My uncle practises more harm to me: No, indeed, is't not; And I would to heaven, prate [Afide. Arth. Are you fick, Hubert? you look pale to-day : In footh, I would you were a little fick; That I might fit all night, and watch with you: I warrant, I love you more than you do me. Hub. His words do take poffeffion of my bofom. Read here, young Arthur How now, foolish rheum! Turning difpiteous torture out of door? I must be brief; left refolution drop [Shewing a paper. Out at mine eyes, in tender womanish tears.- you not read it? is it not fair writ? Arth. Too fairly, Hubert, for fo foul effect: Arth. And will you? Hub. And I will. [Afide. Arth. Have you the heart? When your head did but ake, I knit my handkerchief about your brows, (The best I had, a princess wrought it me) And I did never afk it you again : And with my hand at midnight held your head; Þ a fact. like the watchful minutes to the hour,]-the minutes in a clock, which relieve by marking how much of a tedious hour is gone, or to come. Y 2 Still Still and anon chear'd up the heavy time; Saying, What lack you? and, Where lies your grief? Hub. I have fworn 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 : Are you more stubborn-hard than hammer'd iron? 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, fave me, Hubert, fave me! my eyes are out, Even with the fierce looks of these bloody men. Hub. Give me the iron, I fay, and bind him here. I will not struggle, I will stand stone-still. And And I will fit as quiet as a lamb ; I will not ftir, nor wince, nor speak a word, Thrust but these men away, and I'll forgive you, Hub. Go, ftand within; let me alone with him. Artb. 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. [Exeunt. Artb. O heaven-that there were but a ' moth in yours, A grain, a duft, a gnat, a wandring hair, Any annoyance in that precious fenfe! Then, feeling what fmall things are boisterous there, Your vile intent must needs feem horrible. Hub. Is this your promife? go to, hold your tongue. Arth. Hubert, the utterance of a brace of tongues Muft 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 ufe, but ftill to look on you! Lo, by my troth, the inftrument is cold, And would not harm me. Hub. I can heat it, boy. Arth. No, in good footh; the fire is dead with grief, Being create for comfort, to be us'd 'In undeferv'd extremes: See else yourself; mote. • In undeferv'd extremes:]-acts of cruelty. Y 3 There There is no malice in this burning coal; Hub. But with my breath I can revive it, boy. Arth. And if you do, you will but make it blush, That mercy, which fierce fire, and iron, extends, Hub. Well, 'fee to live; I will not touch thine eye For all the treasure that thine uncle owes : Yet am I fworn, and I did purpose, boy, With this fame 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. [Exeunt. t fee to live;]-think how to live, and take no more thought about your eyes; they're fafe enough. SCENE SCEN E II. The Court of England. Enter King John, Pembroke, Salisbury, and other Lords. K. John. Here once again we fit, once again crown'd, And look'd upon, I hope, with chearful eyes. Pemb. "This once again, but that your highness pleas'd,' To feek the beauteous eye of heaven to garnish, Pemb. But that your royal pleasure must be done, And, in the last repeating, troublesome, Sal. In this, the antique and well-noted face It makes the courfe of thoughts to fetch about; Makes found opinion fick, and truth suspected, " This once again,]-This was the fourth time. To guard]-Ornament with fringe, lace, or other foppery. |