Even till unfenced desolation Leave them as naked as the vulgar air. To whom in favour she shall give the day, How like you this wild counsel, mighty states? K. John. Now, by the sky that hangs above our I like it well;-France, shall we knit our powers, Bast. An if thou hast the mettle of a king,— Being wrong'd, as we are, by this peevish town,Turn thou the mouth of thy artillery, As we will ours, against these saucy walls: sault? K. John. We from the west will send destruction Into this city's bosom. Aust. I from the north. K. Phi. Our thunder from the south, Shall rain their drift of bullets on this town. Bast. 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! [Aside. 1 Cit. Hear us, great kings: vouchsafe a while to stay, And I shall show you peace, and fair-faced league; Perséver not, but hear me, mighty kings. K. John. Speak on, with favour; we are bent to hear. 1 Cit. That daughter there of Spain, the lady Blanch, Is near to England; Look upon the years And two such shores to two such streams made one, This union shall do more than battery can, Lions more confident, mountains and rocks As we to keep this city. Bast. 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! He speaks plain cannon, fire, and smoke, and bounce; He gives the bastinado with his tongue; Eli. Son, list to this conjunction, make this match; Mark, how they whisper: urge them, while their souls Are capable of this ambition: Lest zeal, now melted, by the windy breath Cool and congeal again to what it was. 1 Cit. Why answer not the double majesties This friendly treaty of our threaten'd town? K. Phi. Speak England first, that hath been forward first To speak unto this city: What say you? K. John. If that the Dauphin there, thy prince ly son, Can in this book of beauty read, I love, Shall gild her bridal bed; and make her rich As she in beauty, education, blood, Holds hand with any princess of the world. K. Phi. What say'st thou, boy? look in the lady's face. Lew. I do, my lord, and in her eye I find The shadow of myself form'd in her eye; Till now infixed I beheld myself, Drawn in the flattering table1 of her eye. [Whispers with Blanch. Bast. Drawn in the flattering table of her eye Hang'd in the frowning wrinkle of her brow!And quarter'd in her heart!-he doth espy Himself love's traitor: This is pity now, That hang'd, and drawn, and quarter'd, there should be, In such a love, so vile a lout as he. Blanch. My uncle's will, in this respect, is mine: If he see aught in you, that makes him like, That any thing he sees, which moves his liking, I can with ease translate it to my will; Or, if you will (to speak more properly,) I will enforce it easily to my love. Further I will not flatter you, my lord, That all I see in you is worthy love, Than this,--that nothing do I see in you (Though churlish thoughts themselves should be your judge,) That I can find should merit any hate. K. John. What say these young ones? What say you, my niece? Blanch. That she is bound in honour still to do What you in wisdom shall vouchsafe to say. (1) Picture 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. Then do I give Volquessen, Touraine, Poictiers, and Anjou, these five provinces, Aust. And your lips too; for, I am well assur'd, That I did so, when I was first assur'd.1 K. Phi. Now, citizens of Angiers, ope your gates, The rites of marriage shall be solemniz'd.- ness' tent. K. Phi. And, by my faith, this league, that we have made, Will give her sadness very little cure. Brother of England, how may we content K. John. (1) Affianced. (2) Mournful. (3) Advantage. |