"Of dang'rous majesty; when, perchance, it frowns More upon humour, than advis'd refpect." Hub. Here is your hand and feal for what I did. K. John. Oh, when the laft account 'twixt heav'n and earth Is to be made, then fhall this hand and feal Witnefs againft us to damnation. "How oft the fight of means to do ill deeds, "Makes deeds ill done? for hadft not thou been by, "A fellow by the hand of Nature mark'd, "Quoted, and fign'd to do a deed of fhame, "This murther had not come into my mind." But taking note of thy abhorr'd afpect, Finding thee fit for bloody villany, Apt, liable to be employ'd in danger, I faintly broke with thee of Arthur's death. And thou, to be endeared to a King, Mad'ft it no confcience to deftroy a Prince. Hub. My Lord K. John. "Hadit thou but shook thy head, or made a "When I fpake darkly what I purposed; "Or turn'd an eye of doubt upon my face, "Or bid me tell my tale in exprefs words; [paufe, "Deep fhame had ftruck me dumb, made me break off, "And thofe thy fears might have wrought fears in But thou didst understand me by my figns, And didft in figns again parley with fin n; Yea, without ftop, didft let thy heart confent, And confequently thy rude hand to act [me.". The deed, which both our tongues held vile to name.Out of my fight, and never see me more! My Nobles leave me, and my ftate is brav'd, Ev'n at my gates, with ranks of foreign pow'rs; Nay, in the body of this fleshly land, This kingdom, this confine of blood and breath, Between my confcience, and my coufin's death. Hub. Arm you against your other enemies, I'll make a peace between your foul and you. Not painted with the crimfon fpots of blood. The dreadful motion of a murderer's thought, Is yet the cover of a fairer mind, Than to be butcher of an innocent child. K. John. Doth Arthur live? O hafte thee to the Peers, Throw this report on their incenfed rage, And make them tame to their obedience. Forgive the comment that my paffion made Upon thy feature, for my rage was blind; And foul imaginary eyes of blood Prefented thee more hideous than thou art. Oh, answer not, but to my closet bring The angry Lords with all expedient hafte. I conjure thee but flowly run more fast. SCENE V. [Exeunt. A ftreet before a prison. Enter Arthur on the walls difguis'd. Arth. The wall is high, and yet will I leap down. If I get down, and do not break my limbs, As good to die, and go; as die, and ftay. [Leaps down. Enter Pembroke, Salisbury, and Bigot. [Dies. Sal. Lords, I will meet him at St Edmondsbury; It is our fafety; and we muft embrace This gentle offer of the perilous time. Pemb. Who brought that letter from the Cardinal? Sal. The Count Melun, a Noble Lord of France, Whose private with me of the Dauphin's love Is much more gen'ral than these lines import *. tie. whofe private account, of the Dauphin's affection to ⚫ur caufe, is much more ample than the letters. Mr Pope. Bigot. To-morrow morning let us meet him then. Sal. Or rather then fet forward, for 'twill be Two long days' journey, Lords, or e'er we meet. Enter Faulconbridge. Faulc. Once more to-day well met, diftemper'd Lords; Sal. The King hath difpoffefs'd himself of us; Sal. Our griefs, and not our manners, [Seeing Arthur. Bigot. Or when he doom'd this beauty to the glaive, Sal. Sir Richard, what think you? Have you beheld, What you do fee? could thought, without this object, The height, the creft, or creft unto the creft That ever wall-ey'd wrath, or ftaring rage, Prefented to the tears of foft remorse. Pemb. All murders paft do ftand excus'd in this; And this fo fole, and fo unmatchable, Shall give a holiness, a purity, To the yet-unbegotten fins of time; And prove a deadly bloodfied but a jest, Exampled by this heinous fpectacle. Faulc. It is a damned and a bloody work, Sal. If that it be the work of any hand? Our fouls religiously confirm thy words. Pemb. SCENE. VI. Enter Hubert. Hub. Lords, I am hot with hafte in feeking you; Arthur doth live, the King hath fent for you. Sal. Oh, he is bold, and blushes not at death; Avaunt, thou hateful villain, get thee gone! Hub. I am no villain. Sal. Muft I rob the law? [Drawing his fword. Faule. Your fword is bright, Sir, put it up again. Sal. Not till I fheath it in a murderer's skin: Hub. Stand back, Lord Salisbury, ftand back, I fay; By Heav'n, I think my fword's as fharp as your's. I would not have you, Lord, forget yourself, Nor tempt the danger of my true defence: Left I, by marking of your rage, forget Your worth, your greatnefs, and nobility. Bigot. Out, dunghill! dar'ft thou brave a Nobleman? Hub. Not for my life; but yet I dare defend My innocent life againft an Emperor. Sal. Thou art a murd'rer. Hub. Do not prove me fo; Yet I am none. Whofe tongue foc'er fpeaks falfe, Not truly fpeaks; who fpeaks not truly, lyes. Pemb. Cut him to pieces. Faulc. Keep the peace, I fay. Sal. Stand by, or I fhall gaul you, Faulconbridge. Hub. Lord Bigot, I am none. Hub. 'Tis not an hour fince I left him well: Bigot. Away tow'rd Bury, to the Dauphin there. SCENE [Exeunt Lords. VII. Faule. Here's a good world; knew you of this fair Beyond the infinite and boundless reach Of mercy, if thou didft this deed of death, Art thou damn'd, Hubert. Hub. Do but hear me, Sir. Faulc. Ha! I'll tell thee what, [work? Thou 'rt damn'd fo black-nay, nothing is fo black; Thou art more deep damn'd than Prince Lucifer. There is not yet fo ugly a fiend of hell As thou shalt be, if thou didst kill this child. Hub. Upon my foul. Faulc. If thou didst but confent To this moft cruel act, do but defpair, And if thou want'ft a cord, the fmalleft thread |