Page 212 - Shakespeare - Vol. 2

MESSENGER

With all my heart, my liege. [180]
[Exit.]

KING JOHN
My mother dead!

Re-enter Hubert.

HUBERT
My lord, they say five moons were seen to-night:

Four fixed, and the fift did whirl about
The other four in wondrous motion.

KING JOHN
Five moons?

HUBERT
Old men and beldams in the streets [185]
Do prophesy upon it dangerously:

Young Arthur’s death is common in their mouths:
And when they talk of him, they shake their heads
And whisper one another in the ear;
And he that speaks doth gripe the hearer’s wrist, [190]

Whilst he that hears makes fearful action,
With wrinkled brows, with nods, with rolling eyes.
I saw a smith stand with his hammer, thus,
The whilst his iron did on the anvil cool,

With open mouth swallowing a tailor’s news; [195]
Who, with his shears and measure in his hand,
Standing on slippers, which his nimble haste
Had falsely thrust upon contrary feet,

Told of a many thousand warlike French
That were embattailed and rank’d in Kent: [200]
Another lean unwash’d artificer
Cuts off his tale and talks of Arthur’s death.

KING JOHN