Think you I bear the shears of destiny? Pem. Stay yet, Lord Salisbury; I'll go with thee, That blood which ow'd the breadth of all this isle, [Exeunt Lords. K. John. They burn in indignation. I repent: There is no sure foundation set on blood; No certain life achiev'd by other's 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; For when you should be told they do prepare, The tidings come that they are all arriv'd. K. John. O, where hath our intelligence been drunk? Where hath it slept? Where is my mother's care, That such an army could be drawn in France, And she not hear of it? Mess. My liege, her ear Three days before; but this from rumour's tongue K. John. Withhold thy speed, dreadful occasion! K. John. Thou hast made me giddy Enter the BASTARD and PETER of Pomfret. To your proceedings? do not seek to stuff Bast. How I have sped among the clergymen, Your highness should deliver up your crown. K. John. Thou idle dreamer, wherefore didst thou so? I shall yield up my crown, let him be hang'd. For I must use thee. [Exit HUBERT with PETER. O my gentle cousin, Hear'st thou the news abroad, who are arriv'd? 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, whom they say is kill'd to-night K. John. Gentle kinsman, go And thrust thyself into their companies: I have a way to win their loves again: Bring them before me. Bast. I will seek them out. K. John. Nay, but make haste; the better foot before. O, let me have no subject enemies When adverse foreigners affright my towns With dreadful pomp of stout invasion! Go after him; for he perhaps shall need Mess. [Exit BASTARD. With all my heart, my liege. K. John. My mother dead! [Exit. 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! 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; Cuts off 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 Hub. No had, my lord! why, did you not provoke me? K. John. It is the curse of kings to be attended By slaves that take their humours for a warrant 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. 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 Made it no conscience to destroy a prince. Hub. My lord, 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, As bid me tell my tale in express words, Deep shame had struck me dumb, made me break off, And those thy fears might have wrought fears in me: 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 held vile to name.— My nobles leave me; and my state is brav'd, This kingdom, this confine of blood and breath, Between my conscience and my cousin's death. Hub. Arm you against your other enemies, Which, howsoever rude exteriorly, Than to be butcher of an innocent child. K. John. Doth Arthur live? O, haste thee to the peers, Throw this report on their incensed rage, And make them tame to their obedience! Forgive the comment that my passion made Upon thy feature; for my rage was blind, And foul imaginary eyes of blood Presented thee more hideous than thou art. O, answer not; but to my closet bring The angry lords with all expedient haste: I conjure thee but slowly; run more fast. SCENE III.-The same. Before the Castle. Enter ARTHUR, on the Walls. [Exeunt. Arth. The wall is high, and yet will I leap down:- I am afraid; and yet I'll venture it. If I get down, and do not break my limbs, As good to die and go, as die and stay. O me! my uncle's spirit is in these stones : [Leaps down. Heaven take my soul, and England keep my bones! [Dies. Enter PEMBROKE, SALISBURY, and BIGOT. Sal. Lords, I will meet him at Saint Edmund's-Bury: It is our safety, and we must embrace This gentle offer of the perilous time. Pem. Who brought that letter from the cardinal? Enter the BASTARD. Bast. Once more to-day well met, distemper'd lords! The king by me requests your presence straight. Sal. The king hath dispossess'd himself of us: We will not line his thin bestained cloak |