Is yet a maiden and an innocent hand, The dreadful motion of a murd'rous thought, Is yet the cower of a fairer mind Than to be butcher of an innocent child. K. John. Doth Arthur live? O, haste thee to the Peers, Throw this report on their incensed rage, Presented thee more hideous than thou art. SCENE III, The same. Before the Castle. Enter ARTHUR, on the Walls. Arth. The wall is high; and yet will I leap down: Good ground, he pitiful, and hurt me not! If I get down, and do not break my limbs, As good to die, and go, as die, and stay. [Leaps down. O me! my uncle's spirit is in these stones: Heaven take my soul, and England keep my bones! [Dies. Enter PEMBROKE, SALISBURY, and BIGOT. Sal. Lords, I will meet him at saint Edmund's- It is our safety, and we must embrace Pemb. Who brought that letter from the Cardinal? Sal. The Count Melun, a noble lord of France; Whose private with me, of the Dauphin's love, Is much more general than these lines import. Big. To-morrow morning let us meet him then. Sal. Or, rather then set forward: for 'twill be Two long days' journey, Lords, or e'er we meet. Enter the Bastard. Bast. Once more to-day well met, distemper'd The King, by me, requests your presence straight. Sal. Our griefs, and not our manners, reason now. Bast. But there is little reason in your grief; Therefore, 'twere reason, you had manners now. Pemb. Sir, Sir, impatience hath his privilege. Bast. 'Tis true; to hurt his master, no man else. Sal. This is the prison; What is he lies here? [Seeing ARTHUR, Pemb. O death, made proud with pure and princely beauty! The earth had not a hole to hide this deed. Sal. Murder, as hating what himself hath done, Doth lay it open, to urge on revenge. Big. Or, when he doom'd this beauty to a grave, Found it too precious-princely for a grave. Sal. Sir Richard, what think you? Have you beheld, Or have you read, or heard? or could you think? Form such another? This is the very top, Pemb. 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 times; Bast. It is a damned and a bloody work; Sal. If that it be the work of any hand? From whose obedience I forbid my soul, Pemb. Big. Our souls religiously confirm thy words, Enter HUBERT, Hub. Lords, I am hot with haste in seeking you: Arthur doth live; the King hath sent for you. Sal. O, he is bold, and blushes not at death :Avaunt, thou hateful villain, get thee gone! Hub. I am no villain. Sal. Must I rob the law? [Drawing his sword. Bast. Your sword is bright, Sir; put it up again. Sal. Not till I sheath it in a murderer's skin. Hub. Stand back, Lord Salisbury, stand back, I say; By heaven, I think, my sword's as sharp as yours: Hub, Not for my life: but yet I dare defend My innocent life against an Emperor. Sal. Thou art a murderer. Hub. Do not prove me so; Yet, I am none: Whose tongue soe'erspeaks false, Not truly speaks; who speaks not truly, lies. Pemb. Cut him to pieces. Bast. Keep the peace, I say. Sal. Stand by, or I shall gall you, Faulconbridge. Bast. Thou wert better gall the devil, Salisbury: Second a villain, and a murderer? Hub. 'Tis not an hour since I left him well: Big. Away toward Bury, to the Dauphin there! Pemb. There, tell the King, he may enquire us out. Bast. Here's a good world! [Exeunt Lords. Knew you of this fair work? Beyond the infinite and boundless reach Art thou damn'd, Hubert. |