That right in peace, which here we urge in war; Enter CHATILLON and Suite, R. U. E. K. Phi. A wonder, lady!-lo, upon thy wish, Chat. Then turn your forces from this paltry siege, England, impatient of your just demands, His marches are expedient to this town; [Distant March, R. U. E. In brief, a braver choice of dauntless spirits, K. Phi. How much unlooked for is this expedition! Enter, R. U. E., KING JOHN, ELINOR, BLANCH, FAULCONBRIDGE, PEMBROKE and Forces, with Essex, Hubert, SALISBURY, NORFOLK, and other English Noblemen, ENGLISH Herald, TRUMPET, and GUARDS, and occupy the L. of Stage. K. John. Peace 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. K. Phi. Peace be to England; if that war return From France to England, there to live in peace ' [Leading Arthur up, R. These eyes, these brows, were moulded out of his : 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 Heaven, How comes it, then, that thou art called a king, When living blood doth in these temples beat, Which own the crown that thou o'ermasterest? K. John. [Up, L. c.] From whom hast thou this great commission, France, To draw my answer from thy articles? K. Phi. [Up R. c.] From that supernal Judge, that stirs good thoughts In any breast of strong authority, To look into the blots and stains of right. Faulc. Hear the crier. Aust. What the devil art thou? Faulc. One that will play the devil, sir, with you, An 'a may catch your hide and you alone. K. Phi. Lewis, determine what we shall do straight. King John, this is the very sum of all: K. John. My 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, [Arthur goes to his mother's side. Than e'er the coward hand of France can win : Submit thee, boy. Eli. Come to thy grandam, child. Const. Do, child, go to it' grandam, child: 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. Eli. His mother shames him so, poor boy, he weeps. Const. His grandam's wrongs, and not his mother's shames, Draw those heaven-moving pearls from his poor eyes, Ay, with these crystal beads heaven shall be bribed Eli. 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. Eli. I can produce A will that bars the title of thy son. Const. Ay, who doubts that? a will! a wicked will; A woman's will; a cankered grandam's will! K. Phi. Peace, lady! pause, or be more temperate. Some trumpet summon hither to the walls, [Trumpets sound, and are answered from within, L. These men of Angiers; let us hear them speak, Cit. Who is it, that hath warned us to the walls? K. John. England, for itself. You men of Angiers, and my loving subjects, K. Phi. You loving men of Angiers, Arthur's subjects, Our trumpet called you to this gentle parle. K. John. For our advantage; therefore, hear us first.— These flags of France, that are advancéd here And merciless proceeding by these French, And let us in, your king; whose laboured spirits, Crave harbourage within your city walls. K. Phi. When I have said, make answer to us both. Leading Arthur up a little, R. c. Lo! in this hand stands young Plantagenet, your town. Son to the elder brother of this man, 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, 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 rammed 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- K. John. To verify our title with their lives. K. Phi. As many, and as well-born bloods as those,Faulc. Some bastards, too. K. Phi. 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, [Going down, R. That to their everlasting residence Before the dew of evening fall, shall fleet, In dreadful trial of our kingdom's king! K. Phi. Amen, Amen !-Mount, chevaliers! to arms! K. John. Up higher to the plain; where we'll set forth In best appointment all our regiments. Faulc. Speed, then, to take advantage of the field. hill Command the rest to stand.—God, and our right! [Exeunt, R. S. E. Faulc. St. 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'd set an ox-head to your lion's hide, And make a monster of you. Aust. Peace! no more. [Exit, R. [Exit, R. Faulc. Oh! tremble, for you hear the lion roar. Alarums. Enter a French Herald and two Attendants to the Gates, R. U. E. 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 scattered on the bleeding ground: And victory, with little loss, doth play Upon the dancing banners of the French, Who are at hand, triumphantly displayed, |