ACT IV Sc. II Enter HUBERT. K. JOHN. Let it be so: I do commit his youth To your direction. Hubert, what news with you? He shew'd his warrant to a friend of mine: The image of a wicked heinous fault Lives in his eye; that close1 aspect of his Does shew the mood of a much-troubled breast; go What we so fear'd he had a charge to do. SAL. Indeed, we fear'd his sickness was past cure. Before the child himself felt he was sick : This must be answer'd either here or hence. K. JOHN. Why do you bend such solemn brows on me? Think you I bear the shears of Destiny? That blood which ow'd the breadth of all this Isle, 70 80 90 [exeunt. 4 enforced. There is no sure foundation set on blood, No certain life achiev'd by others' death. Enter a Messenger. A fearful eye thou hast: where is that blood, So foul a Sky clears not without a storm: Pour down thy weather. How goes all in France? MESS. From France to England. Never such a power For any foreign preparation Was levied in the body of a land. The copy of your speed is learn'd by them; K. JOHN. O, where hath our intelligence been drunk? And she not hear of it? MESS. My Liege, her ear Is stopp'd with dust; the first of April died The Lady Constance in a frenzy died Three days before; but this from Rumour's tongue K. JOHN. Withhold thy speed, dreadful Occasion! K. JOHN. With these ill tidings. Thou hast made me giddy Enter the Bastard and PETER OF POMFRET. Now, what says the World To your proceedings? do not seek to stuff III 120 130 ACT IV Sc. II ACT IV BAST. But if you be afeard to hear the worst, I shall yield up my crown, let him be hang'd. For I must use thee. 140 150 [Exit HUBERT. O my gentle Cousin, Hear'st thou the news abroad, who are arriv'd? 160 BAST. The French, my Lord; men's mouths are full of it: Besides, I met Lord Bigot and Lord Salisbury, With eyes as red as new-enkindled fire, And others more, going to seek the grave Of Arthur, who they say is kill'd to-night K. JOHN. Gentle Kinsman, go, And thrust thyself into their companies: Bring them before me. BAST. I will seek them out. K. JOHN. Nay; but make haste; the better foot before. 171 1 confounded. When adverse foreigners affright my towns Be Mercury; set feathers to thy heels, And fly like Thought from them to me again. BAST. The spirit of the time shall teach me speed. [exit. K. JOHN. Spoke like a sprightful noble gentleman. Go after him; for he perhaps shall need Some messenger betwixt me and the Peers; MESS. With all my heart, my Liege. [exit. 181 K. JOHN. My mother dead! Re-enter HUBERT. HUB. My Lord, they say five Moons were seen to-night; Four fixed; and the fifth did whirl about The other four in wondrous motion. K. JOHN. Five Moons! HUB. Old men and beldams in the streets Do prophesy upon it dangerously: Young Arthur's death is common in their mouths; And he that speaks doth gripe the hearer's wrist, Another lean unwash'd artificer Cuts off1 his tale, and talks of Arthur's death. K. JOHN. Why seek'st thou to possess me with these fears? Why urgest thou so oft young Arthur's death? Thy hand hath murder'd him: I had a mighty cause 1 breaks in upon. 190 200 ACT IV Sc. II ACT IV HUB. Had none, my Lord! why, did you not provoke me? By slaves, that take their humours for a warrant To break within the bloody House of Life; And, on the winking of Authority, To understand a law; to know the meaning Of dangerous Majesty, when perchance it frowns HUB. Here is your hand and seal for what I did. 210 K. JOHN. O, when the last account 'twixt Heaven and Earth Is to be made, then shall this hand and seal Witness against us to damnation! How oft the sight of means to do ill deeds Make deeds ill-done! Hadst not thou been by, I faintly broke1 with thee of Arthur's death; Made it no conscience to destroy a Prince. HUB. My Lord— 220 230 K. JOHN. Hadst thou but shook thy head, or made a pause, When I spake darkly what I purposed, Or turn'd an eye of doubt upon my face, Or bid me tell my tale in express words, Deep shame had struck me dumb, made me break off, And didst in signs again parley with Sin! Yea; without stop didst let thy heart consent, And consequently thy rude hand to act The deed, which both our tongues hold vild to name. Out of my sight, and never see me more! My Nobles leave me; and my state is brav'd, Even at my gates, with ranks of foreign powers:5 1 caprice. 2 reasoned opinion. 3 noted. 4 conferred. 5 armies. 240 |