These signs have mark'd me extraordinary, That chides the banks of England, Wales, or Scotland, Or hold me pace in deep experiments. Hot. I think there is no man speaks better Welsh. Glen. I can speak English, Lord, as well as you; For I was train'd up in the English court, Where, being young, I framed to the harp Many an English ditty lovely well, And gave the tongue a helpful ornament; Hot. Marry, and I am glad of it with all my heart; I'd rather be a kitten, and cry mew! Than one of these same metre-balladmongers! I'd rather hear a brazen candlestick turn'd, Or a dry wheel grate on the axletree, And that would nothing set my teeth on edge, Glen. I can call spirits from the vasty deep. Glen. Why, I can teach them to command the devil. CHAPTER XIX. HOTSPUR READING A LETTER. "BUT for my own part, my Lord, I could be well contented to be there in respect to the love I bear your house." He could be contented to be there; why is he not then? "In respect of the love he bears our house?" He shows in this, he loves his own barn better than he loves our house. Let me see some more. "The purpose you undertake is dangerous.' Why, that is certain: it is dangerous to take a cold, to sleep, to drink: but I tell you, my Lord fool, out of this nettle danger we pluck this flower safety. "The "purpose you undertake is dangerous, the friends you have "named uncertain, the time itself unsorted, and your whole "plot too light for the counterpoise of so great an opposi"tion." Say you so! say you so! I say unto you again, you are a shallow cowardly hind, and you lie. What a lack brain is this! By the Lord, our plot is a good plot as ever was laid; our friends true and constant; a good plot, good friends, and full of expectation; an excellent plot, very good friends. What a frosty-spirited rogue this is! Why, my Lord of York commends the plot, and the general course of the action. By this hand, if I were now by this rascal, I could brain him with his lady's fan. Are there not my father, my uncle, and myself, Lord Edmund Mortimer, my Lord of York, and Owen Glendower? Is there not, besides, the Douglas? Have I not all their letters, to meet me in arms by the ninth of next month? And are there not some of them set forward already. What a Fagan rascal is this! an infidel! Ha! you shall see now, in very sincerity of fear and cold heart will he to the King, and lay open all our proceedings. O, I could divide myself, and go to buffets, for moving such a dish of skimmed milk with so honourable an action. Hang him, let him tell the King. We are prepared, I will set forward to night. SHAKSPEARE. CHAPTER XX. KING JOHN AND HUBERT. Hub. My lord, they say five moons were seen to-night : Four fixed, and the fifth did whirl about The other four in wond'rous motion. K. John. Five moons? Hub. Old men and beldams in the streets Do prophesy upon it dangerously. Young Arthur's death is common in their mouths; And he that speaks doth gripe the hearer's wrist; Cuts off his tale, and talks of Arthur's death. K. John. Why seek'st thou to possess me with these fears? Why singest thou so oft young Arthur's death? Thy hand hath murdered him. I had mighty cause K. John. It is the curse of kings to be attended To understand a law, to know the meaning Of dangerous majesty when, perchance, it frowns More upon humour than advis'd respect. Hub. Here is your hand and seal for what I did. K. John. O! When the last account 'twixt heaven and earth Is to be made, then shall this hand and seal Witness against us to damnation ! How oft the sight of means to do ill deeds Makes deeds ill done! Hadst not thou been by, But, taking note of thy abhorr'd aspect, I faintly broke with thee of Arthur's death; Made it no conscience to destroy a prince. K. John. Hadst thou but shook thy head, or made a pause When I spake darkly of what I purposed, Or turn'd an eye of doubt upon my face, Deep shame had struck me dumb, made me break off, And didst in signs again parley with sin; The deed which both our tongues held vile to name. This kingdom, this confine of blood and breath, Between my conscience and my cousin's death. Hub. Arm you against your other enemies; The dreadful motion of a murd'rous thought, Is yet the cover of a fairer mind Than to be butcher of an innocent child. K. John. Doth Arthur live? O! haste thee to the peers; Throw this report on their incens'd rage, And make them tame to their obedience! |