king john(约翰王)-第12节
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KING JOHN
world the while！ This must not be thus borne： this will break out To all our
sorrows； and ere long I doubt。 Exeunt LORDS KING JOHN。 They burn in
indignation。 I repent。 There is no sure foundation set on blood； No certain
life achiev'd by others' death。
Enter a MESSENGER
A fearful eye thou hast； where is that blood That I have seen inhabit
in those cheeks？ So foul a sky clears not without a storm。 Pour down thy
weather…how goes all in France？ MESSENGER。 From France to England。
Never such a pow'r For any foreign preparation Was levied in the body of
a land。 The copy of your speed is learn'd by them； For when you should be
told they do prepare； The tidings comes that they are all arriv'd。 KING
JOHN。 O； where hath our intelligence been drunk？ Where hath it slept？
Where is my mother's care； That such an army could be drawn in France；
And she not hear of it？ MESSENGER。 My liege； her ear Is stopp'd with
dust： the first of April died Your noble mother； and as I hear； my lord； The
Lady Constance in a frenzy died Three days before； but this from rumour's
tongue I idly heard…if true or false I know not。 KING JOHN。 Withhold thy
speed； dreadful occasion！ O； make a league with me； till I have pleas'd My
discontented peers！ What！ mother dead！ How wildly then walks my estate
in France！ Under whose conduct came those pow'rs of France That thou
for truth giv'st out are landed here？ MESSENGER。 Under the Dauphin。
KING JOHN。 Thou hast made me giddy With these in tidings。
Enter the BASTARD and PETER OF POMFRET
Now！ What says the world To your proceedings？ Do not seek to stuff
My head with more ill news； for it is fun。 BASTARD。 But if you be afear'd
to hear the worst； Then let the worst； unheard； fall on your head。 KING
JOHN。 Bear with me； cousin； for I was amaz'd Under the tide； but now I
breathe again Aloft the flood； and can give audience To any tongue； speak
it of what it will。 BASTARD。 How I have sped among the clergymen The
sums I have collected shall express。 But as I travell'd hither through the
land； I find the people strangely fantasied； Possess'd with rumours； full of
idle dreams。 Not knowing what they fear； but full of fear； And here's a
prophet that I brought with me From forth the streets of Pomfret； whom I
found With many hundreds treading on his heels； To whom he sung； in
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KING JOHN
rude harsh…sounding rhymes； That； ere the next Ascension…day at noon；
Your Highness should deliver up your crown。 KING JOHN。 Thou idle
dreamer； wherefore didst thou so？ PETER。 Foreknowing that the truth will
fall out so。 KING JOHN。 Hubert； away with him； imprison him； And on
that day at noon whereon he says I shall yield up my crown let him be
hang'd。 Deliver him to safety； and return； For I must use thee。 Exit
HUBERT with PETER O my gentle cousin； Hear'st thou the news abroad；
who are arriv'd？ BASTARD。 The French； my lord； men's mouths are full
of it； Besides； I met Lord Bigot and Lord Salisbury； With eyes as red as
new…enkindled fire； And others more； going to seek the grave Of Arthur；
whom they say is kill'd to…night On your suggestion。 KING JOHN。 Gentle
kinsman； go And thrust thyself into their companies。 I have a way to will
their loves again； Bring them before me。 BASTARD。 I Will seek them out。
KING JOHN。 Nay； but make haste； the better foot before。 O； let me have
no subject enemies When adverse foreigners affright my towns With
dreadful pomp of stout invasion！ Be Mercury； set feathers to thy heels；
And fly like thought from them to me again。 BASTARD。 The spirit of the
time shall teach me speed。 KING JOHN。 Spoke like a sprightful noble
gentleman。 Exit BASTARD Go after him； for he perhaps shall need Some
messenger betwixt me and the peers； And be thou he。 MESSENGER。 With
all my heart； my liege。 Exit KING JOHN。 My mother dead！
Re…enter HUBERT
HUBERT。 My lord； they say five moons were seen to…night； Four
fixed； and the fifth did whirl about The other four in wondrous motion。
KING JOHN。 Five moons！ HUBERT。 Old men and beldams in the streets
Do prophesy upon it dangerously； Young Arthur's death is common in
their mouths； And when they talk of him； they shake their heads； And
whisper one another in the ear； And he that speaks doth gripe the hearer's
wrist； Whilst he that hears makes fearful action With wrinkled brows； with
nods； with rolling eyes。 I saw a smith stand with his hammer； thus； The
whilst his iron did on the anvil cool； With open mouth swallowing a
tailor's news； Who； with his shears and measure in his hand； Standing on
slippers； which his nimble haste Had falsely thrust upon contrary feet；
Told of a many thousand warlike French That were embattailed and rank'd
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KING JOHN
in Kent。 Another lean unwash'd artificer Cuts off his tale； and talks of
Arthur's death。 KING JOHN。 Why seek'st thou to possess me with these
fears？ Why urgest thou so oft young Arthur's death？ Thy hand hath
murd'red him。 I had a mighty cause To wish him dead； but thou hadst none
to kill him。 HUBERT。 No had； my lord！ Why； did you not provoke me？
KING JOHN。 It is the curse of kings to be attended By slaves that take
their humours for a warrant To break within the bloody house of life； And
on the winking of authority To understand a law； to know the meaning Of
dangerous majesty； when perchance it frowns More upon humour than
advis'd respect。 HUBERT。 Here is your hand and seal for what I did。
KING 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 Make deeds ill done！ Hadst not thou
been by； A fellow by the hand of nature mark'd； Quoted and sign'd to do a
deed of shame； This murder had not come into my mind； But； taking note
of thy abhorr'd aspect； Finding thee fit for bloody villainy； Apt； liable to be
employ'd in danger； I faintly broke with thee of Arthur's death； And thou；
to be endeared to a king； Made it no conscience to destroy a prince。
HUBERT。 My lord… KING JOHN。 Hadst thou but shook thy head or made
pause； When I spake darkly what I purposed； Or turn'd an eye of doubt
upon my face； As bid me tell my tale in express words； 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； Yea； without stop； didst let thy heart consent；
And consequently thy rude hand to act The deed which both our tongues
held vile to name。 Out of my sight； and never see me more！ My nobles
leave me； and my state is braved； Even at my gates； with ranks of foreign
pow'rs； Nay； in the body of the fleshly land； This kingdom； this confine of
blood and breath； Hostility and civil tumult reigns Between my conscience
and my cousin's death。 HUBERT。 Arm you against your other enemies； I'll
make a peace between your soul and you。 Young Arthur is alive。 This hand
of mine Is yet a maiden and an innocent hand； Not painted with the
crimson spots of blood。 Within this bosom never ent'red yet The dreadful
motion of a murderous thought And you have slander'd nature in my form；
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KING JOHN
Which； howsoever rude exteriorly； Is yet the cover of a fairer mind Than
to be butcher of an innocent child。 KING JOHN。 Doth Arthur live？ O；
haste thee to the peers； Throw this report on their incensed rage And make
them tame to their obedience！ Forgive the comment that my passion made
Upon thy feature； for my rage was blind； And foul imaginary eyes of
blood Presented thee more hideous than thou art。 O； answer not； but to my
closet bring The angry lords with all expedient haste。 I conjure thee but
slowly； run more fast。 Exeunt
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KING JOHN
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