Page 188 - Shakespeare - Vol. 2

[To the Bastard.]
Cousin, away for England! haste before:
And, ere our coming, see thou shake the bags
Of hoarding abbots; imprison’d angels

Set at liberty: the fat ribs of peace
Must by the hungry now be fed upon: [10]
Use our commission in his utmost force.

BASTARD
Bell, book, and candle shall not drive me back

When gold and silver becks me to come on:
I leave your highness. Grandam, I will pray −
If ever I remember to be holy − [15]
For your fair safety; so, I kiss your hand.

ELEANOR
Farewell, gentle cousin.

KING JOHN
Coz, farewell.

[Exit Bastard.]

ELEANOR
Come hither, little kinsman; hark, a word.
[She takes Arthur aside.]

KING JOHN
Come hither, Hubert. O my gentle Hubert,

We owe thee much! within this wall of flesh [20]
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, [25]
But I will fit it with some better tune.
By heaven, Hubert, I am almost asham’d

To say what good respect I have of thee.