The Tragedy of Arthur_ A Novel - Arthur Phillips [159]
A strong-limbed, comely youth, of noble face.
What art thou, boy, and wherefore needs our ear?
PHILIP
God save you. I am Philip, come from York.
And carry you remembrance from my mother,
Who from her dying bed sends tender love
To her one king and true.
ARTHUR
Who is thy dam?
PHILIP
In York she sewed for the lord mayor’s wife.
ARTHUR
A lady of the wardrobe, yes—that’s she?
Elizabeth was that good lady’s name.
Thy mother is Elizabeth? Of York?
But in her dying bed?
PHILIP
She is, my lord.
ARTHUR
We sorrow at those words. What says she, child?
PHILIP
She bids me kneel and love you as my father.6
GLOUCESTER
Speak no word more of this deceit, queer7 boy.
ARTHUR
To love me as thou lovest thy own father?
PHILIP
To love you, father mine.
GLOUCESTER
No more.
ARTHUR
Is’t so?8
PHILIP
In this alone do I claim more than kings,
For I have known our truth since I could speak.
She sang to me of you and of her love,
But said we must ne’er trouble you at court.
GLOUCESTER
I am impatient for the swift and sure
Conclusion of this show of cozenage,9
So skip us quickly to your humble foist.10
Come, come, yield up your catalogue of boons.11
PHILIP
But nay, good lords, I hope of you no gift
More than your royal hands upon my head,
And you admit12 my mother’s dying love
From her poor orphaned boy, then I’ll to York.
ARTHUR
An if now orphaned, Philip, yet new-fathered,
Or better far, restored to father true:
I see in every sinew and thine eye
Thy testimony’s proof: thou art my print.13
I know these lineaments14 as if I peered
Into a glass of other years, which guards
In it past images long sith reflect.
Come to my arms, my Philip, prince and heir.
In court shalt thou adoptedly reside.
GLOUCESTER
You course so speedily as this, my liege?
He came to London hoping for a coin,
And you’ll emboss his face on every one.
’Tis not so plain to me the evidence
You spy in this base sharker’s15 reddening cheek.
Nor is there policy in circumstance
Determining the fate of kings and realms.
E’en it is true, are there not other such?
Perchance this one hath not the claim of age.
ARTHUR
’Tis so, all so, but this one came to me
And this one has no parent now, but me.
I will not banish my own son by night
Nor nurse my lineage in stranger’s lands,
But bind him to my side, to shape him king.
Good Gloucester, call the queen to share our joy.
Uprouse her from her weeping bed and we
Will consolate her in her grieving mood.
For three small heirs she gains a prince today
And must rejoice God’s equability.16
GLOUCESTER
Your majesty, there is a haste in this
That ill beseems17 the matter and its cost.
This moment’s consequence will echo long.
ARTHUR
Thou ne’er hadst son, old Gloucester, as I do,
And in his eyes perceive our future strength.
Now prithee cease to quirk18 this case of truth19
But lead my gloomy20 queen to greet our son.
Exit Gloucester
Young Philip, dost thou love to fish and hunt?
And canst thou ride and thrust a keen-edged sword?
PHILIP
I have acquired skill in manly arts,
And by my father’s side, would prove my worth.
ARTHUR
’Tis spoke like any prince, my noble boy.
With pride we’ll watch you stare into the sun21
Then soar as Britain’s eagle, Prince of Wales.
PHILIP
If I do stumble or speak slow, my lord,
I am astonished that I orphaned woke,
But will fall to my bed a son and prince.
ARTHUR
I too have supped on such perplexity.
Returns Gloucester [leading] by arm Guenhera
I am today the queen and you the king,
Dear Guen, and here present to you an heir.
GUENHERA
You compassed22 this rare feat as thund’ring Jove
Did pop Minerva from his splitting pate?23
Did not your skull protest at such invention?24
ARTHUR
New prince, embrace for me your mother-queen.
GUENHERA
And will his brother Mordred love him well?
ARTHUR
More dread have I of April rain and wind
Than of that flea-bit tench,25 that ape, that patch,
The jordan-faced26 and stinking Pictish scroyle.27
That league was pashed28 in bits upon its terms.
GLOUCESTER
Shall