The Tragedy of Arthur_ A Novel - Arthur Phillips [150]
Enter Arthur
Your Majesty, I beg, again, a word.
ARTHUR
O, Gloucester! Now doth Cupid lurk in shade?
No more of Florentine grand duchesses,
Venetian doge’s8 girls and Spain’s infanta.
My lord, I would have no more cavilling,9
But ask a respite from this marriage chat,
A week, a day, to feast our victories,
And then thou mayst molest me with this prate.10
GLOUCESTER
You were thrice blest at Lincoln, York, and Bath.
My king, a marriage now will fasten peace.
Your hopes for Britain’s weal11 demand great sums.
The king of France would have you be his heir!
ARTHUR
How seemeth she to thee, the French princesse?
GLOUCESTER
There’s but the envoy’s word and painted cloth,
Still covered o’er ’til you consent to look.
But sure she is not loathsome.
ARTHUR
Mend my soul!12
With praise as this, one need not fear of scorn.
GLOUCESTER
Her disposition she reveals in this.
Gives letter
ARTHUR
I want it not. You know I speak no French.
GLOUCESTER
Nor Spanish nor Italian, King. I know.
With exercise your tongue can learn the trick.
You need but muster out the words “I wed.”
ARTHUR
If they do love me so, they could learn English.
Are there no foreign princesses who can?
GLOUCESTER
My king, I beg of you, a list’ning mood.
A happy kingdom wants a steady hand
To steer through white-topped billows, storms, and fear,
When curdled sea with oily fingers threats
To fist the groaning crew from greasy deck.
ARTHUR
Less peroration,13 Gloucester. Hit the mark.
GLOUCESTER
The royal sceptre must be straightly held
And not with ev’ry wind rock left and right.
ARTHUR
Too much synecdoche for this crowned head.14
GLOUCESTER
Too hot, my king, your fancies and vexations.
For those who sway the rule must needs be led
By cooler humors, not by passions’ pricks.
In marriage men are spared from wilder lusts:
Their anger melts away, they find them calm.
ARTHUR
You paint a dreaded scene, you god of love.
An if the lady find me not her taste?
GLOUCESTER
’Tis not unknown.
ARTHUR
Come, Duke, thou art too cruel.
GLOUCESTER
’Tis not unknown affects15 do wax with time.
All’s one, as in your autumn, you are not
The same young lovers who were wed in spring.
In time new common cause is found, and wife
And husband are as allies in a war
They cannot win, yet still are they content
To fight it side by side.
ARTHUR
Most nobly read.
Duke, grant me but a moment to revolve,
As you do teach me now, if league with France,
Made strong by unseen, sure not loathy dame,
Is best of fate for Britain and her king.
GLOUCESTER
Most gladly, lord. I’ll sit without.
ARTHUR
Our thanks.
Exit Gloucester
Cold fear now grips me closer than in war.
Dare I examine her behind her veil?
Whatsoe’er it shows, I must not credit true
For royal painters earn when they omit.
Uncovers painting
“Bonjour, princesse.” There’s all my Frankish talk.
Can this sustain our weary hours throughout
A life of matrimonial content?
“Bonjour, princesse. My kingdom wants a queen.
What say you? Find me well enough for now?
Then we must hence spend every day and night
In one another’s speechless company
Until the one of us should mercy show
And dying leave the other in sweet peace.”
Perchance I ought to praise her qualities.
“Within your bluest eye I see reflect
The fleets of France at my behest and beck.
The sun is no more golden than your hair,
Which calls to mind your treasury and wealth.
How I do long to press beneath my hands
Your soft and yielding countrymen for tax.”
Let’s taste of her smooth embassy instead:
He reads
“Great Arthur’s famous and heroic acts.”
She does write well. “Your loving friend, Matilde.”
’Tis all set here as circumstance demands.
Matilde. Matilde. ’Tis as should be.16
This then must be, ’tis right, as Gloucester says.
I’ll call him back and set it to be done.
O traitor voice, why silent now, thou knave?
But call him, coward! Now. Call now.17
Enter Constantine and Guenhera
O, brother, what relief to see thine eye!
Just now I want thy wit and company
To free