(The best I had, a princess wrought it me), And I did never ask it you again: And with my hand at midnight held your head; 50 And, like the watchful minutes to the hour, Still and anon cheer'd up the heavy time; Saying, What lack you? and, Where lies your grief › So much as frown on you? Hub. I have sworn to do it; And with hot irons must I burn them out. Arth. Ah, none, but in this iron age, would do it!! The iron of itself, though heat red-hot, Approaching near these eyes, would drink my tears, Even in the matter of mine innocence : And told me, Hubert should put out mine eyes, 70 I would not have believ'd him; no tongue, but Hubert's. [HUBERT stamps, and the Men enter. Hub. Come forth; do as I bid you do. Arth. O, save me, Hubert, save me! my eyes are out, Even with the fierce looks of these bloody men. 79 Hub. Give me the iron, I say, and bind him here. I will not stir, nor wince, nor speak a word, Thrust but these men away, and I'll forgive you, Hub. Go, stand within; let me alone with him. 90 [Exeunt. Arth. Alas, I then have chid away my friend; Hub. Come, boy, prepare yourself. Arth. Is there no remedy? Hub. None, but to lose your eyes. Arth. O heaven!-that there were but a moth in your's, A grain, a dust, a gnat, a wandring hair, Any annoyance in that precious sense! 100 Then, feeling what small things are boisterous there, Your vile intent must needs seem horrible. Hub. Hub. Is this your promise? go to, hold your tongue. Arth. 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, 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. Hub. I can heat it, boy. 110 Arth. No, in good sooth; the fire is dead with grief, Being create for comfort, to be us'd In undeserv'd extremes: See else yourself; There is no malice in this burning coal; The breath of heaven hath blown his spirit out, Hub. But with my breath I can revive it, boy. 120 That mercy, which fierce fire, and iron, extends, Hub. Well, see to live; I will not touch thine eye For all the treasure that thine uncle owes : Gij 131 Yet Yet am I sworn, and I did purpose, boy, With this same very iron to burn them out. Arth. O, now you look like Hubert! all this while You were disguised. Your uncle must not know but you are dead : Arth. O heaven! -I thank you, Hubert. Hub. Silence; no more: Go closely in with me; Much danger do I undergo for thee. 140 [Exeunt. : SCENE II. The Court of England. Enter King JOHN, PEMBROKE, SALISBURY, and other Lords. K. John. Here once again we sit, once again crown'd, And look'd upon, I hope, with cheerful eyes. Pemb.. This once again, but that your highness pleas'd, Was once superfluous: you were crown'd before, 150 Sal. Sal. Therefore, to be possess'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, Unto the rainbow, or with taper-light To smooth the ice, or add another hue To seek the beauteous eye of heaven to garnish, 160 Is wasteful, and ridiculous excess. Pemb. But that your royal pleasure must be done, This act is as an ancient tale new told; And, in the last repeating, troublesome, Sal. In this, the antique and well-noted face 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, 170 For putting on so new a fashion'd robe. Pemb. When workmen strive to do better than well, They do confound their skill in covetousness: Doth make the fault the worse by the excuse; Than did the fault before it was so patch'd. Sal. To this effect, before you were new-crown'd, We breath'd our counsel: but it pleas'd your highness To overbear it; and we are all well pleas'd; Giij 18 Since |