SCENE III.
KING JOHN _and_ HUBERT.
K. JOHN. Come hither, Hubert. O my gentle Hubert. We owe thee much; within this wall of flesh There is a soul counts thee her creditor, And with advantage means to pay thy love: And, my good friend, thy voluntary oath Lives in this bosom, dearly cherished. Give me thy hand. I had a thing to say,-- But I will fit it with some better time. By heaven, Hubert, I am almost asham'd To say what good respect I have of thee.
HUB. I am much bounden to your majesty.
K. JOHN. Good friend, thou hast no cause to say so yet; But thou shalt have; and creep time ne'er so slow, Yet it shall come for me to do thee good. I had a thing to say,--but let it go: The sun is in the heaven, and the proud day, Attended with the pleasures of the world, Is all too wanton and too full of gauds, To give me audience:--If the midnight bell Did, with his iron tongue and brazen mouth, Sound on into the drowsy race of night; If this same were a church-yard where we stand, And thou possessed with a thousand wrongs; Or if that surly spirit, melancholy, Had bak'd thy blood, and made it heavy--thick, (Which else, runs tickling up and down the veins, Making that idiot, laughter, keep men's eyes, And strain their cheeks to idle merriment, A passion hateful to my purposes;) Or if that thou could'st see me without eyes, Hear me without thine ears, and make reply Without a tongue, using conceit alone. Without eyes, ears, and harmful sound of words; Then, in despite of brooded, watchful day, I would into thy bosom pour my thoughts: But ah, I will not:--Yet I love thee well: And, by my troth, I think, thou lov'st me well.
HUB. So well, that what you bid me undertake, Though that my death were adjunct to my act, By heaven, I would do it.
K. JOHN. Do not I know thou would'st? Good Hubert, Hubert, Hubert, throw thine eye On yon young boy; I'll tell thee what, my friend, He is a very serpent in my way; And wheresoe'er this foot of mine doth tread He lies before me: Dost thou understand me? Thou art his keeper. HUB. And I'll keep him so, That he shall not offend your majesty.
K. JOHN. Death. HUB. My lord?
K. JOHN. A grave. HUB. He shall not live.
K. JOHN. Enough. I could be merry now: Hubert, I love thee. Well, I'll not say what I intend for thee: Remember.--
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