Pem. All murders past do stand excus'd in this : And this, so sole, and so unmatchable, Shall give a holiness, a purity, To the yet-unbegotten sin of time, Phil. It is a damned and a bloody work; Sal. If that it be the work of any hand?— Pem. Big. Our souls religiously confirm thy words. : Hub. Lords, I am hot with haste in seeking you: Must I rob the law? Phil. Your sword is bright, sir; put it up again.3 A copy of the vows made in the ages of superstition and chivalry. 2 honour, dignity. 3 i. e. is, lest it lose its brightness. Hub. Stand back, lord Salisbury, stand back, I say; By heaven, I think, my sword's as sharp as yours: I would not have you, lord, forget yourself, Nor tempt the danger of my true defence; Lest I, by marking of your rage, forget Your worth, your greatness, and nobility. Big. Out, dunghill! dar'st thou brave a nobleman? Hub. Not for my life: but yet I dare defend My innocent life against an emperor. Sal. Thou art a murderer. Hub. Yet, I am none: Do not prove me so;' Whose tongue soe'er speaks false, Not truly speaks; who speaks not truly, lies. Pem. Cut him to pieces. Phil. Keep the peace, I say. Sal. Stand by, or I shall gall you, Faulconbridge. Phil. Thou wert better gall the devil, Salisbury: If thou but frown on me, or stir thy foot, Or teach thy hasty spleen to do me shame, I'll strike thee dead. Put up thy sword betime; Or I'll so maul you and your toasting-iron, That you shall think the devil is come from hell. Big. What wilt thou do, renowned Faulconbridge? Second a villain, and a murderer? Hub. Lord Bigot, I am none. Big. Who kill'd this prince? And he, long traded in it, makes it seem 1 i. e. By compelling me to kill you. i. e. as yet I am no murderer. 3 pity. Big. Away, toward Bury, to the Dauphin there! Pem. There, tell the king, he may inquire us out. [Exeunt Lords. Phil. Here's a good world!-Knew you of this fair Beyond the infinite and boundless reach [work? Of mercy, if thou didst this deed of death, Art thou damn'd, Hubert. Hub. Do but hear me, sir. Phil. Ha! I'll tell thee what; Thou art damn'd as black-nay, nothing is so black; Thou art more deep damn'd than prince Lucifer: There is not yet so ugly a fiend of hell As thou shalt be, if thou didst kill this child. Hub. Upon my soul, Phil. If thou didst but consent To this most cruel act, do but despair, And, if thou want'st a cord, the smallest thread That ever spider twisted from her womb Will serve to strangle thee; a rush will be A beam to hang thee on; or would'st thou drown And it shall be as all the ocean, Hub. If I in act, consent, or sin of thought [thyself, Phil. 1 scramble. The unowed' interest of proud-swelling state. And follow me with speed: I'll to the king: [Exeunt. ACT V. SCENE I.-The same. A room in the palace. Enter King JOHN, PANDULPH with the crown, and Attendants. K. John. Thus have I yielded up into your hand The circle of my glory. Pand. Take again Giving back the crown to JOHN, From this my hand, as holding of the pope, Your sovereign greatness and authority. K. John. Now keep your holy word: go meet the And from his holiness use all your power To stop their marches, 'fore we are inflam'd. Our discontented counties do revolt; Our people quarrel with obedience; [French; Meaning, greatness wrested from its possessor. Swearing allegiance, and the love of soul, Then pause not, for the present time's so sick, Or overthrow incurable ensues. Pand. It was my breath that blew this tempest up, Upon your stubborn usage of the pope: But, since you are a gentle convertite,' My tongue shall hush again this storm of war, Go I to make the French lay down their arms. [Exit. K. John. Is this Ascension-day? Did not the pro Say, that, before Ascension-day at noon, [phet My crown I should give off? Even so I have: I did suppose, it should be on constraint; Enter PHILIP. Phil. All Kent hath yielded; nothing there holds But Dover castle: London hath receiv'd, [out, Like a kind host, the Dauphin and his powers: To offer service to your enemy; And wild amazement hurries up and down K. John. Would not my lords return to me again, After they heard young Arthur was alive? Phil. They found him dead, and cast into the An empty casket, where the jewel of life, [streets; By some dread hand, was robb'd and ta'en away. K. John. That villain Hubert told me, he did live. 1 convert. |