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  • Title: The Troublesome Reign of King John ((Quarto, 1581))
  • Editor: Karen Oberer

  • Copyright Queen's Men Editions. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Author: Anonymous
    Editor: Karen Oberer
    Not Peer Reviewed

    The Troublesome Reign of King John ((Quarto, 1581))

    of King Iohn.

    O helpe me Hubert, gentle keeper helpe:
    1500God send this sodaine mutinous approach
    Tend not to reaue a wretched guiltles life.
    Hubert So sirs, depart, and leaue the rest for me.
    Arthur Then Arthur yéeld, death frowneth in thy face,
    What meaneth this? Good Hubert plead the case.
    1505Hubert Patience yong Lord, and listen words of woe,
    Harmfull and harsh, hells horror to be heard:
    A dismall tale fit for a furies tongue.
    I faint to tell, déepe sorrow is the sound.
    Arthur What, must I die?
    1510Hubert No newes of death, but tidings of more hate,
    A wrathfull doome, and most vnluckie fate:
    Deaths dish were daintie at so fell a feast,
    Be deafe, heare not, its hell to tell the rest.
    Arthur Alas thou wrongst my youth with words of feare,
    1515Tis hell, tis horror, not for one to heare:
    What is it man if it must needes be don,
    Act it, and end it, that the paine were gon.
    Hubert I will not chaunt such dolour with my tongue,
    Yet must I act the outrage with my hand.
    1520My heart my head, and all my powers beside,
    To aide the office haue at once denide.
    Peruse this letter, lines of treble woe,
    Read ore my charge, and pardon when you know.

    Hubert
    these are to commaund thee, as thou tendrest our
    1525quiet in minde and the estate of our person, that pre-
    sently vpon the receipt of our commaund, thou put out
    the eyes of Arthur Plantaginet.

    ArthurAh monstrous damned man, his very breath in-
    fects the elements,
    1530 Contagious venyme dwelleth in his heart,
    Effecting meanes to poyson all the world.
    Unreuerent may I be to blame the heauens
    F 3 Of