Thy sins are visited in this poor child; I have but this to say, That he is not only plagued for her sin, Eli. Thou unadvised scold, 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 canker'd grandam's will! K. Phi. Peace, lady! pause, or be more temperate: 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 Trumpet sounds. Enter Citizens upon the Walls. 1 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, K. Phi. You loving men of Angiers, Arthur's subjects, Our trumpet call'd you to this gentle parle. K. John. For our advantage; therefore hear us first. And merciless proceeding by these French By the compulsion of their ordinance For bloody power to rush upon your peace. Crave harbourage within your city-walls. K. Phi. When I have said, make answer to us both. And king o'er him and all that he enjoys: In war-like 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. 1 Cit. That can we not; but he that proves the king, 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,— K. John. To verify our title with their lives. K Phi. As many and as well-born bloods as those,— K. Phi. Stand in his face, to contradict his claim. 1 Cit. Till you compound whose right is worthiest, We for the worthiest hold the right from both. K. John. Then God forgive the sin of all those souls 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! Bast. St. George, that swinged the dragon, and e'er since Sits on his horse' back at mine hostess' door, Teach us some fence!-Sirrah [to AUSTRIA], were I at home, At your den, sirrah, with your lioness, I would set an ox-head to your lion's hide, 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 forth In best appointment all our regiments. Bast. Speed, then, to take advantage of the field. K. Phi. It shall be so;-[to LOUIS] and at the other hill Command the rest to stand.-God and our right! [Exeunt severally. After Excursions, enter a French Herald, with trumpets, to the gates. F. Her. You men of Angiers, open wide your gates, Upon the dancing banners of the French, Arthur of Bretagne England's king and yours. Enter an English Herald, with trumpets. E. Her. Rejoice, you men of Angiers, ring your bells; King John, your king and England's, doth approach, Commander of this hot malicious day: Their armours, that march'd hence so silver-bright, Our colours do return in those same hands That did display them when we first march'd forth; 1 Cit. Heralds, from off our towers, we might behold, By our best eyes cannot be censured: Blood hath bought blood, and blows have answer'd blows; One must prove greatest: while they weigh so even [power: Re-enter, on one side, KING JOHN, ELINOR, BLANCH, the BASTARD, and Forces; at the other, KING PHILIP, LOUIS, AUSTRIA, and Forces. K. John. France, hast thou yet more blood to cast away? Say, shall the current of our right run on? Whose passage, vex'd with thy impediment, Shall leave his native channel, and o'erswell With course disturb'd even thy confining shores, A peaceful progress to the ocean. K. Phi. England, thou hast not sav'd one drop of blood, In this hot trial, more than we of France; Rather, lost more: and by this hand I swear, That sways the earth this climate overlooks, We'll put thee down, 'gainst whom these arms we bear, Gracing the scroll that tells of this war's loss O, now doth Death line his dead chaps with steel; The other's peace; till then, blows, blood, and death! Lord of our presence, Angiers, and of you. 1 Cit. A greater power than we denies all this; And till it be undoubted, we do lock Our former scruple in our strong-barr'd gates; Be by some certain king purg'd and depos'd. Bast. By heaven, these scroyles of Angiers flout you, kings, And stand securely on their battlements As in a theatre, whence they gape and point Be friends awhile, and both conjointly bend Leave them as naked as the vulgar air. To whom in favour she shall give the day, |