England and Ireland, Anjou, Touraine, Maine, ELI. Come to thy grandam, Child. There's a good grandam. ARTH. Good my Mother, peace! I would that I were low laid in my grave; 160 I am not worth this coil that's made for me. ELI. Thou monstrous Slanderer of Heaven and Earth! The dominations, royalties, and rights Of this oppressed boy, thy eld'st son's son, CONST. I have but this to say: That he is not only plagued for her sin, Her injury the beadle to her sin : 170 180 ACT II ACT II Sc. I All punish'd in the person of this child, A will that bars the title of thy son. CONST. Ay; who doubts that? a will! a wicked will; K. PHI. Peace, Lady! pause, or be more temperate : 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 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, K. JOHN. For our advantage; therefore hear us first. And merciless proceeding by these French 1 headstrong. 16 190 200 210 220 2 (archers') = to encourage: 'Go it again!' 3 shut: like eyes in sleep. To save unscratch'd your City's threaten'd cheeks, They shoot but calm words, folded up in smoke, To make a faithless error in your ears: Which trust accordingly, kind Citizens, 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. Is most divinely vow'd upon the right And King o'er him and all that he enjoys: For this down-trodden equity we tread In warlike march these greens1 before your Town; Prince : Than the constraint of hospitable zeal 5 compass. 230 240 250 260 ACT II Sc. I ACT II Sc. I Or shall we give the signal to our rage, And stalk in blood to our possession? FIRST 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. To him will we prove loyal: till that time Have we ramm'd up our gates against the world. 270 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 BAST. Bastards, and else.1 K. JOHN. —To verify our title with their lives. K. PHI. As many and as well-born bloods as those- K. PHI. -Stand in his face, to contradict his claim. Before the dew of evening fall, shall fleet In dreadful trial of our kingdom's King! 280 K. PHI. Amen, amen! Mount, Chevaliers! to arms! since Sits on his horse' back at mine hostess' door, Teach us some fence! [to AUST.] Sirrah, were I at home, At your den, sirrah, with your lioness, I would 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! ago 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; and at the other hill Command the rest to stand. God and our right! [exeunt. Here, after excursions, enter the Herald of France, with F. HER. You Men of Angiers, open wide your gates, 300 And let young Arthur, Duke of Bretagne, in, Who by the hand of France this day hath made Enter the English Herald, with Trumpets. E. HER. Rejoice, you Men of Angiers, ring your bells! Their armours, that march'd hence so silver-bright, That is removed by a staff of France; Our colours do return in those same hands, 310 That did display them when we first march'd forth; 320 Open your gates, and give the victors way. FIRST CIT. Heralds, from off our towers we might behold From first to last the onset and retire Of both your armies; whose equality By our best eyes cannot be censured:* Blood hath bought blood, and blows have answer'd blows; 1 trumpeters. : lance. Cf. vol. 1., Twelfth Night, ACT II Sc. I |