Act 3 — Scene III. The same.[330]
Reading edition
Scene III. The same.[330]
Alarums, excursions, retreat. Enter King John, Elinor, Arthur, the Bastard, Hubert, and Lords.
K. John. [To Elinor] So shall it be; your grace shall stay behind[331] So strongly guarded. [To Arthur] Cousin, look not sad:[332] Thy grandam loves thee; and thy uncle will As dear be to thee as thy father was. Arth. O, this will make my mother die with grief!5 K. John. [To the Bastard] Cousin, away for England! haste before:[333] And, ere our coming, see thou shake the bags Of hoarding abbots; imprisoned angels[334] Set at liberty: the fat ribs of peace[334][335] Must by the hungry now be fed upon:[336]10 Use our commission in his utmost force.[337] Bast. Bell, book, and candle shall not drive me back, When gold and silver becks me to come on.[338] I leave your highness. Grandam, I will pray, If ever I remember to be holy,15 For your fair safety; so, I kiss your hand. Eli. Farewell, gentle cousin. K. John. Coz, farewell. [Exit Bastard.[339] Eli. Come hither, little kinsman; hark, a word.[340] K. John. Come hither, Hubert. O my gentle Hubert,[341] We owe thee much! within this wall of flesh20 There is a soul counts thee her creditor, And with advantage means to pay thy love: And, my good friend, thy voluntary oath Lives in this bosom, dearly cherished. Give me thy hand. I had a thing to say,25 But I will fit it with some better time.[342] By heaven, Hubert, I am almost ashamed[343] To say what good respect I have of thee. Hub. I am much bounden to your majesty. K. John. Good friend, thou hast no cause to say so yet,[344]30 But thou shalt have; and creep time ne'er so slow, Yet it shall come for me to do thee good. I had a thing to say, but let it go: The sun is in the heaven, and the proud day, Attended with the pleasures of the world,35 Is all too wanton and too full of gawds[345] To give me audience: if the midnight bell Did, with his iron tongue and brazen mouth,[346] Sound on into the drowsy race of night;[346][347] If this same were a churchyard where we stand,40 And thou possessed with a thousand wrongs, Or if that surly spirit, melancholy, Had baked thy blood and made it heavy-thick,[348] Which else runs tickling up and down the veins,[349] Making that idiot, laughter, keep men's eyes[350]45 And strain their cheeks to idle merriment, A passion hateful to my purposes, Or if that thou couldst see me without eyes, Hear me without thine ears, and make reply Without a tongue, using conceit alone,50 Without eyes, ears and harmful sound of words; Then, in despite of brooded watchful day,[351] I would into thy bosom pour my thoughts: But, ah, I will not! yet I love thee well; And, by my troth, I think thou lovest me well.55 Hub. So well, that what you bid me undertake, Though that my death were adjunct to my act, By heaven, I would do it.[352] K. John. Do not I know thou wouldst? Good Hubert, Hubert, Hubert, throw thine eye On yon young boy: I'll tell thee what, my friend,60 He is a very serpent in my way; And wheresoe'er this foot of mine doth tread, He lies before me: dost thou understand me? Thou art his keeper. Hub. And I'll keep him so, That he shall not offend your majesty.[353] K. John. Death.[65]65 Hub. My lord?[354] K. John. A grave. Hub. He shall not live. K. John. Enough. I could be merry now. Hubert, I love thee; Well, I'll not say what I intend for thee: Remember. Madam, fare you well:[355] I'll send those powers o'er to your majesty.70 Eli. My blessing go with thee! K. John. For England, cousin, go:[356] Hubert shall be your man, attend on you[357] With all true duty. On toward Calais, ho! [Exeunt.