PRINCE ARTHUR AND HUBERT.

Prince Arthur was nephew to John, King of England, and had a stronger title by his birthright to the crown, than his uncle, being the son of Geoffrey, John's elder brother. The power of innocence is strikingly displayed in the influence it had over the mind of Hubert, who had devoted himself to be the guilty instrument of John's injustice and cruelty, had not the feelings of humanity and nature wrought too powerfully to permit him to execute his wicked design.

A Prison.

HUBERT AND ATTENDANTS.

Hubert.Heat me these irons, and be sure keep within call: when I stamp with my foot, come in, and bind the boy that will be with me, fast to the chair. Take heed, and listen to my call.

Attendant.I hope you have authority for what you do.

Hub.Obey my orders, and let me have none of your scruples; for the present retire! Young lad, come here, I have something to say to you.

(Prince Arthur comes in.

Arthur.Good morrow, Hubert.

Hub.Good morrow, little prince.

Arth.You look sad, good Hubert.

Hub.To say truth, I am not very happy.

Arth.Heaven take pity on me! I think nobody should be sad but I. Were I but out of prison, and a shepherd's boy, I could be cheerful all day long; nay, even here I could be happy, were I not afraid my uncle intends me harm. I fear him, and he fears me. Is it my fault that I was Geoffrey's son? Oh! that I were but your son, so you would but love me, Hubert.

Hub.If I listen to his innocent prattle, I shall awaken that compassion I have taken so much pains to stifle; therefore I will lose no time.

(Aside.

Arth.Are you ill, Hubert? you look very pale; if you were ill, I would attend you night and day, would watch by you, and show how much I love you.

Hub.How his words affect me! he shakes my resolution, but I will be firm, and smother these womanish feelings. Arthur, read that paper.

Arth.(Reads). Alas! alas! and will you burn out both my eyes?

Hub.I must and will.

Arth.Can you be so cruel? I have always loved you tenderly, have behaved to you as if I had been your son, watched your very looks, obeyed your orders, attended you when you were sick, and rejoiced at every symptom of recovery. Can you have the heart to put my eyes out? which never did, nor never shall, frown upon you.

Hub.I have sworn to do it, and must not break my oath.

Arth.It is better to break a wicked promise than to keep it. Had you a child you fondly loved, think what you would suffer to have him treated thus? My innocence should plead for me. I could not have believed that Hubert had been so hard-hearted.

Hub.Come in (Stamps, the attendants come in with cords, irons, &c.), do as I bid you.

Arth.Oh! save me, Hubert, save me. The fierce looks of these bloody men terrify me to death.

Hub.Give me the irons, I say, and bind him here.

Arth.Alas! you need not be so rough, there is no occasion to bind me. I will be as gentle as a lamb, if you will but send these men away. I will not stir nor make a noise, whatever pain you put me to.

Hub.Withdraw, and leave me alone with him.

Atten.I am glad to be rid of such a business.

Arth.Alas! then I have driven away my friend, let him come back, that he may plead for me.

Hub.Come, boy, prepare yourself.

Arth.Will nothing avail me?

Hub.Nothing; prepare.

Arth.Oh! Hubert, that a gnat would fly in your eye, that you might feel the pain so small a thing would cause; perhaps that might move your sympathy, and lead you to consider what I must suffer.

Hub.How ill you keep your promise, be silent.

Arth.Forgive me, Hubert, if I try to move you; you once were tender and compassionate, and you will be happier from yielding to these gentle dispositions, than from all the wealth and honours my uncle can bestow.

Hub.Well, your innocence has unnerved my firmest resolution. I am subdued, and will not touch your eyes for all the treasures of your uncle's crown. Yet have I sworn, and fully purposed to have performed----.

Arth.O, now you look like Hubert! Before you were disguised.

Hub.Hush, be quiet; I must conceal you from your uncle's vengeance till I have an opportunity of escaping with you to a foreign country, where we shall be secure from his resentment. For your sake I resign all my hopes of preferment, and incur the danger of my life, should I be taken whilst in your uncle's territories; but, poverty with innocence, is infinitely preferable to a crown with a guilty conscience. Fear nothing, but retire; not India's wealth should bribe me to injure you.

END OF ARTHUR AND HUBERT.

THE DRUNKARD.

Philip the Good, duke of Burgundy, taking a walk one evening at Bruges, found in the public square a man laying on the ground, where he was soundly asleep. He had him taken up, and carried to his palace, where, after they had stripped him of his rags, and put on him a fine shirt, and a nightcap, placed him in one of the prince's beds. This drunkard was much surprized, when he awoke, to find himself in a beautiful alcove, surrounded by officers more richly dressed the one than the other. They asked him, what suit his highness wished to put on that day? This demand completed his confusion; but after a thousand positive assurances he gave them, that he was but a poor cobbler, and not at all a prince, he resolved quietly to bear all the honours they loaded him with,--suffered them to dress him, appeared in public,--heard mass in the Ducal chapel, and kissed the mass-book,--in a word, they made him perform all the usual ceremonies: he went to a sumptuous table, then to cards, to the walk, and other entertainments. After supper they gave him a ball. The good man having never found himself at a like feast, took freely the wine they offered to him, and so abundantly that he got brave and drunk. It was then the catastrophe of the comedy was brought about. Whilst he was sleeping himself sober, the duke had him clothed again with his rags, and carried back to the place from whence he had been taken at first. After having passed there all night in a sound sleep, he awoke, and went home to relate to his wife, as a dream of his, what in effect had really happened to him.

THE END.

SUPERIOR BOOKS FOR YOUNG PERSONS,PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BYWhittingham and Arliss,Paternoster Row.

SUPERIOR BOOKS FOR YOUNG PERSONS,

PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY

Whittingham and Arliss,

Paternoster Row.

Arliss' Hieroglyphical Bible.Embellished with four Hundred beautiful Engravingson Wood, Price 1s.6d.This new Edition is, besides its Embellishments, executed inthe first style, printed on a very beautiful type, and in short,infinitely superior to any similar Bible that has hitherto beensubmitted to the Public.ORPHAN HENRY; or,The Sure RoadtoWealthandHappiness.Embellished with fine Wood Engravings, Price 1s.THE CASKET; or,MemoirsofMiss Selwyn.Ornamented with beautiful Engravings, Price 1s.JUVENILE ANNALS; or, thePastimeofEdwardandEmma. With beautiful Engravings on Wood, Price 1s.The HISTORY of PAMELA; or,Virtue Rewarded.Embellished with beautiful Engravings, Price 1s.MARY THE BEGGAR GIRL.With Engravings on Wood, Price 1s.The CHILDREN'S FRIEND.Embellished with beautiful Engravings on Wood, Price 1s.

Arliss' Hieroglyphical Bible.Embellished with four Hundred beautiful Engravingson Wood, Price 1s.6d.

Arliss' Hieroglyphical Bible.

Embellished with four Hundred beautiful Engravings

on Wood, Price 1s.6d.

This new Edition is, besides its Embellishments, executed inthe first style, printed on a very beautiful type, and in short,infinitely superior to any similar Bible that has hitherto beensubmitted to the Public.

This new Edition is, besides its Embellishments, executed in

the first style, printed on a very beautiful type, and in short,

infinitely superior to any similar Bible that has hitherto been

submitted to the Public.

ORPHAN HENRY; or,The Sure RoadtoWealthandHappiness.Embellished with fine Wood Engravings, Price 1s.

ORPHAN HENRY; or,The Sure RoadtoWealthand

Happiness.

Embellished with fine Wood Engravings, Price 1s.

THE CASKET; or,MemoirsofMiss Selwyn.Ornamented with beautiful Engravings, Price 1s.

THE CASKET; or,MemoirsofMiss Selwyn.

Ornamented with beautiful Engravings, Price 1s.

JUVENILE ANNALS; or, thePastimeofEdwardandEmma. With beautiful Engravings on Wood, Price 1s.

JUVENILE ANNALS; or, thePastimeofEdwardand

Emma. With beautiful Engravings on Wood, Price 1s.

The HISTORY of PAMELA; or,Virtue Rewarded.Embellished with beautiful Engravings, Price 1s.

The HISTORY of PAMELA; or,Virtue Rewarded.

Embellished with beautiful Engravings, Price 1s.

MARY THE BEGGAR GIRL.With Engravings on Wood, Price 1s.

MARY THE BEGGAR GIRL.

With Engravings on Wood, Price 1s.

The CHILDREN'S FRIEND.Embellished with beautiful Engravings on Wood, Price 1s.

The CHILDREN'S FRIEND.

Embellished with beautiful Engravings on Wood, Price 1s.

TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE

1. Punctuation has been normalized.

2. Variations in spelling hyphenation and accentuation were maintained.

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