"Foul as it is, hell itself is defiled by the fouler presence of John." Such was the terrible verdict of those who knew him, and this has been confirmed by the sober judgment of history.

In mere boyhood he had torn with brutal levity the beards of the Irish chieftains who came to own him as their lord. His ingratitude and perfidy had brought down his father's grey hairs with sorrow to the grave. To his brother he had been the worst of traitors; and all Christendom believed him to be the murderer of his nephew.

Such was the cruel tyrant who lost Normandy, became the vassal of the Pope, and perished in a miserable struggle against English freedom.

ARTHUR AND HUBERT.
Scene-ENGLAND. A ROOM IN A CASTLE.1

Enter HUBERT and Executioners.

Hub. Uncleanly scruples! fear not you: look to't.

Young lad, come forth; I have to say with you.

Enter ARTHUR.

Arth. Good morrow,

Hubert.

Good morrow, little prince.

Hub.

Arth. As little prince (having so great a title To be more prince) as may be.-You are sad. Hub. Indeed, I have been merrier.

Mercy on me!

Arth.
Methinks nobody should be sad but I;7
Yet, I remember, when I was in France,
Young gentlemen would be as sad as night,
Only for wantonness. By my Christendom,8
So I were out of prison and kept sheep,
I should be as merry as the day is long;
And so I would be here, but that I doubt
My uncle practises more harm to me:

He is afraid of me, and I of him :

Is it my fault that I was Geoffrey's son?

No, indeed, is't not; and I would to Heaven

I were your son, so you would love me, Hubert.

Hub. [Aside] If I talk to him, with his innocent prate, He will awake my mercy, which lies dead : Therefore I will be sudden, and dispatch.

Arth. Are you sick, Hubert? you look pale to-day: In sooth,10 I would you were a little sick,

That I might sit all night and watch with you:

I warrant I love you more than you do me.

Hub. [Aside] His words do take possession of my bosom. Read here, young Arthur.

12

[Showing a paper.

[Aside] How now, foolish rheum!
Turning dispiteous 12 torture out of door;
I must be brief, lest resolution drop

Out at mine eyes in tender, womanish tears.-
Can you not read it? is it not fair writ ? 13

Arth. Too fairly, Hubert, for so foul effect :
Must you with hot irons burn out both mine eyes?
Hub. Young boy, I must.

Arth.

Hub.

11

And will you?

And I will.

Arth. Have you the heart? When your head did but ache,

I knit my handkerchief about your brows

(The best I had,—a princess wrought it me),

And I did never ask it you again;

And with my hand at midnight held your head;
And like the watchful minutes to the hour,

Still and anon 14 cheered up the heavy time;

Saying, "What lack you?" and "Where lies your grief?"
Or, "What good love may I perform for you?”
Many a poor man's son would have lien 15 still
And ne'er have spoke 16 a loving word to you:
But you at your sick service had a prince.
Nay, you may think my love was crafty love,
And call it cunning: do, an if 17 you will;
If Heaven be pleased that you must use me ill,

Why then you must.-Will you put out mine eyes?
These eyes that never did, nor never

So much as frown on you.

Hub.

18

shall,

I have sworn to do it.

And with hot irons must I burn them out.

Arth. Ah, none but in this iron age would do it! The iron of itself, though heat 19 red-hot,

19

Approaching near these eyes, would drink my tears,
And quench his 20 fiery indignation

Even in the matter of mine innocence;

Nay, after that, consume away in rust,

But 21 for containing fire to harm mine eye.

Are you more stubborn-hard than hammered iron ?
An if an angel should have come to me,

And told me Hubert should put out mine eyes,

I would not have believed him,—no tongue but Hubert's. Hub. Come forth!

[Stamps. Re-enter Executioners, with a cord, irons, etc.

Do as I bid you.

Arth. Oh, save me, Hubert, save me! my eyes are out Even with the fierce looks of these bloody men.

Hub. Give me the iron, I say, and bind him here.
Arth. Alas, what 23 need you be so boisterous-rough?

I will not struggle, I will stand stone-still.

For Heaven's sake, Hubert, let me not be bound!
Nay, hear me, Hubert: drive these men away,
And I will sit as quiet as a lamb;

I will not stir nor wince, nor speak a word,

Nor look upon the iron angerly :

Thrust but these men away, and I'll forgive you

Whatever torment you do put me to.

Hub. Go, stand within; let 24 me alone with him. First Exec. I am best pleased to be from 25 such a deed. [Exeunt Executioners.

Arth. Alas, I then have chid away my friend!

He hath a stern look, but a gentle heart:
Let him come back, that his compassion may
Give life to yours,

Hub.

Come, boy, prepare yourself.

Arth. Is there no remedy?
Hub.

None but to lose your eyes.

Arth. O Heaven, that there were but a mote in yours,

A grain, a dust, a gnat, a wandering hair,

Any annoyance in that precious sense!

Then feeling what small things are boisterous there,
Your vile intent must needs seem horrible.

Hub. Is this your promise ? go to, hold your tongue.
Arth. Hubert, the utterance of a brace of tongues
Must needs want pleading 26 for a pair of eyes;
Let me not hold my tongue, let me not, Hubert!
Or, Hubert, if you will, cut out my tongue,
So I may keep mine eyes: oh, spare mine eyes,
Though to no use but still to look on you!-
Lo, by my troth,27 the instrument is cold,
And would not harm me.

Hub.

I can heat it, boy.

Arth. No, in good sooth: the fire is dead with grief (Being create for comfort) to be used

In undeserved extremes: 28 see else yourself;

There is no malice in this burning coal;

The breath of Heaven has blown his spirit out,

And strewed repentant ashes on his head.

Hub. But with my breath I can revive it, boy.
Arth. An if you do, you will but make it blush
And glow with shame of your proceedings, Hubert;
Nay, it perchance will sparkle 29 in your eyes:
And, like a dog that is compelled to fight,
Snatch at his master that doth tarre 30 him on.
All things that you should use to do me wrong
Deny their office; 31 only you do lack

That mercy which fierce fire and iron extends,
Creatures of note for mercy-lacking uses.3
32

Hub. Well, see to live; I will not touch thine eyes
For all the treasure that thine uncle owes : 33

Yet am I sworn, and I did purpose, boy,
With this same very iron to burn them out.