Const. There's a good grandam, boy, that would Bast. One 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. Blanch. O, well did he become that lion's robe, That did disrobe the lion of that robe!. Bast. It lies as sightly on the back of him, But, ass, I'll take that burden from your back; ears With this abundance of superfluous breath? K. Phil. Lewis, determine what we shall do straight. Lew. Women and fools, break off your conference. King John, this is the very sum of all,- Wilt thou resign them, and lay down thy arms? Arthur of Bretagne, yield thee to my hand; C Than e'er the coward hand of France can win: Submit thee, boy. Elin. Come to thy grandam, child. Const. Do, child, go to it' grandaın, child; Give grandam kingdom, and it' grandam will Give it a plum, a cherry, and a fig: There's a good grandam. Arth. Good my mother, peace! I would, that I were low laid in my grave; I am not worth this coil that's made for me. weeps. Const. Now shame upon you, whe'r she does, or no! His grandam's wrongs, and not his mother's shames, Ay, with these crystal beads heaven shall be brib'd Elin. Thou monstrous slanderer of heaven and earth! Const. Thou monstrous injurer of heaven and earth! Call not me slanderer; thou, and thine, usurp The dominations, royalties, and rights, Of this oppressed boy: This is thy eldest 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, Removed from thy sin-conceiving womb. Const. I have but this to say,― That he's not only plagued for her sin, But God hath made her sin and her the plague And with her plague, her sin; his injury All punish'd in the person of this child, Elin. Thou unadvised scold, I can produce Const. Ay, who doubts that? a will! a wicked will; A woman's will; a canker'd grandam's will! K. Phil. Peace, lady; pause, or be more tempe rate: 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, Trumpets sound. Enter Citizens upon the walls. 1 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 loying men of Angiers, Arthur's subjects, Our trumpet call'd you to this gentle parle. K. John. For our advantage;-Therefore, hear us first. These flags of France, that are advanced here Before the eye and prospect of your town, And merciless proceeding by these French, They shoot but calm words, folded up in smoke, 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. K.Phil. When 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: In warlike march these greens before your town; Than the constraint of hospitable zeal, To him that owes it; namely, this young prince: With unhack'd swords, and helmets all unbruis'd, 1 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. |