England and Ireland, Anjou, Touraine, Maine, Wilt thou resign them, and lay down thy arms? These men of Angiers; let us hear them speak, [The French Trumpet sounds a Parley. Enter CITIZENS upon the Walls. Cit. Who is it, that hath warn'd us to the walls? K. Phil. "Tis France, for England. K. John. England, for itself: You men of Angiers, and my loving subjects,-K. Phil. You loving men of Angiers, Arthur's subjects, Our trumpet call'd you to this gentle parle. K. John. For your advantage; therefore, hear us first. These flags of France, that are advanced here And merciless proceeding by these French, And let us in, your King, whose labour'd spirits, Crave harbourage within your city walls. K. Phil. When I have said, make answer to us both. Lo, in this right hand, 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; Than the constraint of hospitable zeal, Then tell us, shall your city call us lord, And stalk in blood to our possession? Cit. In brief, we are the King of England's subjects; For him, and in his right, we hold this town. K. John. Acknowledge then the King, and let me in. Cit. That can we not: but he that proves the King, To him will we prove loyal; till that time, Have we ramm'd up our gates against the world. K. John. Doth not the crown of England prove the King? And, if not that, I bring you witnesses, Twice fifteen thousand hearts of England's breed,— Faul. Bastards, and else. K. John. To verify our title with their lives. K. Phil. As many, and as well-born bloods as those, Faul. Some bastards too. K. Phil. Stand in his face, to contradict his claim. Cit. Till you compound whose right is worthiest, We, for the worthiest, hold the right from both. K. John. Then Heaven forgive the sin of all those souls, That to their everlasting residence, Before the dew of evening fall, shall fleet, K. Phil. Amen, amen!-Mount, chevaliers! to arms! [Flourish of Drums and Trumpets.-Exeunt all but AUSTRIA and FAULCON BRIDGE. Faul. Saint George, that swing'd the dragon, and e'er since Sits on his horseback, at mine hostess' door, I'd set an ox-head to your lion's hide, Aust. Peace; no more. Faul. O, tremble; for you hear the lion roar. [Exeunt AUSTRIA and FAULCONBRIDGE. Alarums. Enter FRENCH HERALD with a TRUMPET, who sounds a Parley. F. Her. You 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 scatter'd on the bleeding ground; While 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. Enter ENGLISH HERALD with a TRUMPET, who sounds a Parley. E. Her. Rejoice, you men of Angiers, ring your bells; King John, your King and England's, doth approach, Commander of this hot malicious day! Our colours do return in those same hands That did display them when we first march'd forth; Cit. Heralds, from off our towers we might behold, From first to last, the onset and retire Of both your armies; whose equality Blood hath bought blood, and blows have answer'd blows: One must prove greatest; while they weigh so even, We hold our town for neither; yet for both. A Charge. Enter the Two KINGS, with their Powers, as before. K. John. France, hast thou yet more blood to cast away? Say, shall the current of our right run on? K. Phil. England, thou hast not sav'd 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, Faul. Ha, majesty! how high thy glory towers, Cry, havoc, Kings! back to the stained field, The other's peace; till then, blows, blood, and death! K. John. Whose party do the townsmen yet admit ? K. Phil. Speak, Citizens, for England; who's your King? Cit. The King of England, when we know the King. K. Phil. Know him in us, that here hold up his right. K. John. In us, that are our own great deputy;, Lord of our presence, Angiers, and of you. Cit. A greater power than we, denies all this; And, till it be undoubted, we do lock Our former scruple in our strong-barr'd gates. Faul. By Heaven, these scroyles of Angiers flout you, Kings; Your royal presences be rul'd by me: Be friends a while, and both conjointly bend How like you this wild counsel, mighty states? K. John. Now, by the sky that hangs above our I like it well;-France, shall we knit our powers, Then, after, fight who shall be king of it? |