Re-enter 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. in the streets Old men, and beldams, Do prophecy upon it dangerously: Young Arthur's death is common in their mouths: And he, that speaks, doth gripe the hearer's wrist; -five moons were seen to-night: &c.] This incident is mentioned by few of our historians. I have met with it no where but in Matthew of Westminster and Polydore Virgil, with a small alteration. These kind of appearances were more common about that time than either before or since. GREY. slippers, (which his nimble haste Had falsely thrust upon contráry feet,)] Dr. Johnson says, “I know not how the commentators understand this important passage, which, in Dr. Warburton's edition, is marked as eminently beautiful, and, on the whole, not without justice. But Shakspeare seems to have confounded the man's shoes with his gloves. He that is frighted or hurried may put his hand into the wrong glove, but either shoe will equally admit either foot. The author seems to be disturbed by the disorder which he describes." But Dr. Johnson forgets that ancient slippers might possibly be very different from modern ones, and the commentators have produced many passages to prove the shoe, boot, &c. were right and left legged. Told of a many thousand warlike French, Cuts off his tale, and talks of Arthur's death. Why urgest thou so oft young Arthur's death? K. John. It is the curse of kings," to be attended To understand a law; to know the meaning 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 How oft the sight of means to do ill deeds, 8 Quoted, and sign'd, to do a deed of shame, It is the curse of kings, &c.] This plainly hints at Davison's case, in the affair of Mary Queen of Scots. advis'd respect.] i. e. deliberate consideration. 7 Made it no conscience to destroy a prince. Hub. My lord, K. John. Hadst thou but shook thy head, or made a pause, When I spake darkly what I purposed; Deep shame had struck me dumb, made me break off, And those thy fears might have wrought fears in me: But thou didst understand me by my signs, And didst in signs again parley with sin; The deed, which both our tongues held vile to name. Out of my sight, and never see me more! This kingdom, this confine of blood and breath, Between my conscience, and my cousin's death. 9 Hadst thou but shook thy head, &c.] There are many touches of nature in this conference of John with Hubert. A man engaged in wickedness would keep the profit to himself, and transfer the guilt to his accomplice. These reproaches, vented against Hubert, are not the words of art or policy, but the eruptions of a mind swelling with a consciousness of a crime, and desirous of discharging its misery on another. This account of the timidity of guilt is drawn ab ipsis recessibus mentis, from the intimate knowledge of mankind, particularly that line in which he says, that to have bid him tell his tale in express words, would have struck him dumb; nothing is more certain than that bad men use all the arts of fallacy upon themselves, palliate their actions to their own minds by gentle terms, and hide themselves from their own detection in ambiguities and subterfuges. I'll make a peace between your soul and you. The dreadful motion of a murd'rous thought,' Than to be butcher of an innocent child. K. John. Doth Arthur live? O, haste thee to the peers, Throw this report on their incensed rage, Presented thee more hideous than thou art. The angry lords, with all expedient haste: I conjure thee but slowly; run more fast. [Exeunt. SCENE III. The same. Before the Castle. Enter ARTHUR, on the Walls. Arth. The wall is high; and yet will I leap down: Good ground, be pitiful, and hurt me not!— 1 The dreadful motion of a murd'rous thought,] Nothing can be falser than what Hubert here says in his own vindication; for we find, from a preceding scene, the motion of a murd'rous thought had entered into him, and that very deeply; and it was with difficulty that the tears, the entreaties, and the innocence of Arthur had diverted and suppressed it. WARBURTON. There's few, or none, do know me; if they did, If I get down, and do not break my limbs, [Leaps down. O me! my uncle's spirit is in these stones:Heaven take my soul, and England keep my bones! Enter PEMBROKE, SALISBURY, and BIGOT. [Dies. Sal. Lords, I will meet him at saint Edmund's- It is our safety, and we must embrace This gentle offer of the perilous time. 2 Pem. Who brought that letter from the cardinal? Sal. The count Melun, a noble lord of France; Whose private with me, of the Dauphin's love, Is much more general than these lines import. Big. To-morrow morning let us meet him then. Sal. Or, rather then set forward: for 'twill be Two long days' journey, lords, or e'er we meet. Enter the Bastard. Bast. Once more to-day well met, distemper'd lords! The king, by me, requests your presence straight. * Whose private, &c.] i. e. whose private account of the Dau phin's affection to our cause is much more ample than the letters. distemper'd] i. e. ruffled, out of humour. |