K. John. My life as soon: I do defy thee, 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. 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. Eli. His mother shames him so, poor boy, he weeps. Const. Now shame upon you, whether she does or no! His grandam's wrongs, and not his mother's shames, Draws those heaven-moving pearls from his poor eyes, Which heaven shall take in nature of a fee; Eli. Thou monstrous slanderer of heaven and 160. it. Constance mimics the little language of the nursery, not, however, by using 'it' instead of 'its' (which was not yet in common use), but by using the definitely neuter possessive 'it' (applied to babies) instead of the possessive 'his,' which might be either masculine or neuter. There is no instance of its' in any Shakespearean text published during his life. 160 170 time. 'It' probably acquired its possessive meaning on the analogy of 'her' (possessive and objective) or 'itself' by 'myself,' 'herself.' 165. coil, ado. 167. whether (monosyllabic). 168. wrongs, the wrongs done by her. 171. beads (playing on the original sense, 'prayer'). Const. Thou monstrous injurer of heaven and earth! Call not me slanderer; thou and thine usurp The dominations, royalties and rights Of this oppressed boy: this is thy eld'st son's son, Thy sins are visited in this poor child; Const. I have but this to say, That he is not only plagued for her sin, And with her plague; her sin his injury, Her injury the beadle to her sin, All punish'd in the person of this child, 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 canker'd grandam's will! 180 190 punished in his person. -The Ff punctuate with her plague, her sin; his injury, which is far harsher. The present punctuation is that of Staunton and Roby; but Mr. Roby understands with her plague' to be with the punishment belonging to her,' which is not supported by the parallel clauses below : 'her sin his injury' (= plagued for her), 'her injury. . sin' (and with her plague). 191. unadvised, rash, inconsiderate. K. Phi. Peace, lady! pause, or be more tem perate: 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 Trumpet sounds. Enter certain Citizens upon the walls. First Cit. Who is it that hath warn'd us to the walls? K. Phi. 'Tis France, for England. 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 call'd you to this gentle parle K. John. For our advantage; therefore hear us first. These flags of France, that are advanced here And merciless proceeding by these French 196. cry aim, give encouragement (used, in archery, of those who stood by the archer as he prepared to shoot). 201. warn'd, summoned. 206. For our advantage, on our behalf. The French trum 200 210 pet, blown on English territory, 207. advanced, lifted. That as a waist doth girdle you about, And let us in, your king, whose labour'd spirits, Crave harbourage 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 vow'd upon the right 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 pay that duty which you truly owe To him that owes it, namely this young prince : 220. dishabited, displaced. 230. To make a faithless error in your ears, to seduce you to a breach of faith. 220 230 240 233. Forwearied, wearied out. 242. greens, meads. And then our arms, like to a muzzled bear, With unhack'd swords and helmets all unbruised, First Cit. In brief, we are the king of Eng- For him, and in his right, we hold this town. K. John. Acknowledge then the king, and let me in. First Cit. That can we not; but he that proves To him will we prove loyal: till that time And if not that, I bring you witnesses, Twice fifteen thousand hearts of England's breed, Bast. Bastards, and else. K. John. To verify our title with their lives. 250 260 270 Capell's correction of Ff |