The Life and Death of King John

A historical play written in 1596 by William Shakespeare

ORDERSTAGEACTSCENECHARACTERLINE
1(stage directions)11[KING JOHN'S palace.Enter KING JOHN, QUEEN ELINOR, PEMBROKE, ESSEX, SALISBURY, and others, with CHATILLON]
211KING JOHNNow, say, Chatillon, what would France with us?
311CHATILLONThus, after greeting, speaks the King of France In my behavior to the majesty, The borrow'd majesty, of England here.
411QUEEN ELINORA strange beginning: 'borrow'd majesty!'
511KING JOHNSilence, good mother; hear the embassy.
611CHATILLONPhilip of France, in right and true behalf Of thy deceased brother Geffrey's son, Arthur Plantagenet, lays most lawful claim To this fair island and the territories, To Ireland, Poictiers, Anjou, Touraine, Maine, Desiring thee to lay aside the sword Which sways usurpingly these several titles, And put these same into young Arthur's hand, Thy nephew and right royal sovereign.
711KING JOHNWhat follows if we disallow of this?
811CHATILLONThe proud control of fierce and bloody war, To enforce these rights so forcibly withheld.
911KING JOHNHere have we war for war and blood for blood, Controlment for controlment: so answer France.
1011CHATILLONThen take my king's defiance from my mouth, The farthest limit of my embassy.
1111KING JOHNBear mine to him, and so depart in peace: Be thou as lightning in the eyes of France; For ere thou canst report I will be there, The thunder of my cannon shall be heard: So hence! Be thou the trumpet of our wrath And sullen presage of your own decay. An honourable conduct let him have: Pembroke, look to 't. Farewell, Chatillon.
12(stage directions)11[Exeunt CHATILLON and PEMBROKE]
1311QUEEN ELINORWhat now, my son! have I not ever said How that ambitious Constance would not cease Till she had kindled France and all the world, Upon the right and party of her son? This might have been prevented and made whole With very easy arguments of love, Which now the manage of two kingdoms must With fearful bloody issue arbitrate.
1411KING JOHNOur strong possession and our right for us.
1511QUEEN ELINORYour strong possession much more than your right, Or else it must go wrong with you and me: So much my conscience whispers in your ear, Which none but heaven and you and I shall hear.
16(stage directions)11[Enter a Sheriff]
1711ESSEXMy liege, here is the strangest controversy Come from country to be judged by you, That e'er I heard: shall I produce the men?
1811KING JOHNLet them approach. Our abbeys and our priories shall pay This expedition's charge. [Enter ROBERT and the BASTARD] What men are you?
1911BASTARDYour faithful subject I, a gentleman Born in Northamptonshire and eldest son, As I suppose, to Robert Faulconbridge, A soldier, by the honour-giving hand Of Coeur-de-lion knighted in the field.
2011KING JOHNWhat art thou?
2111ROBERTThe son and heir to that same Faulconbridge.
2211KING JOHNIs that the elder, and art thou the heir? You came not of one mother then, it seems.
2311BASTARDMost certain of one mother, mighty king; That is well known; and, as I think, one father: But for the certain knowledge of that truth I put you o'er to heaven and to my mother: Of that I doubt, as all men's children may.
2411QUEEN ELINOROut on thee, rude man! thou dost shame thy mother And wound her honour with this diffidence.
2511BASTARDI, madam? no, I have no reason for it; That is my brother's plea and none of mine; The which if he can prove, a' pops me out At least from fair five hundred pound a year: Heaven guard my mother's honour and my land!
2611KING JOHNA good blunt fellow. Why, being younger born, Doth he lay claim to thine inheritance?
2711BASTARDI know not why, except to get the land. But once he slander'd me with bastardy: But whether I be as true begot or no, That still I lay upon my mother's head, But that I am as well begot, my liege,-- Fair fall the bones that took the pains for me!-- Compare our faces and be judge yourself. If old sir Robert did beget us both And were our father and this son like him, O old sir Robert, father, on my knee I give heaven thanks I was not like to thee!
2811KING JOHNWhy, what a madcap hath heaven lent us here!
2911QUEEN ELINORHe hath a trick of Coeur-de-lion's face; The accent of his tongue affecteth him. Do you not read some tokens of my son In the large composition of this man?
3011KING JOHNMine eye hath well examined his parts And finds them perfect Richard. Sirrah, speak, What doth move you to claim your brother's land?
3111BASTARDBecause he hath a half-face, like my father. With half that face would he have all my land: A half-faced groat five hundred pound a year!
3211ROBERTMy gracious liege, when that my father lived, Your brother did employ my father much,--
3311BASTARDWell, sir, by this you cannot get my land: Your tale must be how he employ'd my mother.
3411ROBERTAnd once dispatch'd him in an embassy To Germany, there with the emperor To treat of high affairs touching that time. The advantage of his absence took the king And in the mean time sojourn'd at my father's; Where how he did prevail I shame to speak, But truth is truth: large lengths of seas and shores Between my father and my mother lay, As I have heard my father speak himself, When this same lusty gentleman was got. Upon his death-bed he by will bequeath'd His lands to me, and took it on his death That this my mother's son was none of his; And if he were, he came into the world Full fourteen weeks before the course of time. Then, good my liege, let me have what is mine, My father's land, as was my father's will.
3511KING JOHNSirrah, your brother is legitimate; Your father's wife did after wedlock bear him, And if she did play false, the fault was hers; Which fault lies on the hazards of all husbands That marry wives. Tell me, how if my brother, Who, as you say, took pains to get this son, Had of your father claim'd this son for his? In sooth, good friend, your father might have kept This calf bred from his cow from all the world; In sooth he might; then, if he were my brother's, My brother might not claim him; nor your father, Being none of his, refuse him: this concludes; My mother's son did get your father's heir; Your father's heir must have your father's land.
3611ROBERTShall then my father's will be of no force To dispossess that child which is not his?
3711BASTARDOf no more force to dispossess me, sir, Than was his will to get me, as I think.
3811QUEEN ELINORWhether hadst thou rather be a Faulconbridge And like thy brother, to enjoy thy land, Or the reputed son of Coeur-de-lion, Lord of thy presence and no land beside?
3911BASTARDMadam, an if my brother had my shape, And I had his, sir Robert's his, like him; And if my legs were two such riding-rods, My arms such eel-skins stuff'd, my face so thin That in mine ear I durst not stick a rose Lest men should say 'Look, where three-farthings goes!' And, to his shape, were heir to all this land, Would I might never stir from off this place, I would give it every foot to have this face; I would not be sir Nob in any case.
4011QUEEN ELINORI like thee well: wilt thou forsake thy fortune, Bequeath thy land to him and follow me? I am a soldier and now bound to France.
4111BASTARDBrother, take you my land, I'll take my chance. Your face hath got five hundred pound a year, Yet sell your face for five pence and 'tis dear. Madam, I'll follow you unto the death.
4211QUEEN ELINORNay, I would have you go before me thither.
4311BASTARDOur country manners give our betters way.
4411KING JOHNWhat is thy name?
4511BASTARDPhilip, my liege, so is my name begun, Philip, good old sir Robert's wife's eldest son.
4611KING JOHNFrom henceforth bear his name whose form thou bear'st: Kneel thou down Philip, but rise more great, Arise sir Richard and Plantagenet.
4711BASTARDBrother by the mother's side, give me your hand: My father gave me honour, yours gave land. Now blessed by the hour, by night or day, When I was got, sir Robert was away!
4811QUEEN ELINORThe very spirit of Plantagenet! I am thy grandam, Richard; call me so.
4911BASTARDMadam, by chance but not by truth; what though? Something about, a little from the right, In at the window, or else o'er the hatch: Who dares not stir by day must walk by night, And have is have, however men do catch: Near or far off, well won is still well shot, And I am I, howe'er I was begot.
5011KING JOHNGo, Faulconbridge: now hast thou thy desire; A landless knight makes thee a landed squire. Come, madam, and come, Richard, we must speed For France, for France, for it is more than need.
5111BASTARDBrother, adieu: good fortune come to thee! For thou wast got i' the way of honesty. [Exeunt all but BASTARD] A foot of honour better than I was; But many a many foot of land the worse. Well, now can I make any Joan a lady. 'Good den, sir Richard!'--'God-a-mercy, fellow!'-- And if his name be George, I'll call him Peter; For new-made honour doth forget men's names; 'Tis too respective and too sociable For your conversion. Now your traveller, He and his toothpick at my worship's mess, And when my knightly stomach is sufficed, Why then I suck my teeth and catechise My picked man of countries: 'My dear sir,' Thus, leaning on mine elbow, I begin, 'I shall beseech you'--that is question now; And then comes answer like an Absey book: 'O sir,' says answer, 'at your best command; At your employment; at your service, sir;' 'No, sir,' says question, 'I, sweet sir, at yours:' And so, ere answer knows what question would, Saving in dialogue of compliment, And talking of the Alps and Apennines, The Pyrenean and the river Po, It draws toward supper in conclusion so. But this is worshipful society And fits the mounting spirit like myself, For he is but a bastard to the time That doth not smack of observation; And so am I, whether I smack or no; And not alone in habit and device, Exterior form, outward accoutrement, But from the inward motion to deliver Sweet, sweet, sweet poison for the age's tooth: Which, though I will not practise to deceive, Yet, to avoid deceit, I mean to learn; For it shall strew the footsteps of my rising. But who comes in such haste in riding-robes? What woman-post is this? hath she no husband That will take pains to blow a horn before her? [Enter LADY FAULCONBRIDGE and GURNEY] O me! it is my mother. How now, good lady! What brings you here to court so hastily?
5211LADY FAULCONBRIDGEWhere is that slave, thy brother? where is he, That holds in chase mine honour up and down?
5311BASTARDMy brother Robert? old sir Robert's son? Colbrand the giant, that same mighty man? Is it sir Robert's son that you seek so?
5411LADY FAULCONBRIDGESir Robert's son! Ay, thou unreverend boy, Sir Robert's son: why scorn'st thou at sir Robert? He is sir Robert's son, and so art thou.
5511BASTARDJames Gurney, wilt thou give us leave awhile?
5611GURNEYGood leave, good Philip.
5711BASTARDPhilip! sparrow: James, There's toys abroad: anon I'll tell thee more. [Exit GURNEY] Madam, I was not old sir Robert's son: Sir Robert might have eat his part in me Upon Good-Friday and ne'er broke his fast: Sir Robert could do well: marry, to confess, Could he get me? Sir Robert could not do it: We know his handiwork: therefore, good mother, To whom am I beholding for these limbs? Sir Robert never holp to make this leg.
5811LADY FAULCONBRIDGEHast thou conspired with thy brother too, That for thine own gain shouldst defend mine honour? What means this scorn, thou most untoward knave?
5911BASTARDKnight, knight, good mother, Basilisco-like. What! I am dubb'd! I have it on my shoulder. But, mother, I am not sir Robert's son; I have disclaim'd sir Robert and my land; Legitimation, name and all is gone: Then, good my mother, let me know my father; Some proper man, I hope: who was it, mother?
6011LADY FAULCONBRIDGEHast thou denied thyself a Faulconbridge?
6111BASTARDAs faithfully as I deny the devil.
6211LADY FAULCONBRIDGEKing Richard Coeur-de-lion was thy father: By long and vehement suit I was seduced To make room for him in my husband's bed: Heaven lay not my transgression to my charge! Thou art the issue of my dear offence, Which was so strongly urged past my defence.
6311BASTARDNow, by this light, were I to get again, Madam, I would not wish a better father. Some sins do bear their privilege on earth, And so doth yours; your fault was not your folly: Needs must you lay your heart at his dispose, Subjected tribute to commanding love, Against whose fury and unmatched force The aweless lion could not wage the fight, Nor keep his princely heart from Richard's hand. He that perforce robs lions of their hearts May easily win a woman's. Ay, my mother, With all my heart I thank thee for my father! Who lives and dares but say thou didst not well When I was got, I'll send his soul to hell. Come, lady, I will show thee to my kin; And they shall say, when Richard me begot, If thou hadst said him nay, it had been sin: Who says it was, he lies; I say 'twas not.
64(stage directions)11[Exeunt] [Enter AUSTRIA and forces, drums, etc. on one side:] on the other KING PHILIP and his power; LEWIS, ARTHUR, CONSTANCE and attendants]
6521LEWISBefore Angiers well met, brave Austria. Arthur, that great forerunner of thy blood, Richard, that robb'd the lion of his heart And fought the holy wars in Palestine, By this brave duke came early to his grave: And for amends to his posterity, At our importance hither is he come, To spread his colours, boy, in thy behalf, And to rebuke the usurpation Of thy unnatural uncle, English John: Embrace him, love him, give him welcome hither.
6621ARTHURGod shall forgive you Coeur-de-lion's death The rather that you give his offspring life, Shadowing their right under your wings of war: I give you welcome with a powerless hand, But with a heart full of unstained love: Welcome before the gates of Angiers, duke.
6721LEWISA noble boy! Who would not do thee right?
6821AUSTRIAUpon thy cheek lay I this zealous kiss, As seal to this indenture of my love, That to my home I will no more return, Till Angiers and the right thou hast in France, Together with that pale, that white-faced shore, Whose foot spurns back the ocean's roaring tides And coops from other lands her islanders, Even till that England, hedged in with the main, That water-walled bulwark, still secure And confident from foreign purposes, Even till that utmost corner of the west Salute thee for her king: till then, fair boy, Will I not think of home, but follow arms.
6921CONSTANCEO, take his mother's thanks, a widow's thanks, Till your strong hand shall help to give him strength To make a more requital to your love!
7021AUSTRIAThe peace of heaven is theirs that lift their swords In such a just and charitable war.
7121KING PHILIPWell then, to work: our cannon shall be bent Against the brows of this resisting town. Call for our chiefest men of discipline, To cull the plots of best advantages: We'll lay before this town our royal bones, Wade to the market-place in Frenchmen's blood, But we will make it subject to this boy.
7221CONSTANCEStay for an answer to your embassy, Lest unadvised you stain your swords with blood: My Lord Chatillon may from England bring, That right in peace which here we urge in war, And then we shall repent each drop of blood That hot rash haste so indirectly shed.
73(stage directions)21[Enter CHATILLON]
7421KING PHILIPA wonder, lady! lo, upon thy wish, Our messenger Chatillon is arrived! What England says, say briefly, gentle lord; We coldly pause for thee; Chatillon, speak.
7521CHATILLONThen turn your forces from this paltry siege And stir them up against a mightier task. England, impatient of your just demands, Hath put himself in arms: the adverse winds, Whose leisure I have stay'd, have given him time To land his legions all as soon as I; His marches are expedient to this town, His forces strong, his soldiers confident. With him along is come the mother-queen, An Ate, stirring him to blood and strife; With her her niece, the Lady Blanch of Spain; With them a bastard of the king's deceased, And all the unsettled humours of the land, Rash, inconsiderate, fiery voluntaries, With ladies' faces and fierce dragons' spleens, Have sold their fortunes at their native homes, Bearing their birthrights proudly on their backs, To make hazard of new fortunes here: In brief, a braver choice of dauntless spirits Than now the English bottoms have waft o'er Did nearer float upon the swelling tide, To do offence and scath in Christendom. [Drum beats] The interruption of their churlish drums Cuts off more circumstance: they are at hand, To parley or to fight; therefore prepare.
7621KING PHILIPHow much unlook'd for is this expedition!
7721AUSTRIABy how much unexpected, by so much We must awake endavour for defence; For courage mounteth with occasion: Let them be welcome then: we are prepared. [Enter KING JOHN, QUEEN ELINOR, BLANCH, the BASTARD,] Lords, and forces]
7821KING JOHNPeace be to France, if France in peace permit Our just and lineal entrance to our own; If not, bleed France, and peace ascend to heaven, Whiles we, God's wrathful agent, do correct Their proud contempt that beats His peace to heaven.
7921KING PHILIPPeace be to England, if that war return From France to England, there to live in peace. England we love; and for that England's sake With burden of our armour here we sweat. This toil of ours should be a work of thine; But thou from loving England art so far, That thou hast under-wrought his lawful king Cut off the sequence of posterity, Out-faced infant state and done a rape Upon the maiden virtue of the crown. Look here upon thy brother Geffrey's face; These eyes, these brows, were moulded out of his: This little abstract doth contain that large Which died in Geffrey, and the hand of time Shall draw this brief into as huge a volume. That Geffrey was thy elder brother born, And this his son; England was Geffrey's right And this is Geffrey's: in the name of God How comes it then that thou art call'd a king, When living blood doth in these temples beat, Which owe the crown that thou o'ermasterest?
8021KING JOHNFrom whom hast thou this great commission, France, To draw my answer from thy articles?
8121KING PHILIPFrom 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: Under whose warrant I impeach thy wrong And by whose help I mean to chastise it.
8221KING JOHNAlack, thou dost usurp authority.
8321KING PHILIPExcuse; it is to beat usurping down.
8421QUEEN ELINORWho is it thou dost call usurper, France?
8521CONSTANCELet me make answer; thy usurping son.
8621QUEEN ELINOROut, insolent! thy bastard shall be king, That thou mayst be a queen, and cheque the world!
8721CONSTANCEMy bed was ever to thy son as true As thine was to thy husband; and this boy Liker in feature to his father Geffrey Than thou and John in manners; being as like As rain to water, or devil to his dam. My boy a bastard! By my soul, I think His father never was so true begot: It cannot be, an if thou wert his mother.
8821QUEEN ELINORThere's a good mother, boy, that blots thy father.
8921CONSTANCEThere's a good grandam, boy, that would blot thee.
9021AUSTRIAPeace!
9121BASTARDHear the crier.
9221AUSTRIAWhat the devil art thou?
9321BASTARDOne that will play the devil, sir, with you, An a' may catch your hide and you alone: You are the hare of whom the proverb goes, Whose valour plucks dead lions by the beard; I'll smoke your skin-coat, an I catch you right; Sirrah, look to't; i' faith, I will, i' faith.
9421BLANCHO, well did he become that lion's robe That did disrobe the lion of that robe!
9521BASTARDIt lies as sightly on the back of him As great Alcides' shows upon an ass: But, ass, I'll take that burthen from your back, Or lay on that shall make your shoulders crack.
9621AUSTRIAWhat craker is this same that deafs our ears With this abundance of superfluous breath?
9721KING PHILIPLewis, determine what we shall do straight.
9821LEWISWomen and fools, break off your conference. King John, this is the very sum of all; England and Ireland, Anjou, Touraine, Maine, In right of Arthur do I claim of thee: Wilt thou resign them and lay down thy arms?
9921KING JOHNMy 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 Than e'er the coward hand of France can win: Submit thee, boy.
10021QUEEN ELINORCome to thy grandam, child.
10121CONSTANCEDo, 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.
10221ARTHURGood my mother, peace! I would that I were low laid in my grave: I am not worth this coil that's made for me.
10321QUEEN ELINORHis mother shames him so, poor boy, he weeps.
10421CONSTANCENow 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; Ay, with these crystal beads heaven shall be bribed To do him justice and revenge on you.
10521QUEEN ELINORThou monstrous slanderer of heaven and earth!
10621CONSTANCEThou 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, Infortunate in nothing but in thee: Thy sins are visited in this poor child; The canon of the law is laid on him, Being but the second generation Removed from thy sin-conceiving womb.
10721KING JOHNBedlam, have done.
10821CONSTANCEI have but this to say, That he is not only plagued for her sin, But God hath made her sin and her the plague On this removed issue, plague for her And with her plague; her sin his injury, Her injury the beadle to her sin, All punish'd in the person of this child, And all for her; a plague upon her!
10921QUEEN ELINORThou unadvised scold, I can produce A will that bars the title of thy son.
11021CONSTANCEAy, who doubts that? a will! a wicked will: A woman's will; a canker'd grandam's will!
11121KING PHILIPPeace, 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 Whose title they admit, Arthur's or John's.
112(stage directions)21[Trumpet sounds. Enter certain Citizens upon the walls]
11321FIRST CITIZENWho is it that hath warn'd us to the walls?
11421KING PHILIP'Tis France, for England.
11521KING JOHNEngland, for itself. You men of Angiers, and my loving subjects--
11621KING PHILIPYou loving men of Angiers, Arthur's subjects, Our trumpet call'd you to this gentle parle--
11721KING JOHNFor our advantage; therefore hear us first. These flags of France, that are advanced here Before the eye and prospect of your town, Have hither march'd 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 All merciless proceeding by these French Confronts your city's eyes, your winking gates; And but for our approach those sleeping stones, That as a waist doth girdle you about, By the compulsion of their ordinance By this time from their fixed beds of lime Had been dishabited, and wide havoc made For bloody power to rush upon your peace. But on the sight of us your lawful king, Who painfully with much expedient march Have brought a countercheque before your gates, To save unscratch'd your city's threatened cheeks, Behold, the French amazed vouchsafe a parle; And now, instead of bullets wrapp'd in fire, To make a shaking fever in your walls, 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, Forwearied in this action of swift speed, Crave harbourage within your city walls.
11821KING PHILIPWhen I have said, make answer to us both. Lo, in this right hand, whose protection Is most divinely vow'd upon the right Of him it holds, stands 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 these greens before your town, Being no further enemy to you Than the constraint of hospitable zeal In the relief of this oppressed child Religiously provokes. Be pleased then To pay that duty which you truly owe To that owes it, namely this young prince: And then our arms, like to a muzzled bear, Save in aspect, hath all offence seal'd up; Our cannons' malice vainly shall be spent Against the invulnerable clouds of heaven; And with a blessed and unvex'd retire, With unhack'd swords and helmets all unbruised, We will bear home that lusty blood again Which here we came to spout against your town, And leave your children, wives and you in peace. But if you fondly pass our proffer'd offer, 'Tis not the roundure of your old-faced walls Can hide you from our messengers of war, Though all these English and their discipline Were harbour'd in their rude circumference. Then tell us, shall your city call us lord, In that behalf which we have challenged it? Or shall we give the signal to our rage And stalk in blood to our possession?
11921FIRST CITIZENIn brief, we are the king of England's subjects: For him, and in his right, we hold this town.
12021KING JOHNAcknowledge then the king, and let me in.
12121FIRST CITIZENThat 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.
12221KING JOHNDoth not the crown of England prove the king? And if not that, I bring you witnesses, Twice fifteen thousand hearts of England's breed,--
12321BASTARDBastards, and else.
12421KING JOHNTo verify our title with their lives.
12521KING PHILIPAs many and as well-born bloods as those,--
12621BASTARDSome bastards too.
12721KING PHILIPStand in his face to contradict his claim.
12821FIRST CITIZENTill you compound whose right is worthiest, We for the worthiest hold the right from both.
12921KING JOHNThen 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!
13021KING PHILIPAmen, amen! Mount, chevaliers! to arms!
13121BASTARDSaint George, that swinged the dragon, and e'er since Sits on his horseback at mine hostess' door, Teach us some fence! [To AUSTRIA] 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.
13221AUSTRIAPeace! no more.
13321BASTARDO tremble, for you hear the lion roar.
13421KING JOHNUp higher to the plain; where we'll set forth In best appointment all our regiments.
13521BASTARDSpeed then, to take advantage of the field.
13621KING PHILIPIt 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 trumpets, to the gates]
13721FRENCH HERALDYou men of Angiers, open wide your gates, And let young Arthur, Duke of Bretagne, in, Who by the hand of France this day hath made Much work for tears in many an English mother, Whose sons lie scattered on the bleeding ground; Many a widow's husband grovelling lies, Coldly embracing the discolour'd earth; And victory, with little loss, doth play Upon the dancing banners of the French, Who are at hand, triumphantly display'd, To enter conquerors and to proclaim Arthur of Bretagne England's king and yours.
138(stage directions)21[Enter English Herald, with trumpet]
13921ENGLISH HERALDRejoice, you men of Angiers, ring your bells: King John, your king and England's doth approach, Commander of this hot malicious day: Their armours, that march'd hence so silver-bright, Hither return all gilt with Frenchmen's blood; There stuck no plume in any English crest That is removed by a staff of France; Our colours do return in those same hands That did display them when we first march'd forth; And, like a troop of jolly huntsmen, come Our lusty English, all with purpled hands, Dyed in the dying slaughter of their foes: Open your gates and gives the victors way.
14021FIRST CITIZENHeralds, 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 answered blows; Strength match'd with strength, and power confronted power: Both are alike; and both alike we like. One must prove greatest: while they weigh so even, We hold our town for neither, yet for both. [Re-enter KING JOHN and KING PHILIP, with their] powers, severally]
14121KING JOHNFrance, hast thou yet more blood to cast away? Say, shall the current of our right run on? Whose passage, vex'd with thy impediment, Shall leave his native channel and o'erswell With course disturb'd even thy confining shores, Unless thou let his silver water keep A peaceful progress to the ocean.
14221KING PHILIPEngland, thou hast not saved one drop of blood, In this hot trial, more than we of France; Rather, lost more. And by this hand I swear, That sways the earth this climate overlooks, Before we will lay down our just-borne arms, We'll put thee down, 'gainst whom these arms we bear, Or add a royal number to the dead, Gracing the scroll that tells of this war's loss With slaughter coupled to the name of kings.
14321BASTARDHa, majesty! how high thy glory towers, When the rich blood of kings is set on fire! O, now doth Death line his dead chaps with steel; The swords of soldiers are his teeth, his fangs; And now he feasts, mousing the flesh of men, In undetermined differences of kings. Why stand these royal fronts amazed thus? Cry, 'havoc!' kings; back to the stained field, You equal potents, fiery kindled spirits! Then let confusion of one part confirm The other's peace: till then, blows, blood and death!
14421KING JOHNWhose party do the townsmen yet admit?
14521KING PHILIPSpeak, citizens, for England; who's your king?
14621FIRST CITIZENThe king of England; when we know the king.
14721KING PHILIPKnow him in us, that here hold up his right.
14821KING JOHNIn us, that are our own great deputy And bear possession of our person here, Lord of our presence, Angiers, and of you.
14921FIRST CITIZENA greater power then we denies all this; And till it be undoubted, we do lock Our former scruple in our strong-barr'd gates; King'd of our fears, until our fears, resolved, Be by some certain king purged and deposed.
15021BASTARDBy heaven, these scroyles of Angiers flout you, kings, And stand securely on their battlements, As in a theatre, whence they gape and point At your industrious scenes and acts of death. Your royal presences be ruled by me: Do like the mutines of Jerusalem, Be friends awhile and both conjointly bend Your sharpest deeds of malice on this town: By east and west let France and England mount Their battering cannon charged to the mouths, Till their soul-fearing clamours have brawl'd down The flinty ribs of this contemptuous city: I'ld play incessantly upon these jades, Even till unfenced desolation Leave them as naked as the vulgar air. That done, dissever your united strengths, And part your mingled colours once again; Turn face to face and bloody point to point; Then, in a moment, Fortune shall cull forth Out of one side her happy minion, To whom in favour she shall give the day, And kiss him with a glorious victory. How like you this wild counsel, mighty states? Smacks it not something of the policy?
15121KING JOHNNow, by the sky that hangs above our heads, I like it well. France, shall we knit our powers And lay this Angiers even to the ground; Then after fight who shall be king of it?
15221BASTARDAn if thou hast the mettle of a king, Being wronged as we are by this peevish town, Turn thou the mouth of thy artillery, As we will ours, against these saucy walls; And when that we have dash'd them to the ground, Why then defy each other and pell-mell Make work upon ourselves, for heaven or hell.
15321KING PHILIPLet it be so. Say, where will you assault?
15421KING JOHNWe from the west will send destruction Into this city's bosom.
15521AUSTRIAI from the north.
15621KING PHILIPOur thunder from the south Shall rain their drift of bullets on this town.
15721BASTARDO prudent discipline! From north to south: Austria and France shoot in each other's mouth: I'll stir them to it. Come, away, away!
15821FIRST CITIZENHear us, great kings: vouchsafe awhile to stay, And I shall show you peace and fair-faced league; Win you this city without stroke or wound; Rescue those breathing lives to die in beds, That here come sacrifices for the field: Persever not, but hear me, mighty kings.
15921KING JOHNSpeak on with favour; we are bent to hear.
16021FIRST CITIZENThat daughter there of Spain, the Lady Blanch, Is niece to England: look upon the years Of Lewis the Dauphin and that lovely maid: If lusty love should go in quest of beauty, Where should he find it fairer than in Blanch? If zealous love should go in search of virtue, Where should he find it purer than in Blanch? If love ambitious sought a match of birth, Whose veins bound richer blood than Lady Blanch? Such as she is, in beauty, virtue, birth, Is the young Dauphin every way complete: If not complete of, say he is not she; And she again wants nothing, to name want, If want it be not that she is not he: He is the half part of a blessed man, Left to be finished by such as she; And she a fair divided excellence, Whose fulness of perfection lies in him. O, two such silver currents, when they join, Do glorify the banks that bound them in; And two such shores to two such streams made one, Two such controlling bounds shall you be, kings, To these two princes, if you marry them. This union shall do more than battery can To our fast-closed gates; for at this match, With swifter spleen than powder can enforce, The mouth of passage shall we fling wide ope, And give you entrance: but without this match, The sea enraged is not half so deaf, Lions more confident, mountains and rocks More free from motion, no, not Death himself In moral fury half so peremptory, As we to keep this city.
16121BASTARDHere's a stay That shakes the rotten carcass of old Death Out of his rags! Here's a large mouth, indeed, That spits forth death and mountains, rocks and seas, Talks as familiarly of roaring lions As maids of thirteen do of puppy-dogs! What cannoneer begot this lusty blood? He speaks plain cannon fire, and smoke and bounce; He gives the bastinado with his tongue: Our ears are cudgell'd; not a word of his But buffets better than a fist of France: Zounds! I was never so bethump'd with words Since I first call'd my brother's father dad.
16221QUEEN ELINORSon, list to this conjunction, make this match; Give with our niece a dowry large enough: For by this knot thou shalt so surely tie Thy now unsured assurance to the crown, That yon green boy shall have no sun to ripe The bloom that promiseth a mighty fruit. I see a yielding in the looks of France; Mark, how they whisper: urge them while their souls Are capable of this ambition, Lest zeal, now melted by the windy breath Of soft petitions, pity and remorse, Cool and congeal again to what it was.
16321FIRST CITIZENWhy answer not the double majesties This friendly treaty of our threaten'd town?
16421KING PHILIPSpeak England first, that hath been forward first To speak unto this city: what say you?
16521KING JOHNIf that the Dauphin there, thy princely son, Can in this book of beauty read 'I love,' Her dowry shall weigh equal with a queen: For Anjou and fair Touraine, Maine, Poictiers, And all that we upon this side the sea, Except this city now by us besieged, Find liable to our crown and dignity, Shall gild her bridal bed and make her rich In titles, honours and promotions, As she in beauty, education, blood, Holds hand with any princess of the world.
16621KING PHILIPWhat say'st thou, boy? look in the lady's face.
16721LEWISI do, my lord; and in her eye I find A wonder, or a wondrous miracle, The shadow of myself form'd in her eye: Which being but the shadow of your son, Becomes a sun and makes your son a shadow: I do protest I never loved myself Till now infixed I beheld myself Drawn in the flattering table of her eye.
168(stage directions)21[Whispers with BLANCH]
16921BASTARDDrawn in the flattering table of her eye! Hang'd in the frowning wrinkle of her brow! And quarter'd in her heart! he doth espy Himself love's traitor: this is pity now, That hang'd and drawn and quartered, there should be In such a love so vile a lout as he.
17021BLANCHMy uncle's will in this respect is mine: If he see aught in you that makes him like, That any thing he sees, which moves his liking, I can with ease translate it to my will; Or if you will, to speak more properly, I will enforce it easily to my love. Further I will not flatter you, my lord, That all I see in you is worthy love, Than this; that nothing do I see in you, Though churlish thoughts themselves should be your judge, That I can find should merit any hate.
17121KING JOHNWhat say these young ones? What say you my niece?
17221BLANCHThat she is bound in honour still to do What you in wisdom still vouchsafe to say.
17321KING JOHNSpeak then, prince Dauphin; can you love this lady?
17421LEWISNay, ask me if I can refrain from love; For I do love her most unfeignedly.
17521KING JOHNThen do I give Volquessen, Touraine, Maine, Poictiers and Anjou, these five provinces, With her to thee; and this addition more, Full thirty thousand marks of English coin. Philip of France, if thou be pleased withal, Command thy son and daughter to join hands.
17621KING PHILIPIt likes us well; young princes, close your hands.
17721AUSTRIAAnd your lips too; for I am well assured That I did so when I was first assured.
17821KING PHILIPNow, 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 shall be solemnized. Is not the Lady Constance in this troop? I know she is not, for this match made up Her presence would have interrupted much: Where is she and her son? tell me, who knows.
17921LEWISShe is sad and passionate at your highness' tent.
18021KING PHILIPAnd, by my faith, this league that we have made Will give her sadness 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.
18121KING JOHNWe 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 Constance; Some speedy messenger bid her repair To our solemnity: I trust we shall, If not fill up the measure of her will, Yet in some measure satisfy her so That we shall stop her exclamation. Go we, as well as haste will suffer us, To this unlook'd for, unprepared pomp.
182(stage directions)21[Exeunt all but the BASTARD]
18321BASTARDMad world! mad kings! mad composition! John, to stop Arthur's title in the whole, Hath willingly departed with a part, And France, whose armour conscience buckled on, Whom zeal and charity brought to the field As God's own soldier, rounded in the ear With that same purpose-changer, that sly devil, That broker, that still 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 lose But the word 'maid,' cheats the poor maid of that, That smooth-faced gentleman, tickling Commodity, Commodity, the bias of the world, The world, who of itself is peised well, Made to run even upon even ground, Till this advantage, this vile-drawing bias, This sway of motion, this Commodity, Makes it take head from all indifferency, From all direction, purpose, course, intent: And this same bias, this Commodity, This bawd, this broker, this all-changing word, Clapp'd on the outward eye of fickle France, Hath drawn him from his own determined aid, From a resolved 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: Not that I have the power to clutch my hand, When his fair angels would salute 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 rail And say there is no sin but to be rich; And being rich, my virtue then shall be To say there is no vice but beggary. Since kings break faith upon commodity, Gain, be my lord, for I will worship thee.
184(stage directions)21[Exit]
185(stage directions)31[Enter CONSTANCE, ARTHUR, and SALISBURY]
18631CONSTANCEGone to be married! gone to swear a peace! False blood to false blood join'd! gone to be friends! Shall Lewis have Blanch, and Blanch those provinces? It is not so; thou hast misspoke, misheard: Be well advised, tell o'er thy tale again: It cannot be; thou dost but say 'tis so: 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 punish'd for thus frighting me, For I am sick and capable of fears, Oppress'd with wrongs and therefore full of fears, A widow, husbandless, subject to fears, A woman, naturally born to fears; And though thou now confess thou didst but jest, With my vex'd spirits I cannot take a truce, But they will quake and tremble all this day. What dost thou mean by shaking of thy head? Why dost thou look so sadly on my son? What means that hand upon that breast of thine? Why holds thine eye that lamentable rheum, Like a proud river peering o'er his bounds? Be these sad signs confirmers of thy words? Then speak again; not all thy former tale, But this one word, whether thy tale be true.
18731SALISBURYAs true as I believe you think them false That give you cause to prove my saying true.
18831CONSTANCEO, if thou teach me to believe this sorrow, Teach thou this sorrow how to make me die, And let belief and life encounter so As doth the fury of two desperate men Which in the very meeting fall and die. Lewis marry Blanch! O boy, then where art thou? France friend with England, what becomes of me? Fellow, be gone: I cannot brook thy sight: This news hath made thee a most ugly man.
18931SALISBURYWhat other harm have I, good lady, done, But spoke the harm that is by others done?
19031CONSTANCEWhich harm within itself so heinous is As it makes harmful all that speak of it.
19131ARTHURI do beseech you, madam, be content.
19231CONSTANCEIf thou, that bid'st me be content, wert grim, Ugly and slanderous to thy mother's womb, Full of unpleasing blots and sightless stains, Lame, foolish, crooked, swart, prodigious, 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 mayst with lilies boast, And with the half-blown rose. But Fortune, O, She is corrupted, changed 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 respect of sovereignty, And made his majesty the bawd to theirs. France is a bawd to Fortune and King John, That strumpet Fortune, that usurping John! Tell me, thou fellow, is not France forsworn? Envenom him with words, or get thee gone And leave those woes alone which I alone Am bound to under-bear.
19331SALISBURYPardon me, madam, I may not go without you to the kings.
19431CONSTANCEThou mayst, thou shalt; I will not go with thee: I will instruct my sorrows to be proud; For grief is proud and makes his owner stoop. To me and to the state of my great grief Let kings assemble; for my grief's so great That no supporter but the huge firm earth Can hold it up: here I and sorrows sit; Here is my throne, bid kings come bow to it. [Seats herself on the ground] [Enter KING JOHN, KING PHILLIP, LEWIS, BLANCH,] QUEEN ELINOR, the BASTARD, AUSTRIA, and Attendants]
19531KING PHILIP'Tis true, fair daughter; and this blessed day Ever in France shall be kept festival: To solemnize this day the glorious sun Stays in his course and plays the alchemist, Turning with splendor of his precious eye The meagre cloddy earth to glittering gold: The yearly course that brings this day about Shall never see it but a holiday.
19631CONSTANCEA wicked day, and not a holy day! [Rising] What hath this day deserved? what hath it done, That it in golden letters should be set Among the high tides in the calendar? Nay, rather turn this day out of the week, This day of shame, oppression, perjury. Or, if it must stand still, let wives with child Pray that their burthens may not fall this day, Lest that their hopes prodigiously be cross'd: But on this day let seamen fear no wreck; No bargains break that are not this day made: This day, all things begun come to ill end, Yea, faith itself to hollow falsehood change!
19731KING PHILIPBy heaven, lady, you shall have no cause To curse the fair proceedings of this day: Have I not pawn'd to you my majesty?
19831CONSTANCEYou have beguiled me with a counterfeit Resembling majesty, which, being touch'd and tried, Proves valueless: you are forsworn, forsworn; You came in arms to spill mine enemies' blood, But now in arms you strengthen it with yours: The grappling vigour and rough frown of war Is cold in amity and painted peace, And our oppression hath made up this league. Arm, arm, you heavens, against these perjured kings! A widow cries; be husband to me, heavens! Let not the hours of this ungodly day Wear out the day in peace; but, ere sunset, Set armed discord 'twixt these perjured kings! Hear me, O, hear me!
19931AUSTRIALady Constance, peace!
20031CONSTANCEWar! war! no peace! peace is to me a war O Lymoges! O Austria! thou dost shame That bloody spoil: thou slave, thou wretch, thou coward! Thou little valiant, great in villany! Thou ever strong upon the stronger side! Thou Fortune's champion that dost never fight But when her humorous ladyship is by To teach thee safety! thou art perjured too, And soothest up greatness. What a fool art thou, A ramping fool, to brag and stamp and swear Upon my party! Thou cold-blooded slave, Hast thou not spoke like thunder on my side, Been sworn my soldier, bidding me depend Upon thy stars, thy fortune and thy strength, And dost thou now fall over to my fores? Thou wear a lion's hide! doff it for shame, And hang a calf's-skin on those recreant limbs.
20131AUSTRIAO, that a man should speak those words to me!
20231BASTARDAnd hang a calf's-skin on those recreant limbs.
20331AUSTRIAThou darest not say so, villain, for thy life.
20431BASTARDAnd hang a calf's-skin on those recreant limbs.
20531KING JOHNWe like not this; thou dost forget thyself.
206(stage directions)31[Enter CARDINAL PANDULPH]
20731KING PHILIPHere comes the holy legate of the pope.
20831CARDINAL PANDULPHHail, you anointed deputies of heaven! To thee, King John, my holy errand is. I Pandulph, of fair Milan cardinal, And from Pope Innocent the legate here, Do in his name religiously demand Why thou against the church, our holy mother, So wilfully dost spurn; and force perforce Keep Stephen Langton, chosen archbishop Of Canterbury, from that holy see? This, in our foresaid holy father's name, Pope Innocent, I do demand of thee.
20931KING JOHNWhat earthy name to interrogatories Can task the free breath of a sacred king? Thou canst not, cardinal, devise a name So slight, unworthy and ridiculous, To charge me to an answer, as the pope. Tell him this tale; and from the mouth of England Add thus much more, that no Italian priest Shall tithe or toll in our dominions; But as we, under heaven, are supreme head, So under Him that great supremacy, Where we do reign, we will alone uphold, Without the assistance of a mortal hand: So tell the pope, all reverence set apart To him and his usurp'd authority.
21031KING PHILIPBrother of England, you blaspheme in this.
21131KING JOHNThough you and all the kings of Christendom Are led so grossly by this meddling priest, Dreading the curse that money may buy out; And by the merit of vile gold, dross, dust, Purchase corrupted pardon of a man, Who in that sale sells pardon from himself, Though you and all the rest so grossly led This juggling witchcraft with revenue cherish, Yet I alone, alone do me oppose Against the pope and count his friends my foes.
21231CARDINAL PANDULPHThen, by the lawful power that I have, Thou shalt stand cursed and excommunicate. And blessed shall he be that doth revolt From his allegiance to an heretic; And meritorious shall that hand be call'd, Canonized and worshipped as a saint, That takes away by any secret course Thy hateful life.
21331CONSTANCEO, lawful let it be That I have room with Rome to curse awhile! Good father cardinal, cry thou amen To my keen curses; for without my wrong There is no tongue hath power to curse him right.
21431CARDINAL PANDULPHThere's law and warrant, lady, for my curse.
21531CONSTANCEAnd for mine too: when law can do no right, Let it be lawful that law bar no wrong: Law cannot give my child his kingdom here, For he that holds his kingdom holds the law; Therefore, since law itself is perfect wrong, How can the law forbid my tongue to curse?
21631CARDINAL PANDULPHPhilip of France, on peril of a curse, Let go the hand of that arch-heretic; And raise the power of France upon his head, Unless he do submit himself to Rome.
21731QUEEN ELINORLook'st thou pale, France? do not let go thy hand.
21831CONSTANCELook to that, devil; lest that France repent, And by disjoining hands, hell lose a soul.
21931AUSTRIAKing Philip, listen to the cardinal.
22031BASTARDAnd hang a calf's-skin on his recreant limbs.
22131AUSTRIAWell, ruffian, I must pocket up these wrongs, Because--
22231BASTARDYour breeches best may carry them.
22331KING JOHNPhilip, what say'st thou to the cardinal?
22431CONSTANCEWhat should he say, but as the cardinal?
22531LEWISBethink you, father; for the difference Is purchase of a heavy curse from Rome, Or the light loss of England for a friend: Forego the easier.
22631BLANCHThat's the curse of Rome.
22731CONSTANCEO Lewis, stand fast! the devil tempts thee here In likeness of a new untrimmed bride.
22831BLANCHThe Lady Constance speaks not from her faith, But from her need.
22931CONSTANCEO, if thou grant my need, Which only lives but by the death of faith, That need must needs infer this principle, That faith would live again by death of need. O then, tread down my need, and faith mounts up; Keep my need up, and faith is trodden down!
23031KING JOHNThe king is moved, and answers not to this.
23131CONSTANCEO, be removed from him, and answer well!
23231AUSTRIADo so, King Philip; hang no more in doubt.
23331BASTARDHang nothing but a calf's-skin, most sweet lout.
23431KING PHILIPI am perplex'd, and know not what to say.
23531CARDINAL PANDULPHWhat canst thou say but will perplex thee more, If thou stand excommunicate and cursed?
23631KING PHILIPGood reverend father, make my person yours, And tell me how you would bestow yourself. This royal hand and mine are newly knit, And the conjunction of our inward souls Married in league, coupled and linked together With all religious strength of sacred vows; The latest breath that gave the sound of words Was deep-sworn faith, peace, amity, true love Between our kingdoms and our royal selves, And even before this truce, but new before, No longer than we well could wash our hands To clap this royal bargain up of peace, Heaven knows, they were besmear'd and over-stain'd With slaughter's pencil, where revenge did paint The fearful difference of incensed kings: And shall these hands, so lately purged of blood, So newly join'd in love, so strong in both, Unyoke this seizure and this kind regreet? Play fast and loose with faith? so jest with heaven, Make such unconstant children of ourselves, As now again to snatch our palm from palm, Unswear faith sworn, and on the marriage-bed Of smiling peace to march a bloody host, And make a riot on the gentle brow Of true sincerity? O, holy sir, My reverend father, let it not be so! Out of your grace, devise, ordain, impose Some gentle order; and then we shall be blest To do your pleasure and continue friends.
23731CARDINAL PANDULPHAll form is formless, order orderless, Save what is opposite to England's love. Therefore to arms! be champion of our church, Or let the church, our mother, breathe her curse, A mother's curse, on her revolting son. France, thou mayst hold a serpent by the tongue, A chafed lion by the mortal paw, A fasting tiger safer by the tooth, Than keep in peace that hand which thou dost hold.
23831KING PHILIPI may disjoin my hand, but not my faith.
23931CARDINAL PANDULPHSo makest thou faith an enemy to faith; And like a civil war set'st oath to oath, Thy tongue against thy tongue. O, let thy vow First made to heaven, first be to heaven perform'd, That is, to be the champion of our church! What since thou sworest is sworn against thyself And may not be performed by thyself, For that which thou hast sworn to do amiss Is not amiss when it is truly done, And being not done, where doing tends to ill, The truth is then most done not doing it: The better act of purposes mistook Is to mistake again; though indirect, Yet indirection thereby grows direct, And falsehood falsehood cures, as fire cools fire Within the scorched veins of one new-burn'd. It is religion that doth make vows kept; But thou hast sworn against religion, By what thou swear'st against the thing thou swear'st, And makest an oath the surety for thy truth Against an oath: the truth thou art unsure To swear, swears only not to be forsworn; Else what a mockery should it be to swear! But thou dost swear only to be forsworn; And most forsworn, to keep what thou dost swear. Therefore thy later vows against thy first Is in thyself rebellion to thyself; And better conquest never canst thou make Than arm thy constant and thy nobler parts Against these giddy loose suggestions: Upon which better part our prayers come in, If thou vouchsafe them. But if not, then know The peril of our curses light on thee So heavy as thou shalt not shake them off, But in despair die under their black weight.
24031AUSTRIARebellion, flat rebellion!
24131BASTARDWill't not be? Will not a calfs-skin stop that mouth of thine?
24231LEWISFather, to arms!
24331BLANCHUpon thy wedding-day? Against the blood that thou hast married? What, shall our feast be kept with slaughter'd men? Shall braying trumpets and loud churlish drums, Clamours of hell, be measures to our pomp? O husband, hear me! ay, alack, how new Is husband in my mouth! even for that name, Which till this time my tongue did ne'er pronounce, Upon my knee I beg, go not to arms Against mine uncle.
24431CONSTANCEO, upon my knee, Made hard with kneeling, I do pray to thee, Thou virtuous Dauphin, alter not the doom Forethought by heaven!
24531BLANCHNow shall I see thy love: what motive may Be stronger with thee than the name of wife?
24631CONSTANCEThat which upholdeth him that thee upholds, His honour: O, thine honour, Lewis, thine honour!
24731LEWISI muse your majesty doth seem so cold, When such profound respects do pull you on.
24831CARDINAL PANDULPHI will denounce a curse upon his head.
24931KING PHILIPThou shalt not need. England, I will fall from thee.
25031CONSTANCEO fair return of banish'd majesty!
25131QUEEN ELINORO foul revolt of French inconstancy!
25231KING JOHNFrance, thou shalt rue this hour within this hour.
25331BASTARDOld Time the clock-setter, that bald sexton Time, Is it as he will? well then, France shall rue.
25431BLANCHThe sun's o'ercast with blood: fair day, adieu! Which is the side that I must go withal? I am with both: each army hath a hand; And in their rage, I having hold of both, They swirl asunder and dismember me. Husband, I cannot pray that thou mayst win; Uncle, I needs must pray that thou mayst lose; Father, I may not wish the fortune thine; Grandam, I will not wish thy fortunes thrive: Whoever wins, on that side shall I lose Assured loss before the match be play'd.
25531LEWISLady, with me, with me thy fortune lies.
25631BLANCHThere where my fortune lives, there my life dies.
25731KING JOHNCousin, go draw our puissance together. [Exit BASTARD] France, I am burn'd up with inflaming wrath; A rage whose heat hath this condition, That nothing can allay, nothing but blood, The blood, and dearest-valued blood, of France.
25831KING PHILIPThy rage sham burn thee up, and thou shalt turn To ashes, ere our blood shall quench that fire: Look to thyself, thou art in jeopardy.
25931KING JOHNNo more than he that threats. To arms let's hie!
260(stage directions)31[Exeunt] [Alarums, excursions. Enter the BASTARD, with] AUSTRIA'S head]
26132BASTARDNow, by my life, this day grows wondrous hot; Some airy devil hovers in the sky And pours down mischief. Austria's head lie there, While Philip breathes.
262(stage directions)32[Enter KING JOHN, ARTHUR, and HUBERT]
26332KING JOHNHubert, keep this boy. Philip, make up: My mother is assailed in our tent, And ta'en, I fear.
26432BASTARDMy lord, I rescued her; Her highness is in safety, fear you not: But on, my liege; for very little pains Will bring this labour to an happy end.
265(stage directions)32[Exeunt] [Alarums, excursions, retreat. Enter KING JOHN,] QUEEN ELINOR, ARTHUR, the BASTARD, HUBERT, and Lords]
26633KING JOHN[To QUEEN ELINOR] So shall it be; your grace shall stay behind So strongly guarded. [To ARTHUR] Cousin, look not sad: Thy grandam loves thee; and thy uncle will As dear be to thee as thy father was.
26733ARTHURO, this will make my mother die with grief!
26833KING JOHN[To the BASTARD] Cousin, away for England! haste before: And, ere our coming, see thou shake the bags Of hoarding abbots; imprisoned angels Set at liberty: the fat ribs of peace Must by the hungry now be fed upon: Use our commission in his utmost force.
26933BASTARDBell, book, and candle shall not drive me back, When gold and silver becks me to come on. I leave your highness. Grandam, I will pray, If ever I remember to be holy, For your fair safety; so, I kiss your hand.
27033QUEEN ELINORFarewell, gentle cousin.
27133KING JOHNCoz, farewell.
272(stage directions)33[Exit the BASTARD]
27333QUEEN ELINORCome hither, little kinsman; hark, a word.
27433KING JOHNCome hither, Hubert. O my gentle Hubert, We owe thee much! within this wall of flesh There is a soul counts thee her creditor And with advantage means to pay thy love: And my good friend, thy voluntary oath Lives in this bosom, dearly cherished. Give me thy hand. I had a thing to say, But I will fit it with some better time. By heaven, Hubert, I am almost ashamed To say what good respect I have of thee.
27533HUBERTI am much bounden to your majesty.
27633KING JOHNGood friend, thou hast no cause to say so yet, But thou shalt have; and creep time ne'er so slow, Yet it shall come from me to do thee good. I had a thing to say, but let it go: The sun is in the heaven, and the proud day, Attended with the pleasures of the world, Is all too wanton and too full of gawds To give me audience: if the midnight bell Did, with his iron tongue and brazen mouth, Sound on into the drowsy race of night; If this same were a churchyard where we stand, And thou possessed with a thousand wrongs, Or if that surly spirit, melancholy, Had baked thy blood and made it heavy-thick,Which else runs tickling up and down the veins, Making that idiot, laughter, keep men's eyes And strain their cheeks to idle merriment, A passion hateful to my purposes, Or if that thou couldst see me without eyes, Hear me without thine ears, and make reply Without a tongue, using conceit alone, Without eyes, ears and harmful sound of words; Then, in despite of brooded watchful day, I would into thy bosom pour my thoughts: But, ah, I will not! yet I love thee well; And, by my troth, I think thou lovest me well.
27733HUBERTSo well, that what you bid me undertake, Though that my death were adjunct to my act, By heaven, I would do it.
27833KING JOHNDo not I know thou wouldst? Good Hubert, Hubert, Hubert, throw thine eye On yon young boy: I'll tell thee what, my friend, He is a very serpent in my way; And whereso'er this foot of mine doth tread, He lies before me: dost thou understand me? Thou art his keeper.
27933HUBERTAnd I'll keep him so, That he shall not offend your majesty.
28033KING JOHNDeath.
28133HUBERTMy lord?
28233KING JOHNA grave.
28333HUBERTHe shall not live.
28433KING JOHNEnough. I could be merry now. Hubert, I love thee; Well, I'll not say what I intend for thee: Remember. Madam, fare you well: I'll send those powers o'er to your majesty.
28533QUEEN ELINORMy blessing go with thee!
28633KING JOHNFor England, cousin, go: Hubert shall be your man, attend on you With all true duty. On toward Calais, ho!
287(stage directions)33[Exeunt] [Enter KING PHILIP, LEWIS, CARDINAL PANDULPH,] and Attendants]
28834KING PHILIPSo, by a roaring tempest on the flood, A whole armado of convicted sail Is scatter'd and disjoin'd from fellowship.
28934CARDINAL PANDULPHCourage and comfort! all shall yet go well.
29034KING PHILIPWhat can go well, when we have run so ill? Are we not beaten? Is not Angiers lost? Arthur ta'en prisoner? divers dear friends slain? And bloody England into England gone, O'erbearing interruption, spite of France?
29134LEWISWhat he hath won, that hath he fortified: So hot a speed with such advice disposed, Such temperate order in so fierce a cause, Doth want example: who hath read or heard Of any kindred action like to this?
29234KING PHILIPWell could I bear that England had this praise, So we could find some pattern of our shame. [Enter CONSTANCE] Look, who comes here! a grave unto a soul; Holding the eternal spirit against her will, In the vile prison of afflicted breath. I prithee, lady, go away with me.
29334CONSTANCELo, now I now see the issue of your peace.
29434KING PHILIPPatience, good lady! comfort, gentle Constance!
29534CONSTANCENo, I defy all counsel, all redress, But that which ends all counsel, true redress, Death, death; O amiable lovely death! Thou odouriferous stench! sound rottenness! Arise forth from the couch of lasting night, Thou hate and terror to prosperity, And I will kiss thy detestable bones And put my eyeballs in thy vaulty brows And ring these fingers with thy household worms And stop this gap of breath with fulsome dust And be a carrion monster like thyself: Come, grin on me, and I will think thou smilest And buss thee as thy wife. Misery's love, O, come to me!
29634KING PHILIPO fair affliction, peace!
29734CONSTANCENo, no, I will not, having breath to cry: O, that my tongue were in the thunder's mouth! Then with a passion would I shake the world; And rouse from sleep that fell anatomy Which cannot hear a lady's feeble voice, Which scorns a modern invocation.
29834CARDINAL PANDULPHLady, you utter madness, and not sorrow.
29934CONSTANCEThou art not holy to belie me so; I am not mad: this hair I tear is mine; My name is Constance; I was Geffrey's wife; Young Arthur is my son, and he is lost: I am not mad: I would to heaven I were! For then, 'tis like I should forget myself: O, if I could, what grief should I forget! Preach some philosophy to make me mad, And thou shalt be canonized, cardinal; For being not mad but sensible of grief, My reasonable part produces reason How I may be deliver'd of these woes, And teaches me to kill or hang myself: If I were mad, I should forget my son, Or madly think a babe of clouts were he: I am not mad; too well, too well I feel The different plague of each calamity.
30034KING PHILIPBind up those tresses. O, what love I note In the fair multitude of those her hairs! Where but by chance a silver drop hath fallen, Even to that drop ten thousand wiry friends Do glue themselves in sociable grief, Like true, inseparable, faithful loves, Sticking together in calamity.
30134CONSTANCETo England, if you will.
30234KING PHILIPBind up your hairs.
30334CONSTANCEYes, that I will; and wherefore will I do it? I tore them from their bonds and cried aloud 'O that these hands could so redeem my son, As they have given these hairs their liberty!' But now I envy at their liberty, And will again commit them to their bonds, Because my poor child is a prisoner. And, father cardinal, I have heard you say That we shall see and know our friends in heaven: If that be true, I shall see my boy again; For since the birth of Cain, the first male child, To him that did but yesterday suspire, There was not such a gracious creature born. But now will canker-sorrow eat my bud And chase the native beauty from his cheek And he will look as hollow as a ghost, As dim and meagre as an ague's fit, And so he'll die; and, rising so again, When I shall meet him in the court of heaven I shall not know him: therefore never, never Must I behold my pretty Arthur more.
30434CARDINAL PANDULPHYou hold too heinous a respect of grief.
30534CONSTANCEHe talks to me that never had a son.
30634KING PHILIPYou are as fond of grief as of your child.
30734CONSTANCEGrief fills the room up of my absent child, Lies in his bed, walks up and down with me, Puts on his pretty looks, repeats his words, Remembers me of all his gracious parts, Stuffs out his vacant garments with his form; Then, have I reason to be fond of grief? Fare you well: had you such a loss as I, I could give better comfort than you do. I will not keep this form upon my head, When there is such disorder in my wit. O Lord! my boy, my Arthur, my fair son! My life, my joy, my food, my all the world! My widow-comfort, and my sorrows' cure!
308(stage directions)34[Exit]
30934KING PHILIPI fear some outrage, and I'll follow her.
310(stage directions)34[Exit]
31134LEWISThere's nothing in this world can make me joy: Life is as tedious as a twice-told tale Vexing the dull ear of a drowsy man; And bitter shame hath spoil'd the sweet world's taste That it yields nought but shame and bitterness.
31234CARDINAL PANDULPHBefore the curing of a strong disease, Even in the instant of repair and health, The fit is strongest; evils that take leave, On their departure most of all show evil: What have you lost by losing of this day?
31334LEWISAll days of glory, joy and happiness.
31434CARDINAL PANDULPHIf you had won it, certainly you had. No, no; when Fortune means to men most good, She looks upon them with a threatening eye. 'Tis strange to think how much King John hath lost In this which he accounts so clearly won: Are not you grieved that Arthur is his prisoner?
31534LEWISAs heartily as he is glad he hath him.
31634CARDINAL PANDULPHYour mind is all as youthful as your blood. Now hear me speak with a prophetic spirit; For even the breath of what I mean to speak Shall blow each dust, each straw, each little rub, Out of the path which shall directly lead Thy foot to England's throne; and therefore mark. John hath seized Arthur; and it cannot be That, whiles warm life plays in that infant's veins, The misplaced John should entertain an hour, One minute, nay, one quiet breath of rest. A sceptre snatch'd with an unruly hand Must be as boisterously maintain'd as gain'd; And he that stands upon a slippery place Makes nice of no vile hold to stay him up: That John may stand, then Arthur needs must fall; So be it, for it cannot be but so.
31734LEWISBut what shall I gain by young Arthur's fall?
31834CARDINAL PANDULPHYou, in the right of Lady Blanch your wife, May then make all the claim that Arthur did.
31934LEWISAnd lose it, life and all, as Arthur did.
32034CARDINAL PANDULPHHow green you are and fresh in this old world! John lays you plots; the times conspire with you; For he that steeps his safety in true blood Shall find but bloody safety and untrue. This act so evilly born shall cool the hearts Of all his people and freeze up their zeal, That none so small advantage shall step forth To cheque his reign, but they will cherish it; No natural exhalation in the sky, No scope of nature, no distemper'd day, No common wind, no customed event, But they will pluck away his natural cause And call them meteors, prodigies and signs, Abortives, presages and tongues of heaven, Plainly denouncing vengeance upon John.
32134LEWISMay be he will not touch young Arthur's life, But hold himself safe in his prisonment.
32234CARDINAL PANDULPHO, sir, when he shall hear of your approach, If that young Arthur be not gone already, Even at that news he dies; and then the hearts Of all his people shall revolt from him And kiss the lips of unacquainted change And pick strong matter of revolt and wrath Out of the bloody fingers' ends of John. Methinks I see this hurly all on foot: And, O, what better matter breeds for you Than I have named! The bastard Faulconbridge Is now in England, ransacking the church, Offending charity: if but a dozen French Were there in arms, they would be as a call To train ten thousand English to their side, Or as a little snow, tumbled about, Anon becomes a mountain. O noble Dauphin, Go with me to the king: 'tis wonderful What may be wrought out of their discontent, Now that their souls are topful of offence. For England go: I will whet on the king.
32334LEWISStrong reasons make strong actions: let us go: If you say ay, the king will not say no.
324(stage directions)34[Exeunt]
325(stage directions)41[Enter HUBERT and Executioners]
32641HUBERTHeat me these irons hot; and look thou stand Within the arras: when I strike my foot Upon the bosom of the ground, rush forth, And bind the boy which you shall find with me Fast to the chair: be heedful: hence, and watch.
32741FIRST EXECUTIONERI hope your warrant will bear out the deed.
32841HUBERTUncleanly scruples! fear not you: look to't. [Exeunt Executioners] Young lad, come forth; I have to say with you.
329(stage directions)41[Enter ARTHUR]
33041ARTHURGood morrow, Hubert.
33141HUBERTGood morrow, little prince.
33241ARTHURAs little prince, having so great a title To be more prince, as may be. You are sad.
33341HUBERTIndeed, I have been merrier.
33441ARTHURMercy on me! Methinks no body should be sad but I: Yet, I remember, when I was in France, Young gentlemen would be as sad as night, Only for wantonness. By my christendom, So I were out of prison and kept sheep, I should be as merry as the day is long; And so I would be here, but that I doubt My uncle practises more harm to me: He is afraid of me and I of him: Is it my fault that I was Geffrey's son? No, indeed, is't not; and I would to heaven I were your son, so you would love me, Hubert.
33541HUBERT[Aside] If I talk to him, with his innocent prate He will awake my mercy which lies dead: Therefore I will be sudden and dispatch.
33641ARTHURAre you sick, Hubert? you look pale to-day: In sooth, I would you were a little sick, That I might sit all night and watch with you: I warrant I love you more than you do me.
33741HUBERT[Aside] His words do take possession of my bosom. Read here, young Arthur. [Showing a paper] [Aside] How now, foolish rheum! Turning dispiteous torture out of door! I must be brief, lest resolution drop Out at mine eyes in tender womanish tears. Can you not read it? Is it not fair writ?
33841ARTHURToo fairly, Hubert, for so foul effect: Must you with hot irons burn out both mine eyes?
33941HUBERTYoung boy, I must.
34041ARTHURAnd will you?
34141HUBERTAnd I will.
34241ARTHURHave you the heart? When your head did but ache, I knit my handercher about your brows, The best I had, a princess wrought it me, And I did never ask it you again; And with my hand at midnight held your head, And like the watchful minutes to the hour, Still and anon cheer'd up the heavy time, Saying, 'What lack you?' and 'Where lies your grief?' Or 'What good love may I perform for you?' Many a poor man's son would have lien still And ne'er have spoke a loving word to you; But you at your sick service had a prince. Nay, you may think my love was crafty love And call it cunning: do, an if you will: If heaven be pleased that you must use me ill, Why then you must. Will you put out mine eyes? These eyes that never did nor never shall So much as frown on you.
34341HUBERTI have sworn to do it; And with hot irons must I burn them out.
34441ARTHURAh, none but in this iron age would do it! The iron of itself, though heat red-hot, Approaching near these eyes, would drink my tears And quench his fiery indignation Even in the matter of mine innocence; Nay, after that, consume away in rust But for containing fire to harm mine eye. Are you more stubborn-hard than hammer'd iron? An if an angel should have come to me And told me Hubert should put out mine eyes, I would not have believed him,--no tongue but Hubert's.
34541HUBERTCome forth. [Stamps] [Re-enter Executioners, with a cord, irons, &c] Do as I bid you do.
34641ARTHURO, save me, Hubert, save me! my eyes are out Even with the fierce looks of these bloody men.
34741HUBERTGive me the iron, I say, and bind him here.
34841ARTHURAlas, what need you be so boisterous-rough? I will not struggle, I will stand stone-still. For heaven sake, Hubert, let me not be bound! Nay, hear me, Hubert, drive these men away, And I will sit as quiet as a lamb; I will not stir, nor wince, nor speak a word, Nor look upon the iron angerly: Thrust but these men away, and I'll forgive you, Whatever torment you do put me to.
34941HUBERTGo, stand within; let me alone with him.
35041FIRST EXECUTIONERI am best pleased to be from such a deed.
351(stage directions)41[Exeunt Executioners]
35241ARTHURAlas, I then have chid away my friend! He hath a stern look, but a gentle heart: Let him come back, that his compassion may Give life to yours.
35341HUBERTCome, boy, prepare yourself.
35441ARTHURIs there no remedy?
35541HUBERTNone, but to lose your eyes.
35641ARTHURO heaven, that there were but a mote in yours, A grain, a dust, a gnat, a wandering hair, Any annoyance in that precious sense! Then feeling what small things are boisterous there, Your vile intent must needs seem horrible.
35741HUBERTIs this your promise? go to, hold your tongue.
35841ARTHURHubert, the utterance of a brace of tongues Must needs want pleading for a pair of eyes: Let me not hold my tongue, let me not, Hubert; Or, Hubert, if you will, cut out my tongue, So I may keep mine eyes: O, spare mine eyes. Though to no use but still to look on you! Lo, by my truth, the instrument is cold And would not harm me.
35941HUBERTI can heat it, boy.
36041ARTHURNo, in good sooth: the fire is dead with grief, Being create for comfort, to be used In undeserved extremes: see else yourself; There is no malice in this burning coal; The breath of heaven has blown his spirit out And strew'd repentent ashes on his head.
36141HUBERTBut with my breath I can revive it, boy.
36241ARTHURAn if you do, you will but make it blush And glow with shame of your proceedings, Hubert: Nay, it perchance will sparkle in your eyes; And like a dog that is compell'd to fight, Snatch at his master that doth tarre him on. All things that you should use to do me wrong Deny their office: only you do lack That mercy which fierce fire and iron extends, Creatures of note for mercy-lacking uses.
36341HUBERTWell, see to live; I will not touch thine eye For all the treasure that thine uncle owes: Yet am I sworn and I did purpose, boy, With this same very iron to burn them out.
36441ARTHURO, now you look like Hubert! all this while You were disguised.
36541HUBERTPeace; no more. Adieu. Your uncle must not know but you are dead; I'll fill these dogged spies with false reports: And, pretty child, sleep doubtless and secure, That Hubert, for the wealth of all the world, Will not offend thee.
36641ARTHURO heaven! I thank you, Hubert.
36741HUBERTSilence; no more: go closely in with me: Much danger do I undergo for thee.
368(stage directions)41[Exeunt]
369(stage directions)42[Enter KING JOHN, PEMBROKE, SALISBURY, and other Lords]
37042KING JOHNHere once again we sit, once again crown'd, And looked upon, I hope, with cheerful eyes.
37142PEMBROKEThis 'once again,' but that your highness pleased, Was once superfluous: you were crown'd before, And that high royalty was ne'er pluck'd off, The faiths of men ne'er stained with revolt; Fresh expectation troubled not the land With any long'd-for change or better state.
37242SALISBURYTherefore, to be possess'd with double pomp, To guard a title that was rich before, To gild refined gold, to paint the lily, To throw a perfume on the violet, To smooth the ice, or add another hue Unto the rainbow, or with taper-light To seek the beauteous eye of heaven to garnish, Is wasteful and ridiculous excess.
37342PEMBROKEBut that your royal pleasure must be done, This act is as an ancient tale new told, And in the last repeating troublesome, Being urged at a time unseasonable.
37442SALISBURYIn this the antique and well noted face Of plain old form is much disfigured; And, like a shifted wind unto a sail, It makes the course of thoughts to fetch about, Startles and frights consideration, Makes sound opinion sick and truth suspected, For putting on so new a fashion'd robe.
37542PEMBROKEWhen workmen strive to do better than well, They do confound their skill in covetousness; And oftentimes excusing of a fault Doth make the fault the worse by the excuse, As patches set upon a little breach Discredit more in hiding of the fault Than did the fault before it was so patch'd.
37642SALISBURYTo this effect, before you were new crown'd, We breathed our counsel: but it pleased your highness To overbear it, and we are all well pleased, Since all and every part of what we would Doth make a stand at what your highness will.
37742KING JOHNSome reasons of this double coronation I have possess'd you with and think them strong; And more, more strong, then lesser is my fear, I shall indue you with: meantime but ask What you would have reform'd that is not well, And well shall you perceive how willingly I will both hear and grant you your requests.
37842PEMBROKEThen I, as one that am the tongue of these, To sound the purpose of all their hearts, Both for myself and them, but, chief of all, Your safety, for the which myself and them Bend their best studies, heartily request The enfranchisement of Arthur; whose restraint Doth move the murmuring lips of discontent To break into this dangerous argument,-- If what in rest you have in right you hold, Why then your fears, which, as they say, attend The steps of wrong, should move you to mew up Your tender kinsman and to choke his days With barbarous ignorance and deny his youth The rich advantage of good exercise? That the time's enemies may not have this To grace occasions, let it be our suit That you have bid us ask his liberty; Which for our goods we do no further ask Than whereupon our weal, on you depending, Counts it your weal he have his liberty.
379(stage directions)42[Enter HUBERT]
38042KING JOHNLet it be so: I do commit his youth To your direction. Hubert, what news with you?
381(stage directions)42[Taking him apart]
38242PEMBROKEThis is the man should do the bloody deed; He show'd his warrant to a friend of mine: The image of a wicked heinous fault Lives in his eye; that close aspect of his Does show the mood of a much troubled breast; And I do fearfully believe 'tis done, What we so fear'd he had a charge to do.
38342SALISBURYThe colour of the king doth come and go Between his purpose and his conscience, Like heralds 'twixt two dreadful battles set: His passion is so ripe, it needs must break.
38442PEMBROKEAnd when it breaks, I fear will issue thence The foul corruption of a sweet child's death.
38542KING JOHNWe cannot hold mortality's strong hand: Good lords, although my will to give is living, The suit which you demand is gone and dead: He tells us Arthur is deceased to-night.
38642SALISBURYIndeed we fear'd his sickness was past cure.
38742PEMBROKEIndeed we heard how near his death he was Before the child himself felt he was sick: This must be answer'd either here or hence.
38842KING JOHNWhy do you bend such solemn brows on me? Think you I bear the shears of destiny? Have I commandment on the pulse of life?
38942SALISBURYIt is apparent foul play; and 'tis shame That greatness should so grossly offer it: So thrive it in your game! and so, farewell.
39042PEMBROKEStay yet, Lord Salisbury; I'll go with thee, And find the inheritance of this poor child, His little kingdom of a forced grave. That blood which owed the breadth of all this isle, Three foot of it doth hold: bad world the while! This must not be thus borne: this will break out To all our sorrows, and ere long I doubt.
391(stage directions)42[Exeunt Lords]
39242KING JOHNThey burn in indignation. I repent: There is no sure foundation set on blood, No certain life achieved by others' death. [Enter a Messenger] A fearful eye thou hast: where is that blood That I have seen inhabit in those cheeks? So foul a sky clears not without a storm: Pour down thy weather: how goes all in France?
39342MESSENGERFrom France to England. Never such a power For any foreign preparation Was levied in the body of a land. The copy of your speed is learn'd by them; For when you should be told they do prepare, The tidings come that they are all arrived.
39442KING JOHNO, where hath our intelligence been drunk? Where hath it slept? Where is my mother's care, That such an army could be drawn in France, And she not hear of it?
39542MESSENGERMy liege, her ear Is stopp'd with dust; the first of April died Your noble mother: and, as I hear, my lord, The Lady Constance in a frenzy died Three days before: but this from rumour's tongue I idly heard; if true or false I know not.
39642KING JOHNWithhold thy speed, dreadful occasion! O, make a league with me, till I have pleased My discontented peers! What! mother dead! How wildly then walks my estate in France! Under whose conduct came those powers of France That thou for truth givest out are landed here?
39742MESSENGERUnder the Dauphin.
39842KING JOHNThou hast made me giddy With these ill tidings. [Enter the BASTARD and PETER of Pomfret] Now, what says the world To your proceedings? do not seek to stuff My head with more ill news, for it is full.
39942BASTARDBut if you be afeard to hear the worst, Then let the worst unheard fall on your bead.
40042KING JOHNBear with me cousin, for I was amazed Under the tide: but now I breathe again Aloft the flood, and can give audience To any tongue, speak it of what it will.
40142BASTARDHow I have sped among the clergymen, The sums I have collected shall express. But as I travell'd hither through the land, I find the people strangely fantasied; Possess'd with rumours, full of idle dreams, Not knowing what they fear, but full of fear: And here a prophet, that I brought with me From forth the streets of Pomfret, whom I found With many hundreds treading on his heels; To whom he sung, in rude harsh-sounding rhymes, That, ere the next Ascension-day at noon, Your highness should deliver up your crown.
40242KING JOHNThou idle dreamer, wherefore didst thou so?
40342PETERForeknowing that the truth will fall out so.
40442KING JOHNHubert, away with him; imprison him; And on that day at noon whereon he says I shall yield up my crown, let him be hang'd. Deliver him to safety; and return, For I must use thee. [Exeunt HUBERT with PETER] O my gentle cousin, Hear'st thou the news abroad, who are arrived?
40542BASTARDThe French, my lord; men's mouths are full of it: Besides, I met Lord Bigot and Lord Salisbury, With eyes as red as new-enkindled fire, And others more, going to seek the grave Of Arthur, who they say is kill'd to-night On your suggestion.
40642KING JOHNGentle kinsman, go, And thrust thyself into their companies: I have a way to win their loves again; Bring them before me.
40742BASTARDI will seek them out.
40842KING JOHNNay, but make haste; the better foot before. O, let me have no subject enemies, When adverse foreigners affright my towns With dreadful pomp of stout invasion! Be Mercury, set feathers to thy heels, And fly like thought from them to me again.
40942BASTARDThe spirit of the time shall teach me speed.
410(stage directions)42[Exit]
41142KING JOHNSpoke like a sprightful noble gentleman. Go after him; for he perhaps shall need Some messenger betwixt me and the peers; And be thou he.
41242MESSENGERWith all my heart, my liege.
413(stage directions)42[Exit]
41442KING JOHNMy mother dead!
415(stage directions)42[Re-enter HUBERT]
41642HUBERTMy lord, they say five moons were seen to-night; Four fixed, and the fifth did whirl about The other four in wondrous motion.
41742KING JOHNFive moons!
41842HUBERTOld men and beldams in the streets Do prophesy upon it dangerously: Young Arthur's death is common in their mouths: And when they talk of him, they shake their heads And whisper one another in the ear; And he that speaks doth gripe the hearer's wrist, Whilst he that hears makes fearful action, With wrinkled brows, with nods, with rolling eyes. I saw a smith stand with his hammer, thus, The whilst his iron did on the anvil cool, With open mouth swallowing a tailor's news; Who, with his shears and measure in his hand, Standing on slippers, which his nimble haste Had falsely thrust upon contrary feet, Told of a many thousand warlike French That were embattailed and rank'd in Kent: Another lean unwash'd artificer Cuts off his tale and talks of Arthur's death.
41942KING JOHNWhy seek'st thou to possess me with these fears? Why urgest thou so oft young Arthur's death? Thy hand hath murder'd him: I had a mighty cause To wish him dead, but thou hadst none to kill him.
42042HUBERTNo had, my lord! why, did you not provoke me?
42142KING JOHNIt is the curse of kings to be attended By slaves that take their humours for a warrant To break within the bloody house of life, And on the winking of authority To understand a law, to know the meaning Of dangerous majesty, when perchance it frowns More upon humour than advised respect.
42242HUBERTHere is your hand and seal for what I did.
42342KING JOHNO, when the last account 'twixt heaven and earth Is to be made, then shall this hand and seal Witness against us to damnation! How oft the sight of means to do ill deeds Make deeds ill done! Hadst not thou been by, A fellow by the hand of nature mark'd, Quoted and sign'd to do a deed of shame, This murder had not come into my mind: But taking note of thy abhorr'd aspect, Finding thee fit for bloody villany, Apt, liable to be employ'd in danger, I faintly broke with thee of Arthur's death; And thou, to be endeared to a king, Made it no conscience to destroy a prince.
42442HUBERTMy lord--
42542KING JOHNHadst thou but shook thy head or made a pause When I spake darkly what I purposed, Or turn'd an eye of doubt upon my face, As bid me tell my tale in express words, Deep shame had struck me dumb, made me break off, And those thy fears might have wrought fears in me: But thou didst understand me by my signs And didst in signs again parley with sin; Yea, without stop, didst let thy heart consent, And consequently thy rude hand to act The deed, which both our tongues held vile to name. Out of my sight, and never see me more! My nobles leave me; and my state is braved, Even at my gates, with ranks of foreign powers: Nay, in the body of this fleshly land, This kingdom, this confine of blood and breath, Hostility and civil tumult reigns Between my conscience and my cousin's death.
42642HUBERTArm you against your other enemies, I'll make a peace between your soul and you. Young Arthur is alive: this hand of mine Is yet a maiden and an innocent hand, Not painted with the crimson spots of blood. Within this bosom never enter'd yet The dreadful motion of a murderous thought; And you have slander'd nature in my form, Which, howsoever rude exteriorly, Is yet the cover of a fairer mind Than to be butcher of an innocent child.
42742KING JOHNDoth Arthur live? O, haste thee to the peers, Throw this report on their incensed rage, And make them tame to their obedience! Forgive the comment that my passion made Upon thy feature; for my rage was blind, And foul imaginary eyes of blood Presented thee more hideous than thou art. O, answer not, but to my closet bring The angry lords with all expedient haste. I conjure thee but slowly; run more fast.
428(stage directions)42[Exeunt]
429(stage directions)43[Enter ARTHUR, on the walls]
43043ARTHURThe wall is high, and yet will I leap down: Good ground, be pitiful and hurt me not! There's few or none do know me: if they did, This ship-boy's semblance hath disguised me quite. I am afraid; and yet I'll venture it. If I get down, and do not break my limbs, I'll find a thousand shifts to get away: As good to die and go, as die and stay. [Leaps down] O me! my uncle's spirit is in these stones: Heaven take my soul, and England keep my bones!
431(stage directions)43[Dies]
432(stage directions)43[Enter PEMBROKE, SALISBURY, and BIGOT]
43343SALISBURYLords, I will meet him at Saint Edmundsbury: It is our safety, and we must embrace This gentle offer of the perilous time.
43443PEMBROKEWho brought that letter from the cardinal?
43543SALISBURYThe Count Melun, a noble lord of France, Whose private with me of the Dauphin's love Is much more general than these lines import.
43643BIGOTTo-morrow morning let us meet him then.
43743SALISBURYOr rather then set forward; for 'twill be Two long days' journey, lords, or ere we meet.
438(stage directions)43[Enter the BASTARD]
43943BASTARDOnce more to-day well met, distemper'd lords! The king by me requests your presence straight.
44043SALISBURYThe king hath dispossess'd himself of us: We will not line his thin bestained cloak With our pure honours, nor attend the foot That leaves the print of blood where'er it walks. Return and tell him so: we know the worst.
44143BASTARDWhate'er you think, good words, I think, were best.
44243SALISBURYOur griefs, and not our manners, reason now.
44343BASTARDBut there is little reason in your grief; Therefore 'twere reason you had manners now.
44443PEMBROKESir, sir, impatience hath his privilege.
44543BASTARD'Tis true, to hurt his master, no man else.
44643SALISBURYThis is the prison. What is he lies here?
447(stage directions)43[Seeing ARTHUR]
44843PEMBROKEO death, made proud with pure and princely beauty! The earth had not a hole to hide this deed.
44943SALISBURYMurder, as hating what himself hath done, Doth lay it open to urge on revenge.
45043BIGOTOr, when he doom'd this beauty to a grave, Found it too precious-princely for a grave.
45143SALISBURYSir Richard, what think you? have you beheld, Or have you read or heard? or could you think? Or do you almost think, although you see, That you do see? could thought, without this object, Form such another? This is the very top, The height, the crest, or crest unto the crest, Of murder's arms: this is the bloodiest shame, The wildest savagery, the vilest stroke, That ever wall-eyed wrath or staring rage Presented to the tears of soft remorse.
45243PEMBROKEAll murders past do stand excused in this: And this, so sole and so unmatchable, Shall give a holiness, a purity, To the yet unbegotten sin of times; And prove a deadly bloodshed but a jest, Exampled by this heinous spectacle.
45343BASTARDIt is a damned and a bloody work; The graceless action of a heavy hand, If that it be the work of any hand.
45443SALISBURYIf that it be the work of any hand! We had a kind of light what would ensue: It is the shameful work of Hubert's hand; The practise and the purpose of the king: From whose obedience I forbid my soul, Kneeling before this ruin of sweet life, And breathing to his breathless excellence The incense of a vow, a holy vow, Never to taste the pleasures of the world, Never to be infected with delight, Nor conversant with ease and idleness, Till I have set a glory to this hand, By giving it the worship of revenge.
45543PEMBROKE[with Bigot] Our souls religiously confirm thy words.
456(stage directions)43[Enter HUBERT]
45743HUBERTLords, I am hot with haste in seeking you: Arthur doth live; the king hath sent for you.
45843SALISBURYO, he is old and blushes not at death. Avaunt, thou hateful villain, get thee gone!
45943HUBERTI am no villain.
46043SALISBURYMust I rob the law?
461(stage directions)43[Drawing his sword]
46243BASTARDYour sword is bright, sir; put it up again.
46343SALISBURYNot till I sheathe it in a murderer's skin.
46443HUBERTStand back, Lord Salisbury, stand back, I say; By heaven, I think my sword's as sharp as yours: I would not have you, lord, forget yourself, Nor tempt the danger of my true defence; Lest I, by marking of your rage, forget Your worth, your greatness and nobility.
46543BIGOTOut, dunghill! darest thou brave a nobleman?
46643HUBERTNot for my life: but yet I dare defend My innocent life against an emperor.
46743SALISBURYThou art a murderer.
46843HUBERTDo not prove me so; Yet I am none: whose tongue soe'er speaks false, Not truly speaks; who speaks not truly, lies.
46943PEMBROKECut him to pieces.
47043BASTARDKeep the peace, I say.
47143SALISBURYStand by, or I shall gall you, Faulconbridge.
47243BASTARDThou wert better gall the devil, Salisbury: If thou but frown on me, or stir thy foot, Or teach thy hasty spleen to do me shame, I'll strike thee dead. Put up thy sword betime; Or I'll so maul you and your toasting-iron, That you shall think the devil is come from hell.
47343BIGOTWhat wilt thou do, renowned Faulconbridge? Second a villain and a murderer?
47443HUBERTLord Bigot, I am none.
47543BIGOTWho kill'd this prince?
47643HUBERT'Tis not an hour since I left him well: I honour'd him, I loved him, and will weep My date of life out for his sweet life's loss.
47743SALISBURYTrust not those cunning waters of his eyes, For villany is not without such rheum; And he, long traded in it, makes it seem Like rivers of remorse and innocency. Away with me, all you whose souls abhor The uncleanly savours of a slaughter-house; For I am stifled with this smell of sin.
47843BIGOTAway toward Bury, to the Dauphin there!
47943PEMBROKEThere tell the king he may inquire us out.
480(stage directions)43[Exeunt Lords]
48143BASTARDHere's a good world! Knew you of this fair work? Beyond the infinite and boundless reach Of mercy, if thou didst this deed of death, Art thou damn'd, Hubert.
48243HUBERTDo but hear me, sir.
48343BASTARDHa! I'll tell thee what; Thou'rt damn'd as black--nay, nothing is so black; Thou art more deep damn'd than Prince Lucifer: There is not yet so ugly a fiend of hell As thou shalt be, if thou didst kill this child.
48443HUBERTUpon my soul--
48543BASTARDIf thou didst but consent To this most cruel act, do but despair; And if thou want'st a cord, the smallest thread That ever spider twisted from her womb Will serve to strangle thee, a rush will be a beam To hang thee on; or wouldst thou drown thyself, Put but a little water in a spoon, And it shall be as all the ocean, Enough to stifle such a villain up. I do suspect thee very grievously.
48643HUBERTIf I in act, consent, or sin of thought, Be guilty of the stealing that sweet breath Which was embounded in this beauteous clay, Let hell want pains enough to torture me. I left him well.
48743BASTARDGo, bear him in thine arms. I am amazed, methinks, and lose my way Among the thorns and dangers of this world. How easy dost thou take all England up! From forth this morsel of dead royalty, The life, the right and truth of all this realm Is fled to heaven; and England now is left To tug and scamble and to part by the teeth The unowed interest of proud-swelling state. Now for the bare-pick'd bone of majesty Doth dogged war bristle his angry crest And snarleth in the gentle eyes of peace: Now powers from home and discontents at home Meet in one line; and vast confusion waits, As doth a raven on a sick-fall'n beast, The imminent decay of wrested pomp. Now happy he whose cloak and cincture can Hold out this tempest. Bear away that child And follow me with speed: I'll to the king: A thousand businesses are brief in hand, And heaven itself doth frown upon the land.
488(stage directions)43[Exeunt]
489(stage directions)51[Enter KING JOHN, CARDINAL PANDULPH, and Attendants]
49051KING JOHNThus have I yielded up into your hand The circle of my glory.
491(stage directions)51[Giving the crown]
49251CARDINAL PANDULPHTake again From this my hand, as holding of the pope Your sovereign greatness and authority.
49351KING JOHNNow keep your holy word: go meet the French, And from his holiness use all your power To stop their marches 'fore we are inflamed. Our discontented counties do revolt; Our people quarrel with obedience, Swearing allegiance and the love of soul To stranger blood, to foreign royalty. This inundation of mistemper'd humour Rests by you only to be qualified: Then pause not; for the present time's so sick, That present medicine must be minister'd, Or overthrow incurable ensues.
49451CARDINAL PANDULPHIt was my breath that blew this tempest up, Upon your stubborn usage of the pope; But since you are a gentle convertite, My tongue shall hush again this storm of war And make fair weather in your blustering land. On this Ascension-day, remember well, Upon your oath of service to the pope, Go I to make the French lay down their arms.
495(stage directions)51[Exit]
49651KING JOHNIs this Ascension-day? Did not the prophet Say that before Ascension-day at noon My crown I should give off? Even so I have: I did suppose it should be on constraint: But, heaven be thank'd, it is but voluntary.
497(stage directions)51[Enter the BASTARD]
49851BASTARDAll Kent hath yielded; nothing there holds out But Dover castle: London hath received, Like a kind host, the Dauphin and his powers: Your nobles will not hear you, but are gone To offer service to your enemy, And wild amazement hurries up and down The little number of your doubtful friends.
49951KING JOHNWould not my lords return to me again, After they heard young Arthur was alive?
50051BASTARDThey found him dead and cast into the streets, An empty casket, where the jewel of life By some damn'd hand was robb'd and ta'en away.
50151KING JOHNThat villain Hubert told me he did live.
50251BASTARDSo, on my soul, he did, for aught he knew. But wherefore do you droop? why look you sad? Be great in act, as you have been in thought; Let not the world see fear and sad distrust Govern the motion of a kingly eye: Be stirring as the time; be fire with fire; Threaten the threatener and outface the brow Of bragging horror: so shall inferior eyes, That borrow their behaviors from the great, Grow great by your example and put on The dauntless spirit of resolution. Away, and glister like the god of war, When he intendeth to become the field: Show boldness and aspiring confidence. What, shall they seek the lion in his den, And fright him there? and make him tremble there? O, let it not be said: forage, and run To meet displeasure farther from the doors, And grapple with him ere he comes so nigh.
50351KING JOHNThe legate of the pope hath been with me, And I have made a happy peace with him; And he hath promised to dismiss the powers Led by the Dauphin.
50451BASTARDO inglorious league! Shall we, upon the footing of our land, Send fair-play orders and make compromise, Insinuation, parley and base truce To arms invasive? shall a beardless boy, A cocker'd silken wanton, brave our fields, And flesh his spirit in a warlike soil, Mocking the air with colours idly spread, And find no cheque? Let us, my liege, to arms: Perchance the cardinal cannot make your peace; Or if he do, let it at least be said They saw we had a purpose of defence.
50551KING JOHNHave thou the ordering of this present time.
50651BASTARDAway, then, with good courage! yet, I know, Our party may well meet a prouder foe.
507(stage directions)51[Exeunt] [Enter, in arms, LEWIS, SALISBURY, MELUN, PEMBROKE,] BIGOT, and Soldiers]
50852LEWISMy Lord Melun, let this be copied out, And keep it safe for our remembrance: Return the precedent to these lords again; That, having our fair order written down, Both they and we, perusing o'er these notes, May know wherefore we took the sacrament And keep our faiths firm and inviolable.
50952SALISBURYUpon our sides it never shall be broken. And, noble Dauphin, albeit we swear A voluntary zeal and an unurged faith To your proceedings; yet believe me, prince, I am not glad that such a sore of time Should seek a plaster by contemn'd revolt, And heal the inveterate canker of one wound By making many. O, it grieves my soul, That I must draw this metal from my side To be a widow-maker! O, and there Where honourable rescue and defence Cries out upon the name of Salisbury! But such is the infection of the time, That, for the health and physic of our right, We cannot deal but with the very hand Of stern injustice and confused wrong. And is't not pity, O my grieved friends, That we, the sons and children of this isle, Were born to see so sad an hour as this; Wherein we step after a stranger march Upon her gentle bosom, and fill up Her enemies' ranks,--I must withdraw and weep Upon the spot of this enforced cause,-- To grace the gentry of a land remote, And follow unacquainted colours here? What, here? O nation, that thou couldst remove! That Neptune's arms, who clippeth thee about, Would bear thee from the knowledge of thyself, And grapple thee unto a pagan shore; Where these two Christian armies might combine The blood of malice in a vein of league, And not to spend it so unneighbourly!
51052LEWISA noble temper dost thou show in this; And great affections wrestling in thy bosom Doth make an earthquake of nobility. O, what a noble combat hast thou fought Between compulsion and a brave respect! Let me wipe off this honourable dew, That silverly doth progress on thy cheeks: My heart hath melted at a lady's tears, Being an ordinary inundation; But this effusion of such manly drops, This shower, blown up by tempest of the soul, Startles mine eyes, and makes me more amazed Than had I seen the vaulty top of heaven Figured quite o'er with burning meteors. Lift up thy brow, renowned Salisbury, And with a great heart heave away the storm: Commend these waters to those baby eyes That never saw the giant world enraged; Nor met with fortune other than at feasts, Full of warm blood, of mirth, of gossiping. Come, come; for thou shalt thrust thy hand as deep Into the purse of rich prosperity As Lewis himself: so, nobles, shall you all, That knit your sinews to the strength of mine. And even there, methinks, an angel spake: [Enter CARDINAL PANDULPH] Look, where the holy legate comes apace, To give us warrant from the hand of heaven And on our actions set the name of right With holy breath.
51152CARDINAL PANDULPHHail, noble prince of France! The next is this, King John hath reconciled Himself to Rome; his spirit is come in, That so stood out against the holy church, The great metropolis and see of Rome: Therefore thy threatening colours now wind up; And tame the savage spirit of wild war, That like a lion foster'd up at hand, It may lie gently at the foot of peace, And be no further harmful than in show.
51252LEWISYour grace shall pardon me, I will not back: I am too high-born to be propertied, To be a secondary at control, Or useful serving-man and instrument, To any sovereign state throughout the world. Your breath first kindled the dead coal of wars Between this chastised kingdom and myself, And brought in matter that should feed this fire; And now 'tis far too huge to be blown out With that same weak wind which enkindled it. You taught me how to know the face of right, Acquainted me with interest to this land, Yea, thrust this enterprise into my heart; And come ye now to tell me John hath made His peace with Rome? What is that peace to me? I, by the honour of my marriage-bed, After young Arthur, claim this land for mine; And, now it is half-conquer'd, must I back Because that John hath made his peace with Rome? Am I Rome's slave? What penny hath Rome borne, What men provided, what munition sent, To underprop this action? Is't not I That undergo this charge? who else but I, And such as to my claim are liable, Sweat in this business and maintain this war? Have I not heard these islanders shout out 'Vive le roi!' as I have bank'd their towns? Have I not here the best cards for the game, To win this easy match play'd for a crown? And shall I now give o'er the yielded set? No, no, on my soul, it never shall be said.
51352CARDINAL PANDULPHYou look but on the outside of this work.
51452LEWISOutside or inside, I will not return Till my attempt so much be glorified As to my ample hope was promised Before I drew this gallant head of war, And cull'd these fiery spirits from the world, To outlook conquest and to win renown Even in the jaws of danger and of death. [Trumpet sounds] What lusty trumpet thus doth summon us?
515(stage directions)52[Enter the BASTARD, attended]
51652BASTARDAccording to the fair play of the world, Let me have audience; I am sent to speak: My holy lord of Milan, from the king I come, to learn how you have dealt for him; And, as you answer, I do know the scope And warrant limited unto my tongue.
51752CARDINAL PANDULPHThe Dauphin is too wilful-opposite, And will not temporize with my entreaties; He flatly says he'll not lay down his arms.
51852BASTARDBy all the blood that ever fury breathed, The youth says well. Now hear our English king; For thus his royalty doth speak in me. He is prepared, and reason too he should: This apish and unmannerly approach, This harness'd masque and unadvised revel, This unhair'd sauciness and boyish troops, The king doth smile at; and is well prepared To whip this dwarfish war, these pigmy arms, From out the circle of his territories. That hand which had the strength, even at your door, To cudgel you and make you take the hatch, To dive like buckets in concealed wells, To crouch in litter of your stable planks, To lie like pawns lock'd up in chests and trunks, To hug with swine, to seek sweet safety out In vaults and prisons, and to thrill and shake Even at the crying of your nation's crow, Thinking his voice an armed Englishman; Shall that victorious hand be feebled here, That in your chambers gave you chastisement? No: know the gallant monarch is in arms And like an eagle o'er his aery towers, To souse annoyance that comes near his nest. And you degenerate, you ingrate revolts, You bloody Neroes, ripping up the womb Of your dear mother England, blush for shame; For your own ladies and pale-visaged maids Like Amazons come tripping after drums, Their thimbles into armed gauntlets change, Their needles to lances, and their gentle hearts To fierce and bloody inclination.
51952LEWISThere end thy brave, and turn thy face in peace; We grant thou canst outscold us: fare thee well; We hold our time too precious to be spent With such a brabbler.
52052CARDINAL PANDULPHGive me leave to speak.
52152BASTARDNo, I will speak.
52252LEWISWe will attend to neither. Strike up the drums; and let the tongue of war Plead for our interest and our being here.
52352BASTARDIndeed your drums, being beaten, will cry out; And so shall you, being beaten: do but start An echo with the clamour of thy drum, And even at hand a drum is ready braced That shall reverberate all as loud as thine; Sound but another, and another shall As loud as thine rattle the welkin's ear And mock the deep-mouth'd thunder: for at hand, Not trusting to this halting legate here, Whom he hath used rather for sport than need Is warlike John; and in his forehead sits A bare-ribb'd death, whose office is this day To feast upon whole thousands of the French.
52452LEWISStrike up our drums, to find this danger out.
52552BASTARDAnd thou shalt find it, Dauphin, do not doubt.
526(stage directions)52[Exeunt]
527(stage directions)53[Alarums. Enter KING JOHN and HUBERT]
52853KING JOHNHow goes the day with us? O, tell me, Hubert.
52953HUBERTBadly, I fear. How fares your majesty?
53053KING JOHNThis fever, that hath troubled me so long, Lies heavy on me; O, my heart is sick!
531(stage directions)53[Enter a Messenger]
53253MESSENGERMy lord, your valiant kinsman, Faulconbridge, Desires your majesty to leave the field And send him word by me which way you go.
53353KING JOHNTell him, toward Swinstead, to the abbey there.
53453MESSENGERBe of good comfort; for the great supply That was expected by the Dauphin here, Are wreck'd three nights ago on Goodwin Sands. This news was brought to Richard but even now: The French fight coldly, and retire themselves.
53553KING JOHNAy me! this tyrant fever burns me up, And will not let me welcome this good news. Set on toward Swinstead: to my litter straight; Weakness possesseth me, and I am faint.
536(stage directions)53[Exeunt]
537(stage directions)54[Enter SALISBURY, PEMBROKE, and BIGOT]
53854SALISBURYI did not think the king so stored with friends.
53954PEMBROKEUp once again; put spirit in the French: If they miscarry, we miscarry too.
54054SALISBURYThat misbegotten devil, Faulconbridge, In spite of spite, alone upholds the day.
54154PEMBROKEThey say King John sore sick hath left the field.
542(stage directions)54[Enter MELUN, wounded]
54354MELUNLead me to the revolts of England here.
54454SALISBURYWhen we were happy we had other names.
54554PEMBROKEIt is the Count Melun.
54654SALISBURYWounded to death.
54754MELUNFly, noble English, you are bought and sold; Unthread the rude eye of rebellion And welcome home again discarded faith. Seek out King John and fall before his feet; For if the French be lords of this loud day, He means to recompense the pains you take By cutting off your heads: thus hath he sworn And I with him, and many moe with me, Upon the altar at Saint Edmundsbury; Even on that altar where we swore to you Dear amity and everlasting love.
54854SALISBURYMay this be possible? may this be true?
54954MELUNHave I not hideous death within my view, Retaining but a quantity of life, Which bleeds away, even as a form of wax Resolveth from his figure 'gainst the fire? What in the world should make me now deceive, Since I must lose the use of all deceit? Why should I then be false, since it is true That I must die here and live hence by truth? I say again, if Lewis do win the day, He is forsworn, if e'er those eyes of yours Behold another day break in the east: But even this night, whose black contagious breath Already smokes about the burning crest Of the old, feeble and day-wearied sun, Even this ill night, your breathing shall expire, Paying the fine of rated treachery Even with a treacherous fine of all your lives, If Lewis by your assistance win the day. Commend me to one Hubert with your king: The love of him, and this respect besides, For that my grandsire was an Englishman, Awakes my conscience to confess all this. In lieu whereof, I pray you, bear me hence From forth the noise and rumour of the field, Where I may think the remnant of my thoughts In peace, and part this body and my soul With contemplation and devout desires.
55054SALISBURYWe do believe thee: and beshrew my soul But I do love the favour and the form Of this most fair occasion, by the which We will untread the steps of damned flight, And like a bated and retired flood, Leaving our rankness and irregular course, Stoop low within those bounds we have o'erlook'd And cabby run on in obedience Even to our ocean, to our great King John. My arm shall give thee help to bear thee hence; For I do see the cruel pangs of death Right in thine eye. Away, my friends! New flight; And happy newness, that intends old right.
551(stage directions)54[Exeunt, leading off MELUN]
552(stage directions)55[Enter LEWIS and his train]
55355LEWISThe sun of heaven methought was loath to set, But stay'd and made the western welkin blush, When English measure backward their own ground In faint retire. O, bravely came we off, When with a volley of our needless shot, After such bloody toil, we bid good night; And wound our tattering colours clearly up, Last in the field, and almost lords of it!
554(stage directions)55[Enter a Messenger]
55555MESSENGERWhere is my prince, the Dauphin?
55655LEWISHere: what news?
55755MESSENGERThe Count Melun is slain; the English lords By his persuasion are again fall'n off, And your supply, which you have wish'd so long, Are cast away and sunk on Goodwin Sands.
55855LEWISAh, foul shrewd news! beshrew thy very heart! I did not think to be so sad to-night As this hath made me. Who was he that said King John did fly an hour or two before The stumbling night did part our weary powers?
55955MESSENGERWhoever spoke it, it is true, my lord.
56055LEWISWell; keep good quarter and good care to-night: The day shall not be up so soon as I, To try the fair adventure of to-morrow.
561(stage directions)55[Exeunt]
562(stage directions)56[Enter the BASTARD and HUBERT, severally]
56356HUBERTWho's there? speak, ho! speak quickly, or I shoot.
56456BASTARDA friend. What art thou?
56556HUBERTOf the part of England.
56656BASTARDWhither dost thou go?
56756HUBERTWhat's that to thee? why may not I demand Of thine affairs, as well as thou of mine?
56856BASTARDHubert, I think?
56956HUBERTThou hast a perfect thought: I will upon all hazards well believe Thou art my friend, that know'st my tongue so well. Who art thou?
57056BASTARDWho thou wilt: and if thou please, Thou mayst befriend me so much as to think I come one way of the Plantagenets.
57156HUBERTUnkind remembrance! thou and eyeless night Have done me shame: brave soldier, pardon me, That any accent breaking from thy tongue Should 'scape the true acquaintance of mine ear.
57256BASTARDCome, come; sans compliment, what news abroad?
57356HUBERTWhy, here walk I in the black brow of night, To find you out.
57456BASTARDBrief, then; and what's the news?
57556HUBERTO, my sweet sir, news fitting to the night, Black, fearful, comfortless and horrible.
57656BASTARDShow me the very wound of this ill news: I am no woman, I'll not swoon at it.
57756HUBERTThe king, I fear, is poison'd by a monk: I left him almost speechless; and broke out To acquaint you with this evil, that you might The better arm you to the sudden time, Than if you had at leisure known of this.
57856BASTARDHow did he take it? who did taste to him?
57956HUBERTA monk, I tell you; a resolved villain, Whose bowels suddenly burst out: the king Yet speaks and peradventure may recover.
58056BASTARDWho didst thou leave to tend his majesty?
58156HUBERTWhy, know you not? the lords are all come back, And brought Prince Henry in their company; At whose request the king hath pardon'd them, And they are all about his majesty.
58256BASTARDWithhold thine indignation, mighty heaven, And tempt us not to bear above our power! I'll tell tree, Hubert, half my power this night, Passing these flats, are taken by the tide; These Lincoln Washes have devoured them; Myself, well mounted, hardly have escaped. Away before: conduct me to the king; I doubt he will be dead or ere I come.
583(stage directions)56[Exeunt]
584(stage directions)57[Enter PRINCE HENRY, SALISBURY, and BIGOT]
58557PRINCE HENRYIt is too late: the life of all his blood Is touch'd corruptibly, and his pure brain, Which some suppose the soul's frail dwelling-house, Doth by the idle comments that it makes Foretell the ending of mortality.
586(stage directions)57[Enter PEMBROKE]
58757PEMBROKEHis highness yet doth speak, and holds belief That, being brought into the open air, It would allay the burning quality Of that fell poison which assaileth him.
58857PRINCE HENRYLet him be brought into the orchard here. Doth he still rage?
589(stage directions)57[Exit BIGOT]
59057PEMBROKEHe is more patient Than when you left him; even now he sung.
59157PRINCE HENRYO vanity of sickness! fierce extremes In their continuance will not feel themselves. Death, having prey'd upon the outward parts, Leaves them invisible, and his siege is now Against the mind, the which he pricks and wounds With many legions of strange fantasies, Which, in their throng and press to that last hold, Confound themselves. 'Tis strange that death should sing. I am the cygnet to this pale faint swan, Who chants a doleful hymn to his own death, And from the organ-pipe of frailty sings His soul and body to their lasting rest.
59257SALISBURYBe of good comfort, prince; for you are born To set a form upon that indigest Which he hath left so shapeless and so rude.
593(stage directions)57[Enter Attendants, and BIGOT, carrying KING JOHN in a chair]
59457KING JOHNAy, marry, now my soul hath elbow-room; It would not out at windows nor at doors. There is so hot a summer in my bosom, That all my bowels crumble up to dust: I am a scribbled form, drawn with a pen Upon a parchment, and against this fire Do I shrink up.
59557PRINCE HENRYHow fares your majesty?
59657KING JOHNPoison'd,--ill fare--dead, forsook, cast off: And none of you will bid the winter come To thrust his icy fingers in my maw, Nor let my kingdom's rivers take their course Through my burn'd bosom, nor entreat the north To make his bleak winds kiss my parched lips And comfort me with cold. I do not ask you much, I beg cold comfort; and you are so strait And so ingrateful, you deny me that.
59757PRINCE HENRYO that there were some virtue in my tears, That might relieve you!
59857KING JOHNThe salt in them is hot. Within me is a hell; and there the poison Is as a fiend confined to tyrannize On unreprievable condemned blood.
599(stage directions)57[Enter the BASTARD]
60057BASTARDO, I am scalded with my violent motion, And spleen of speed to see your majesty!
60157KING JOHNO cousin, thou art come to set mine eye: The tackle of my heart is crack'd and burn'd, And all the shrouds wherewith my life should sail Are turned to one thread, one little hair: My heart hath one poor string to stay it by, Which holds but till thy news be uttered; And then all this thou seest is but a clod And module of confounded royalty.
60257BASTARDThe Dauphin is preparing hitherward, Where heaven He knows how we shall answer him; For in a night the best part of my power, As I upon advantage did remove, Were in the Washes all unwarily Devoured by the unexpected flood.
603(stage directions)57[KING JOHN dies]
60457SALISBURYYou breathe these dead news in as dead an ear. My liege! my lord! but now a king, now thus.
60557PRINCE HENRYEven so must I run on, and even so stop. What surety of the world, what hope, what stay, When this was now a king, and now is clay?
60657BASTARDArt thou gone so? I do but stay behind To do the office for thee of revenge, And then my soul shall wait on thee to heaven, As it on earth hath been thy servant still. Now, now, you stars that move in your right spheres, Where be your powers? show now your mended faiths, And instantly return with me again, To push destruction and perpetual shame Out of the weak door of our fainting land. Straight let us seek, or straight we shall be sought; The Dauphin rages at our very heels.
60757SALISBURYIt seems you know not, then, so much as we: The Cardinal Pandulph is within at rest, Who half an hour since came from the Dauphin, And brings from him such offers of our peace As we with honour and respect may take, With purpose presently to leave this war.
60857BASTARDHe will the rather do it when he sees Ourselves well sinewed to our defence.
60957SALISBURYNay, it is in a manner done already; For many carriages he hath dispatch'd To the sea-side, and put his cause and quarrel To the disposing of the cardinal: With whom yourself, myself and other lords, If you think meet, this afternoon will post To consummate this business happily.
61057BASTARDLet it be so: and you, my noble prince, With other princes that may best be spared, Shall wait upon your father's funeral.
61157PRINCE HENRYAt Worcester must his body be interr'd; For so he will'd it.
61257BASTARDThither shall it then: And happily may your sweet self put on The lineal state and glory of the land! To whom with all submission, on my knee I do bequeath my faithful services And true subjection everlastingly.
61357SALISBURYAnd the like tender of our love we make, To rest without a spot for evermore.
61457PRINCE HENRYI have a kind soul that would give you thanks And knows not how to do it but with tears.
61557BASTARDO, let us pay the time but needful woe, Since it hath been beforehand with our griefs. This England never did, nor never shall, Lie at the proud foot of a conqueror, But when it first did help to wound itself. Now these her princes are come home again, Come the three corners of the world in arms, And we shall shock them. Nought shall make us rue, If England to itself do rest but true.
616(stage directions)57[Exeunt]