Thy foot to England's throne; and, therefore, mark. Lew. But what shall I gain by young Arthur's fall? Pand. How green are you, and fresh in this old world! No scape of nature, no distemper'd day, Lew. May be, he will not touch young Arthur's life, But hold himself safe in his prisonment. Pand. O, sir, when he shall hear of your approach, If that young Arthur be not gone already, Even at that news he dies: and then the hearts Of all his people shall revolt from him, you, [9] The author very finely calis a monstrous birth, an escape of nature, as if it were produced while she was busy elsewhere, or intent upon some other thing. WARBURTON Than I have nam'd !---The bastard Faulconbridge Lew, Strong reasons make strong actions: Let us go ; If you say, ay, the king will not say, no. [Exeunt. ACT IV. SCENE I.-Northampton. A Room in the Castle. Enter HUBERT and two Attendants. Hubert. HEAT me these irons hot; and, look thou stand Upon the bosom of the ground, rush forth : Fast to the chair: be heedful: hence, and watch. 1 Attend. I hope, your warrant will bear out the deed. Hub. Uncleanly scruples! Fear not you look to't.[Exeunt Attendants. Young lad, come forth; I have to say with you, Enter ARTHUR. Arth. Good morrow, Hub. Good morrow, little prince. Arth. As little prince (having so great a title To be more prince,) as may be. You are sad. Hub. Indeed, I have been mérrier. Arth. Mercy on me! -- Methinks, no body should be sad but I : [1] Bacon, in his History of Henry VII. speaking of Simnel's march, observes that their snow-ball did not gather as it went." JOHNSON. I should be as merry as the day is long; 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; do me. I warrant, I love you more than you my bosom. Read here, young Arthur. [Showing a paper.] How now, foolish rheum! 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: Must you with hot irons burn out both mine eyes? Arth. And will you? Hub. And I will. [Aside. Arth. Have you the heart? When your head did but ake, I knit my handkerchief about your brows, (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; Still and anon cheer'd up the heavy time; Saying, What lack you? and, Where lies your grief? If heaven be pleas'd that you must use me ill, 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! Approaching near these eyes, would drink my tears, Even in the matter of mine innocence : Are you more stubborn-hard than hammer'd iron? And told me, Hubert should put out mine eyes, [Stamps. Re-enter Attendants, with cord, irons, &c. Hub. Give me the iron, I say, and bind him here. 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. 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. Hub. None, but to lose your eyes. Arth. O heaven!-that there were but a mote in yours, A grain, a dust, a gnat, a wand'ring hair, Any annoyance in that precious sense! Then, feeling what small things are boist'rous there, [3] The participle heat, though now obsolete, was in use in our author's time. So in the sacred writings; He commanded that they should heat the furnace one Leven times more than it was wont to be heat." Dan. iii. 19. MALONE. Your vile intent must needs seem horrible. Hub. Is this your promise? go to, hold your tongue. Lo, by my troth, the instrument is cold, 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 In undeserv'd extremes: See else yourself; Hub. But with my breath I can revive it, boy. That mercy, which fierce fire, and iron, extends, Hub. Well, see to live; I will not touch thine Yet am I sworn, and I did purpose, boy, eyes Arth. O, now you look like Hubert! all this while You were disguised. Hub. Peace: no more. Adieu ; Your uncle must not know but you are dead : [4] This is according to nature. We imagine no evil so great as that which is near us. JOHNSON. [5] The sense is: the fire, being created not to hurt, but to comfort is dead with grief for finding itself used in acts of cruelty, which, being innocent, I have not deserved. JOHNSON. [6] i, e. stimulate, set him on. STEEVENS. |