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Is it my fault that I was Geffrey's son?

No, indeed, is't not; and I would to heaven

I were your son, so you would love me, Hubert.

Hub. [Aside] If I talk to him, with his innocent prate He will awake my mercy which lies dead :

Therefore I will be sudden and dispatch.

Arth. Are you sick, Hubert? you look pale to-day : In sooth, I would you were a little sick,

That I might sit all night and watch with you.

I warrant I love you more than you do me.

Hub. [Aside] His words do take possession of my

bosom.

Read here, young Arthur.

[Showing a paper. [Aside] How now, foolish rheum!

Turning dispiteous torture out of door!

I must be brief, lest resolution drop
Out at mine eyes in tender womanish tears.
Can you not read it? is it not fair writ?

Arth. Too fairly, Hubert, for so foul effect :
Must you with hot irons burn out both mine eyes?
Hub. Young boy, I must.

Arth.

Hub.

And will you?

And I will.

Arth. Have you the heart? When your head did but

ache,

I knit my handkercher about your brows,

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,
And like the watchful minutes to the hour,

Still and anon cheered up the heavy time,

Saying, 'What lack you?' and 'Where lies your grief?'
Or 'What good love may I perform for you?'
Many a poor man's son would have lain still
And ne'er have spoke a loving word to you;
But you at your sick service had a prince.
Nay, you may think my love was crafty love

And call it cunning: do, an if you will:

If heaven be pleased that you must use me ill,
Why then you must. Will you put out mine eyes?
These eyes that never did nor never shall

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
And quench his fiery indignation

Even in the matter of mine innocence;
Nay, after that, consume away in rust,
But for containing fire to harm mine eye.

Are you more stubborn-hard than hammered iron?

An if an angel should have come to me

And told me Hubert should put out mine eyes,

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I would not have believed him. No tongue but Hubert's,— Come forth.

Hub.

Re-enter Executioners, with a cord, irons, &c.

Do as I bid you do.

[Stamps.

Arth. O, save me, Hubert, save me! my eyes are out Even with the fierce looks of these bloody men.

Hub.

Give me the iron, I say, and bind him here. Arth. Alas, what need you be so boisterous-rough? I will not struggle, I will stand stone-still.

For heaven 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,

Nor look upon the iron angerly :

Thrust but these men away, and I'll forgive you,
Whatever torment you do put me to.

Hub. Go, stand within; let me alone with him.

First Exec. I am best pleased to be from such a deed. [Exeunt Executioners.

* Heat, used as a participle.

Arth. 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

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Arth. O heaven, 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.

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.
Arth.

I can heat it, boy.

No, in good sooth; the fire is dead with grief,

*

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 has blown his spirit out
And strewed repentant ashes on his head.

Hub. But with my breath I can revive it, boy.
Arth. 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

* Create, for created.

That mercy which fierce fire and iron extends,
Creatures of note for mercy-lacking uses.

Hub. Well, see to live; I will not touch thine eyes

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.

Arth. O, now you look like Hubert! all this while You were disguised.

Hub.

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.

Arth.

O heaven! I thank you, Hubert. Hub. Silence: no more: go closely in with me: Much danger do I undergo for thee.

W. Shakespeare.

Hub.

XVIII.

KING JOHN.

ACT IV. SCENE II.-A Room in the Palace.

KING JOHN and HUBERT.

Y lord, they say five moons were seen tonight;

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Four fixed, and the fifth did whirl about The other four in wondrous motion.

K. John. Five moons!

Hub.

Old men and beldams in the streets Do prophesy upon it dangerously :

Young Arthur's death is common in their mouths :
And when they talk of him, they shake their heads
And whisper one another in the ear;

And he that speaks doth gripe the hearer's wrist,
Whilst he that hears makes fearful action,

With wrinkled brows, with nods, with rolling eyes.
I saw a smith stand with his hammer, thus,
The whilst his iron did on the anvil cool,
With open mouth swallowing a tailor's news;
Who, with his shears and measure in his hand,
Standing on slippers, which his nimble haste
Had falsely thrust upon contrary feet,

Told of a many thousand warlike French
That were embattailéd and ranked in Kent:
Another lean unwashed artificer

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 murdered him: I had a mighty cause
To wish him dead, but thou hadst none to kill him.
Hub. None 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 break within the bloody house of life,

And on the winking of authority

To understand a law; to know the meaning

Of dangerous majesty, when perchance it frowns

More upon humour than advised respect.

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
Make ill deeds done! Hadst not thou been by,
A fellow by the hand of nature marked,
Quoted and signed to do a deed of shame,
This murder had not come into my mind:
But taking note of thy abhorred aspect,
Finding thee fit for bloody villany,
Apt, liable to be employed in danger,

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