To look into the blots and stains of right. That judge hath made me guardian to this boy: K. John. Alack, thou dost usurp authority. His father never was so true begot ; It cannot be, an if thou wert his mother. Eli. There's a good mother, boy, that blots thy father. Const. There's a good grandam, boy, that would blot thee. Aust. Peace! Bust. Aust. Hear the crier. What the devil art thou? Bast. One that will play the devil, sir, with you, An'a may catch your hide and you alone. You are the hare of whom the proverb goes, Whose valour plucks dead lions by the beard; I'll smoke your skin-coat, an I catch you right; Sirrah, look to't; i'faith, I will, i'faith. Blanch. O, well did he become that lion's robe, That did disrobe the lion of that robe ! Bast. It lies as sightly on the back of him, As great Aleides' shoes upon an ass: But, ass, I'll take that burden from your back; * Austria wears a lion's skin. Aust. What cracker is this same, that deafs our ears With this abundance of superfluous breath? K. Phi. Lewis, determine what we shall do straight. Lew. Women and fools, break off your confer ence. King John, this is the very sum of all, England, and Ireland, Anjou, Touraine, Maine, Wilt thou resign them, and lay down thy arms? Eli. Come to thy grandam, child. Const. Do, child, go to it' grandam, child; Give grandam kingdom, and it' grandam will Give it a plum, a cherry, and a fig: There's a good grandam. 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. weeps. Const. Now shame upon you, whe'rt she does, or no! His grandam's wrongs, and not his mother's shames, Draw those heaven-moving pearls from his poor eyes, Which heaven shall take in nature of a fee; Ay, with these crystal beads heaven shall be brib'd To do him justice, and revenge on you. Eli. Thou monstrous slanderer of heaven and earth! Const. Thou monstrous injurer of heaven and earth! Call not me slanderer; thou, and thine, usurp Of this oppressed boy: This is thy eldest son's son, Const. I have but this to say, That he's not only plagued for her sin, Eli. Thou unadvised scold, I can produce 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 temper. ate: It ill beseems this presence, to cry aim⭑ To these ill-tuned repetitions. Some trumpet summon hither to the walls Trumpets sound. 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 parlet. K. John. For our advantage;-Therefore, hear us first. To encourage. t Conference. These flags of France, that are advanced here And merciless proceeding by these French, By the compulsion of their ordnance By this time from their fixed beds of lime They shoot but calin words, folded up in smoke, And let us in, your king; whose labour'd spirits, K. Phi. When I have said, make answer to us both. Lo, in this right hand, whose protection For this down-trodden equity, we tread In warlike march these greens before your town; Being no further enemy to you, * Worn out. Than the constraint of hospitable zeal, To him that owes it; namely, this young prince: peace. 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 iu. 1 Cit. That can we not: but he that proves the king, To him will we prove loyal; till that time, And, if not that, I bring you witnesses, Twice fifteen thousand hearts of England's breed,― Bast. Bastards, and else. K. John. To verify our title with their lives. |