Or, as a little snow, tumbled about, Anon becomes a mountain. O noble Dauphin, Lew. Strong reasons make strong actions: Let us If you say, ay, the king will not say no. [go; [Exeunt. ACT IV. SCENE I.-Northampton.' A room in the castle. Enter HUBERT and two Attendants. [stand Hub. Heat me these irons hot; and, look thou Within the arras: when I strike my foot Upon the bosom of the ground, rush forth: And bind the boy, which you shall find with me, Fast to the chair: be heedful: hence, and watch. 1 Attend. I hope, your warrant will bear out the deed. to't. Hub. Uncleanly scruples! Fear not you: look [Exeunt Attendants. Young lad, come forth; I have to say with you. Enter ARTHUR. Arth. Good-morrow, Hubert. Good-morrow, little prince. Shakspeare has deviated from historical fact in bringing Arthur to England. This young prince was first confined at Faloise, and afterwards at Rouen, in Normandy, where he was put to death. Arth. As little prince (having so great a title To be more prince,) as may be.-You are sad. Hub. Indeed, I have been merrier. Arth. Mercy on me! Methinks, no body should be sad but I: Is it my fault that I was Geffrey's son? [Aside. Arth. Are you sick, Hubert? you look pale to-day: In sooth, I would you were a little sick; I warrant, I love you more than you do me. Hub. His words do take possession of my bosom.— Read here, young Arthur. [Showing a paper.] How now, foolish rheum! [Aside. Turning dispiteous torture' out of door! I must be brief; lest resolution drop Out at mine eyes, in tender womanish tears.- Arth. Too fairly, Hubert, for so foul effect: Arth. Hub. And will you? And I will. Arth. Have you the heart? When your head did I knit my handkerchief about your brows, [but ache, (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, Saying, What lack you? and, Where lies your grief? 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, Are you more stubborn-hard than hammer'd iron? And told me, Hubert should put out mine eyes, I would not have believ'd him, no, no tongue but Hubert's. Hub. Come forth. [Stamps. Re-enter Attendants, with cord, irons, &c. Do as I bid you do. Arth. O, save me, Hubert, save me! my eyes are Even with the fierce looks of these bloody men. [out Hub. Give me the iron, I say, and bind him here. Arth. Alas, what need you be so boist'rous-rough? I will not struggle, I will stand stone-still. For heaven's sake, Hubert, let me not be bound! I will not stir, nor wince, nor speak a word, Thrust but these men away, and I'll forgive you, Hub. Go, stand within; let me alone with him. 1 Attend. I am best pleas'd to be from such a deed. [Exeunt Attendants. 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 Give life to yours. Hub. Come, boy, prepare yourself. Arth. Is there no remedy? Hub. None, but to lose your eyes. Arth. O heaven!- that there were but a mote in A grain, a dust, a gnat, a wand'ring hair, Any annoyance in that precious sense! [yours, Then, feeling what small things are boist'rous 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. I can heat it, boy. Arth. No, in good sooth; the fire is dead with grief, Being create' for comfort, to be us'd The fire being created for comfort, is dead with grief at finding itself used in acts of unmerited cruelty. In undeserv'd extremes: See else yourself; Hub. But with my breath I can revive it, boy. you All things, that should use to do me wrong, That mercy, which fierce fire, and iron, extends, Hub. Well, see to live; I will not touch thine eyes For all the treasure that thine uncle owes : 4 Arth. O, now you look like Hubert! all this while You were disguised. Hub. Adieu; Peace: no more. Arth. [Exeunt. |