Methinks I fee this hurly all on foot;
And O, what better matter breeds for you
Than I have nam'd!—The bastard Faulconbridge
Is now in England, ranfacking the church,
Offending charity. If but twelve French
Were there in arms, they would be as a call
To train ten thousand English to their side;
Or, as a little fnow, tumbled about,
Anon becomes a mountain. Noble Dauphin,
Go with me to the king: 'tis wonderful
What may be wrought out of their difcontent.
Now that their fouls are top-full of offence,
For England go; I will whet on the King.

Lewis. Strong reafon makes ftrong actions: let us go; If you fay Ay, the King will not fay No.

[Exeunt.

ACT

IV.

SCENE I.

Hub.

Changes to England.

A prifon.

Enter Hubert and Executioners.

Eat me thefe irons hot, and look thou ftand Within the arras; when I ftrike my foot Upon the bofom of the ground, rush forth; And bind the boy which you fhall 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 fay with you. Enter Arthur.

Arth. Good-morrow, Hubert.

Hub. Good 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.
Arth. Mercy en me !

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.
So were I out of prison, and kept sheep,
I should be as 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 I of him.

Is it my fault that I was Geffrey'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 lies dead;
Therefore I will be fudden and dispatch.

[Afide.

Arth. Are you fick, Hubert! you look pale to-day;

In footh I wou'd 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 bofom. Read here, young Arthur

How now, foolish rheum,

[Sherwing a paper. [Afide.

Turning dif-piteous nature out of door!

I must be brief, left refolution 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 you?

Hub. And I will.

Arth. Have you the heart? When your head did but

I knit my handkerchief about your brows;

The beft I had, a princefs wrought it me,

And I did never afk 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,

[ake,

Saying, What lack you? and, Where lies 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.
Nay, you may think my love was crafty love,
And call it cunning. Do, an if you will:

If Heav'n be pleas'd that you must ufe me ill,
Why then, you must-

-Will you put out mine eyes?

Thefe eyes that never did, nor never fhall
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 should put out mine eyes,
I would not have believ'd a tongue 'bate † Hubert.
Hub. Come forth; do as I bid you.

[Stamps, and the men enter. Arth. O fave me, Hubert, fave me! my eyes are otit, Ev'n 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 fo boift'rous-rough? I will not struggle, I will stand stone-still.

For Heav'n's 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 thefe 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.

[Exeunt.
Arth. Alas, I then have chid away my friend;
He hath aftern look, but a gentle heart;
Let him come back, that his compaffion may
Give life to your's.

Hub. Come, boy, prepare yourself.

Arth. Is there no remedy

Hub. None, but to lofe your eyes.

burn them out.

Arth. Ah, none but in this iron age would dit. The iron of itself, though heat red-hot, Approaching near thefe eyes, would drink my tears,

And quench its fiery indignation,

Even in the matter of mine innocence:

Nay, after that, confume away in rust,

But for containing fire to harm mine eye.

Are you more ftubborn-hard than hainmer'd iron?
Oh! if an angel, &c.

tie. abate or disparage.

Arth. O Heav'n! that there were but a moth in your's, 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.

[bert:

Arth. Let me not hold my tongue; let me not, HuOr, Hubert, if you will, cut out my tongue, So I may keep mine eyes. O fpare mine eyes! Though to no use, but still 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 extremes: fee else yourself,

There is no malice in this burning coal;

The breath of Heav'n hath blown its fpirit out,
And ftrew'd repentant ashes on its head.

Hub. But with my breath I can revive it, boy. † Arth. All things that you should use 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 purpose, 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.

hold your tongue.

Adieu !

Arth. Hubert, the utterance of a brace of tongues Muft needs want pleading for a pair of eyes:

Let me not hold, &c.

Arth. And if you do, you will but make it blush,
And glow with fhame of your proceedings, Hubert:
Nay, it, perchance, will fparkle in your eyes;
And, like a dog that is compell'd to fight,
Snatch at his mafter that doth tarre him on.
All things, &c.

Your uncle muft not know but you are dead.
I'll fill thefe dogged fpies with falfe reports:
And, pretty child, fleeg doubtlefs, 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.

SCE

NE II.

Changes to the court of England.

[Exeunt.

Enter King John, Pembroke, Salisbury, and other Lords. K. John. Here once again we fit, once again crown'd, 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:
The faiths of men ne'er ftained with revolt:
Fresh expectation troubled not the land
With any long'd-for change, or better state.

Sal. Therefore to be poffefs'd with double pomp,
To guard a title that was rich before;
"To gild refined gold, to paint the lily,
"To throw a perfume on the violet,
"To fmooth the ice, or add another hue
"Unto the rainbow, or with taper-light

To feek the beauteous eye of heav'n to garnish.” Is wafteful and ridiculous excefs.

Pemb. But that your Royal pleafure must be done, This act is as an ancient tale new told,

And in the last repeating troublesome;

Being urged at a time unfeafonable.

Sal. "In this the antique and well-noted face "Of plain old form is much disfigured; "And, like a fhifted wind unto a fail,

"It makes the courfe of thoughts to fetch about; Startles and frights confideration;

"Makes found opinion fick, and truth fufpected,

66

"For putting on fo new a fashion'd robe,"