K. Fhilip. Women, and fools, break off your Whofe title they admit, Arthur's, or John's.
King John, this is the very fum of all,-
England, and Ireland, Anjou, Touraine, Maine,
In right of Arthur do I claim of thee:
Wilt thou refign them, and lay down thy arms?
K. John. My life as foon :-I do defy thee, France.
Arthur of Bretagne, yield thee to my hand;
And, out of my dear love, I'll give thee more
Than e'er the coward hand of France can win :
Submit thee, boy.
Eli. Come to thy grandam, child.
Conft. 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. Good my mother, peace!
I would, that I were low laid in my grave;
I am not worth this coil, that's made for me.
Enter Citizens upon the walls.
I Cit. Who is it, that hath warn'd us to the walls?
K. Phil. 'Tis France, for England.
K. John. England, for itself:
You men of Angiers, and my loving fubjects,—
K. Phil. You loving men of Angiers, Arthur's
fubjects,
Our trumpet call'd you to this gentle parle.
K. John. For our advantage;-Therefore, hear
us firft.-
Thefe flags of France, that are advanced here
Before the eye and profpect of your town,
Have hither march'd to your endanagement:
The cannons have their bowels full of wrath;
And ready mounted are they, to fpit forth
Their iron indignation 'gainst your walls:
All preparation for a bloody fiege,
Eli. His mother fhames him fo, poor boy, he And merciless proceeding by these French,
Conft. Now fhame upon you, whe'r fhe does, or no!
His grandam's wrongs, and not his mother's fhames,
Draw thofe heaven-moving pearls from his poor
Which heaven shall take in nature of a fee; [eyes,
Ay, with these crystal beads heaven shall be brib'd
To do him juftice, and revenge on you.
Eli.Thou monstrous flanderer of heaven and earth!
Conft.Thou monstrous injurer of heaven and earth!
Call not me flanderer; thou, and thine, ufurp
The dominations, royalties, and rights,
Confronts your city's eyes, your winking gates;
And, but for our approach, thofe fleeping ftones,
That as a waift do girdle you about,
By the compulfion of their ordinance
By this time from their fixed beds of lime
Had been difhabited, and wide havock made
For bloody power to ruth upon your peace.
But, on the fight of us, your lawful king,-
Who, painfully, with much expedient march,
Have brought a countercheck before your gates,
To fave unfcratch'd your city's threaten'd cheeks,—x,
Of this oppreffed boy: This is the eldest fon's fon, Behold, the French, amaz'd, vouchiafe a parle :
Infortunate in nothing but in thee;
Thy fins are vifited in this poor child;
The canon of the law is laid on him,
Being but the fecond generation
Removed from thy fin-conceiving womb.
K. John. Bedlam, have done.
Conft. I have but this to fay,--
That he's not only plagued for her fin,
But God hath made her fin and her the plague
On this removed iffue, plagu'd for her,
And with her -Plague her fon; his injury,
Her injury, the beadle to her fin,
All punish'd in the perfon of this child,
And all for her; A plague upon her!
Eli. Thou unadvifed fcold, I can produce
A will, that bars the title of thy fon.
[will;
Conft. Ay, who doubts that? a will! a wicked
A woman's will; a cankred grandam's will!
K. Phil. Peace, lady; pause, or be more tempe-
It ill befeems this prefence, to cry aim 3
To thefe ill-tuned repetitions.-
Some trumpet fummon hither to the walls
These men of Angiers; let us hear them speak,
And now, inftead of bullets wrap'd in fire,
To make a fhaking fever in your walls,
They fhoot but calm words, folded up in fmoke,
To make a faithlefs error in your ears:
Which truft accordingly, kind citizens,
And let us in, your king; whofe labour'd fpirits,
Forweary'd in this action of fwift speed,
Crave harbourage within your city walls.
K. Phil. When I have faid, make antwer to us
Lo, in this right hand, whofe protection [both.
Is moft divinely vow'd upon the right
Of him it holds, ftands young Plantagenet ;
Son to the elder brother of this man,
And king o'er him, and all that he enjoys:
For this down-trodden equity, we tread
In warlike march thefe greens before your town;
Being no further enemy to you,
Than the constraint of hofpitable zeal,
In the relief of this oppreffed child,
Religiously provokes. Be pleafed then
To pay that duty, which you truly owe,
To him that owes 4 it; namely, this young prince:
And then our arms, like to a muzzled bear,
1 Dr. Johnson thus explains this very obfcure paffage: "He is not only made miferable by vengeance for her fin or crime; but her fin, her offspring, and fhe, are made the inftruments of that venge ance, on this defcendant; who, though of the fecond generation, is plagued for her and with her; to whom he is not only the caufe but the inftrument of evil.” 2 The fame able and judicious commentator affigns the following meaning to this perplexed fentence: "Inttead of inflicting vengeance on this innocent and remote defcendapt, punjh her fon, her immediate offspring: then the affliction will fall where it is deferved; his injury will be her injury, and the mifery of her fin; her fon will be a beadle, or chattifer, to her crimes, which are now all punished in the person of this child.” 3 i. e. to encourage. See note 8, p. 57. 4. e. otuns it.
Save in afpect, have all offence feal'd up;
Our cannons' malice vainly fhall be spent
Against the invulnerable clouds of heaven;
And, with a bleffed and unvex'd retire,
With unhack'd fwords, and helmets all unbruis'd,
We will bear home that lufty blood again,
Which here we came to fpout against your town,
And leave your children, wives, and you, in peace.
But if you fondly pafs our proffer'd offer,
'Tis not the roundure of your old fac'd walls
Can hide you from our metiengers of war;
Though all theíe English, and their difcipline,
Were harbour'd in their rude circumference.
Then, tell us, fhall your city call us lord,
In that behalf which we have challeng'd it?
Or fhall we give the fignal to our rage,
And talk in blood to our poffeffion ?
Cit. In brief, we are the king of England's fub-
For him, and in his right, we hold this town. [in.
K. John. Acknowledge then the king, and let me
Cit. That can we not; but he that proves the king,
To him will we prove loyal; 'till that time,
Have we ramm'd up our gates against the world.
K. John. Doth not the crown of England prove
the king?
And, if not that, I bring you witneffes,
Much work for tears in many an English mother,
Whofe fons lye fcatter'd on the bleeding ground:
Many a widow's husband groveling lies,
Coldly embracing the difcolour'd earth;
And victory, with little lofs, doth play
Upon the dancing banners of the French;
Who are at hand, triumphantly difplay'd
To enter conquerors, and to proclaim
Arthur of Bretagne, England's king and yours.
Enter English Herald, with trumpets.
E. Her. Rejoice, you men of Angiers, ring your
bells;
[proach,
King John, your king, and England's, doth ap-
Commander of this hot malicious day!
Their armours, that march'd hence fo filver-bright,
Hither return all gilt with Frenchmen's blood;
There stuck no plume in any English creft,
That is removed by a staff of France;
Our colours do return in those fame hands
That did difplay them when we first march'd forth;
And, like a jolly troop of huntsmen, come
Our lufty English, all with purpled hands,
Dy'd in the dying flaughter of their foes:
Open your gates, and give the victors way. [hold,
Cit. Heralds, from off our towers we might be-
From firft to laft, the onset and retire
Twice fifteen thoufand hearts of England's breed,--[Of both your armies; whofe equality
Faule. Baftards, and elfe.
K. John. To verify our title with their lives.
K. Philip. As many, and as well-born bloods as
Faule. Some baftards too.
[thofe,-
K. Phil.-Stand in his face, to contradict his
claim.
Cit. 'Till you compound whose right is worthiest,
We, for the worthiett, hold the right from both.
K. Jabn. Then God forgive the fin of all thofe
That to their everlafting refidence,
Before the dew of evening fall, shall fleet,
In dreadful trial of our kingdom's king!
K. Phil. Amen, Amen !-Mount, chevaliers
[and e'er fince
Faule. Saint George,-that fwing'd the dragon,
Sits on his horfeback at mine hoftefs' door,
Teach us fome fence !--Sirrah, were I at home,
At your den, firrah, with your lionefs,
I'd fet an ox-head to your lion's hide,
And make a monfter of you.—
Auf. Peace; no more.
By our beft eyes cannot be cenfured:
Blood hath bought blood, and blows have anfwer'd
Strength match'd with strength, and power con-
fronted power :
Both are alike; and both alike we like.
One must prove greateft; while they weigh fo even,
We hold our town for neither; yet for both.
Enter the two Kings with their powers, at feveral doors.
K. Jobn. France, haft thou yet more blood to caft
Say, fhail the current of our right run on? [away?
Whofe patfage vext with thy impediment,
Shall leave his native channel, and o'er-fwell
With course disturb'd even thy confining shores;
Unless thou let his filver water keep
A peaceful progrefs to the ocean.
K. Phil. England, thou haft not fav'd one drop of
In this hot trial, more than we of France;
Rather, loft more: And by this hand I twear,
That fways the earth this climate over-looks,—
[To Auftria. Before we will lay by our just-borne arms, [bear,
We'll put thee down, 'gainft whom there arms we
Or add a royal number to the dead;
Gracing the forowl, that tells of this war's lofs,
With flaughter coupled to the name of kings.
Faulc. O, tremble; for you hear the lion roar.
K. John. Up higher to the plain; where we'll
In beft appointment, all our regiments. [fet forth,
Faulc. Speed then, to take advantage of the field.
K. Phil. It shall be fo;-and at the other hill
Command the rest to stand.—God, and our right!
[Exeunt.
Faule. Ha, majetty! how high thy glory towers,
When the rich blood of kings is fet on fire!
Oh, now doth death line his dead chaps with steel;
The words of foldiers are his teeth, his phangs;
And now he feafts, mouthing the flesh of men,
In undetermin'd differences of kings.--
Why ftand thefe royal fronts amazed thus?
Cry, Havock, kings 2! back to the ftained field,
You equal potents 3, fiery-kindled spirits!
Then let confufion of one part-confirm
The other's peace; 'till then, blows, blood, and
i. e. the circle. 2 i. e. command flaughter to proceed. 3 Potentates.
K. John. Whofe party do the townfmen yet ad
Cit. Hear us, great kings: vouchsafe a while to stay,
K. Phil. Speak, citizens, for England; who's And I fhall fhew you peace, and fair-fac'd league ;
Cit. The king of England, when we know the Win you this city without ftroke, or wound;
[his right. Refcue those breathing lives to die in beds,
That here come facrifices for the field:
Perfever not, but hear me, mighty kings.
K. Phil. Know him in us, that here hold up K. John. In us, that are our own great deputy, And bear poffeffion of our perfon here; Lord of our prefence, Angiers, and of you.
Cit. A greater power, than ye, denies all this; And, 'till it be undoubted, we do lock Our former fcruple in our ftrong-barr'd gates: Kings of our fears; until our fears, refolv`d, Be by fome certain king purg'd and depos'd. Faulc. By heaven, thefe fcroyles of Angiers flout you, kings;
And stand fecurely on their battlements,
As in a theatre, whence they gape and point
At your induftrious fcenes and acts of death..
Your royal prefences be rul'd by me;
Do like the mutines of Jerufalem,
Be friends a while, and both conjointly bend
Your harpeft deeds of malice on this town;
By eaft and weft let France and England mount
Their battering cannon, charged to the mouths;
'Till their foul-fearing clamours have brawl'd down
The flinty ribs of this contemptuous city:
I'd play inceffantly upon thefe jades,
Even 'till unfenced defolation
Leave them as naked as the vulgar air.
That done, diffever your united itrengths,
And part your mingled colours once again;
Turn face to face, and bloody point to point :
Then, in a moment, fortune thall cull forth
Out of one fide her happy minion;
To whom in favour the thall give the day,
And kifs him with a glorious victory.
How like you this wild counfel, mighty ftates?
Smacks it not fomething of the policy?
K. John. Speak on, with favour; we are bent [Blanch 2, Cit. That daughter there of Spain, the lady Is near to England: Look upon the years Of Lewis the Dauphin, and that lovely maid: If lufty love fhould go in queft of beauty, Where fhould he find it fairer than in Blanch? If zealous 3 love thould go in fearch of virtue, Where fhould he find it purer than in Blanch? If love ambitious fought a match of birth, Whofe veins bound richer blood than lady Blanch? Such as fhe is, in beauty, virtue, birth, Is the young Dauphin every way complete : If not complete, oh fay, he is not the; And the again wants nothing, to name want, If want it be not, that he is not he: He is the half part of a blessed man, Left to be finished by fuch a the; And the a fair divided excellence, Whofe fulness of perfection lies in him. Oh, two fuch filver currents, when they join, Do glorify the banks that bound them in: And two fuch fhores to two fuch ftreams made one, Two fuch controlling bounds fhall you be, kings, To thefe two princes, if you marry them. This union thall do more than battery can, To our faft-clofed gates; for, at this match, With fwifter fpleen than powder can enforce, The mouth of paffage fhall we fling wide ope, And give you entrance: but, without this match, The fea enraged is not half fo deaf,
Lions more confident, mountains and rocks
K. John. Now, by the fky that hangs above our More free from motion; no, not death himself
I like it well-France, fhall we knit our powers,
And lay this Angiers even with the ground;
Then, after, fight who fhall be king of it?
Faule. An if thou haft the mettic of a king,-
Being wrong'd, as we are, by this peevish town,
Turn thou the mouth of thy artillery,
As we will ours, against these faucy walls:
In mortal fury half so peremptory,
As we to keep this city.
Faulc. Here's a ftay,
That shakes the rotten carcafe of old death
Out of his rags! Here's a large mouth, indeed,
That fpits forth death, and mountains, rocks, and
Talks as familiarly of roaring lions,
As maids of thirteen do of puppy-dogs!
And when that we have dafh'd them to the ground,What cannoneer begot this lufty blood?
Why, then defy each other; and, pell-meil,
Make work upon ourselves, for heaven or hell.
K. Philip. Let it be fo: Say, where will you
K. fobn. We from the weft will fend deftruction Into this city's bofom.
Auf. from the north.
K. Philip. Our thunder from the fouth Shall rain their drift of bullets on this town.
He fpeaks plain cannon, fire, and fmoak, and bounce;
He gives the baftinado with his tongue ;
Our ears are cudgel'd; not a word of his,
But buffets better than a fift of France:
Zounds! I was never fo bethumpt with words,
Since I firft call'd my brother's father, dad.
Eli. Son, lift to this conjunction, make this match;
Give with our niece a dowry large enough:
For by this knot thou shalt fo furely tie
Faulc. O prudent difcipline! From north to Thy now unfur'd affurance to the crown,
That yon green boy fhall have no fun to ripe
The bloom that promifeth a mighty fruit.
Austria and France fhoot in each other's mouth:
I'll ftir them to it: Come, away! away!
I fee a yielding in the looks of France;
Mark, how they whifper; urge them, while their
1 i. e. fcabby, ferophulous fellows. 2 The Lady Blanch was niece to king John by his fifter Elianor. 31. c. pious. 4 Our author uses pleen tor any violent hurry, or tumultuous fpeed.
Are capable of this ambition;
Left zeal, now melted by the windy breath
Of foft petitions, pity, and remorse,
Cool and congeal again to what it was.
Cit. Why anfwer not the double majesties
This friendly treaty of our threaten'd town ?
K. Phil. Speak England firit, that hath been forTo speak unto this city: What fay you? [ward first K. John. If that the Dauphin there, thy princely Can in this book of beauty read, I love, [fon, Her dowry fhall weigh equal with a queen: For Anjou, and fair Touraine, Ma ne, Poitiers, And all that we upon this fide the sca (Except this city now by us befies'd) Find liable to our crown and dignity, Shall gild her bridal bed; and make her rich In titles, honours, and promotions, As fhe in beauty, education, blood, Holds hand with any princefs of the world. [face. K.Phil. What fay`ft thou, boy ? look in the lady's Lewis. I do, my lord; and in her eye I find A wonder, or a wondrous miracle, The fhadow of myfelf form'd in her eye; Which, being but the fhadow of your fon, Becomes a fun, and makes your fon a fhadow : I do proteft, I never lov'd myfelf, 'Till now infixed I beheld myself, Drawn in the flattering table of her eye.
bifpers with Blich. Fauk. Drawn in the flattering table of ler eye' Hang'd in the frowning wrinkle of her brow! And quarter'd in her heart !—he doth efpy Himfelf love's traitor: This is pity now, That hang'd, and drawn, and quarter'd, there fhould be,
In fuch a love, fo vile a lout as he.
Blanch. My uncle's will, in this respect, is mine If he fee ought in you, that makes him like, That any thing he fees, which moves his liking, I can with eafe tranflate it to my will; Or, if you will, (to speak more properly) I will enforce it eafily to my love. Further I will not flatter you, my lord, That all I fee in you is worthy love, Than this, that nothing do I fee in you,
Command thy fon and daughter to join hands. K. Phil. It likes us well;-Young princes, clofe your hands.
Aut. And your lips too; for, I am well affur'd, That I did fo, when I was firft affur'd 2.
K. Phil. Now, citizens of Angiers, ope your gates, Let in that amity which you have made; For at Saint Mary's chapel, presently, The rites of marriage fhall be folemniz'd.-Is not the lady Conftance in this troop ?I know, the is not; for this match, made up, Her prefence would have interrupted much :Where is the and her fon; tell me, who knows? Lewis. She is fad and paflionate at your highnefs' tent. [have made,
K. Phil. And, by my faith, this league, that we Will give her fadnefs very little cure.-Brother of England, how may we content This widow lady? In her right we came ; Which we, God knows, have turn'd another way,
To our own vantage.
K. Jebn. We will heal up all :
For we'll create young Arthur duke of Bretagne,
And earl of Richmond; and this rich fair town
We make him lord of.-Call the lady Conftance;
Some ípeedy meilenger bid her repair
To our folemanity :-I trust we shall,
If not fill up the meature of her will,
Yet in fome meature fatisfy her fo,
That we shall stop her exclamation,
Go we, as well as hatte will fuffer us,
To this unlook'd for unprepared pomp.
[Exeunt all but Faultanb, idge
Faule. Mad world! mad kings! mad compofi
John, to flop Arthur's title in the whole,
Hath willingly departed 3 with a part:
:| And France, (whofe armour confcience buckledon,
Whom zeal and charity brought to the field,
As God's own foldier) rounded in the ear 4
With that fame purpofe-changer, that fly devil;
That broker, that itill breaks the pate of faith;
That daily break-vow; he that wins of all,
Of kings, of beggars, old men, young men, maids,
(Who having no external thing to lofe
But the word maid, cheats the poor maid of that)
(Though churlith thoughts themselves fhould be That fmooth-fac'd gentleman, tickling commodity,-
That I can find fhould merit any hate.
K. John. What fay thefe young ones? What fay you, my niece?
Commodity 5, the bias of the world;
The world, who of itfelf is peised well, Made to run evon, upon even ground; 'Till this advantage, this vile drawing bias,
Blanch. That the is bound in honour ftill to dThis fway of motion, this commodity, What you in wifdom still vouchfafe to say.
K. John. Speak then, prince Dauphin; can you love this lady?
Letuis. Nay, afk me if I can refrain from love;
For I do love her moft unfeignedly. [Maine,
K. Jobn. Then do I give Volquetfen, Touraine,
Poitiers, and Anjou, these five provinces,
With her to thee; and this addition more,
Full thirty thoufand marks of English coin.→→
Philip of France, if thou be pleas'd withal,
This is the ancient name for the country now 3 To part and to depart were formerly fynonyinous,
Makes it take head from all indiferency,
From all direction, purpofe, courfe, intent :
And this fame bias, this commodity,
This bawd, this broker, this all-changing word
Clapt on the outward eye of fickle France,
Hath drawn him from his own determin'd aid,
From a refolv'd and honourable war,
To a most base and vile-concluded peace.---
And why rail I on this commodity?
But for because he hath not woo'd me yet:
called the Vexin. 2. e. affianced, contracted. 4 i, e. whifpered in the ear. si. e. interest.
Not that I have the power to clutch my hand 1,
When his fair angels would falute my palm;
But for my hand, as unattempted yet,
Like a poor beggar, raileth on the rich.
Well, whiles I am a beggar, I will rull,
And fay, there is no fin, but to be rich;
And being rich, my virtue then thall be,
To fay,there is no vice, but beggary:
Since kings break faith upon commodity,
Gain, be my lord; for I will worship thee! [Fxit.
The French King's pavilion.
Enter Confiance, Arthur, and Salisbury.
One to be marry'd gone to fwear a peace!
Falfe blood to falíe blood join 'd! Gone
to be friends!
Shall Lewis have Blanch? and Blanch thofe pro
It is not fo; thou haft mif-fpoke, mif-heard;
Be well advis'd, tell o'er thy tale again:
It cannot be; thou doft but fay, 'tis fo;
I trust, I may not trust thee: for thy word
Is but the vain breath of a common man:
Believe me, I do not believe thee, man;
I have a king's oath to the contrary.
Thou shalt be punith'd for thus frighting me,
For I am fick, and capable of fears;
Full of unpleafing blots, and fightlefs flains.
Lame, foolith, crooked, fwart 3, prodigious 4,
Patch'd with foul moles, and eye-offending marks,
I would not care, I then would be content;
For then I should not love thee; no, nor thou
Become thy great birth, nor deserve a crown.
But thou art fair; and at thy birth, dear boy!
Nature and fortune join'd to make thee great :
Of nature's gifts thou may'ft with lilies boaft,
And with the half-blown rofe: but fortune, oh!
She is corrupted, chang'd, and won from thee;
She adulterates hourly with thine uncle John,
And with her golden hand hath pluck'd on France
To tread down fair refpcct of sovereignty,
And made his majefty the bawd to theirs.
France is a bawd to fortune, and King John;
That ftrumpet fortune, that ufurping John :-
Tell me, thou fellow, is not France forfworn?
Opprefs'd with wrongs, and therefore full of fears; Envenom him with words; or get thee gone,
A widow, hufbandlets, fubject to fears;
A woman, naturally born to fears :
And though thou now confefs, thou didst but jeft,
With my vext fpirits I cannot take a truce,
But they will quake and tremble all this day.
What doft thou mean by fhaking of thy head?
Why doft thou look fo fadly on my fon?
What means that hand upon that breaft of thine?
Why holds thine eye that lamentable rheum,
Like a proud river peering o'er his bounds?
Be thefe fad fighs confirmers of thy words?
Then speak again; not all thy former tale,
But this one word, whether thy tale be true.
Sal. As true, as, I believe, you think them falfe,
That give you caufe to prove my faying true.
And leave thofe woes alone, which I alone
Am bound to under-bear.
Sal. Pardon me, madam,
I may not go without you to the kings.
Confi. Thou may'st, thou shalt,
with thee:
I will inftruct my forrows to be proud;
For grief is proud, and makes his owner ftout.
Το me, and to the state of my great grief,
Let kings affemble; for my grief's fo great,
That no fupporter but the huge firm earth
Can hold it up: here I and forrows fit ;
Here is my throne, bid kings come how to it.
[Throws berfelf on the ground.
Enter King John, King Philip, Lewis, Blanch,
Elinor, Faulconbridge, and cuftria,
K. Phil. 'Tis truc, fair daughter; and this bleffed
Ever in France shall be kept feftival :
To folemnize this day, the glorious fun
Stays in his courfe, and plays the alchymift;
Turning, with fplendor of his precious eye,
?--The meagre cloddy earth to glittering gold :
Cong. Oh, if thou teach me to believe this forrow,
Teach theu this forrow how to make me die;
And let belief and life encounter fo,
As doth the fury of two desperate men,
Which, in the very meeting, fall, and die.-
Lewis marry Blanch! Oh boy, then where art thou?
France friend with England! what becomes of me
Fellow, be gone; 1 cannot brook thy fight;
This news hath made thee a moft ugly man.
Sal. What other harm have I, good lady, done,
But fpoke the harm that is by others done?
Conft. Which harm within itfelf fo heinous is,
As it makes harmful all that speak of it.
Arth. I do befeech you, madam, be content. Conf. If thou, that bidft me be content, wert grim, Ugly, and fland'rous to thy mother's womb,
The yearly courie, that brings this day about,
Shall never fee it but a holy-day.
Conft. A wicked day, and not a holy-day!
What hath this day deferv'd? what hath it done;
That it in golden letters should be fet,
Among the high tides 5, in the kalendar?
Nay, rather, turn this day out of the week;
This day of thame, oppreffion, perjury:
To clutch the hand, is to clafp it clofe. 2 Sightless here means difagreeable to the fight. 3 i. e. black, tawucy. 41. e. portentous, fuch as may leemi a prodigy, 5i. e. folemn feafons.
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