King John (Modern)

 1716[4.2]
2.0.11717Enter [King] John, Pembroke, Salisbury, and other lords. [King John ascends the throne.] 
2.11718King John
 Here once again we sit, once again crowned,
2.21719And looked upon, I hope, with cheerful eyes.
2.31720Pembroke
 This "once again," but that your Highness pleased,
2.41721Was once superfluous. You were crowned before,
2.51722And that high royalty was ne'er plucked off,
2.61723The faiths of men ne'er stainèd with revolt;
2.71724Fresh expectation troubled not the land
2.81725With any longed-for change or better state.
2.91726Salisbury
 Therefore to be possessed with double pomp,
2.101727To guard a title that was rich before,
2.111728To gild refinèd gold, to paint the lily,
2.121729To throw a perfume on the violet,
2.131730To smooth the ice, or add another hue
2.141731Unto the rainbow, or with taper-light
2.151732To seek the beauteous eye of heaven to garnish,
2.161733Is wasteful and ridiculous excess.
2.171734Pembroke
 But that your royal pleasure must be done,
2.181735This act is as an ancient tale new told,
2.191736And, in the last repeating, troublesome,
2.201737Being urged at a time unseasonable.
2.211738Salisbury
 In this the antique, and well-noted face
2.221739Of plain old form is much disfigurèd,
2.231740And like a shifted wind unto a sail,
2.241741It makes the course of thoughts to fetch about,
2.251742Startles and frights consideration,
2.261743Makes sound opinion sick and truth suspected
2.271744For putting on so new a fashioned robe.
2.281745Pembroke
 When workmen strive to do better than well
2.291746They do confound their skill in covetousness,
2.301747And oftentimes excusing of a fault
2.311748Doth make the fault the worse by th'excuse,
2.321749As patches set upon a little breach
2.331750Discredit more in hiding of the fault
2.341751Than did the fault before it was so patched.
2.351752Salisbury
 To this effect, before you were new crowned
2.361753We breathed our counsel. But it pleased your Highness
2.371754To overbear it, and we are all well pleased,
2.381755Since all, and every part of what we would
2.391756Doth make a stand at what your highness will.
2.401757King John
 Some reasons of this double coronation
2.411758I have possessed you with, and think them strong.
2.421759And more, more strong, than lesser is my fear
2.431760I shall endue you with. Mean time, but ask
2.441761What you would have reformed that is not well,
2.451762And well shall you perceive how willingly
2.461763I will both hear and grant you your requests.
2.471764Pembroke
 Then I, as one that am the tongue of these
2.481765To sound the purposes of all their hearts,
2.491766Both for myself and them, but chief of all
2.501767Your safety, for the which myself and them
2.511768Bend their best studies, heartily request
2.521769Th'enfranchisement of Arthur, whose restraint
2.531770Doth move the murmuring lips of discontent
2.541771To break into this dangerous argument.
2.551772If what in rest you have, in right you hold,
2.561773Why then your fears, which, as they say, attend
2.571774The steps of wrong, should move you to mew up
2.581775Your tender kinsman and to choke his days
2.591776With barbarous ignorance, and deny his youth
2.601777The rich advantage of good exercise.
2.611778That the time's enemies may not have this
2.621779To grace occasions, let it be our suit
2.631780That you have bid us ask his liberty,
2.641781Which for our goods we do no further ask,
2.651782Than whereupon our weal, on you depending,
2.661783Counts it your weal he have his liberty.
2.66.11784Enter Hubert.
2.671785King John
 Let it be so. I do commit his youth
2.681786To your direction. --
 [King John and Hubert talk aside.]
 To your direction. --  Hubert, what news with you?
2.691787Pembroke
 This is the man should do the bloody deed;
2.701788He showed his warrant to a friend of mine.
2.711789The image of a wicked heinous fault
2.721790Lives in his eye; that close aspect of his
2.731791Does show the mood of a much troubled breast,
2.741792And I do fearfully believe 'tis done,
2.751793What we so feared he had a charge to do.
2.761794Salisbury
 The color of the King doth come and go
2.771795Between his purpose and his conscience,
2.781796Like heralds 'twixt two dreadful battles set.
2.791797His passion is so ripe it needs must break.
2.801798Pembroke
 And when it breaks, I fear will issue thence
2.811799The foul corruption of a sweet child's death.
2.821800King John
 [Coming forward] We cannot hold mortality's strong hand.
2.831801Good lords, although my will to give is living,
2.841802The suit which you demand is gone and dead.
2.851803He tells us Arthur is deceased tonight.
2.861804Salisbury
 Indeed, we feared his sickness was past cure.
2.871805Pembroke
 Indeed, we heard how near his death he was
2.881806Before the child himself felt he was sick.
2.891807This must be answered either here or hence.
2.901808King John
 Why do you bend such solemn brows on me?
2.911809Think you I bear the shears of destiny?
2.921810Have I commandment on the pulse of life?
2.931811Salisbury
 It is apparent foul play, and 'tis shame
2.941812That greatness should so grossly offer it.
2.951813So thrive it in your game, and so farewell.
2.961814Pembroke
 Stay yet, Lord Salisbury, I'll go with thee
2.971815And find th'inheritance of this poor child,
2.981816His little kingdom of a forcèd grave.
2.991817That blood which owned the breadth of all this isle,
2.1001818Three foot of it doth hold. Bad world the while!
2.1011819This must not be thus borne, this will break out
2.1021820To all our sorrows, and ere long, I doubt.
2.102.1Exeunt [Pembroke, Salisbury, and other lords].
2.1031821King John
 They burn in indignation. I repent.
2.1041822There is no sure foundation set on blood,
2.1051823No certain life achieved by others' death. --
2.105.1[Enter messenger.]
2.1061824A fearful eye thou hast. Where is that blood
2.1071825That I have seen inhabit in those cheeks?
2.1081826So foul a sky clears not without a storm.
2.1091827Pour down thy weather: how goes all in France?
2.1101828Messenger
 From France to England. Never such a power
2.1111829For any foreign preparation
2.1121830Was levied in the body of a land.
2.1131831The copy of your speed is learned by them,
2.1141832For when you should be told they do prepare,
2.1151833The tidings comes that they are all arrived.
2.1161834King John
 O, where hath our intelligence been drunk?
2.1171835Where hath it slept? Where is my Mother's care,
2.1181836That such an army could be drawn in France
2.1191837And she not hear of it?
 1838Messenger
 And she not hear of it?  My liege, her ear
2.1201839Is stopped with dust. The first of April died
2.1211840Your noble mother; and as I hear, my lord,
2.1221841The Lady Constance in a frenzy died
2.1231842Three days before, but this from rumor's tongue
2.1241843I idly heard: if true or false I know not.
2.1251844King John
 Withhold thy speed, dreadful Occasion!
2.1261845O, make a league with me 'till I have pleased
2.1271846My discontented peers. What? Mother dead?
2.1281847How wildly then walks my estate in France!
2.1291848Under whose conduct came those powers of France
2.1301849That thou for truth giv'st out are landed here?
2.1311850Messenger
 Under the Dauphin.
 1852King John
 Under the Dauphin.  Thou hast made me giddy
2.1321853With these ill tidings.
 Enter [the] Bastard and Peter of Pomfret.
 With these ill tidings.  Now, what says the world
2.1331854To your proceedings? Do not seek to stuff
2.1341855My head with more ill news, for it is full.
2.1351856Bastard
 But if you be afeard to hear the worst,
2.1361857Then let the worst unheard fall on your head.
2.1371858King John
 Bear with me cousin, for I was amazed
2.1381859Under the tide, but now I breathe again
2.1391860Aloft the flood and can give audience
2.1401861To any tongue, speak it of what it will.
2.1411862Bastard
 How I have sped among the clergymen,
2.1421863The sums I have collected shall express.
2.1431864But as I traveled hither through the land,
2.1441865I find the people strangely fantasied,
2.1451866Possesed with rumors, full of idle dreams,
2.1461867Not knowing what they fear, but full of fear.
2.1471868And here's a prophet that I brought with me
2.1481869From forth the streets of Pomfret, whom I found
2.1491870With many hundreds treading on his heels,
2.1501871To whom he sung in rude harsh-sounding rhymes,
2.1511872That ere the next Ascension Day at noon,
2.1521873Your Highness should deliver up your crown.
2.1531874King John
 Thou idle dreamer, wherefore didst thou so?
2.1541875Peter
 Foreknowing that the truth will fall out so.
2.1551876King John
 Hubert, away with him. Imprison him,
2.1561877And on that day at noon whereon he says
2.1571878I shall yield up my crown, let him be hanged!
2.1581879Deliver him to safety and return,
2.1591880For I must use thee.
 [Exeunt Hubert and Peter of Pomfret]
 For I must use thee.  O my gentle cousin,
2.1601881Hear'st thou the news abroad, who are arrived?
2.1611882Bastard
 The French, my lord. Men's mouths are full of it.
2.1621883Besides, I met Lord Bigot and Lord Salisbury,
2.1631884With eyes as red as new-enkindled fire,
2.1641885And others more, going to seek the grave
2.1651886Of Arthur, whom they say is killed tonight
2.166On your suggestion.
 1887King John
 On your suggestion.  Gentle kinsman, go
2.1671888And thrust thyself into their companies.
2.1681889I have a way to win their loves again.
2.1691890Bring them before me.
 1891Bastard
 Bring them before me.  I will seek them out.
2.1701892King John
 Nay, but make haste, the better foot before.
2.1711893O, let me have no subject enemies
2.1721894When adverse foreigners affright my towns
2.1731895With dreadful pomp of stout invasion.
2.1741896Be Mercury, set feathers to thy heels,
2.1751897And fly like thought from them to me again.
2.1761898Bastard
 The spirit of the time shall teach me speed.
2.176.1Exit.
2.1771899King John
 Spoke like a sprightful noble gentleman. --
2.1781900Go after him, for he perhaps shall need
2.1791901Some messenger betwixt me and the peers,
2.1801902And be thou he.
2.1811903Messenger
 With all my heart, my liege.
 [Exit messenger.]
 1904King John
 With all my heart, my liege.  My mother dead?
2.181.11905Enter Hubert.
2.1821906Hubert
 My lord, they say five moons were seen tonight:
2.1831907Four fixèd, and the fifth did whirl about
2.1841908The other four in wondrous motion.
2.1851909King John
 Five moons?
 1910Hubert
 Five moons?  Old men and beldams in the streets
2.1861911Do prophesy upon it dangerously.
2.1871912Young Arthur's death is common in their mouths,
2.1881913And when they talk of him, they shake their heads
2.1891914And whisper one another in the ear.
2.1901915And he that speaks doth grip the hearer's wrist,
2.1911916Whilst he that hears makes fearful action
2.1921917With wrinkled brows, with nods, with rolling eyes.
2.1931918I saw a smith stand with his hammer, thus,
2.1941919The whilst his iron did on the anvil cool,
2.1951920With open mouth swallowing a tailor's news,
2.1961921Who, with his shears and measure in his hand,
2.1971922Standing on slippers which his nimble haste
2.1981923Had falsely thrust upon contrary feet,
2.1991924Told of a many thousand warlike French
2.2001925That were embattailèd and ranked in Kent.
2.2011926Another lean, unwashed artificer
2.2021927Cuts off his tale and talks of Arthur's death.
2.2031928King John
 Why seek'st thou to possess me with these fears?
2.2041929Why urgest thou so oft young Arthur's death?
2.2051930Thy hand hath murdered him. I had a mighty cause
2.2061931To wish him dead, but thou hadst none to kill him.
2.2071932Hubert
 No had, my lord. Why, did you not provoke me?
2.2081933King John
 It is the curse of kings to be attended
2.2091934By slaves that take their humors for a warrant
2.2101935To break within the bloody house of life,
2.2111936And on the winking of authority
2.2121937To understand a law, to know the meaning
2.2131938Of dangerous majesty, when perchance it frowns
2.2141939More upon humor than advised respect.
2.2151940Hubert
 [Showing the warrant]  Here is your hand and seal for what I did.
2.2161941King John
 O, when the last account 'twixt heaven and earth
2.2171942Is to be made, then shall this hand and seal
2.2181943Witness against us to damnation.
2.2191944How oft the sight of means to do ill deeds
2.2201945Make deeds ill done! Hadst not thou been by,
2.2211946A fellow by the hand of nature marked,
2.2221947Quoted, and signed to do a deed of shame,
2.2231948This murder had not come into my mind.
2.2241949But taking note of thy abhorred aspect,
2.2251950Finding thee fit for bloody villainy,
2.2261951Apt, liable to be employed in danger,
2.2271952I faintly broke with thee of Arthur's death,
2.2281953And thou, to be endeared to a king,
2.2291954Made it no conscience to destroy a prince.
2.2301955Hubert
 My lord -- 
2.2311956King John
 Had'st thou but shook thy head, or made a pause
2.2321957When I spake darkly what I purposèd,
2.2331958Or turned an eye of doubt upon my face,
2.2341959As bid me tell my tale in express words,
2.2351960Deep shame had struck me dumb, made me break off,
2.2361961And those thy fears might have wrought fears in me.
2.2371962But thou didst understand me by my signs,
2.2381963And didst in signs again parley with sin,
2.2391964Yea, without stop didst let thy heart consent,
2.2401965And consequently thy rude hand to act
2.2411966The deed, which both our tongues held vile to name.
2.2421967Out of my sight, and never see me more.
2.2431968My Nobles leave me, and my state is braved,
2.2441969Even at my gates, with ranks of foreign powers;
2.2451970Nay, in the body of this fleshly land,
2.2461971This kingdom, this confine of blood and breath,
2.2471972Hostility and civil tumult reigns
2.2481973Between my conscience and my cousin's death.
2.2491974Hubert
 Arm you against your other enemies.
2.2501975I'll make a peace between your soul and you.
2.2511976Young Arthur is alive. This hand of mine
2.2521977Is yet a maiden and an innocent hand,
2.2531978Not painted with the crimson spots of blood.
2.2541979Within this bosom never entered yet
2.2551980The dreadful motion of a murderous thought,
2.2561981And you have slandered nature in my form,
2.2571982Which, howsoever rude exteriorly,
2.2581983Is yet the cover of a fairer mind
2.2591984Than to be butcher of an innocent child.
2.2601985King John
 Doth Arthur live? O, haste thee to the peers,
2.2611986Throw this report on their incensèd rage,
2.2621987And make them tame to their obedience.
2.2631988Forgive the comment that my passion made
2.2641989Upon thy feature, for my rage was blind,
2.2651990And foul imaginary eyes of blood
2.2661991Presented thee more hideous than thou art.
2.2671992O, answer not, but to my closet bring
2.2681993The angry lords with all expedient haste.
2.2691994I conjure thee but slowly: run more fast!
2.269.1Exeunt.
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King John (Modern)
