The Life And Death Of King John

1 Enter Hubert and two Executioners.
2 HUBERT.
3 Heat me these irons hot; and look thou stand
4 Within the arras. When I strike my foot
5 Upon the bosom of the ground, rush forth
6 And bind the boy which you shall find with me
7 Fast to the chair. Be heedful. Hence, and watch.
8 FIRST EXECUTIONER.
9 I hope your warrant will bear out the deed.
10 HUBERT.
11 Uncleanly scruples! Fear not you; look to’t.
12 [_Exeunt Executioners._]
13 Young lad, come forth; I have to say with you.
14 Enter Arthur.
15 ARTHUR.
16 Good morrow, Hubert.
17 HUBERT.
18 Good morrow, little prince.
19 ARTHUR.
20 As little prince, having so great a title
21 To be more prince, as may be. You are sad.
22 HUBERT.
23 Indeed, I have been merrier.
24 ARTHUR.
25 Mercy on me!
26 Methinks nobody should be sad but I.
27 Yet, I remember, when I was in France,
28 Young gentlemen would be as sad as night,
29 Only for wantonness. By my christendom,
30 So I were out of prison, and kept sheep,
31 I should be as merry as the day is long;
32 And so I would be here, but that I doubt
33 My uncle practises more harm to me.
34 He is afraid of me, and I of him.
35 Is it my fault that I was Geoffrey’s son?
36 No, indeed, is’t not; and I would to heaven
37 I were your son, so you would love me, Hubert.
38 HUBERT.
39 [_Aside_.] If I talk to him, with his innocent prate
40 He will awake my mercy, which lies dead.
41 Therefore I will be sudden and dispatch.
42 ARTHUR.
43 Are you sick, Hubert? You look pale today.
44 In sooth, I would you were a little sick,
45 That I might sit all night and watch with you.
46 I warrant I love you more than you do me.
47 HUBERT.
48 [_Aside_.] His words do take possession of my bosom.
49 Read here, young Arthur.
50 [_Showing a paper._]
51 [_Aside_.] How now, foolish rheum!
52 Turning dispiteous torture out of door!
53 I must be brief, lest resolution drop
54 Out at mine eyes in tender womanish tears.—
55 Can you not read it? Is it not fair writ?
56 ARTHUR.
57 Too fairly, Hubert, for so foul effect.
58 Must you with hot irons burn out both mine eyes?
59 HUBERT.
60 Young boy, I must.
61 ARTHUR.
62 And will you?
63 HUBERT.
64 And I will.
65 ARTHUR.
66 Have you the heart? When your head did but ache,
67 I knit my handkercher about your brows,
68 The best I had, a princess wrought it me,
69 And I did never ask it you again;
70 And with my hand at midnight held your head,
71 And, like the watchful minutes to the hour,
72 Still and anon cheer’d up the heavy time,
73 Saying ’What lack you?” and “Where lies your grief?”
74 Or “What good love may I perform for you?”
75 Many a poor man’s son would have lien still
76 And ne’er have spoke a loving word to you;
77 But you at your sick service had a prince.
78 Nay, you may think my love was crafty love,
79 And call it cunning. Do, an if you will.
80 If heaven be pleas’d that you must use me ill,
81 Why then you must. Will you put out mine eyes?
82 These eyes that never did nor never shall
83 So much as frown on you?
84 HUBERT.
85 I have sworn to do it.
86 And with hot irons must I burn them out.
87 ARTHUR.
88 Ah, none but in this iron age would do it!
89 The iron of itself, though heat red-hot,
90 Approaching near these eyes would drink my tears
91 And quench his fiery indignation
92 Even in the matter of mine innocence;
93 Nay, after that, consume away in rust,
94 But for containing fire to harm mine eye.
95 Are you more stubborn-hard than hammer’d iron?
96 An if an angel should have come to me
97 And told me Hubert should put out mine eyes,
98 I would not have believ’d him. No tongue but Hubert’s.
99 HUBERT.
100 [_Stamps_.] Come forth.
101 Enter Executioners with cords, irons, &c.
102 Do as I bid you do.
103 ARTHUR.
104 O, save me, Hubert, save me! My eyes are out
105 Even with the fierce looks of these bloody men.
106 HUBERT.
107 Give me the iron, I say, and bind him here.
108 ARTHUR.
109 Alas, what need you be so boist’rous-rough?
110 I will not struggle, I will stand stone-still.
111 For heaven sake, Hubert, let me not be bound!
112 Nay, hear me, Hubert! Drive these men away,
113 And I will sit as quiet as a lamb;
114 I will not stir, nor wince, nor speak a word,
115 Nor look upon the iron angerly.
116 Thrust but these men away, and I’ll forgive you,
117 Whatever torment you do put me to.
118 HUBERT.
119 Go, stand within; let me alone with him.
120 FIRST EXECUTIONER.
121 I am best pleas’d to be from such a deed.
122 [_Exeunt Executioners._]
123 ARTHUR.
124 Alas, I then have chid away my friend!
125 He hath a stern look but a gentle heart.
126 Let him come back, that his compassion may
127 Give life to yours.
128 HUBERT.
129 Come, boy, prepare yourself.
130 ARTHUR.
131 Is there no remedy?
132 HUBERT.
133 None, but to lose your eyes.
134 ARTHUR.
135 O heaven, that there were but a mote in yours,
136 A grain, a dust, a gnat, a wandering hair,
137 Any annoyance in that precious sense!
138 Then, feeling what small things are boisterous there,
139 Your vile intent must needs seem horrible.
140 HUBERT.
141 Is this your promise? Go to, hold your tongue.
142 ARTHUR.
143 Hubert, the utterance of a brace of tongues
144 Must needs want pleading for a pair of eyes.
145 Let me not hold my tongue. Let me not, Hubert,
146 Or, Hubert, if you will, cut out my tongue,
147 So I may keep mine eyes. O, spare mine eyes,
148 Though to no use but still to look on you!
149 Lo, by my troth, the instrument is cold
150 And would not harm me.
151 HUBERT.
152 I can heat it, boy.
153 ARTHUR.
154 No, in good sooth; the fire is dead with grief,
155 Being create for comfort, to be us’d
156 In undeserv’d extremes. See else yourself.
157 There is no malice in this burning coal;
158 The breath of heaven hath blown his spirit out
159 And strew’d repentant ashes on his head.
160 HUBERT.
161 But with my breath I can revive it, boy.
162 ARTHUR.
163 An if you do, you will but make it blush
164 And glow with shame of your proceedings, Hubert.
165 Nay, it perchance will sparkle in your eyes;
166 And, like a dog that is compell’d to fight,
167 Snatch at his master that doth tarre him on.
168 All things that you should use to do me wrong
169 Deny their office. Only you do lack
170 That mercy which fierce fire and iron extends,
171 Creatures of note for mercy-lacking uses.
172 HUBERT.
173 Well, see to live; I will not touch thine eye
174 For all the treasure that thine uncle owes.
175 Yet I am sworn, and I did purpose, boy,
176 With this same very iron to burn them out.
177 ARTHUR.
178 O, now you look like Hubert! All this while
179 You were disguised.
180 HUBERT.
181 Peace; no more. Adieu.
182 Your uncle must not know but you are dead.
183 I’ll fill these dogged spies with false reports.
184 And, pretty child, sleep doubtless and secure
185 That Hubert, for the wealth of all the world,
186 Will not offend thee.
187 ARTHUR.
188 O heaven! I thank you, Hubert.
189 HUBERT.
190 Silence; no more. Go closely in with me.
191 Much danger do I undergo for thee.
192 [_Exeunt._]