ARTHUR

Ah Mother, possession of a Crown is muc , And John as I have herd reported of, For present vantage would adventure far. The world can witness in his Brother's time, He took upon him rule any almost reign: Then must it follow as a doubtful point, That he eresigne the rule unto his Nephew. I rather think the menace of the world Sounds in his ears as threats of no esteem, And sooner would he scorn Europa's power, Than lose the smallest title he enjoys; For questionless he is and Englishman. But say there was, as sure there can be none, The law intends such testaments as void, Where right dissent can no way be impeached. You Citizens of Angiers, are you mute? Arthur or John, say which shall be your King? A proper peace, if such a motion hold; These Kings bear arms for me, and for my right, And they shall share my lands to make them friends. Sweet Mother cease these hasty madding fits: For my sake, let my Grandame have her will. Oh would she with her hands pull forth my heart, I could afford it to appease these broils. But mother let us wisely wink at all: Least farther harms ensue our hasty speech. Madam good chcere, these drooping languishme ̄ tes Add no redress to salve our awkward haps. If heavens have concluded these events, To small avail is bitter pensiveness: Seasons will change, and so our present grief May change with them, and all to our relief. Yet Ladies tears, and cares, and solemn shows, Rather than helps, heap up more work for woes. Sweet Granda e, and good Mother leave these brawls. Good Mother weigh it is Queen Elianor, Though she be captive, use her Like herself. Sweet Granda e bear with what my Mother says, Your Highness shall be used honourably. Uncle, my Grandame taught her Nephew this, To bear captivity with patience. Might hath prevailed not right, for I am King Of England, though thou wear the Diadem. As please my God, so shall become of me. Gramttcie Hubert for thy care of me, In or to whom restraint is newly known, The joy of walking is small beue , Yet will I take thy offer with small thanks, I would not lose the pleasure of the eye. But tell me courteous keeper if you can, How long the King will have me tarry here. Why how now sirs, what, may this outrage mean? Oh help me Hubert, gentle keeper help: God send this sudden mutinous approach Tend not to reave a wretched guiltless life. Then Arthur yield, death frowneth in thy face, What means this? Good Hubert plead the case. What, must I die? Alas thou wrongest my youth with words of fear, 'Tis hell, 'tis horror, not for one to hear: What is it man if it must needs bedon, Act it, and end it, that the pain were gone. Ah monstrous damned man, his very breath in fects the elements, Contagious venom dwells in his heart, Effecting means to poison all the world. Unreverent may I be to blame the heavens Of great injustice, that the miscreant Lives to oppress the innocents with wrong. Ah Hubert, makes he thee his instrument To found the tromp that causeth hell triumph? Heaven weeps, the Saints do shed celestial tears, They fear thy fallen, and cite thee with remorse, They knock thy conscience, moving pity there, Willing to fence thee from the rage of hell: Hell Hubert, trust me all the plagues of hell Hangs on performance of this damned deed. This seal, the warrant of the bodies bliss, Ensureth Satan chieftain of thy soul: Subscribe not Hubert, give not Gods partly away. I speak not only for eyes privilege, The chief exterior that I would enjoy: But for thy peril, far beyond my pain, Thy sweet souls lose, more than my eyes vain lack; A cause internal, and eternal too. Advise thee Hubert, for the case is hard, To lose salvation for a Kings reward. I plead not guilty, treasonles and free. Why, thou art he that mayest omit the peril. His quarrel is unhallowed false and wrong. Why thats to thee if thou as they proceed, Conclude their judgement with so vile a deed. Yes where in form of Law in place and time, The offender is convicted of the crime. Then do thy charge, and charged be thy soul With wrongful persecution done this day. You rolling eyes, whose superficies yet I do behold with eyes that Nature lent: Send forth the terror of your Movers frown, To wreak my wrong upon the murderers That rob me of your fair reflecting view: Let hell to them (as earth that y wish to Me) Be dark and direful guerdon for their guilt, And let the black tormenters of deep Tartary Upbraid them with this damned enterprise, Inflicting change of tortures on their souls. Delay not Hubert, my orisons are ended, Begin I pray Thee, reave me of my sighed: But to perform a tragedy indeed, Conclude the perjod with a mortal stab. Constance farewell, tormentor come away, Make my dispatch the Tyrants feasting day. Hubert, if ever Arthur be in state, Look for amends of this received gift I took my eysight by thy courtesy, Thou lenest them me, I will not be ingrate. But now procrastination may offend The issue that thy kindness undertakes: Depart we Hubert to prevent the worst. Yet God commands, whose power reaches further, That no command should stand in force to murder.