K. Phi. Peace be to England; if that war return Outfaced infant state, and done a rape Look here upon thy brother Geffrey's face,- K. John. From whom hast thou this great commission, To draw my answer from thy articles? K. Phi. From that supernal Judge, that stirs good thoughts In any breast of strong authority, To look into the blots and stains of right That Judge hath made me guardian to this boy; K. John. Alack, thou dost usurp authority. Than thou and John in manners; being as like, His father never was so true begot; It cannot be, an if thou wert his mother. Eli. There's a good mother, boy, that blots thy father. Const. There's a good grandam, boy, that would blot thee. Bast. Aust. Hear the crier. What the devil art thou? Bast. One that will play the devil, sir, with you, Blanch. O, well did he become that lion's robe, Bast. It lies as sightly on the back of him, But, ass, I'll take that burden from your back; Aust. What cracker is this same, that deafs our ears With this abundance of superfluous breath? K. Phi. Lewis, determine what we shall do straight. Lew. Women and fools, break off your conference.King John, this is the very sum of all, England, and Ireland, Anjou, Touraine, Maine, Wilt thou resign them, and lay down thy arms? K. John. My life as soon.-I do defy thee, France. Arthur of Bretagne, yield thee to my hand; And, out of my dear love, I'll give thee more Eli. Come to thy grandam, child. Const. Do, child, go to it' grandam, child; Give grandam kingdom, and it' grandam will Give it a plum, a cherry, and a fig. There's a good grandam. Arth. Eli. His mother shames him so, poor boy, he weeps. Eli. Thou monstrous slanderer of heaven and earth! Const. Thou monstrous injurer of heaven and earth; Call not me slanderer; thou, and thine, usurp Of this oppressed boy. This is thy eldest son's son, Thy sins are visited in this poor child; I have but this to say, That he's not only plagued for her sin, Eli. Thou unadvised scold, I can produce A will, that bars the title of thy son. Const. Ay, who doubts that? A will! a wicked will; A woman's will; a cankered grandam's will! K. Phi. Peace, lady; pause, or be more temperate. It ill beseems this presence, to cry aim To these ill-tuned repetitions. Some trumpet summon hither to the walls These men of Angiers; let us hear them speak, Trumpets sound. Enter Citizens upon the Walls. K. John. England, for itself. You men of Angiers, and my loving subjects,— K. Phi. You loving men of Angiers, Arthur's subjects, Our trumpet called you to this gentle parle. K. John. For our advantage; therefore, hear us first. These flags of France, that are advanced here Before the eye and prospect of your town, Have hither marched to your endamagement. The cannons have their bowels full of wrath; And ready mounted are they, to spit forth Their iron indignation 'gainst your walls. All preparation for a bloody siege, And merciless proceeding by these French, Confront your city's eyes, your winking gates; And but for our approach those sleeping stones, That as a waist do girdle you about, And let us in, your king; whose labored spirits, Crave harborage within your city walls. K. Phi. When I have said, make answer to us both. Lo, in this right hand, whose protection Is most divinely vowed upon the right Of him it holds, stands young Plantagenet; And king o'er him, and all that he enjoys. In warlike march these greens before your town; Than the constraint of hospitable zeal, To him that owes it; namely, this young prince; Then, tell us, shall your city call us lord, 1 Cit. In brief, we are the king of England's subjects; For him, and in his right, we hold this town. K. John. Acknowledge then the king, and let me in. 1 Cit. That can we not: but he that proves the king, To him will we prove loyal; till that time, Have we rammed up our gates against the world. K. John. Doth not the crown of England prove the king? And, if not that, I bring you witnesses, Twice fifteen thousand hearts of England's breed,- K. John. To verify our title with their lives. K. Phi. As many, and as well-born bloods as those,Bast. Some bastards too. K. Phi. Stand in his face, to contradict his claim. 1 Cit. Till you compound whose right is worthiest, We, for the worthiest, hold the right from both. K. John. Then God forgive the sin of all those souls, That to their everlasting residence, Before the dew of evening fall, shall fleet, In dreadful trial of our kingdom's king! K. Phi. Amen, Amen!-mount, chevaliers! to arms! Bast. St. George,- that swinged the dragon, and e'er since, Sits on his horseback at mine hostess' door, Teach us some fence.-Sirrah, were I at home, At your den, sirrah, [To AUSTRIA.] with your lioness, I'd set an ox-head to your lion's hide, And make a monster of you. Aust. Peace; no more. Bast. O, tremble; for you hear the lion roar. K. John. Up higher to the plain; where we'll set forth, In best appointment, all our regiments. Bast. Speed, then, to take advantage of the field. K. Phi. It shall be so ;-[To LEWIS.] and at the other hill Command the rest to stand.-God, and our right! SCENE II. The same. [Exeunt. Alarums and Excursions; then a Retreat. Enter a French Herald, with trumpets, to the gates. F. Her. You men of Angiers, open wide your gates, And let young Arthur, duke of Bretagne, in; |