K. Phil. Let it be so:-Say, where will you assault? K. John. We from the west will send destruction Into this city's bosom. Aust. I from the north. K. Phil. Our thunder from the south Shall rain their drift of bullets on this town. Faul. O prudent discipline! From north to south Austria and France shoot in each other's mouth :I'll stir them to it :-Come, away, away! Cit. Hear us, great Kings: Vouchsafe a while to stay, And I shall show you peace, and fair-fac'd league; Win you this city without stroke, or wound. Persever not, but hear me, mighty Kings. K. John. Speak on, with favour; we are bent to hear. Cit. That daughter there of Spain, the Lady Blanch, Is near to England: Look upon the years Of Lewis the Dauphin, and that lovely maid. 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 mortal fury half so peremptory, As we to keep this city. Faul. Here's a stay. That shakes the rotten carcase 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! Lew. I do, my lord; and in her eye I find A wonder, or a wondrous miracle, The shadow of myself, Drawn in the flattering table of her eye. [KING JOHN, KING PHILIP, LEWIS, and Faul. Drawn in the flattering table of her eye! That hang'd, and drawn, and quarter'd, there should be, In such a love, so vile a lout as he. K. John. What say these young ones? What say you, my niece? Blan. That she is bound in honour still to do What you in wisdom still vouchsafe to say. K. John. Speak then, Prince Dauphin; can you love this lady? Lew. Nay, ask me if I can refrain from love; For I do love her most unfeignedly. K. John. Philip of France, if thou be pleas'd withal, Command thy son and daughter to join hands. Now, Citizens of Angiers, ope your gates, [Exeunt CITIZENS. Is not the Lady Constance in this troop? D Lew. She is sad and passionate, at your highness' tent.. tent This widow lady? [The CITIZENS open the Gates, and enter, to pre sent the Keys of the Town. K. John. We will heal up all : For we'll create young Arthur Duke of Bretagne, To our solemnity. [Exit SALISBURY. Go we, as well as haste will suffer us, To this unlook'd-for, unprepared, pomp. [Flourish of Drums and Trumpets.-Exeunt all but FAULCONBRIDGE. Faul. Mad 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, Το say, there is no vice, but beggary: [Exit. ACT THE THIRD. SCENE I. France. The FRENCH KING'S Tent. Enter ARTHUR, CONSTANCE, and SALISBURY. Con. Gone 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 mis-spoke, mis-heard; Con. O, if thou teach me to believe this sorrow, Arth. I do beseech you, madam, be content. Con. If thou, that bid'st me be content, wert grim, Ugly, Patch'd with foul moles, and eye-offending marks, I would not care, I then would be content: But thou art fair; and at thy birth,—dear boy! Nature and fortune join'd to make thee great: Of nature's gifts thou may'st with lilies boast, And with the half-blown rose: but fortune, O! She is corrupted, chang'd, and won from thee; She adulterates hourly with thine uncle John; And with her golden hand hath pluck'd on France To tread down fair respect of sovereignty. Tell me, thou fellow, is not France forsworn? Enevnom him with words; or get thee gone, And leave those woes alone, which I alone Am bound to underbear. I Sal. Pardon me, madam, may not go without you to the Kings. Con. Thou may'st, thou shalt, I will not go with thee: I will instruct my sorrows to be proud; For grief is proud, and makes his owner stout. Flourish of Trumpets and Drums. Enter KING JOHN, KING PHILIP, LEWIS, BLANCH, AUSTRIA, ELINOR, FAULCON BRIDGE, CHATILLON, PEMBROKE, ESSEX, HUBERT, ENGLISH HERALD, FRENCH HERALD, ENGLISH and FRENCH GENTLEMEN, and GUARDS, K.Phil. 'Tis true, fair daughter; and this blessed day Ever in France shall be kept festival; |