For all the treasure that thine uncle owes. Arth. O, now you look like Hubert! all this while You were disguised, Hub. Peace: no more; 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. SCENE II. [Exeunt. England. The Palace. Flourish of Drums and Trumpets. KING JOHN upon his Throne, ESSEX, PEMBROKE, SALISBURY, and ENGLISH GENTLEMEN, discovered. K. John. Here once again we sit, once again crown'd, And look'd upon, I hope, with cheerful eyes. Pem. This once again, but that your highness pleas'd, Was once superfluous: you were crown'd before, Sal. Therefore, to be possess'd with double pomp, To guard a title that was rich before, K. John. Some reasons of this double coronation I have possess'd you with, and think them strong :Meantime, but ask What you would have reform'd, that is not well; I will both hear, and grant you, your requests. Sal. Then I, as one that am the tongue of these, Request The enfranchisement of Arthur; whose restraint To grace occasions, let it be our suit, That you have bid us ask his liberty. K. John. Let it be so; I do commit his youth Το your direction. Enter HUBERT. Hubert, what news with you? Pem. This is the man, should do the bloody deed. The image of a wicked heinous fault Lives in his eye; that close aspect of his Does show the mood of a much-troubled breast. Sal. The colour of the King doth come and go, Between his purpose and his conscience. K. John. We cannot hold mortality's strong hand. [Exit HUBERT. 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. Ess. 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, [Exeunt ESSEX, PEMBROKE, and SALISBURY. K. John. They burn in indignation :--I repent; There is no sure foundation set on blood:No certain life achiev'd by others' death. [Exeunt KING JOHN and ENGLISH GENTLEMEN. SCENE III. England. A Room in the Palace. Enter KING JOHN, meeting the ENGLISH HERALD. K. John. A fearful eye thou hast! Where is that blood, That I have seen inhabit in those cheeks?— How goes all in France? E. Her. From France to England.-Never such a power, For any foreign preparation, Was levy'd in the body of a land! The copy of your speed is learn'd by them, 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 E. Her. My liege, her ear Is stopp'd with dust: the first of April, died K. John. What, mother! dead? How wildly then walks my estate in France! K. John. Thou hast made me giddy Enter FAULCONBRIDGE. Now, what says the world To your proceedings? Do not seek to stuff Faul. But, if you be afeard to hear the worst, [Going. Faul. How I have sped among the clergymen, Hear'st thou the news abroad, who are arriv❜d? of it: Besides, I met Lord Essex and Lord Salisbury, K. John. Gentle kinsman, go, And thrust thyself into their companies: Faul. I will seek them out. K. John, Nay, but make haste; the better foot before. O, let me have no subjects enemies, And be thou he. [Exit the ENGLISH HERALD. K. John. My mother dead !— 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. 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; F |