The Tragedy of Arthur_ A Novel - Arthur Phillips [155]
But, from some conscience-words of little heft,
Not dare prevent the scorching of our realm,
Would tear my heart from me as with a hook.
I want nor crown nor vulgar admiration,
And could in innocence play regicide
As shallow Arthur has too long played king.
Come, hand, couldst thou perform this hellish act?
But think upon’t. In mind’s eye perceive
The moment when: the start of fear, the cry,
The stream of blood, the man betrayed who looks
Into your eye in want of answers there,
The sacrifice of your eternal soul
Which you do willing give to devil’s clutch
No matter all your right and high intent.
But no, I turn and dare not follow this.
What affect’s this? I scarcely know this frost:
Is’t cowardice I feel ice o’er my heart?
It is. I see our end, but cannot start.
And so do kingdoms fall by vice’s art,
When righteous men in conscience stand apart.
Exit
ACT IV[, SCENE I]
[Location: The Royal Court, London]
Enter King, Queen [pregnant], Cornwall and nobles, ladies bearing scales and lady-whifflers1 with soft maces. Hautboys, harps
ARTHUR
My lords, give way. All men must bend the knee.
For now the ladies reign their hour in court,
And I dispose of all our sovereignty
Into these paler hands to bear law’s scales.—
My queen, in whom I have re-breathed2 my heir,3
Abdico meum regnum.4
GUENHERA
Loving friend,
God thank thy faith in gentler sex’s wisdom,
Which we now sharp5 upon the wheel of law.
Speak, Crier, read the charges to the court!
But where’s the Earl of Cumbria, who’s charged?
Go, send for him at once to stand before.
Enter Cumbria with lady-whifflers
ARTHUR
Tut,6 Cumbria! Be not a puling7 boy.
GUENHERA
My lord, if I do reign, then let me reign.
ARTHUR
O, gentle tyrant, mercy on my head.
GUENHERA
Once only do I wink,8 or else seem weak.
Now, Crier, speak!
LADY CRIER O, Earl of Cumbria!
As token of accused, uncertain state,
Bear willow branch as sign of love forsworn
And fennel leaf that honors lovers true.
She gives two branches
At trial’s end, shall one remain on you.
[Reading]
Imprimis:9 The Earl of Cumbria did, upon St. Lambert’s
Day,10 speak love to Rosamunde, a lady of this court,
and did move her with his words. Item: He having
purchased with words this melting heart, the same
earl did lead the lady to a bosky covert.11
Item: This same earl did, at mellay12 two days later,
wear no token of the lady in his helm or on his
person and, when he did smite Sir Stephen to the
ground, asked not the lady’s favor. Thus reads the
charge of most uncourteous love.
GUENHERA
The lady stands withal. Her case is plain.
And black th’unmitigated13 crime we hear.
If guilt is found then we pronounce the doom:
To Rosamunde forsworn you’ll pay a sonnet.
Its two and dozen branches14 will support
Perfumèd buds of love that you affect,
As every lady here can see in you.
Good Cumbria, what answer do you make?
CUMBRIA
Will you not ban15 this childish tick-tack,16 King?
Discharge your servant from this vanity,
This swarm of tomboy-geese,17 and swift restore
This wayward court to manly empery.18
ARTHUR
Kneel, slave, to thy dread queen and tame thy tongue,
Which were more sharp, thy neck had felt its edge.19
Compose thy fourteen lines to this poor maid,
Or suffer my compulsatory20 wrath.
GUENHERA
Such moody men ill suit our quiet court.
The both of you I hold as rudesbys,21 both:
Yes, king, who would o’erbear in his queen’s name,
But doing so o’erbears that queen you serve.
Thy sonnet is become a plump ballade,22
Good earl, and scowls will yield thee yet more verse.
For peevish king, on thee falls heavy doom:
A masque23 for Martinmas24 upon the theme
Of queenly wisdom.
Enter Gloucester
GLOUCESTER
King, the court must void
And council sit at once to hear my news.
GUENHERA
My duke, why haste and noise in ladies’ hour?
This sorts25 not with our majesty, dear friend.
GLOUCESTER
My king, there is but now delivered word.
Off Devon’s Linmouth coast a forest sprouts,
A wood at sea, but in its rise and fall
Distinct from landed trees