of the pope :
But, since you are a gentle convertite,

And is't not pity, O my grieved friends!

That we, the sons and children of this isle, My tongue shall hush again this storm of war,

Were born to see so sad an hour as this;
And make fair weather in your blustering land.

Wherein we step after a stranger march
On this Ascension-day, remember well,
Upon your oath of service to the pope,

Upon her gentle bosom, and till up

Her enemies' ranks (I must withdraw and weep Go I to make the French lay down their arms. (Exit. Upon the spot of this enforced cause),

K.John. Is this Ascension-day? Did not the prophet To grace the gentry of a land remote,
Say, that, before Ascension-day at noon,
My crown I should give off! Éven so I have :

And follow unacquainted colours here!

What, here 1--o nation, that thou couldst remove ! I did suppose, it should be on constraiut; But, heaven be thank'd, it is but voluntary.

That Neptune's arms, who clippeth thee about,

Would bear thee from the knowledge of thyself, Enter the Bastard.

And grapple thee unto a Pagan shore; Bast. "All Kent hath yielded ; nothing there holds Where these two Christian armies might combine But Dover castle : London hath receiv'd, Cout, The blood of malice in a vein of league, Like a kind host, the dauphin and his powers: And not to spend it so unneighbourly! Your nobles will not hear you, but are gone

Lew. A noble temper dost thou show in this ; To offer service to your enemy;

And great affectious, wrestling in thy bosom, And wild amazement hurries up and down

Do make an earthquake of nobility: The little number of your doubiful friends.

o, what a noble combat bast thou fought, K. John. Would not my lords return to me again, Between compulsion and a brave respect! After they heard young Arthur was alive!

Let me wipe off this honourable dew,
Bast. They found him dead, and cast into the streets; That silverly doth progress on thy cheeks :
An empty casket, where the jewel of life

My heart bath melted at a lady's tears,
By some damn'a hand was robb'd and ta'en away. Being an ordinary inundation;

Lew.

But this effusion of such manly drops,

To whip this dwarfish war, these pigmy arms, This shower, blown up by tempest of the soul, From out the circle of his territories. Startles mine eyes, and makes me more amaz'd That hand, which had the strength, even at your door, Than had I seen the vaulty top of heaven

To cudgel you, and make you take the hatch

i Figur'd quite o'er with burning meteors.

To dive, like buckets, in concealed wells; Lift up thy brow, renowned Salisbury,

To crouch in litter of your stable planks ; And with a great heart heave away this storm: To lie, like pawns, lock'd up in chests and trunks ; Commend these waters to those baby eyes,

To hug with swine; to seek sweet safety out That never saw the giant-world enrag'd;

In vaults and prisons; and to thrill, and shake, Nor met with fortune other than at feasts,

Even at the crying of your nation's crow,
Full warm of blood, of mirth, of gossiping. Thinking his voice an armed Englishman;
Come, come ; for thou shalt thrust thy hand as deep Shall that victorions band be feebied here,
Into the purse of rich prosperity,

That in your chambers gave you chastisement?
As Lewis himself:-so, nobles, shall you all, No: Know, the gallant monarch is in arms;
That knit your sinews to the strength of miue. And like an eagle o'er his aiery towers,
Enter Pandulplı, attended.

To souse annoyance that comes near his nest.-
And even there, methinks, an angel spake :

And you degenerate, you ingrate revolts, Look, where the holy legate co.nes apace,

You bloody Neroes, ripping up the womb To give us warrant from the hand of heaven;

of your dear mother England, blush for shame : And on our actions set the pame of right,

For your own ladies, and pale-visag'd maids,
With holy breath.

Like Amazons, come tripping after drums;
Pand.
Hail, noble prince of France !

Their thimbles into armed gauntlets change,
The next is this,-king John hath reconcil'd

Their neelds to lances, and their gentle hearts Himself to Rome; his spirit is come in,

To fierce and bloody inclination.

(peace; That so stood out against the holy church,

Lew. There end i hy brave, and turn thy face in The great metropolis and see of Rome :

We grant, thou canst outscold us : fare thee well;

We hold our time too precious to be spent
Therefore thy threat'ning colours now wind up,
And tame the savage spirit of wild war ;

With such a brabbler.

Pand. That, like a lion foster'd up at hand,

Give me leave to speak. It may lie gently at the foot of peace,

Bast. No, I will speak. And be no further barmful than in show.

We will attend to neither :Lew. Your grace shall pardon me, I will not back ; Plead for our interest, and our being here.

Strike up the drums; and let the tongue of war I am too high-born to be propertied, To be a secondary at control,

Bast. Indeed, your drums, being beaten, will cry Or useful serving-man, and instrument,

And so shall you, being beaten: Do but start (out; To any, sovereign state throughout the world.

An echo with the clamour of thy drum, Your breath first kindled the dead coal of wars,

And even at hand a drum is ready brac'a,

That shall reverberate all as loud as thine;
Between this chastis'd kingdom and myself,
And brought in matter that should feed this fire ;

Sound but another, and another shall,

As loud as thine, rattle the welkin's ear,
And now "tis far too huge to be blown out
With that same weak wind which enkindled it.

And mock the deep-mouth'd thander: for at hand You taught me how to know the face of right,

(Not trusting to this balting legate here, Acquainted me with interest to this land,

Whom he hath us'd rather for sport than need),

Is warlike John ; and in his forehead sits
Yea, thrust this enterprise into my heart;
And come you now to tell me, John hath' made

A bare-ribb'd death, whose office is this day
His peace with Rome? What is that peace to me!

To feast upon whole thousands of the French. I, by the honour of my marriage-bed,

Lew. Strike up our drums, to find this danger ont. After young Arthur, claim this land for mine ;

Bast. And thou shalt tind it, dauphin, do not doubt. And, now, it is half-conquer'd, must I back,

[Exeunt. Because that John hath made his peace with Rome! SCENE III.

The same.

A Field of Battle. Am I Rome's slave? What penny hath Rome borne, What men provided, what munition sent,

Alarums. Enter King John and Hubert. To underprop this action ? is't not 1,

K. John. How goes the day with us ! O, tell me,

Hubert.
That undergo this charge? who else but I,
And such as to my claim are liable,

Hub. Badly, I fear : How fares your majesty! Sweat in this business, and maintain this war!

K. John. This fever, that hath troubled me so long, Have I not heard these islanders shout out,

Lies heavy on me; o, my heart is sick! Vive le roy! as I have bank'd their towns ?

Enter a Messenger. Have I not here the best cards for the game,

Mess. My lord, your valiant kinsman, FanleonTo win this easy match play'd for a crown? Desires your majesty to leave the field; [bridge, And shall I now give o'er the yielded set!

And send him word by me, which way you go. No, on my soul, it never shall be said.

K. John. Tell him, toward Swinstead, to the abbey Pand. You look but on the outside of this work.

there. Lew, Outside or inside, I will not return

Mess. Be of good comfort: for the great supply, Till my attempt so much be glorified

That was expected by the dauphin here, As to my ample hope was promised

Are wreck'd three nights ago on Goodwin sands. Before I drew this gallant head of war,

This news was brought to Richard but even now: And cull'd these fiery spirits froin the world, The French fight coldly, and retire themselves. To ontlook conquest, and to win renown

K. John. Ah me! this tyrant fever burns we up, Even in the jaws of danger and of death.-

And will not let me welcome this good news.

[Trumpet sounds. Set on toward Swinstead : to my liter straight; What lusty trumpet thus doth summon us?

Weakness possesseth me, and I am faint. [ Mount. Enter the Bastard, attended.

SCENE IV. The same. Another Part of the same. Bast. According to the fair play of the world, Let me have audience; I am seni to speak :

Enter Salisbury, Pembroke, Bigot, and others. My holy lord of Milan, from the king

Sal. I did not think the king so stor'd with friends. I come, to learn how you have dealt for him ;

Pem. Up once again ; put spirit in the French;

If they miscarry, we miscarry too.
And, as you answer, I do know the seope
And warrant limited unto my tongue.

Sal. That misbegotten devil, Faalconbridge,

[field. Pand. The dauphin is too wilful-opposite,

In spite of spite, alone upholds the day. And will not temporize with my entreaties;

Pem. They say, king John, sore sick, hath left the He flatly says, he'll not lay down his arms.

Enter Melan wounded, and led by Soldiers. Bast. By all the blood that ever fary breath'd, Mel. Lead me to the revolts of England here. The youth says well :-Now hear our English king; Sal. When we were happy, we had other names. For thus bis royalty doth speak in me.

Pem. It is the count Melun. He is prepar'd, and reason too, he should :

Sal.

Wounded to death. This apish and unmannerly approach,

Mel. Fly, noble English, you are bought and sold ; This harness'd masque, and unadvised revel, Unthread the rude eye of rebellion, This onhair'd sauciness, and boyish troops,

And welcome home again discarded faith. The king doth smile at; and is well prepar'd Seek out king John, and fall before his feet;