The Tragedy of Arthur_ A Novel - Arthur Phillips [160]
ARTHUR
But wait for our return from Irish wars,
For he is one who poorly learns bad news.
GUENHERA
What further need have you of queen, my lord?
Have I not failed what you have asked of me?
ARTHUR
Hush, Guen! Thou must not speak such wretched stuff!
We have made whole our question, only queen,
Be jovial now and kiss our son and heir.
GUENHERA
So as you bid, so shall I do. Come, Prince.
[They embrace]
GLOUCESTER
What war will follow on from this fond kiss?
ARTHUR
Such war as would have followed all the same,
Such war as clouds the sky or dews the grass.
Our people ne’er would tolerate the Pict
And he had ruled ’gainst endless mutiny.
No English will abide a stranger-king
But offer up commotion without end.
We sealed that pact in other, different days;
He sure cannot conceive that it would hold.
Go see, my lord, that all is readiness,—
And, Prince, when I return, we shall converse.—
Come, Guen, a night of peace is granted us
And savors it more nectared ’twixt two wars.
Exeunt [except Philip]
PHILIP
I have some royal heart, for this I met
And did not squeak. I have some royal gloss,
For that fair king doth see in me his twin.
If heart and gloss, though, yet I want the blood:
Elizabeth in truth did bear his son,
On selfsame day my own dam had a boy.29
My mother’s son lives still, for years, I hope,
While th’other met his end some weeks ago.
I came in hope of some small token, aye,
And once or twice my fancy rode a gallop
’Til I was knighted or endowed with land.
But this mad whirling rush of fortune’s wheel
Was all unlooked,30 and frights me a wild duck.
My wings are bating;31 I ought fly to York,
Afore they learn how small a wren am I,
Yet something is that mews me up32 in court.
An I go now, all benefit is lost.
A day or two, perhaps, as Prince of Wales,
Whilst father is at war with duke beside,
Leaves vantage for good fortune to provide. Exit
ACT V[, SCENE I]
[Location: The Royal Court, London]
Enter Mordred with personal attendants and colors, led by English servant
MORDRED
How empty now great Arthur’s halls do seem.
SERVANT
The king is led his host to Ireland, lord.
MORDRED
Where doth the queen reside in time of war?
SERVANT
At court, with all her ladies and the guard,
And those that dance to fill her empty hours.
MORDRED
Go greet her that her most well-willing friend,
The King of Britain—but for one—awaits.
Exit servant
[Aside] And he would see her down before him kneel1
And pledge her weeping vow to her next lord.
Enter players[, including Player King and Queen,] and ladies of Arthur’s court
What court is this? And with how many kings?
Doth Arthur suffer them to share his throne?
PLAYER KING
Here is no call, no space, no time for you,2
But all is answered for by us, sirrah,
And handsomely, and we will hold our place.
Off, off! The field’s yet ours for many months,
Commissions from the king to play for him
Upon return from Irish wars no less
Than comedy and tragedy, two each,
And to invent a tale with all his knights
Displayed on stage as heroes in a quest.
So, fly, avaunt,3 ye paste-crowned, rat-robed king.
Make haste or we will drop you from the walls.
How bare, mechanical a king you make!
MORDRED
Art thou base interluder,4 puffy5 rogue?
Well, bow, O malapert,6 to current7 king.
PLAYER KING Such currency is compassed8 by the art,
Not thine to claim by wishing, paper prince.
Now I have in my days played Charlemagne
And Caesar, David, Herod, Priam, Jove,9
And thou do aweless show thyself to me.
But lift from here, and turn the head. Look tall.
No, no, thou couldst be messenger, no more.
Let drop thy hands: why press and pull them so?
Thy manner calls to mind a washing fly.
MORDRED
I thank thee for this kingly lessoning,
Though yet thy days in court are few remaining.—
My lady, tell us what thou playest yet
For Arthur should he safe return from war?
PLAYER QUEEN We play the tale of flightful Icarus10
Who from ambition did destroy his life.
MORDRED
Too dark to play for joyful