BRAND. Why, maid, because I must:
I have a message to you from the king.
MAT. And thou art welcome to his humble maid.
I thought thee to be grim and fierce at first,
But now thou hast a sweet aspect, mild looks.
Art thou not come to kill me from the king?
BRAND. Yes.
MAT. And thou art welcome; even the welcom'st man
That ever came unto a woful maid.
Be brief, good fellow: I have in the world
No goods to give, no will at all to make;
But God's will and the king's on me be done!
A little money, kept to give in alms,
I have about me: deathsman, take it all;
Thou art the last poor almsman I shall see.
Come, come, despatch! What weapon will death wear,
When he assails me? Is it knife or sword,
A strangling cord, or sudden flaming fire?
BRAND. Neither, thou manly maid. Look here, look here:
A cup of poison. Wherefore dost thou smile?
MAT. O God! in this the king is merciful:
My dear-lov'd Huntington by poison died.
Good fellow, tell the king I thank his grace,
And do forgive his causeless cruelty.
I do forgive thee too, but do advise
Thou leave this bloody course, and seek to save
Thy soul immortal, closed in thy breast:
[He gives it her.
Be brief, I pray you. Now, to King John's health
A full carouse:[358] and, God, remember not
The curse he gave himself at Robin's death,
Wishing by poison he might end his life,
If ever he solicited my love.
Farewell, good fellow. Now thy medicine works.
And with the labour I am forc'd to rest.
BRAND. 'Zounds! she cares not: she makes death a jest.
MAT. The guiltless fear not death. Farewell, good friend; I pray thee, be no trouble in my end. [He stands staring and quaking.
Enter OXFORD, QUEEN, ABBESS, Attendants.
OX. And say you, Lady Abbess, that there came
One from the king unto her? what was he?