Father, I may not wish the fortune thine; Lew. Lady, with me; with me thy fortune lies. Blanch. There where my fortune lives, there my life dies. France, I am burn'd up with inflaming wrath; The blood, and dearest valu'd blood, of France. [Exit FAUL. K. Phi. Thy rage shall burn thee up, and thou shalt turn To ashes, ere our blood shall quench that fire: Look to thyself, thou art in jeopardy. K. John. No more than he that threats.-To arms let's hie! [Exeunt. A battle ensues between the French and English forces, and Arthur is taken prisoner by King John. SCENE.-Plains near Angiers. Alarums; Excursions; Retreat. Enter KING JOHN, ELINOR, ARTHUR, FAULCONBRIDGE, HUBERT, and Lords. K. John. So shall it be; your grace shall stay behind, So strongly guarded.-Cousin, look not sad: Thy grandam loves thee; and thy uncle will [TO ELINOR. [TO ARTHUR. As dear be to thee as thy father was. Arth. O, this will make my mother die with grief. K. John. Cousin,-[to FAULCONBRIDGE.]-away for England. haste before : And, ere our coming, see thou shake the bags Of hoarding abbots; imprison'd angels Use our commission in its utmost force. Faul. Bell, book, and candle shall not drive me back, When gold and silver becks me to come on. I leave your highness :-Grandam, I will pray (If ever I remember to be holy,) For your fair safety; so I kiss your hand. Eli. Farewell, my gentle cousin. K. John. Coz, farewell. [Exit FAULCONBRIDGE. Eli. Come hither, little kinsman; hark, a word. [She takes ARTHUR aside. K. John. Come hither, Hubert. O my gentle Hubert, And with advantage means to pay thy love: Hub. I am much bounden to your majesty. K. John. Good friend, thou hast no cause to say so yet: But thou shalt have: and creep time ne'er so slow, Yet it shall come, for me to do thee good. I had a thing to say,-But let it go: The sun is in the heaven, and the proud day, Had bak'd thy blood, and made it heavy, thick; Or if that thou could'st see me without eyes, K. John. Do not I know, thou would'st? And, wheresoe'er this foot of mine doth tread, Hub. And I will keep him so, That he shall not offend your majesty. K. John. Death. I could be merry now: Hubert, I love thee. Enough. For England, cousin, go: Hubert shall be your man, attend on you With all true duty.-On toward Calais, ho! SCENE.-The French King's Tent. [Exeunt Enter KING PHILIP, LEWIS, PANDULPH, and Attendants. K. Phi. So, by a roaring tempest on the flood, A whole armado of convicted sail Is scatter'd and disjoin'd from fellowship. Pand. Courage and comfort! all shall yet go well. K. Phi. What can go well, when we have run so ill? Are we not beaten? Is not Angiers lost? Arthur ta'en prisoner? divers dear friends slain : Lew. What he hath won, that hath he fortified: So hot a speed with such advice dispos'd, Doth want example: Who hath read, or heard, Of any kindred action like to this? K. Phi. Well could I bear that England had this praise, So we could find some pattern of our shame. Enter CONSTANCE. Look, who comes here! a grave unto a soul; In the vile prison of afflicted breath :— I pr'ythee, lady, go away with me. Const. Lo, now! now see the issue of your peace! K. Phi. Patience, good lady! comfort, gentle Constance ! But that which ends all counsel, true redress, Death, death:-O amiable, lovely death! Arise forth from the couch of lasting night, Thou hate and terror to prosperity, And I will kiss thy détestable bones; Come, grin on me; and I will think thou smil'st, O, come to me! K. Phi. O fair affliction, peace. Const. No, no, I will not, having breath to cry:— O, that my tongue were in the thunder's mouth! Pand. Lady, you utter madness, and not sorrow. I am not mad: this hair I tear is mine; Fossy!! Sr. Jouis Bind up your hairs. That we shall see and know our friends in heaven: If that be true, I shall see my boy again; For, since the birth of Cain, the first male child, To him that did but yesterday suspire, There was not such a gracious creature born. I shall not know him: therefore never, never Pand. You hold too heinous a respect of grief. K. Phi. You are as fond of grief, as of your child. [Tearing off her head-dress. When there is such disorder in my wit. ACT IV. Exit. [Exit. Arthur is conveyed to England, where he is imprisoned in Northampton Castle. Hubert is appointed his keeper, with instructions from King John to find some means, secretly, to deprive the young Prince of his life. SCENE I.-Northampton. A Room in the Castle. Enter HUBERT, and Two Attendants. Hub. Heat me these irons hot; and, look thou stand Upon the bosom of the ground, rush forth: Young lad, come forth; I have to say with you." [Exeunt Attendants. Good morrow, little prince. Arth. Good morrow, Hubert. Mercy on me! Arth. |