Eli. He hath a trick of Coeur-de-lion's face; K. John. Mine eye hath well examinéd his parts, Upon his death my father did bequeath His lands to me; and took it, on his death, K. John. Sirrah, your brother is legitimate: Your father's heir must have your father's land. [Rises and descends. Queen E. follows, and approaches Faulc. Some Nobles accost the King, as if referring to the litigants. Rob. Shall, then, my father's will be of no force To dispossess that child which is not his ? Eli. (UP c.) Whether hadst thou rather be a Faulconbridge, And like thy brother to enjoy thy land, Or the reputed son of Coeur-de-Lion, Lord of thy presence, and no land beside? Faulc. Madam, an if my brother had my shape, And I had his, Sir Robert his, like him ; And if my legs were two such riding-rods, My arms such eel-skins stuffed; And, to his shape, were heir to all this land, Would I might never stir from off this place, I would not be Sir Nob in any case. Eli. I like thee well. Wilt thou forsake thy fortune, Bequeath thy land to him, and follow me? I am a soldier, and now bound to France. Faulc. Brother, take you my land, I'll take my chance. [Queen E. goes up to the King, and Faulc. crosses to Robert F. Your face hath got five hundred pounds a-year, Eli. Nay, I would have you go before me thither. [Advances L. c. Faulc. Philip, my liege-so is my name begun : Philip, good old Sir Robert's wife's eldest son. K. John. From henceforth bear his name whose form thou bearest : Kneel thou down Philip, but arise more great: [Faulc. kneels in front of the King, who strikes him on the right shoulder with his sword. Arise Sir Richard, and Plantagenet. Faulc. Brother by the mother's side, give me your hand: My father gave me honour, yours gave land. When I was got Sir Robert was away. [Rises. Eli. [To the King.] The very spirit of Plantagenet!— I am thy grandame, Richard: call me so. Faulc. Madam, by chance, but not by truth: what though? Something about, a little from the right, In at the window, or else o'er the hatch; Who dares not stir by day, must walk by night, And have is have, however men do catch. Near or far off, well won is still well shot; K. John. Go, Faulconbridge; now hast thou thy desire : For France, for France; for it is more than need. [A flourish of trumpets R. Exeunt all but Faulc.-King and followers, R., Robert F. and others, L. Faulc. Brother, adieu: good fortune come to thee, For thou wast born i' the way of honesty. A foot of honour better than I was, But many a many foot of land the worse. Well, now can I make any Joan a lady: "Good den, Sir Richard!" 66 God-a-mercy, fellow!" And if his name be George, I'll call him Peter; For new-made honour doth forget men's names— 'Tis too respective, and too sociable, For your conversion. But who comes in such haste, in riding robes? Enter LADY FAULCONBRIDGE and JAMES GURNEY, L. O me! it is my mother.-How now, good lady! Lady F. Where is that slave, thy brother? where is he Is it Sir Robert's son that seek so? you Lady F. Sir Robert's son! Ay, thou unreverend boy, Sir Robert's son-why scorn'st thou at Sir Robert ? He is Sir Robert's son, and so art thou. Faulc. James Gurney, [Crosses to him,] wilt thou give us leave awhile? Gur. Good leave, good Philip. Faulc. Philip ?-sparrow! James, There's toys abroad: anon I'll tell thee more. [Exit Gurney, L. Madam, I was not old Sir Robert's son: "To whom am I beholden for these limbs ? "Sir Robert never holp to make this leg." Lady F. (R.) Hast thou conspired with thy brother, too, That for thine own gain should'st defend mine honour? What means this scorn, thou most untoward knave? Faulc. (L.) Knight, knight, good mother-Basilisco-like: What! I am dubbed-I have it on my shoulder! But, mother, I am not Sir Robert's son ; I have disclaimed Sir Robert, and his land: Legitimation, name, and all is gone. Then, good my mother, let me know my father: Lady F. Then Richard Coeur-de-Lion was thy father. Come, lady, I will show thee to my kin; [Crosses up to R. If thou hadst said him nay, it had been sin: END OF ACT I. [Exeunt, R. U. E. ACT II. SCENE 1.-France. Before the Walls of Angiers. Sentinels discovered on the Walls. Enter, R., KING PHILIP, preceded by FRENCH Herald, Nobles, Soldiers, &c., and followed by LEWIS the Dauphin, CONSTANCE, ARTHUR, and Attendants. Enter, L., AUSTRIA and Followers. King Philip advances to meet Austria. Lew. Before Angiers well met, brave Austria ! Arthur, that great fore-runner of thy blood, Richard, that robbed the lion of his heart, At our importance hither hath he come, To spread his colours, boy, in thy behalf, Of thy unnatural uncle, English John. Embrace him, love him, give him welcome hither. Arth. [Crossing to Austria.] Heaven shall forgive you The rather that you give his offspring life, Lew. A noble boy! Who would not do thee right? That to my home I will no more return, Till Angiers, and the right thou hast in France, [Arthur returns to Constance, who passes him as she aă- Const. Oh! 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. Aust. The peace of heaven is theirs, that lift their swords In such a just and charitable war. K. Phi. Well, then, to work. Our cannon shall be bent Against the brows of this resisting town.Call for our chiefest men of discipline, To cull the plots of best advantages. We'll lay before this town our royal bones, Const. Stay for an answer to your embassy, |