Pemb. When workmen ftrive to do better than well, Doth make the fault the worfe by the excufe: Difcredit more in hiding of the flaw, Than did the flaw before it was fo patch'd. Sal. To this effect, before you were new-crown'd, We breath'd our counfel; but it pleas'd your Highness To overbear it; and we're all well pleas'd; Since all and every part of what we would, I will both hear and grant you your requests. i. e. coveting to reach a higher excellence. i. e. found forth, or déclare. Enter Hubert. K. John. Let it be fo; I do commit his youth To your direction. Hubert, what news with you? [The King goes afide with Hubert. Pemb. This is the man fhould do the bloody deed: Lives in his eye; that close aspect of his What we fo fear'd he had a charge to do. Sal. The colour of the King doth come and go, Like heralds 'twixt two dreadful battles fent: Pemb. And when it breaks, I fear, will iffue thence The foul corruption of a fweet child's death, K. John. We cannot hold Mortality's ftrong hand. Good Lords, although my will to give is living, The fuit which you demand is gone, and dead. He tells us, Arthur is deceas'd to-night. Sal. Indeed we fear'd his fickness was paft cure. Pemb. Indeed we heard how near his death he was, Before the child himself felt he was fick. This must be anfwer'd either here or hence. K. John. Why do you bend fuch folemn brows on me? Think you I bear the fhears of destiny? Have I commandment on the pulse of life? Sal. It is apparent foul play, and 'tis shame That greatnefs fhould fo grofsly offer it: So thrive it in your game, and fo farewel! Pemb. Stay yet, Lord Salisbury, I'll go with thee, That blood which own'd the breadth of all this ifle, K. John. They burn in indignation; I repent. There is no fure foundation fet on blood; 【Afide. [To the Meflenger. That I have feen inhabit in thofe cheeks? So foul a fky clears not without a ftorm; Pour down thy weather. How goes all in France? Mess. From France to England never such a power, For any foreign preparation, Was levy'd 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? Mel. My Liege, her ear Is ftopt with duft: the first of April dy'd Three days before: but this from rumour's tongue K. John. With-hold thy fpeed, dreadful occafion! Enter Faulconbridge, and Peter of Pomfret. K. John. Thou haft made me giddy With thefe ill tidings. Now, what fays the world To your proceedings? Do not feek to ftuff My head with more ill news, for it is full. Faulc. But if you be afraid to hear the worst, Then let the worft unheard fall on your head. K. John. Bear with me, coufin; for I was amaz'd Under the tide; but now I breathe again Aloft the flood, and can give audience To any tongue, fpeak it of what it will. Faule. How I have fped among the clergymen, Poffefs'd with rumours, full of idle dreams; K. John. Thou idle dreamer, wherefore did'ft thou fo? Peter. Foreknowing that the truth will fall out fo. K. John. Hubert, away with him, imprison him, And on that day at noon whereon he says. I fhall yield up my crown, let him be hang'd. For I muft ufe thee. -O my gentle coufin, [Exit Hubert, with Peter. Hear'ft thou the news abroad, who are arriv'd? Faulc. The French, my Lord; mens' mouths are full Befides, I met Lord Bigot and Lord Salisbury, With eyes as red as new-enkindled fire, K. John. Gentle kinfman, go And thrust thyfelf into their company. Faulc. I will feek them out. : [of it. K. John. Nay, but make hafte: the better foot before. O, let me have no fubject enemies, When adverfe foreigners affright my towns Be Mercury, fet feathers to thy heels; [Exit. K. John. Spoke like a fprightful noble gentleman. Go after him; for he perhaps thall need Some meffenger betwixt me and the Peers; Me. With all my heart, my Liege. K. John. My mother dead! SCENE IV. [Exit. Enter Hubert. Hub. My Lord, they fay five moons were seen toFour fixed, and the fifth did whirl about The other four in wond'rous motion. K. John. Five moons? Hub. Old men and beldams, in the streets, Do prophefy upon it dangerously. [night: Young Arthur's death is common in their mouths; • And when they talk of him, they shake their heads, And whisper one another in the ear. • And he that speaks doth gripe the hearer's wrift, • With wrinkled brows, with nods, with rolling eyes. Cuts off his tale, and talks of Arthur's death.' K. John. Why feck'ft thou to poffefs me with thefe Why urgeft thou so oft young Arthur's death? [fears? Thy hand hath murder'd him: I had a cause To wifh him dead, but thou hadft none to kill him. Hub. Had none, my Lord? why, did you not pro voke me? K. John. It is the curfe of Kings, to be attended "By flaves that take their humours for a warrant, "To break into the bloody house of life: "And, on the winking of authority, "To understand a law; to know the meaning * This plainly hints at Davidfon's cafe, in the affair of Mary Queen of Scots; and so must have been inferted long after the frit reprefentation, |