4.2.0.11717Enter [King] John, Pembroke, Salisbury, and other lords. [King John ascends the throne.] Here once again we sit, once again crowned,
4.2.21719And looked upon, I hope, with cheerful eyes.
This "once again," but that your Highness pleased,
4.2.41721Was once superfluous. You were crowned before,
4.2.51722And that high royalty was ne'er plucked off,
4.2.61723The faiths of men ne'er stainèd with revolt;
4.2.71724Fresh expectation troubled not the land
4.2.81725With any longed-for change or better state.
Therefore to be possessed with double pomp,
4.2.111728To gild refinèd gold, to paint the lily,
4.2.151732To seek the beauteous eye of heaven to garnish,
But that your royal pleasure must be done,
4.2.181735This act is as an ancient tale new told,
4.2.191736And, in the last repeating, troublesome,
In this the antique, and well-noted face
4.2.241741It makes the course of thoughts to fetch about,
4.2.261743Makes sound opinion sick and truth suspected
When workmen strive to do better than well
4.2.291746They do confound their skill in covetousness,
4.2.311748Doth make the fault the worse by th'excuse,
4.2.341751Than did the fault before it was so patched.
To this effect, before you were new crowned
4.2.361753We breathed our counsel. But it pleased your Highness
4.2.371754To overbear it, and we are all well pleased,
4.2.381755Since all, and every part of what we would
4.2.391756Doth make a stand at what your highness will.
Some reasons of this double coronation
4.2.411758I have possessed you with, and think them strong.
4.2.421759And more, more strong, than lesser is my fear
4.2.431760I shall endue you with. Mean time, but ask
4.2.441761What you would have reformed that is not well,
4.2.451762And well shall you perceive how willingly
4.2.461763I will both hear and grant you your requests.
Then I, as one that am the tongue of these
4.2.481765To sound the purposes of all their hearts,
4.2.491766Both for myself and them, but chief of all
4.2.501767Your safety, for the which myself and them
4.2.511768Bend their best studies, heartily request
4.2.521769Th'enfranchisement of Arthur, whose restraint
4.2.531770Doth move the murmuring lips of discontent
4.2.551772If what in rest you have, in right you hold,
4.2.561773Why then your fears, which, as they say, attend
4.2.571774The steps of wrong, should move you to mew up
4.2.581775Your tender kinsman and to choke his days
4.2.591776With barbarous ignorance, and deny his youth
4.2.611778That the time's enemies may not have this
4.2.641781Which for our goods we do no further ask,
4.2.651782Than whereupon our weal, on you depending,
4.2.661783Counts it your weal he have his liberty.
Let it be so. I do commit his youth
[King John and Hubert talk aside.]
To your direction. -- Hubert, what news with you?
This is the man should do the bloody deed;
4.2.701788He showed his warrant to a friend of mine.
4.2.721790Lives in his eye; that close aspect of his
4.2.731791Does show the mood of a much troubled breast,
4.2.751793What we so feared he had a charge to do.
The color of the King doth come and go
4.2.781796Like heralds 'twixt two dreadful battles set.
4.2.791797His passion is so ripe it needs must break.
And when it breaks, I fear will issue thence
4.2.811799The foul corruption of a sweet child's death.
[Coming forward] We cannot hold mortality's strong hand.
4.2.831801Good lords, although my will to give is living,
4.2.841802The suit which you demand is gone and dead.
Indeed, we feared his sickness was past cure.
Indeed, we heard how near his death he was
4.2.881806Before the child himself felt he was sick.
4.2.891807This must be answered either here or hence.
Why do you bend such solemn brows on me?
4.2.921810Have I commandment on the pulse of life?
It is apparent foul play, and 'tis shame
4.2.941812That greatness should so grossly offer it.
4.2.951813So thrive it in your game, and so farewell.
Stay yet, Lord Salisbury, I'll go with thee
4.2.971815And find th'inheritance of this poor child,
4.2.991817That blood which owned the breadth of all this isle,
4.2.1001818Three foot of it doth hold. Bad world the while!
4.2.1011819This must not be thus borne, this will break out
4.2.102.1Exeunt [Pembroke, Salisbury, and other lords]. They burn in indignation. I repent.
4.2.1051823No certain life achieved by others' death. --
4.2.1061824A fearful eye thou hast. Where is that blood
4.2.1091827Pour down thy weather: how goes all in France?
From France to England. Never such a power
4.2.1141832For when you should be told they do prepare,
4.2.1151833The tidings comes that they are all arrived.
O, where hath our intelligence been drunk?
4.2.1171835Where hath it slept? Where is my Mother's care,
And she not hear of it? My liege, her ear
4.2.1201839Is stopped with dust. The first of April died
4.2.1231842Three days before, but this from rumor's tongue
Withhold thy speed, dreadful Occasion!
4.2.1261845O, make a league with me 'till I have pleased
4.2.1291848Under whose conduct came those powers of France
4.2.1301849That thou for truth giv'st out are landed here?
Under the Dauphin.
Under the Dauphin. Thou hast made me giddy
Enter [the] Bastard and Peter of Pomfret.
With these ill tidings. Now, what says the world
But if you be afeard to hear the worst,
4.2.1361857Then let the worst unheard fall on your head.
Bear with me cousin, for I was amazed
How I have sped among the clergymen,
4.2.1461867Not knowing what they fear, but full of fear.
4.2.1481869From forth the streets of Pomfret, whom I found
4.2.1501871To whom he sung in rude harsh-sounding rhymes,
Thou idle dreamer, wherefore didst thou so?
Foreknowing that the truth will fall out so.
Hubert, away with him. Imprison him,
4.2.1571878I shall yield up my crown, let him be hanged!
[Exeunt Hubert and Peter of Pomfret]
For I must use thee. O my gentle cousin,
4.2.1601881Hear'st thou the news abroad, who are arrived?
The French, my lord. Men's mouths are full of it.
4.2.1621883Besides, I met Lord Bigot and Lord Salisbury,
On your suggestion. Gentle kinsman, go
Bring them before me. I will seek them out.
Nay, but make haste, the better foot before.
The spirit of the time shall teach me speed.
Spoke like a sprightful noble gentleman. --
With all my heart, my liege.
[Exit messenger.]
With all my heart, my liege. My mother dead?
My lord, they say five moons were seen tonight:
Five moons?
Five moons? Old men and beldams in the streets
4.2.1871912Young Arthur's death is common in their mouths,
4.2.1881913And when they talk of him, they shake their heads
4.2.1901915And he that speaks doth grip the hearer's wrist,
4.2.1921917With wrinkled brows, with nods, with rolling eyes.
4.2.1961921Who, with his shears and measure in his hand,
4.2.2021927Cuts off his tale and talks of Arthur's death.
Why seek'st thou to possess me with these fears?
4.2.2041929Why urgest thou so oft young Arthur's death?
4.2.2051930Thy hand hath murdered him. I had a mighty cause
4.2.2061931To wish him dead, but thou hadst none to kill him.
No had, my lord. Why, did you not provoke me?
It is the curse of kings to be attended
4.2.2091934By slaves that take their humors for a warrant
4.2.2131938Of dangerous majesty, when perchance it frowns
[Showing the warrant] Here is your hand and seal for what I did.
O, when the last account 'twixt heaven and earth
4.2.2171942Is to be made, then shall this hand and seal
4.2.2201945Make deeds ill done! Hadst not thou been by,
4.2.2271952I faintly broke with thee of Arthur's death,
My lord --
Had'st thou but shook thy head, or made a pause
4.2.2351960Deep shame had struck me dumb, made me break off,
4.2.2361961And those thy fears might have wrought fears in me.
4.2.2391964Yea, without stop didst let thy heart consent,
4.2.2411966The deed, which both our tongues held vile to name.
4.2.2441969Even at my gates, with ranks of foreign powers;
4.2.2461971This kingdom, this confine of blood and breath,
4.2.2481973Between my conscience and my cousin's death.
Arm you against your other enemies.
4.2.2501975I'll make a peace between your soul and you.
4.2.2531978Not painted with the crimson spots of blood.
Doth Arthur live? O, haste thee to the peers,