AS YOU LIKE IT.' In their assign'd and native dwelling-place. Duke S. And did you leave him in this contemplation? 2 Lord. We did, my lord, weeping and commenting Upon the sobbing deer. 109 Northampton. A Room in the Castle. Enter HUBERT and Two Attendants. Hub. Heat me these irons hot; and look thou stand Upon the bosom of the ground, rush forth, 1 Attend. I hope your warrant will bear out the deed. [Exeunt Attendants. Young lad, come forth; I have to say with you. Enter ARTHUR. Arth. Good morrow, Hubert. Good morrow, little prince. Arth. As little prince (having so great a title To be more prince) as may be.-You are sad. Hub. Indeed, I have been merrier. Mercy on me! Arth. Hub. If I talk to him, with his innocent prate He will awake my mercy, which lies dead: Arth. Are you sick, Hubert? you look pale to-day: I sooth I would you were a little sick, That I might sit all night, and watch with you: I warrant I love you more than you do me. Hub. His words do take possession of my bosom.— [Aside. Read here, young Arthur. [Showing a paper.] How now, foolish rheum! Turning dispiteous torture out of door! I must be brief; lest resolution drop Out at mine eyes, in tender womanish tears. Arth. Too fairly, Hubert, for so foul effect: Must you with hot irons burn out both mine eyes? Arth. Hub. And will you? And I will. Arth. Have you the heart? When your head did but ache, I knit my hand-kercher about your brows, (The best I had, a princess wrought it me,) And I did never ask it you again : And with my hand at midnight held your head; Still and anon cheer'd up the heavy time; 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, ARTHUR AND HUBERT. 111 And quench his fiery indignation, Even in the matter of mine innocence; Are you more stubborn-hard than hammer'd iron ? And told me, Hubert should put out mine eyes, I would not have believ'd him. No tongue but Hubert's- Re-enter Attendants, with Cords, Irons, &c. Do as I bid you. Arth. O, save me, Hubert, save me! my eyes are out, Hub. Give me the iron, I say, and bind him here. 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. [Stamps. [Exeunt Attendants. Arth. Alas! I then have chid away my friend; 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 boist'rous there, Your vile intent must needs seem horrible. Hub. Is this your promise? go to, hold your tongue. Must needs want pleading for a pair of eyes: Or, Hubert, if you will, cut out my tongue, Hub. I can heat it, boy. Arth. No, in good sooth; the fire is dead with grief, Being create for comfort, to be us'd In undeserv'd extremes: See else yourself; There is no malice in this burning coal; The breath of heaven hath blown his spirit out, And strew'd repentant ashes on his head. Hub. But with my breath I can revive it, boy. That mercy which fierce fire and iron extends, Hub. Well, see to live; I will not touch thine eyes For all the treasure that thine uncle owes: Yet am I sworn, and I did purpose, boy, With this same very iron to burn them out. Arth. O, now you look like Hubert! all this while You were disguised. Peace: no more. Adieu; Hub. Shakspeare ('King John') * Tarre him on, i.e. excite or exasperate him. PRINCE HENRY AND HIS FATHER. 113 PRINCE HENRY AND HIS FATHER. K. Hen. I know not whether God will have it so, That, in His secret doom, out of my blood Make me believe, that thou art only mark'd Such poor, such bare, such lewd, such mean attempts, As thou art match'd withal and grafted to, Accompany the greatness of thy blood, And hold their level with thy princely heart? P. Hen. So please your majesty, I would I could As well as, I am doubtless, I can purge Which oft the ear of greatness needs must hear, By smiling pickthanks and base newsmongers, I may, for some things true, wherein my youth Hath faulty wander'd and irregular, Find pardon on my true submission. K. Hen. God pardon thee!-yet let me wonder, Harry, At thy affections, which do hold a wing Quite from the flight of all thy ancestors. Thy place in council thou hast rudely lost. I |