Is it my fault, that I was Geffrey's fon? [Afide. Hub. His words do take poffeffion of my bofom. Read here, young Arthur [Shewing a paper.. [Afide. How now, foolish rheum, Turning dif-piteous torture out of door! Out at mine eyes in tender womanish tears.- Arth. And will you? Hub. And I will. Arth Have you the heart? when your head did but akę, I knit my handkerchief about your brows; (The beft I had, a Princefs wrought it me) And I did never afk it you again; And with my hand at midnight held your head; Saying, what lack you and where lies your grief? So So much as frown on you. Hub. I've 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, tho' heat red hot, Approaching near thefe eyes, would drink my tears, Even in the matter of mine innocence: Are you more, ftubborn, hard, than hammer'd iron ?« I would not have believ'd him : no tongue, but Hubert's.. [Stamps, and the men enter. Arth. O fave me, Hubert! fave me! my eyes are out,. Ev'n with the fierce looks of these bloody men. Hub. Give me the iron, I fay, and bind him here. I will not ftir, nor wince, nor speak a word, Thrust but thefe men away, and I'll forgive you, Hub. Go, ftand within; let me alone with him. He hath a stern look, but a gentle heart; Let him come back, that his compaffion may Give life to yours. Hub. Come, boy, prepare yourself. Arth. Is there no remedy? Hub. None, but to lose your eyes. Arth. O heav'n! that there were but a moth in yours A grain, a duft, a gnat, a wand'ring hair, Any Any annoyance in that precious fenfe; Then, feeling what fmall things are boift'rous there, Your vile intent must needs seem 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 fpare 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 extreams; fee elfe yourself, Hub. But with my breath I can revive it, boy. That mercy which fierce fire and iron extend, Hub. Well, fee to live; I will not touch thine eye, For all the treafure that thine uncle owns: 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 difguifed. Hub. Peace: no more. Adieu, Your uncle muft not know but you are dead. That That Hubert, for the wealth of all the world, Arth. O heav'n! I thank you, Hubert. Hub. Silence, no more; go clofely in with me.. Much danger do I undergo for thee. [Exeunt SCENE changes to the Court of England. Enter King John, Pembroke, Salisbury, and other Lords And look'd upon, I hope, with chearful eyes, ERE once again we fit,once again crown'd, K.John. Pemb. This once again, but that your Highnefs pleas'd, Was once fuperfluous; you were crown'd before, And that high royalty was ne'er pluck'd off: The faiths of men, ne'er ftained with revolt; Fresh expectation troubled not the land With any long'd-for change, or better state. Sal. Therefore to be poffefs'd with double pomp, To fmooth the ice, or add another hue To feek the beauteous eye of heav'n to garnish, Pemb. But that your royal pleasure must be done, This act is as an ancient tàle new-told, And in the laft repeating troublesome; Being urged at a time unfeasonable. Sal. In this the antique and well-noted face I makes the courfe of thoughts to fetch about; Makes found opinion fick, and truth fufpected, Pemb, When workmen ftrive to do better than well, They They do confound their skill in covetousness; (21) Doth make the fault the worfe by the excufe: Than did the fault before it was fo patch'd. Sal. To this effect, before you were new-crown'd,, We breath'd our counfel; but it pleas'd your Highness To over-bear it; and we're all well pleas'd; Since all and every part of what we would, Muft make a ftand at what your Highnefs will.. K. John. Some reafons of this double coronation I have poffeft you with, and think them strong. And more, more ftrong (the leffer is my fear) I fhall endue you with: mean time, but afkWhat you would have reform'd, that is not well, And well fhall you perceive how willingly I will both hear and grant you your requefts. Pemb. Then I, as one that am the tongue of these, To found the purposes of all their hearts, (Both for myself and them; but chief of all, Your fafety; for the which, myself and they Bend their beft Audies ;) heartily request Th' infranchifement of Arthur; whofe reftraint Doth move the murm'ring lips of discontent To break into this dang'rous argument; If what în reft you have, in right you hold, Why fhou'd your fears, (which, as they fay, attend The fteps of wrong) then move you to mew up. Your tender kinfman, and to choke his days With barb'rous ignorance, and deny his youth. The rich advantage of good exercise ? That the time's enemies may not have this, To grace occafions, let it be our suit, (21) They do confound their skill in covetournefs.] i. e. Not by their avarice, but in an eager emulation, an intenfe defire of excelling; as in Henry V. But if it be a fin to covet bonour,... That |