Read The Tragedy of Arthur: A Novel Online
Authors: Arthur Phillips
SECOND MSG
.
The Saxon treachery told to the swine,
He put to death all ransom-waiting men.
MORDRED
Say rather “ransom-waiting Saxon men”
As Saxony forswore itself, not we.
SECOND MSG
.
But this in truth I cannot say, my lord.
He gave command for every ransomed man
And in unholy anger he did slay
One man himself.
MORDRED
’Twere better thou held tongue.
CONRANUS
Nay, nay, speak on, go on.
SECOND MSG
.
To honor rank
He offered Calvan sword and liberty
If he could singly
7
vanquish him.
MORDRED
No more.
SECOND MSG
.
Enragèd passion seized King Arthur’s limbs.
MORDRED
No more, I say! No more, no more, no more!
SECOND MSG
.
He smote your brother down and raught
8
his locksAnd by those hairs he drew his head hard back.
On Arthur’s face there shone a demon’s hate.
He sends to you the head and broken sword
Within this bag and bids me tell—
MORDRED
No more!
[
Mordred
]
kills messenger
SECOND MSG
.
I curse thee, villain prince, and all thy seed!
9
CONRANUS
How, nephew? Now thy site’s
10
thine own, no word?Thy heart that spoke bravado now is cold.
So whither appetite for chronicle?
MORDRED
Thou wouldst come o’er me with my right rebuke.
11Then hear what manly speech I have for thee
And bastard pup who wet his casual thirst
With purest blood.
12He opens bag
O Calvan, brother, prince! O murdered boy!
DOCTOR
But soft. These words do close your father’s throat.
This rattle sure is death’s unjointed
13
talk.
MORDRED
Nay, sire! Can Arthur, malt-horse,
14
paper kingStill reign while breath itself rebels your will?
But softly, King, my father’s only son
Doth beg you not to yield t’imperious death.
I cannot lose my father now.
15You would yet speak? I bend to you my ear.
[
He leans close to Loth
]Again, again. I swear it, father, aye.
All shall be done to your precise command.—
[
To servants
] You, bear him to his chapel, there to shriveHis soul and read the verses due to him.
[
Exeunt except Mordred and Conranus
]
CONRANUS
Such chatt’ring! How the dying king did buzz!
MORDRED
But sure the company imbibed each word?
CONRANUS
We heard from him no sound: thy table’s
16
clean.
MORDRED
He urged me on to lose no days in tears,
But clad in gimmaled
17
mail and glimm’ring crown,Receive thy oath of fealty now and more:
Assigned me Scotland’s heir and with thy death
Unite two kingdoms as God’s certain will.
And when our strength’s restored, fill Arthur’s tomb.
CONRANUS
All this the wheezing king did set in charge?
MORDRED
All this and more, perchance.
CONRANUS
Loquacity
18In dying men is rare, though not unknown.
And of my death spoke he as urgently?
MORDRED
A natural death, years hence. But his is nigh,
So let us lend a comfort at his side.
Exeunt
[
Location: The court in London
]
Enter Gloucester and French Ambassador, attendants
FRENCH AMB
.
GLOUCESTER
We thank you and your great King Childebert
Who hath to France brought peace and gentle ways.
FRENCH AMB
.
But your Arthur has in small years defeat
The Saxons cross the German Ocean’s
3
waves.Rebels
4
who fought do now cry up to God,“We are subdued! Who take our side? Hélas!”
Arthur will now make for his kingdom laws
And art and prosperous virtues, you say.
But still revolters
5
come as always do,And also more of savages who no
Do love Lord Jesu but false cloven gods.
I am much sad in heart to make these words
But King Arthur has not alone the means,
The arms and treasure, he require for all
He wish. He must have loving friends beside.
GLOUCESTER
My lord, we are quite perfectly agreed.
FRENCH AMB
.
And France can be to such this loving friend!
My king would now make friendship’s girdle
6
fastAbout the waist of him and of Arthur,
Together joined will both be more of men.
Also, the king has maked a daughter-child
To give and place her on your king as queen,
So make Arthur the heir to Childebert!
I bring this portrait covered
7
of the lady,Arthur may look on it and fall in love.
And here, she writing letters to your king,
He gives letters
In which she make expressures most sincere.
GLOUCESTER
Which he will read with all attentive speed.
Good sir, I will return to you anon,
But beg you sit awhile in the hall.
FRENCH AMB
.
Merci, bon duc. I think we make good match.
GLOUCESTER
Were’t ours alone to make, I know we would.
Exit Ambassador
Were all good counsel heeded by our lords
All kingdoms of the world would prosper well.—
Enter Arthur
Your Majesty, I beg, again, a word.
ARTHUR
O, Gloucester! Now doth Cupid lurk in shade?
No more of Florentine grand duchesses,
Venetian doge’s
8
girls and Spain’s infanta.My lord, I would have no more cavilling,
9But ask a respite from this marriage chat,
A week, a day, to feast our victories,
And then thou mayst molest me with this prate.
10
GLOUCESTER
You were thrice blest at Lincoln, York, and Bath.
My king, a marriage now will fasten peace.
Your hopes for Britain’s weal
11
demand great sums.The king of France would have you be his heir!
ARTHUR
How seemeth she to thee, the French
princesse
?
GLOUCESTER
There’s but the envoy’s word and painted cloth,
Still covered o’er ’til you consent to look.
But sure she is not loathsome.
ARTHUR
Mend my soul!
12With praise as this, one need not fear of scorn.
GLOUCESTER
Her disposition she reveals in this.
Gives letter
ARTHUR
I want it not. You know I speak no French.
GLOUCESTER
Nor Spanish nor Italian, King. I know.
With exercise your tongue can learn the trick.
You need but muster out the words “I wed.”
ARTHUR
If they do love me so, they could learn English.
Are there no foreign princesses who can?
GLOUCESTER
My king, I beg of you, a list’ning mood.
A happy kingdom wants a steady hand
To steer through white-topped billows, storms, and fear,
When curdled sea with oily fingers threats
To fist the groaning crew from greasy deck.
ARTHUR
Less peroration,
13
Gloucester. Hit the mark.
GLOUCESTER
The royal sceptre must be straightly held
And not with ev’ry wind rock left and right.