To break into this dangerous argument, If, what in rest you have, in right you hold, Which for our goods we do no further ask, To Enter HUBERT, your direction.-Hubert, what news with you. Pem. This is the man should do the bloody deed; He show'd his warrant to a friend of mine: The image of a wicked heinous fault Does show the mood of a much-troubled breast; What we so fear'd he had a charge to do. Sal. The colour of the king doth come and go, Between his purpose and his conscience, Like heralds 'twixt two dreadful battles set: Pem. And, when it breaks, I fear, will issue thence The foul corruption of a sweet child's death. K. John. 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 deceas'd to night. Sal. Indeed, we fear'd, his sickness was past cure. Pem, Indeed we heard how near his death he was, Before the child himself felt he was sick : This must be answer'd, either here, or hence. K. John. Why do you bend such solemn brows on me? Think you, I bear the shears of destiny? That blood, which ow'd" the breath of all this isle, [Exeunt Lords. K. John. They burn in indignation; I repent; There is no sure foundation set on blood; 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 power7 For any foreign preparation, Was levied in the body of a land! The copy of your speed is learn'd by them; 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! O, make a league with me, till I have pleas'd 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? Mess. Under the Dauphin. Enter the Bastard and PETER of POMFRET. K. John. Thou hast made me giddy With these ill tidings.-Now, what says the world To your proceedings? do not seek to stuff My head with more ill news, for it is full. Bast. But, if you be afeard to hear the worst, Then let the worst, unheard, fall on your head. K.John. Bear with me, cousin; for I was amaz'd3 8 Stunned, confounded. Under the tide: but now I breathe again Bast. 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; Possess'd with rumours, full of idle dreams; Not knowing what they fear, but full of fear: And here's a prophet, that I brought with mè 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, Your highness should deliver up your crown. K. John. Thou idle dreamer, wherefore didst thou so? Peter. Foreknowing that the truth will fall out so. K. John. Hubert, away with him; imprison him; And on that day at noon, whereon, he says, I shall yield up my crown, let him be hang'd: Deliver him to safety, and return, For I must use thee.-O my gentle cousin, [Exit HUBERT, with PETER. 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, who, they say, is kill'd to-night 9 Custody. On your suggestion. K. John. Gentle kinsman, go, And thrust thyself into their companies : 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 [Exit. Mess. With all my heart, my liege. [Exit. K. John. My mother dead! 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? Hub. in the streets Old men, Do prephecy upon it dangerously: |