To thrust his icy fingers in my maw, Nor let my kingdom's rivers take their course Through my burn'd bosom, nor entreat the north To make his bleak winds kiss my parched lips And comfort me with cold. I do not ask you much, I beg cold comfort; and you are so strait And so ingrateful, you deny me that. 41 P. Hen. O that there were some virtue in my tears, That might relieve you! K. John. The salt in them is hot. Enter the Bastard. Bast. O, I am scalded with my violent motion, 50 And spleen of speed to see your majesty! Are turned to one thread, one little hair Bast. The Dauphin is preparing hitherward, him; For in a night the best part of my power, 60 As I upon advantage did remove, [The King dies. Sal. You breathe these dead news in as dead an ear. My liege! my lord! but now a king, now thus. P. Hen. Even so must I run on, and even so stop. What surety of the world, what hope, what stay, When this was now a king, and now is clay? Bast. Art thou gone so? I do but stay behind 70 To do the office for thee of revenge, And then my soul shall wait on thee to heaven, Where be your powers? show now your mended And instantly return with me again, To push destruction and perpetual shame 80 The Dauphin rages at our very heels. Sal. It seems you know not, then, so much as we: The Cardinal Pandulph is within at rest, 62. "upon advantage," as a favorable opportunity occurred.-C. H. H. 64. "Unexpected flood"; this untoward accident really happened to King John himself. As he passed from Lynn to Lincolnshire he lost by an inundation all his treasure, carriages, baggage, and regalia.— H. N. H. 82. "Cardinal Pandulph." The historic cardinal who effected the negotiations was no longer Pandulph, but Gualo (Hol. iii. 192).-C. Н. Н. Who half an hour since came from the Dauphin, And brings from him such offers of our peace As we with honor and respect may take, With purpose presently to leave this war. Bast. He will the rather do it when he sees 90 Ourselves well sinewed to our defense. Sal. Nay, it is in a manner done already; For many carriages he hath dispatch'd To the sea-side, and put his cause and quarrel To the disposing of the cardinal: With whom yourself, myself and other lords, If you think meet, this afternoon will post To consummate this business happily. Bast. Let it be so: and you, my noble prince, With other princes that may best be spared, Shall wait upon your father's funeral. P. Hen. At Worcester must his body be interr'd; For so he will'd it. Bast. Thither shall it then: Sal. And the like tender of our love we make, 100 P. Hen. I have a kind soul that would give you thanks And knows not how to do it but with tears. 99. "At Worcester"; a stone coffin, containing the body of King John, was discovered in the cathedral church of Worcester, July 17, 1797.-H. N. H. |