This kingdom, this confine of blood and breath, Between my conscience and my cousin's death. The dreadful motion of a murderous thought; Is yet the cover of a fairer mind 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, 260 Presented thee more hideous than thou art. SCENE III. Before the castle. Enter ARTHUR, on the walls. Arth. The wall is high, and yet will I leap down: Good ground, be pitiful and hurt me not! There's few or none do know me: if they did, This ship-boy's semblance hath disguised me quite. I am afraid; and yet I'll venture it. If I get down, and do not break my limbs, [Leaps down. O me! my uncle's spirit is in these stones: Heaven take my soul, and England keep bones! my [Dies. 10 ΙΟ Enter PEMBROKE, SALISBURY, and BIGOT. Sal. Lords, I will meet him at Saint Edmundsbury: It is our safety, and we must embrace This gentle offer of the perilous time. Pem. 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 general than these lines import. Big. To-morrow morning let us meet him then. Sal. Or rather then set forward; for 'twill be Two long days' journey, lords, or ere we meet. 20 Enter the BASTARD. *Discontented. 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 With our pure honours, nor attend the foot That leaves the print of blood where'er it walks. Return and tell him so: we know the worst. Bast. Whate'er you think, good words, I think, were best. Sal. Our griefs, and not our manners, reason now. 29 Bast. But there is little reason in your grief; Therefore 'twere reason you had manners now. Pem. Sir, sir, impatience hath his privilege. Bast. 'Tis true, to hurt his master, no man else. Sal. This is the prison. What is he lies here? [Seeing Arthur. Pem. O death, made proud with pure and princely beauty! The earth had not a hole to hide this deed. Sal. Murder, as hating what himself hath done, Doth lay it open to urge on revenge. Big. Or, when he doom'd this beauty to a grave, Found it too precious-princely for a grave. 40 Sal. Sir Richard, what think you? have you beheld, Or have you read or heard? or could you think? Form such another? This is the very top, The height, the crest, or crest unto the crest, That ever wall-eyed wrath or staring rage 50 Pem. All murders past do stand excused in this: And this, so sole and so unmatchable, Shall give a holiness, a purity, To the yet unbegotten sin of times; And prove a deadly bloodshed but a jest, Sal. If that it be the work of any hand! Pem. } Our souls religiously confirm thy words. Enter HUBERT. 6c 70 Hub. Lords, I am hot with haste in seeking you: Arthur doth live; the king hath sent for you. Sal. O, he is bold and blushes not at death. Avaunt, thou hateful villain, get thee gone! Sal. Must I rob the law? [Drawing his sword. Bast. Your sword is bright, sir: nut it up again. 79 Sal. Not till I sheathe it in a murderer's skin. Hub. Stand back, Lord Salisbury, stand back, I say; By heaven, I think my sword's as sharp as yours: Big. Out, dunghill! darest thou brave a nobleman? Hub. Not for my life: but yet I dare defend My innocent life against an emperor. Sal. Thou art a murderer. Hub. Do not prove me so; 90 Yet I am none: whose tongue soe'er speaks false, Not truly speaks; who speaks not truly, lies. Pem. Cut him to pieces. Bast. Keep the peace, I say. Sal. Stand by, or I shall gall you, Faulconbridge. Bast. Thou wert better gall the devil, Salisbury: If thou but frown on me, or stir thy foot, Big. What wilt thou do, renowned Faulconbridge? Second a villain and a murderer? Hub. Lord Bigot, I am none. Big. Who kill'd this prince? Hub. 'Tis not an hour since I left him well: I honour'd him, I loved him, and will weep Sal. Trust not those cunning waters of his eyes, For villany is not without such rheum; IIO Big. Away toward Bury, to the Dauphin there! out. Pem. There tell the king he may inquire us [Exeunt Lords. Bast. Here's a good world! Knew you of this fair work? Beyond the infinite and boundless reach Of mercy, if thou didst this deed of death, Hub. Do but hear me, sir. Bast. Ha! I'll tell thee what; I 20 Thou'rt damn'd as black-nay, nothing is so black; Thou art more deep damn'd than Prince Lucifer: As thou shalt be, if thou didst kill this child. Bast. If thou didst but consent To this most cruel act, do but despair; And if thou want'st a cord, the smallest thread That ever spider twisted from her womb Will serve to strangle thee; a rush will be a beam 131 To hang thee on; or wouldst thou drown thyself, Hub. If I in act, consent, or sin of thought, Be guilty of the stealing that sweet breath Which was embounded in this beauteous clay, Let hell want pains enough to torture me. I left him well. Bast. 140 |