King John (Modern)
Not Peer Reviewed
¶
[5.6]
2550
Enter [the] Bastard and Hubert, severally.
| ¶Bastard | |
| A friend. What art thou? | |
| ¶Hubert | |
| Of the part of England. | |
| 2555Bastard | |
| Whither dost thou go? | |
| ¶Hubert | |
| What's that to thee? | |
¶Why may not I demand of thine affairs
| ¶As well as thou of mine? | |
| ¶Bastard | |
| Hubert, I think. | |
2560Hubert Thou hast a perfect thought.
¶I will upon all hazards well believe
¶Thou art my friend that know'st my tongue so well.
| ¶Who art thou? | |
| ¶Bastard | |
| Who thou wilt: An if thou please | |
2565Thou mayest befriend me so much as to think
¶I come one way of the Plantagenets.
¶Hubert Unkind remembrance! Thou, and endless night
¶Have done me shame. Brave soldier, pardon me,
¶That any accent breaking from thy tongue,
2570Should scape the true acquaintance of mine ear.
¶Hubert Why here walk I in the black brow of night
| ¶To find you out. | |
| 2575Bastard | |
| Brief then: and what's the news? | |
¶Hubert O my sweet sir, news fitting to the night,
¶Black, fearful, comfortless, and horrible.
¶Bastard Show me the very wound of this ill news.
¶I am no woman, I'll not swoon at it.
2580Hubert The King, I fear, is poisoned by a monk.
¶I left him almost speechless and broke out
¶To acquaint you with this evil, that you might
¶The better arm you to the sudden time
¶Than if you had at leisure known of this.
2585Bastard How did he take it? Who did taste to him?
¶Hubert A monk, I tell you, a resolved villain
¶Whose bowels suddenly burst out. The King
¶Yet speaks and peradventure may recover.
¶Bastard Who didst thou leave to tend his majesty?
¶And brought Prince Henry in their company,
¶At whose request the king hath pardoned them,
¶And they are all about his Majesty.
2595Bastard Withhold thine indignation, mighty heaven,
¶And tempt us not to bear above our power!
¶I'll tell thee, Hubert, half my power this night,
¶Passing these flats, are taken by the tide.
¶These Lincoln Washes have devourèd them,
2600My self, well mounted, hardly have escaped.
¶Away before! Conduct me to the king.
¶I doubt he will be dead or ere I come.
Exeunt.