If that young Arthur be not gone already, Even at that news he dies; and then the hearts Anon becomes a mountain. O, noble dauphin, 3 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. Hub. Heat me these irons hot; and, look thou stand 1 Hurly is tumult. 2 The image is taken from the manner in which birds are sometimes caught; one being placed for the purpose of drawing others to the net by his note or call. 3 The first folio reads strange; the second folio strong. There is no circumstance, either in the original play or in this of Within the arras.1 When I strike Upon the bosom of When I strike my foot the ground, rush forth, which you shall find with me, Be heedful: hence, and watch. 1 Atten. I hope your warrant will bear out the And bind the boy, deed. Hub. Uncleanly scruples! Fear not you; look to't. [Exeunt Attendants. Young lad, come forth; I have to say with you. Enter ARTHUR. Good morrow, little prince. Arth. Good morrow, Hubert. Arth. Mercy on me! Methinks nobody should be sad but I; Is it my fault that I was Geffrey's son? I were your son, so you would love me, Hubert. Shakspeare, to point out the particular castle in which Arthur is supposed to be confined. The castle of Northampton has been mentioned, merely because, in the first act, king John seems to have been in that town. It has already been stated that Arthur was in fact confined at Falaise, and afterwards at Rouen, where he was put to death. 1 Tapestry. 2 i. e. by my baptism. The use of this word for christening or baptism is not peculiar to Shakspeare; it was common in his time. Hearne has published a Prone from a MS. of Henry the Seventh's time, in the glossary to Robert of Gloucester, in a note on the word midewinter, by which it appears that it was the ancient orthography. "The childer ryzt schape & chrystyndome." It is also used by Lyly, Fanshaw, Harington, and Fairfaxe. Hub. If I talk to him, with his innocent prate He will awake my mercy, which lies dead. Therefore I will be sudden, and despatch. [Aside. Arth. Are you sick, Hubert? You look pale to-day: Turning dispiteous torture out of door! my bosom. [Aside. Out at mine eyes, in tender, womanish tears Arth. Hub And will you? And I will. Arth. Have you the heart? When your head did but ache, I knit my handkerchief about your brows, (The best I had; a princess wrought it me,) And with my hand at midnight held your head; Saying, What lack you? and, Where lies your grief? If Heaven be pleased that you must use me ill, So much as frown on you? 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! The iron of itself, though heat' red-hot, Approaching near these eyes, would drink my tears, Even in the matter of mine innocence; And told me, Hubert should put out mine eyes, I would not have believed him; no tongue, but Hu bert's. Hub. Come forth. [Stamps. Re-enter Attendants, with cords, irons, &c. Do as I bid you do. Arth. O, save me, Hubert, save me; my eyes are out, Even with the fierce looks of these bloody men. Hub. Give me the iron, I say, and bind him here. Arth. Alas! what need you be so boisterous-rough? 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. 1 Atten. I am best pleased to be from such a deed. [Exeunt Attendants. Arth. Alas! I then have chid away my friend; He hath a stern look, but a gentle heart. 1 The participle heat, though now obsolete, was in use in Shakspeare's time. "He commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heat.”—Daniel iii. 19. Let him come back, that his compassion may Give life to yours. Arth. Is there no remedy? Hub. Come, boy, prepare yourself. None, but to lose your eyes. Arth. O Heaven!-that there were but a mote in yours, A grain, a dust, a gnat, a wandering hair, Any annoyance in that precious sense! Then, feeling what small things are boisterous there, Your vile intent must needs seem horrible. Hub. Is this your promise? Go to, hold your tongue. Arth. Hubert, the utterance of a brace of tongues Must 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, spare mine eyes, Though to no use, but still to look on you! Lo, by my troth, the instrument is cold, And would not harm me. Hub. I can heat it, boy. Arth. No, in good sooth; the fire is dead with grief, Being create for comfort, to be used In undeserved extremes.1 See else yourself; There is no malice in this burning coal; The breath of heaven hath blown his spirit out, Hub. But with my breath I can revive it, boy. 1 "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." |