William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition (207 page)
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Authors: William Shakespeare
Tags: #Drama, #Literary Criticism, #Shakespeare
BOOK: William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition
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ARTHUR
O, save me, Hubert, save me! My eyes are out
Even with the fierce looks of these bloody men.
Even with the fierce looks of these bloody men.
HUBERT (
to the Executioners
)
to the Executioners
)
Give me the iron, I say, and bind him here.
He takes the iron
ARTHUR
Alas, what need you be so boisterous-rough?
I will not struggle; I will stand stone-still.
For God’s sake, Hubert, let me not be bound.
Nay, hear me, Hubert Drive these men away,
And I will sit as quiet as a lamb;
I will not stir, nor wince, nor speak a word, 80
Nor look upon the iron angerly.
Thrust but these men away, and I’ll forgive you,
Whatever torment you do put me to.
I will not struggle; I will stand stone-still.
For God’s sake, Hubert, let me not be bound.
Nay, hear me, Hubert Drive these men away,
And I will sit as quiet as a lamb;
I will not stir, nor wince, nor speak a word, 80
Nor look upon the iron angerly.
Thrust but these men away, and I’ll forgive you,
Whatever torment you do put me to.
HUBERT (
to the Executioners
)
to the Executioners
)
Go stand within. Let me alone with him.
EXECUTIONER
I am best pleased to be from such a deed. 85
Exeunt Executioners
ARTHUR
Alas, I then have chid away my friend!
He hath a stern look, but a gentle heart.
Let him come back, that his compassion may
Give life to yours.
He hath a stern look, but a gentle heart.
Let him come back, that his compassion may
Give life to yours.
HUBERT Come, boy, prepare yourself.
ARTHUR
Is there no remedy?
HUBERT None but to lose your eyes. 90
ARTHUR
O God, that there were but a mote in yours,
A grain, a dust, a gnat, a wandering hair,
Any annoyance in that precious sense,
Then, feeling what small things are boisterous there,
Your vile intent must needs seem horrible.
95
A grain, a dust, a gnat, a wandering hair,
Any annoyance in that precious sense,
Then, feeling what small things are boisterous there,
Your vile intent must needs seem horrible.
95
HUBERT
Is this your promise? Go to, hold your tongue!
ARTHUR
Hubert, the utterance of a brace of tongues
Must needs want pleading for a pair of eyes.
Let me not hold my tongue, let me not, Hubert;
Or, Hubert, if you will, cut out my tongue, 100
So I may keep mine eyes. O, spare mine eyes,
Though to no use but still to look on you.
Lo, by my troth, the instrument is cold
And would not harm me.
Must needs want pleading for a pair of eyes.
Let me not hold my tongue, let me not, Hubert;
Or, Hubert, if you will, cut out my tongue, 100
So I may keep mine eyes. O, spare mine eyes,
Though to no use but still to look on you.
Lo, by my troth, the instrument is cold
And would not harm me.
HUBERT I can heat it, boy.
ARTHUR
No, in good sooth: the fire is dead with grief, 105
Being create for comfort, to be used
In undeserved extremes. See else yourself.
There is no malice in this burning coal;
The breath of heaven hath blown his spirit out,
And strewed repentant ashes on his head. II0
Being create for comfort, to be used
In undeserved extremes. See else yourself.
There is no malice in this burning coal;
The breath of heaven hath blown his spirit out,
And strewed repentant ashes on his head. II0
HUBERT
But with my breath I can revive it, boy.
ARTHUR
An if you do, you will but make it blush
And glow with shame of your proceedings, Hubert.
Nay, it perchance will sparkle in your eyes,
And like a dog that is compelled to fight,
Snatch at his master that doth tarre him on.
All things that you should use to do me wrong
Deny their office; only you do lack
That mercy which fierce fire and iron extends,
Creatures of note for mercy-lacking uses.
And glow with shame of your proceedings, Hubert.
Nay, it perchance will sparkle in your eyes,
And like a dog that is compelled to fight,
Snatch at his master that doth tarre him on.
All things that you should use to do me wrong
Deny their office; only you do lack
That mercy which fierce fire and iron extends,
Creatures of note for mercy-lacking uses.
HUBERT
Well, see to live. I will not touch thine eye
For all the treasure that thine uncle owes.
Yet am I sworn, and I did purpose, boy,
With this same very iron to burn them out.
For all the treasure that thine uncle owes.
Yet am I sworn, and I did purpose, boy,
With this same very iron to burn them out.
ARTHUR
O, now you look like Hubert. All this while
You were disguised.
You were disguised.
HUBERT Peace, no more. Adieu.
Your uncle must not know but you are dead.
I’ll fill these dogged spies with false reports;
And, pretty child, sleep doubtless and secure
That Hubert, for the wealth of all the world,
Will not offend thee.
I’ll fill these dogged spies with false reports;
And, pretty child, sleep doubtless and secure
That Hubert, for the wealth of all the world,
Will not offend thee.
ARTHUR O God! I thank you, Hubert.
HUBERT
Silence, no more. Go closely in with me.
Much danger do I undergo for thee.
Exeunt
4.2Much danger do I undergo for thee.
Exeunt
⌈
flourish
.⌉
Enter King John, the Earls of Pembroke and Salisbury, and other lords. King John ascends the throne
KING JOHN
Here once again we sit, once again crowned,
And looked upon, I hope, with cheerful eyes.
And looked upon, I hope, with cheerful eyes.
PEMBROKE
This ‘once again’, but that your highness pleased,
Was once superfluous. You were crowned before,
And that high royalty was ne‘er plucked off,
The faiths of men ne’er stained with revolt;
Fresh expectation troubled not the land
With any longed-for change or better state.
Was once superfluous. You were crowned before,
And that high royalty was ne‘er plucked off,
The faiths of men ne’er stained with revolt;
Fresh expectation troubled not the land
With any longed-for change or better state.
SALISBURY
Therefore to be possessed with double pomp,
To guard a title that was rich before, 10
To gild refined gold, to paint the lily,
To throw a perfume on the violet,
To smooth the ice, or add another hue
Unto the rainbow, or with taper-light
To seek the beauteous eye of heaven to garnish,
Is wasteful and ridiculous excess.
To guard a title that was rich before, 10
To gild refined gold, to paint the lily,
To throw a perfume on the violet,
To smooth the ice, or add another hue
Unto the rainbow, or with taper-light
To seek the beauteous eye of heaven to garnish,
Is wasteful and ridiculous excess.
PEMBROKE
But that your royal pleasure must be done,
This act is as an ancient tale new-told,
And in the last repeating troublesome,
Being urged at a time unseasonable.
This act is as an ancient tale new-told,
And in the last repeating troublesome,
Being urged at a time unseasonable.
SALISBURY
In this the antique and well-noted face
Of plain old form is much disfigured,
And like a shifted wind unto a sail,
It makes the course of thoughts to fetch about,
Startles and frights consideration,
Makes sound opinion sick, and truth suspected
For putting on so new a fashioned robe.
Of plain old form is much disfigured,
And like a shifted wind unto a sail,
It makes the course of thoughts to fetch about,
Startles and frights consideration,
Makes sound opinion sick, and truth suspected
For putting on so new a fashioned robe.
PEMBROKE
When workmen strive to do better than well,
They do confound their skill in covetousness;
And oftentimes excusing of a fault
Doth make the fault the worser by th’excuse;
As patches set upon a little breach
Discredit more in hiding of the fault
Than did the fault before it was so patched.
They do confound their skill in covetousness;
And oftentimes excusing of a fault
Doth make the fault the worser by th’excuse;
As patches set upon a little breach
Discredit more in hiding of the fault
Than did the fault before it was so patched.
SALISBURY
To this effect: before you were new-crowned
We breathed our counsel, but it pleased your
highness
To overbear it; and we are all well pleased,
Since all and every part of what we would
Doth make a stand at what your highness will.
We breathed our counsel, but it pleased your
highness
To overbear it; and we are all well pleased,
Since all and every part of what we would
Doth make a stand at what your highness will.
KING JOHN
Some reasons of this double coronation
I have possessed you with, and think them strong.
And more, more strong, when lesser is my fear
I shall endue you with. Meantime but ask
What you would have reformed that is not well,
And well shall you perceive how willingly
I will both hear and grant you your requests.
I have possessed you with, and think them strong.
And more, more strong, when lesser is my fear
I shall endue you with. Meantime but ask
What you would have reformed that is not well,
And well shall you perceive how willingly
I will both hear and grant you your requests.
PEMBROKE
Then I, as one that am the tongue of these
To sound the purposes of all their hearts,
Both for myself and them, but chief of all
Your safety, for the which myself and them
Bend their best studies, heartily request
Th’enfranchisement of Arthur, whose restraint
Doth move the murmuring lips of discontent
To break into this dangerous argument:
If what in rest you have, in right you hold, 55
Why then your fears—which, as they say, attend
The steps of wrong—should move you to mew up
Your tender kinsman, and to choke his days
With barbarous ignorance, and deny his youth
The rich advantage of good exercise?
That the time’s enemies may not have this
To grace occasions, let it be our suit
That you have bid us ask, his liberty;
Which for our goods we do no further ask
Than whereupon our weal, on you depending, 65
Counts it your weal he have his liberty.
To sound the purposes of all their hearts,
Both for myself and them, but chief of all
Your safety, for the which myself and them
Bend their best studies, heartily request
Th’enfranchisement of Arthur, whose restraint
Doth move the murmuring lips of discontent
To break into this dangerous argument:
If what in rest you have, in right you hold, 55
Why then your fears—which, as they say, attend
The steps of wrong—should move you to mew up
Your tender kinsman, and to choke his days
With barbarous ignorance, and deny his youth
The rich advantage of good exercise?
That the time’s enemies may not have this
To grace occasions, let it be our suit
That you have bid us ask, his liberty;
Which for our goods we do no further ask
Than whereupon our weal, on you depending, 65
Counts it your weal he have his liberty.
Enter Hubert
KING JOHN
Let it be so. I do commit his youth
To your direction.—Hubert, what news with you?
To your direction.—Hubert, what news with you?
He takes Hubert aside
PEMBROKE
This is the man should do the bloody deed:
He showed his warrant to a friend of mine. 70
The image of a wicked heinous fault
Lives in his eye; that close aspect of his
Does show the mood of a much troubled breast;
And I do fearfully believe ’tis done
What we so feared he had a charge to do. 75
He showed his warrant to a friend of mine. 70
The image of a wicked heinous fault
Lives in his eye; that close aspect of his
Does show the mood of a much troubled breast;
And I do fearfully believe ’tis done
What we so feared he had a charge to do. 75
SALISBURY
The colour of the King doth come and go
Between his purpose and his conscience,
Like heralds ’twixt two dreadful battles set.
His passion is so ripe it needs must break.
Between his purpose and his conscience,
Like heralds ’twixt two dreadful battles set.
His passion is so ripe it needs must break.
PEMBROKE
And when it breaks, I fear will issue thence 80
The foul corruption of a sweet child’s death.
The foul corruption of a sweet child’s death.
KING JOHN (
coming forward
)
coming forward
)
We cannot hold mortality’s strong hand.
Good lords, although my will to give is living,
The suit which you demand is gone and dead.
He tells us Arthur is deceased tonight.
Good lords, although my will to give is living,
The suit which you demand is gone and dead.
He tells us Arthur is deceased tonight.
SALISBURY
Indeed we feared his sickness was past cure.
PEMBROKE
Indeed we heard how near his death he was,
Before the child himself felt he was sick.
This must be answered, either here or hence.
Before the child himself felt he was sick.
This must be answered, either here or hence.
KING JOHN
Why do you bend such solemn brows on me? 90
Think you I bear the shears of destiny?
Have I commandment on the pulse of life?
Think you I bear the shears of destiny?
Have I commandment on the pulse of life?
SALISBURY
It is apparent foul play, and ’tis shame
That greatness should so grossly offer it.
So thrive it in your game; and so, farewell.
That greatness should so grossly offer it.
So thrive it in your game; and so, farewell.
PEMBROKE
Stay yet, Lord Salisbury; I’ll go with thee,
And find th’inheritance of this poor child,
His little kingdom of a forced grave.
That blood which owed the breadth of all this isle
Three foot of it doth hold. Bad world the while. 100
This must not be thus borne. This will break out
To all our sorrows; and ere long, I doubt.
And find th’inheritance of this poor child,
His little kingdom of a forced grave.
That blood which owed the breadth of all this isle
Three foot of it doth hold. Bad world the while. 100
This must not be thus borne. This will break out
To all our sorrows; and ere long, I doubt.
Exeunt Pembroke, Salisbury
, ⌈
and other lords
⌉
KING JOHN
They burn in indignation. I repent.
There is no sure foundation set on blood,
No certain life achieved by others’ death. 105
There is no sure foundation set on blood,
No certain life achieved by others’ death. 105
Enter a Messenger
A fearful eye thou hast. Where is that blood
That I have seen inhabit in those cheeks?
So foul a sky clears not without a storm;
Pour down thy weather: how goes all in France?
That I have seen inhabit in those cheeks?
So foul a sky clears not without a storm;
Pour down thy weather: how goes all in France?
MESSENGER
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 learned by them,
For when you should be told they do prepare,
The tidings comes that they are all arrived.
For any foreign preparation
Was levied in the body of a land.
The copy of your speed is learned by them,
For when you should be told they do prepare,
The tidings comes that they are all arrived.
KING JOHN
O, where hath our intelligence been drunk?
Where hath it slept? Where is my mother’s ear,
That such an army could be drawn in France,
And she not hear of it?
Where hath it slept? Where is my mother’s ear,
That such an army could be drawn in France,
And she not hear of it?
MESSENGER My liege, her ear
Is stopped with dust. The first of April died
Your noble mother. And as I hear, my lord,
The Lady Constance in a frenzy died
Three days before; but this from rumour’s tongue
I idly heard; if true or false I know not.
Your noble mother. And as I hear, my lord,
The Lady Constance in a frenzy died
Three days before; but this from rumour’s tongue
I idly heard; if true or false I know not.
KING JOHN
Withhold thy speed, dreadful Occasion;
O, make a league with me till I have pleased
My discontented peers. What, Mother dead?
How wildly then walks my estate in France!—
Under whose conduct came those powers of France
That thou for truth giv’st out are landed here?
O, make a league with me till I have pleased
My discontented peers. What, Mother dead?
How wildly then walks my estate in France!—
Under whose conduct came those powers of France
That thou for truth giv’st out are landed here?
MESSENGER
Under the Dauphin.
Enter the Bastard and Peter of Pomfret
KING JOHN Thou hast made me giddy
With these ill tidings. (
To the Bastard
) Now, what says
the world
To your proceedings? Do not seek to stuff
My head with more ill news, for it is full.
To the Bastard
) Now, what says
the world
To your proceedings? Do not seek to stuff
My head with more ill news, for it is full.
BASTARD
But if you,be afeard to hear the worst, 135
Then let the worst, unheard, fall on your head.
Then let the worst, unheard, fall on your head.
KING JOHN
Bear with me, cousin, for I was amazed
Under the tide; but now I breathe again
Aloft the flood, and can give audience
To any tongue, speak it of what it will.
Under the tide; but now I breathe again
Aloft the flood, and can give audience
To any tongue, speak it of what it will.
BASTARD
How I have sped among the clergymen
The sums I have collected shall express.
But as I travelled hither through the land,
I find the people strangely fantasied,
Possessed with rumours, full of idle dreams,
Not knowing what they fear, but full of fear.
And here’s a prophet that I brought with me
From forth the streets of Pomfret, whom I found
With many hundreds treading on his heels;
To whom he sung, in rude, harsh-sounding rhymes,
That ere the next Ascension Day at noon 151
Your highness should deliver up your crown.
The sums I have collected shall express.
But as I travelled hither through the land,
I find the people strangely fantasied,
Possessed with rumours, full of idle dreams,
Not knowing what they fear, but full of fear.
And here’s a prophet that I brought with me
From forth the streets of Pomfret, whom I found
With many hundreds treading on his heels;
To whom he sung, in rude, harsh-sounding rhymes,
That ere the next Ascension Day at noon 151
Your highness should deliver up your crown.
KING JOHN
Thou idle dreamer, wherefore didst thou so?
PETER OF POMFRET
Foreknowing that the truth will fall out so.
KING JOHN
Hubert, away with him! Imprison him,155
And on that day, at noon, whereon he says
I shall yield up my crown, let him be hanged.
Deliver him to safety, and return,
For I must use thee.
Hear’st thou the news abroad, who are arrived? 160
And on that day, at noon, whereon he says
I shall yield up my crown, let him be hanged.
Deliver him to safety, and return,
For I must use thee.
Exeunt Hubert and Peter of PomfretO my gentle cousin,
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