Synopsis:
Hubert prepares to put out Arthur’s eyes with hot irons. Arthur begs him to show mercy. Hubert plans to tell John that Arthur is dead.
King JohnKing John
Contents
Characters in the Play
Entire Play
The events in King John take place in the thirteenth century, well before Shakespeare’s other English history plays. After the death of…
Act 1, scene 1
John, King of England, is told by a messenger from the King of France that the territories held by John…
Act 2, scene 1
King Philip of France and the Duke of Austria, on behalf of Arthur, begin to lay siege to the city…
Act 3, scene 1
The league between John and Philip is attacked first by Constance, who accuses Philip of treacherously betraying Arthur’s cause, and…
Act 3, scene 2
The Bastard, having killed the Duke of Austria, reports that he has rescued Queen Eleanor. Arthur, captured by John, is…
Act 3, scene 3
John prepares to leave for England with his forces. He tells Hubert that Arthur must die. Hubert promises to kill…
Act 3, scene 4
John’s victories and his capture of Arthur lead the French to despair and Constance to wild grief. Pandulph, predicting Arthur’s…
Act 4, scene 1
Hubert prepares to put out Arthur’s eyes with hot irons. Arthur begs him to show mercy. Hubert plans to tell…
Act 4, scene 2
The nobles express their disapproval of John’s second coronation and urge that he set Arthur free. When Hubert brings word…
Act 4, scene 3
Arthur dies as he attempts to leap from the prison wall. The Bastard reaches the nobles, on their way to…
Act 5, scene 1
King John submits his royal power to the Pope in exchange for Pandulph’s intercession against the French forces. The Bastard…
Act 5, scene 2
The rebellious English nobles swear to support the Dauphin in his attack on England. Pandulph tells the Dauphin to take…
Act 5, scene 3
King John, sick with a fever, is instructed by the Bastard to leave the battle. John receives the good news…
Act 5, scene 4
While the English army continues to fight successfully under the Bastard, the rebel English nobles learn from the wounded French…
Act 5, scene 5
The Dauphin rejoices that his forces have almost defeated the English. He then learns that Count Melun has died, that…
Act 5, scene 6
Hubert brings news to the Bastard that King John has been poisoned by a monk, and that, at the urging…
Act 5, scene 7
As King John lies dying, surrounded by his newly loyal nobles and his son, Prince Henry, the Bastard brings him…
Scene 1
Enter Hubert and Executioners, ⌜with irons and rope.⌝HUBERT
Heat me these irons hot, and look thou stand
Within the arras. When I strike my foot
Upon the bosom of the ground, rush forth
And bind the boy which you shall find with me
5 Fast to the chair. Be heedful. Hence, and watch.
EXECUTIONER
I hope your warrant will bear out the deed.
HUBERT
Uncleanly scruples fear not you. Look to ’t.
⌜Executioners exit.⌝
Young lad, come forth. I have to say with you.
Enter Arthur.
ARTHUR
Good morrow, Hubert.
HUBERT 10 Good morrow, little prince.
ARTHUR
As little prince, having so great a title
To be more prince, as may be. You are sad.
HUBERT
Indeed, I have been merrier.
ARTHUR Mercy on me!
127
King John
ACT 4. SC. 1
Yet I remember, when I was in France,
Young gentlemen would be as sad as night
Only for wantonness. By my christendom,
So I were out of prison and kept sheep,
20 I should be as merry as the day is long.
And so I would be here but that I doubt
My uncle practices more harm to me.
He is afraid of me, and I of him.
Is it my fault that I was Geoffrey’s son?
25 No, indeed, is ’t not. And I would to heaven
I were your son, so you would love me, Hubert.
HUBERT, ⌜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.
ARTHUR
30 Are you sick, Hubert? You look pale today.
In sooth, 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.
HUBERT, ⌜aside⌝
His words do take possession of my bosom.
⌜He shows Arthur a paper.⌝
35 Read here, young Arthur. (⌜Aside.⌝) How now,
foolish rheum?
Turning dispiteous torture out of door?
I must be brief lest resolution drop
Out at mine eyes in tender womanish tears.—
40 Can you not read it? Is it not fair writ?
ARTHUR
Too fairly, Hubert, for so foul effect.
Must you with hot irons burn out both mine eyes?
HUBERT
Young boy, I must.
129
King John
ACT 4. SC. 1
HUBERT 45 And I will.
ARTHUR
Have you the heart? When your head did but ache,
I knit my handkercher about your brows—
The best I had, a princess wrought it me—
And I did never ask it you again;
50 And with my hand at midnight held your head,
And like the watchful minutes to the hour
Still and anon cheered up the heavy time,
Saying “What lack you?” and “Where lies your
grief?”
55 Or “What good love may I perform for you?”
Many a poor man’s son would have lien still
And ne’er have spoke a loving word to you;
But you at your sick service had a prince.
Nay, you may think my love was crafty love,
60 And call it cunning. Do, an if 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 shall
So much as frown on you?
HUBERT 65 I have sworn to do it.
And with hot irons must I burn them out.
ARTHUR
Ah, none but in this Iron Age would do it.
The iron of itself, though heat red-hot,
Approaching near these eyes, would drink my tears
70 And quench this fiery indignation
Even in the matter of mine innocence;
Nay, after that, consume away in rust
But for containing fire to harm mine eye.
Are you more stubborn-hard than hammered iron?
75 An if an angel should have come to me
And told me Hubert should put out mine eyes,
131
King John
ACT 4. SC. 1
Hubert’s.
HUBERT ⌜stamps his foot and calls⌝ Come forth.
⌜Enter Executioners with ropes, a heated iron, and a
brazier of burning coals.⌝
80 Do as I bid you do.
ARTHUR
O, save me, Hubert, save me! My eyes are out
Even with the fierce looks of these bloody men.
HUBERT
Give me the iron, I say, and bind him here.
⌜He takes the iron.⌝
ARTHUR
Alas, what need you be so boist’rous-rough?
85 I will not struggle; I will stand stone-still.
For ⌜God’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
90 Nor look upon the iron angerly.
Thrust but these men away, and I’ll forgive you,
Whatever torment you do put me to.
HUBERT, ⌜to Executioners⌝
Go stand within. Let me alone with him.
EXECUTIONER
I am best pleased to be from such a deed.
⌜Executioners exit.⌝
ARTHUR
95 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.
HUBERT Come, boy, prepare yourself.
ARTHUR
100 Is there no remedy?
133
King John
ACT 4. SC. 1
ARTHUR
O ⌜God,⌝ that there were but a mote in yours,
A grain, a dust, a gnat, a wandering hair,
Any annoyance in that precious sense.
105 Then, feeling what small things are boisterous
there,
Your vile intent must needs seem horrible.
HUBERT
Is this your promise? Go to, hold your tongue.
ARTHUR
Hubert, the utterance of a brace of tongues
110 Must needs want pleading 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. O, spare mine eyes,
Though to no use but still to look on you.
⌜He seizes the iron.⌝
115 Lo, by my troth, the instrument is cold,
And would not harm me.
HUBERT, ⌜taking back the iron⌝
I can heat it, boy.
ARTHUR
No, in good sooth. The fire is dead with grief,
Being create for comfort, to be used
120 In undeserved extremes. See else yourself.
There is no malice in this burning coal.
The breath of heaven hath blown his spirit out
And strewed repentant ashes on his head.
HUBERT
But with my breath I can revive it, boy.
ARTHUR
125 An if you do, you will but make it blush
And glow with shame of your proceedings, Hubert.
Nay, it perchance will sparkle in your eyes,
135
King John
ACT 4. SC. 2
Snatch at his master that doth tar him on.
130 All things that you should use to do me wrong
Deny their office. Only you do lack
That mercy which fierce fire and iron extends,
Creatures of note for mercy-lacking uses.
HUBERT
Well, see to live. I will not touch thine eye
135 For all the treasure that thine uncle owes.
Yet am I sworn, and I did purpose, boy,
With this same very iron to burn them out.
ARTHUR
O, now you look like Hubert. All this while
You were disguisèd.
HUBERT 140 Peace. No more. Adieu.
Your uncle must not know but you are dead.
I’ll fill these doggèd spies with false reports.
And, pretty child, sleep doubtless and secure
That Hubert, for the wealth of all the world,
145 Will not offend thee.
ARTHUR O heaven! I thank you, Hubert.
HUBERT
Silence. No more. Go closely in with me.
Much danger do I undergo for thee.
They exit.
