King John: Act 5, Scene 6

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    An open place in the neighbourhood of Swinstead Abbey.

    Scene Summary

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    The Bastard encounters Hubert in the darkness and learns that John has been poisoned by a monk at Swinstead and is dying. The Bastard rushes to find the king.

    Enter the BASTARD and HUBERT, severally
    HUBERT
    Who's there? speak, ho! speak quickly, or I shoot.
    BASTARD
    A friend. What art thou?
    HUBERT
    Of the part of England.
    BASTARD
    Whither dost thou go?
    HUBERT
    What's that to thee? why may not I demand
    Of thine affairs, as well as thou of mine?
    BASTARD
    Hubert, I think?
    HUBERT
    Thou hast a perfect thought:
    I will upon all hazards well believe
    Thou art my friend, that know'st my tongue so well.
    Who art thou?
    BASTARD
    Who thou wilt: and if thou please,
    Thou mayst befriend me so much as to think
    I come one way of the Plantagenets.
    HUBERT
    Unkind remembrance! thou and eyeless night
    Have done me shame: brave soldier, pardon me,
    That any accent breaking from thy tongue
    Should 'scape the true acquaintance of mine ear.
    BASTARD
    Come, come; sans compliment, what news abroad?
    HUBERT
    Why, here walk I in the black brow of night,
    To find you out.
    BASTARD
    Brief, then; and what's the news?
    HUBERT
    O, my sweet sir, news fitting to the night,
    Black, fearful, comfortless and horrible.
    BASTARD
    Show me the very wound of this ill news:
    I am no woman, I'll not swoon at it.
    HUBERT
    The king, I fear, is poison'd by a monk:
    I left him almost speechless; and broke out
    To acquaint you with this evil, that you might
    The better arm you to the sudden time,
    Than if you had at leisure known of this.
    BASTARD
    How did he take it? who did taste to him?
    HUBERT
    A monk, I tell you; a resolved villain,
    Whose bowels suddenly burst out: the king
    Yet speaks and peradventure may recover.
    BASTARD
    Who didst thou leave to tend his majesty?
    HUBERT
    Why, know you not? the lords are all come back,
    And brought Prince Henry in their company;
    At whose request the king hath pardon'd them,
    And they are all about his majesty.
    BASTARD
    Withhold thine indignation, mighty heaven,
    And tempt us not to bear above our power!
    I'll tell tree, Hubert, half my power this night,
    Passing these flats, are taken by the tide;
    These Lincoln Washes have devoured them;
    Myself, well mounted, hardly have escaped.
    Away before: conduct me to the king;
    I doubt he will be dead or ere I come.
    Exeunt