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ACT II.
Scene I. France. Before Angiers.
Enter Austria and forces, drums, etc. on one side: on the other King Philip of France and his Power; Lewis, Arthur, Constance and attendants.[75]
Lew. Before Angiers well met, brave Austria.[76]
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:5
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:10
Embrace him, love him, give him welcome hither.
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:5
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:10
Embrace him, love him, give him welcome hither.
Arth. God shall forgive you Cœur-de-lion's death
The rather that you give his offspring life,
Shadowing their right under your wings of war:[77]
I give you welcome with a powerless hand,15
But with a heart full of unstained love:[78]
Welcome before the gates of Angiers, duke.
The rather that you give his offspring life,
Shadowing their right under your wings of war:[77]
I give you welcome with a powerless hand,15
But with a heart full of unstained love:[78]
Welcome before the gates of Angiers, duke.
Lew. A noble boy! Who would not do thee right?
Aust. Upon thy cheek lay I this zealous kiss,
As seal to this indenture of my love,20
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,25
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[79]
Salute thee for her king: till then, fair boy,30
Will I not think of home, but follow arms.
As seal to this indenture of my love,20
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,25
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[79]
Salute thee for her king: till then, fair boy,30
Will I not think of home, but follow arms.
Const. O, 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!
Till your strong hand shall help to give him strength
To make a more requital to your love!
Aust. The peace of heaven is theirs that lift their swords[80]35
In such a just and charitable war.
In such a just and charitable war.
K. Phi. Well then, to work: our cannon shall be bent[81]
Against the brows of this resisting town.
Call for our chiefest men of discipline,
To cull the plots of best advantages:40
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.
Against the brows of this resisting town.
Call for our chiefest men of discipline,
To cull the plots of best advantages:40
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.
Const. Stay for an answer to your embassy,
Lest unadvised you stain your swords with blood:45
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.[82]
Lest unadvised you stain your swords with blood:45
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.[82]
Enter Chatillon.
K. Phi. A wonder, lady! lo, upon thy wish,50
Our messenger Chatillon is arrived!
What England says, say briefly, gentle lord;
We coldly pause for thee; Chatillon, speak.
Our messenger Chatillon is arrived!
What England says, say briefly, gentle lord;
We coldly pause for thee; Chatillon, speak.
Chat. Then turn your forces from this paltry siege
And stir them up against a mightier task.55
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,60
His forces strong, his soldiers confident.
With him along is come the mother-queen,
An Ate, stirring him to blood and strife;[83]
With her her niece, the Lady Blanch of Spain;
With them a bastard of the king's deceased;[84]65
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,[85]70
To make a hazard of new fortunes here:
In brief, a braver choice of dauntless spirits
Than now the English bottoms have waft o'er
Did never float upon the swelling tide,
To do offence and scath in Christendom. [Drum beats.[86]75
The interruption of their churlish drums
Cuts off more circumstance: they are at hand,[87]
To parley or to fight; therefore prepare.[87]
And stir them up against a mightier task.55
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,60
His forces strong, his soldiers confident.
With him along is come the mother-queen,
An Ate, stirring him to blood and strife;[83]
With her her niece, the Lady Blanch of Spain;
With them a bastard of the king's deceased;[84]65
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,[85]70
To make a hazard of new fortunes here:
In brief, a braver choice of dauntless spirits
Than now the English bottoms have waft o'er
Did never float upon the swelling tide,
To do offence and scath in Christendom. [Drum beats.[86]75
The interruption of their churlish drums
Cuts off more circumstance: they are at hand,[87]
To parley or to fight; therefore prepare.[87]
K. Phi. How much unlook'd for is this expedition!
Aust. By how much unexpected, by so much80
We must awake endeavour for defence;
For courage mounteth with occasion:
Let them be welcome then; we are prepared.
We must awake endeavour for defence;
For courage mounteth with occasion:
Let them be welcome then; we are prepared.
Enter King John, Elinor, Blanch, the Bastard, Lords, and Forces.[88]
K. John. Peace be to France, if France in peace permit[89]
Our just and lineal entrance to our own;85
If not, bleed France, and peace ascend to heaven,
Whiles we, God's wrathful agent, do correct[90]
Their proud contempt that beats His peace to heaven.[91]
Our just and lineal entrance to our own;85
If not, bleed France, and peace ascend to heaven,
Whiles we, God's wrathful agent, do correct[90]
Their proud contempt that beats His peace to heaven.[91]
K. Phi. Peace be to England, if that war return
From France to England, there to live in peace.90
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,[92]95
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:100
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.[93]
That Geffrey was thy elder brother born,
And this his son; England was Geffrey's right105
And this is Geffrey's: in the name of God[94]
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?
From France to England, there to live in peace.90
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,[92]95
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:100
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.[93]
That Geffrey was thy elder brother born,
And this his son; England was Geffrey's right105
And this is Geffrey's: in the name of God[94]
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?
K. John. From whom hast thou this great commission, France,110
To draw my answer from thy articles?[95]
To draw my answer from thy articles?[95]
K. Phi. From that supernal judge, that stirs good thoughts
In any breast of strong authority,[96]
To look into the blots and stains of right:[97]
That judge hath made me guardian to this boy:115
Under whose warrant I impeach thy wrong
And by whose help I mean to chastise it.
In any breast of strong authority,[96]
To look into the blots and stains of right:[97]
That judge hath made me guardian to this boy:115
Under whose warrant I impeach thy wrong
And by whose help I mean to chastise it.
K. John. Alack, thou dost usurp authority.[98]
Const. Let me make answer; thy usurping son.[98]
Eli. Out, insolent! thy bastard shall be king,[98]
That thou mayst be a queen, and check the world![98]
That thou mayst be a queen, and check the world![98]
Const. My bed was ever to thy son as true[98]
As thine was to thy husband; and this boy[98]125
Liker in feature to his father Geffrey[98]
Than thou and John in manners; being as like[98][101]
As rain to water, or devil to his dam.[98]
My boy a bastard! By my soul, I think[98]
His father never was so true begot:[98]130
It cannot be, an if thou wert his mother.[98][102]
As thine was to thy husband; and this boy[98]125
Liker in feature to his father Geffrey[98]
Than thou and John in manners; being as like[98][101]
As rain to water, or devil to his dam.[98]
My boy a bastard! By my soul, I think[98]
His father never was so true begot:[98]130
It cannot be, an if thou wert his mother.[98][102]
Eli. There's a good mother, boy, that blots thy father.[98]
Aust. Peace![98]
Bast. Hear the crier.[98]
Aust. What the devil art thou?[98]
Bast. One that will play the devil, sir, with you,[98]135
An a' may catch your hide and you alone:[98][104]
You are the hare of whom the proverb goes,[98]
Whose valour plucks dead lions by the beard:[98]
I'll smoke your skin-coat, an I catch you right;[98][105]
Sirrah, look to't; i' faith, I will, i' faith.[98]140
An a' may catch your hide and you alone:[98][104]
You are the hare of whom the proverb goes,[98]
Whose valour plucks dead lions by the beard:[98]
I'll smoke your skin-coat, an I catch you right;[98][105]
Sirrah, look to't; i' faith, I will, i' faith.[98]140
Bast. It lies as sightly on the back of him[98]
As great Alcides' shows upon an ass:[98][106]
But, ass, I'll take that burthen from your back,[98]145
Or lay on that shall make your shoulders crack.[98]
As great Alcides' shows upon an ass:[98][106]
But, ass, I'll take that burthen from your back,[98]145
Or lay on that shall make your shoulders crack.[98]
Aust. What cracker is this same that deafs our ears[98]
With this abundance of superfluous breath?[98]
With this abundance of superfluous breath?[98]
Lew. Women and fools, break off your conference.[98][108]150
King John, this is the very sum of all;
England and Ireland, Anjou, Touraine, Maine,[109]
In right of Arthur do I claim of thee:[110]
Wilt thou resign them and lay down thy arms?
King John, this is the very sum of all;
England and Ireland, Anjou, Touraine, Maine,[109]
In right of Arthur do I claim of thee:[110]
Wilt thou resign them and lay down thy arms?
K. John. My life as soon: I do defy thee, France.155
Arthur of Bretagne, yield thee to my hand;[111]
And out of my dear love I'll give thee more
Than e'er the coward hand of France can win:
Submit thee, boy.[112]
Arthur of Bretagne, yield thee to my hand;[111]
And out of my dear love I'll give thee more
Than e'er the coward hand of France can win:
Submit thee, boy.[112]
Eli. Come to thy grandam, child.[112]
Const. Do, child, go to it grandam, child;[112][113][114]160
Give grandam kingdom, and it grandam will[112][114]
Give it a plum, a cherry, and a fig:[112]
There's a good grandam.[112]
Give grandam kingdom, and it grandam will[112][114]
Give it a plum, a cherry, and a fig:[112]
There's a good grandam.[112]
Arth. Good my mother, peace![112]
I would that I were low laid in my grave:[112]
I am not worth this coil that's made for me.[112]165
I would that I were low laid in my grave:[112]
I am not worth this coil that's made for me.[112]165
Eli. His mother shames him so, poor boy, he weeps.[112]
Const. Now shame upon you, whether she does or no![112][115]
His grandam's wrongs, and not his mother's shames,[112][116]
Draws those heaven-moving pearls from his poor eyes,[112][117]
Which heaven shall take in nature of a fee;[112]170
Ay, with these crystal beads heaven shall be bribed[112][118]
To do him justice and revenge on you.[112]
His grandam's wrongs, and not his mother's shames,[112][116]
Draws those heaven-moving pearls from his poor eyes,[112][117]
Which heaven shall take in nature of a fee;[112]170
Ay, with these crystal beads heaven shall be bribed[112][118]
To do him justice and revenge on you.[112]
Eli. Thou monstrous slanderer of heaven and earth![112]
Const. Thou monstrous injurer of heaven and earth![112]
Call not me slanderer; thou and thine usurp[112][119]175
The dominations, royalties and rights[112][120]
Of this oppressed boy: this is thy eld'st son's son,[112][121]
Infortunate in nothing but in thee:[112]
Thy sins are visited in this poor child;[112][122]
The canon of the law is laid on him,[112]180
Being but the second generation[112]
Removed from thy sin-conceiving womb.[112]
Call not me slanderer; thou and thine usurp[112][119]175
The dominations, royalties and rights[112][120]
Of this oppressed boy: this is thy eld'st son's son,[112][121]
Infortunate in nothing but in thee:[112]
Thy sins are visited in this poor child;[112][122]
The canon of the law is laid on him,[112]180
Being but the second generation[112]
Removed from thy sin-conceiving womb.[112]
Const. I have but this to say,[112]
That he is not only plagued for her sin,[112]
But God hath made her sin and her the plague[112]185
On this removed issue, plagued for her[112]
And with her plague; her sin his injury,[112][124]
Her injury the beadle to her sin,[112][125]
All punish'd in the person of this child,[112]
And all for her; a plague upon her![112][126]190
That he is not only plagued for her sin,[112]
But God hath made her sin and her the plague[112]185
On this removed issue, plagued for her[112]
And with her plague; her sin his injury,[112][124]
Her injury the beadle to her sin,[112][125]
All punish'd in the person of this child,[112]
And all for her; a plague upon her![112][126]190
Trumpet sounds. Enter certain Citizens upon the walls.[128]
First Cit. Who is it that hath warn'd us to the walls?
K. Phi. 'Tis France, for England.
K. John. England, for itself.
You men of Angiers, and my loving subjects,—
You men of Angiers, and my loving subjects,—
K. Phi. You loving men of Angiers, Arthur's subjects,
Our trumpet call'd you to this gentle parle,—205
Our trumpet call'd you to this gentle parle,—205
K. John. For our advantage; therefore hear us first.[129]
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,210
And ready mounted are they to spit forth
Their iron indignation 'gainst your walls:
All preparation for a bloody siege[130]
And merciless proceeding by these French[131]
Confronts your city's eyes, your winking gates;[132]215
And but for our approach those sleeping stones,
That as a waist doth girdle you about,[133]
By the compulsion of their ordinance[134]
By this time from their fixed beds of lime
Had been dishabited, and wide havoc made220
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 countercheck before your gates,
To save unscratch'd your city's threatened cheeks,[135]225
Behold, the French amazed vouchsafe a parle;
And now, instead of bullets wrapp'd in fire,[136]
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:230
Which trust accordingly kind citizens,
And let us in, your king, whose labour'd spirits,[137]
Forwearied in this action of swift speed,[138]
Crave harbourage within your city walls.[139]
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,210
And ready mounted are they to spit forth
Their iron indignation 'gainst your walls:
All preparation for a bloody siege[130]
And merciless proceeding by these French[131]
Confronts your city's eyes, your winking gates;[132]215
And but for our approach those sleeping stones,
That as a waist doth girdle you about,[133]
By the compulsion of their ordinance[134]
By this time from their fixed beds of lime
Had been dishabited, and wide havoc made220
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 countercheck before your gates,
To save unscratch'd your city's threatened cheeks,[135]225
Behold, the French amazed vouchsafe a parle;
And now, instead of bullets wrapp'd in fire,[136]
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:230
Which trust accordingly kind citizens,
And let us in, your king, whose labour'd spirits,[137]
Forwearied in this action of swift speed,[138]
Crave harbourage within your city walls.[139]
K. Phi. When I have said, make answer to us both.235
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:240
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 child245
Religiously provokes. Be pleased then
To pay that duty which you truly owe
To him that owes it, namely this young prince:[140]
And then our arms, like to a muzzled bear,
Save in aspect, hath all offence seal'd up;[141]250
Our cannons' malice vainly shall be spent
Against the invulnerable clouds of heaven;[142]
And with a blessed and unvex'd retire,
With unhack'd swords and helmets all unbruised.
We will bear home that lusty blood again255
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,[143]
'Tis not the roundure of your old-faced walls[144]
Can hide you from our messengers of war,260
Though all these English and their discipline
Were harbour'd in their rude circumference.[145]
Then tell us, shall your city call us lord,
In that behalf which we have challenged it?[146]
Or shall we give the signal to our rage265
And stalk in blood to our possession?
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:240
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 child245
Religiously provokes. Be pleased then
To pay that duty which you truly owe
To him that owes it, namely this young prince:[140]
And then our arms, like to a muzzled bear,
Save in aspect, hath all offence seal'd up;[141]250
Our cannons' malice vainly shall be spent
Against the invulnerable clouds of heaven;[142]
And with a blessed and unvex'd retire,
With unhack'd swords and helmets all unbruised.
We will bear home that lusty blood again255
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,[143]
'Tis not the roundure of your old-faced walls[144]
Can hide you from our messengers of war,260
Though all these English and their discipline
Were harbour'd in their rude circumference.[145]
Then tell us, shall your city call us lord,
In that behalf which we have challenged it?[146]
Or shall we give the signal to our rage265
And stalk in blood to our possession?
First Cit. In brief, we are the king of England's subjects:
For him, and in his right, we hold this town.[147]
For him, and in his right, we hold this town.[147]
K. John. Acknowledge then the king, and let me in.
First Cit. That can we not; but he that proves the king,270
To him will we prove loyal: till that time
Have we ramm'd up our gates against the world.
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,—275
And if not that, I bring you witnesses,
Twice fifteen thousand hearts of England's breed,—275
Bast. Bastards, and else.[148]
K. John. To verify our title with their lives.
K. Phi. As many and as well-born bloods as those,—
Bast. Some bastards too.[148]
K. Phi. Stand in his face to contradict his claim.280
First Cit. Till you compound whose right is worthiest,
We for the worthiest hold the right from both.
We for the worthiest hold the right from both.
K. John. Then God forgive the sin of all those souls[149]
That to their everlasting residence,
Before the dew of evening fall, shall fleet,285
In dreadful trial of our kingdom's king!
That to their everlasting residence,
Before the dew of evening fall, shall fleet,285
In dreadful trial of our kingdom's king!
K. Phi. Amen, amen! Mount, chevaliers! to arms!
Bast. Saint George, that swinged the dragon, and e'er since[150]
Sits on his horse back at mine hostess' door,[150][151]
Teach us some fence! [To Aust.] Sirrah, were I at home,[152]290
At your den, sirrah, with your lioness,
I would set an ox-head to your lion's hide,[153]
And make a monster of you.
Sits on his horse back at mine hostess' door,[150][151]
Teach us some fence! [To Aust.] Sirrah, were I at home,[152]290
At your den, sirrah, with your lioness,
I would set an ox-head to your lion's hide,[153]
And make a monster of you.
Aust. Peace! no more.
Bast. O, tremble, for you hear the lion roar.
K. John. Up higher to the plain; where we'll set forth295
In best appointment all our regiments.
In best appointment all our regiments.
Bast. Speed then, to take advantage of the field.[154]
K. Phi. It shall be so; and at the other hill[155]
Command the rest to stand. God and our right! [Exeunt.
Command the rest to stand. God and our right! [Exeunt.
Here after excursions, enter the Herald of France, with trumpets, to the gates.[156]