us first.

K. Philip. Women, and fools; break off your Whose title they admit, Arthur's or John's. conference.

[Trumpets sound. King John, this is the very sum of all,

Enter Citizens upon the walls, England, and Ireland, Anjou, Touraine, Maine, 1 Cit. Who is it that hath warn'dus to the walls? In right of Arthur do I claim of thee:

5 K. Phil. 'Tis France, for England. Wilt thou resign them, and lay down thy arms? K. John. England, for itself:

K. John. My life assoon:-1 do defy thee France. You men of Angiers, and my loving subjects,Arthur of Pretagne, yield thee to my hand : K. Phil. You loving men of Angiers, Arthur's And, out of my dear love, I'll give thee more

subjects, Than e'er the coward hand of France can win: 10 Our trumpet call'd you to this gentle parle. Submit thee, boy.

K. John. For our advantage;

-Therefore, hear Eli. Come to thy grandam, child.

Const. Do, child, go to it' grandam, child: These flags of France, that are advanced here Give grandam kingdom, and it grandam will Before the eyes and prospect of your town, Give it a plum, a cherry, and a lig:

15 Have hither march'd to your endamagement: There's a good grandain,

The cannons have their bowels full of wrath;
Arth. Good my mother, peace!

And ready mounted are they, to spit forth
I would, that I were low laid in my grave; Their iron indignation 'gainst your walls:
I am not worth this coil that's made for me, All preparation for a bloody siege,
Eli. Ifis mother shames him so, poor boy, he 20 And merciless proceeding by these French,
weeps.

Contronts your city's eyes, your winking gates;
Const. How shameuponyou,whe'rshe does or no! And, but for our approach, those sleeping stones,
Ilis grandam's wrongs, and nothis mother's shames, That as a waist do girdle you about,
Draw those heaven-moving pearls from his poor By the compulsion of their ordinance
Which heaven shall take in nature of a fee ; [eyes, 25 By this time from their fixed beds of lime
Ay, with these crystal beads heaven shall be brib'd Jad been dishabited, and wide havock made
To do him justice, and revenge on you.

For bloody power to rush upon your peace. Eli.Thou monstroysslanderer of heavenandearth! But, on the sight of us, your lawful king, Const.Thoumonstronsinjurerofheavenandearth! Who, painfully, with much expedient march, Call not me slanderer ; thou, and thine, usurp 30 Have brought a countercheck before your gates, The dominations, royalties, and rights,

To saveunscratch'd yourcity's threaten'dcheeks, Of this oppressed boy: This is the eldest son's son, Behold, the French, amaz’d, vouchsafe a parle; Infortunate in nothing but in thee;

And now, instead of bullets wrap'd in fire, Thy sins are visited in this poor child;

To make a shaking fever in your walls, The canon of the law is laid on him,

35 They shoot but calm words, folded up in smoke, Being but the second generation

To make a faithless error in your ears: Removed from thy sin-conceiving womb. Which trust accordingly, kind citizens, K. John. Beldam, bave done.

And let us in, your king; whose laboured spirits, Const. I have but this to say,

Forweary'd in this action of swift speed, That he's not only plagued for her sin, 40 Crave harbourage within your city walls. But God hath made her sin and her the plague K. Phil. When I have said, inake answer to us On this removed issue, plagu'd for her,

Lo, in this right hand, whose protection [both, And with her'.-Plague her son; his injury, Is most divinely vow'd upon the right Iler injury, the beadle to her sin,

Of him it holds, stands your Plantagenet; All punishi'd in the person of this child,

45 Son to the elder brother of this man, And all for bera; A plague upon her!

Aud king o'er him, and all that he enjoys:
Eli. Thou unadvised scold, I can produce For this down-trodden equity, we tread
A will, that bars the title of thy son. (will; In warlike march these greens before your town;

Const. Ay, who cloubts that? a will!. a wicked Being no further enemy to you,
A woman's will; a cankred grandam's will! 50 Than the constraint of ho pitable zeal,

K. Phil. Peace lady; pause, or be more tempe- In the relief of this oppressed child,
It ill beseenis this présence, to cry aim' [rate: Religiously provokes. Be pleased then
To these ill-tuned repetitions.--

To pay that duty, which you truly owe,
Some trumpet summon hither to the walls To hiin that owest it; namely, this young prince;
Tiese men of Angiers; let us hear them speak, 55|And then our arms, like to a muzzled bear,
1 Dr. Johnson thus explains this very obscure passage:

“ He is not only made miserable by vengeance for her sin or crime; but her sin, hes of spring, and she, are made thie instruments of that yenge ance, ou this descendant; who, though of the second generation, is plagued for her and with her; to whom she is not only the cause but the instrument of evil." "The saine able and judicious coinientator assigps the following meaning to this perplexed sentence: “ Instead of inflicting venge. ance on this innocent and remote descendant, punish her son, her immediate offspring: then the ailliction will fall where it is deserved; his injury will be her injnry, and the misery of her sin; her son will be a bendle, or chastiser, to her crimes, which are now all punished ia the person of this child.” d, e, to encourage. See note*, p. 57: * i. e. owns it.

3

Sare in aspect, have all offence seal'd up; Much work for tears in many an English motber,
Our cannons' malice vainly shall be spent Whose sons lye scatter'd on the bleeding ground:
Against the invulnerable clouds of heaven ; Many a widow's husband groveling lies,
And, with a blessed and unvex'd retire,

Coldly embracing the discolour'd earth;
With unhack'd swords, and helmets all unbruis'd, 5 and victory, with little loss, doth play
We will bear home that lusty blood again, Upon the dancing banners of the French;
Which here we came to spout against your town,

Who are at hand, triumphantly display'd
And leave your children, wives, and you, in peace. To enter conquerors, and to proclainı
But if you fondly pass our proffer'd offer, Arthus of Bretagne, England's king and yours..
'Tis not the roundure' of your old fac'd walls 10 Enter English Herald, with trumpets.
Can hide you from our messengers of war;

E. Her. Rejoice, you men of Angiers, ring your Though all these English, and their discipline,

bells;

[proach, Were harbour'd in their rude circumference. King John, your king, and England's, Joth apThen, tell us, shall your city call us lord,

Commander of this hot malicious day! In that behalf which we have challeng'd it? 15 Their armours, that march'd henceso silver-bright, Or shall we give the signal to our rage,

Hither return all gilt with Frenchmen's blood; And stalk in blood to our possession? [jects : There stuck no plume in any English crest,

Cit. In brief, we are the king of England's sub- That is reinoved by a staff of France; For him, and in his right, we hold this town. [in. Our colours du return in those same hands K. Johr. Acknowledge then the king, and let ine 20 That did display them when we first march'd forth;

Cit. That can we not; but he that proves the king, And, like a jolly troop of huntsmen, come To him will we prove loyal ; 'till that time, Our lusty English, all with purpled hands, Have we ramm'd up our gates against the world. Dy'd in the dying slaughter of their toes: K. John. Doth not the crown of England prove Open your gates, and give the victors way: [hold, the king?

125 Cit. 'Heralds, from off our towers we might beAnd, if not that, I bring you witnesses,

From first to last, the onset and retire Twicefifteenthousand heartsof England's breed,– Of both your armies; whose equality Fuulc. Bastards, and else.

By our best eyes cannot be censured: [blows: K. John.--To verify our title with their lives. Blood hath bought blood, and blows have answerd K. Phil. As many, and as well-born bloods as 30 Strength matchi'd with strength, and power conFaule. Some ba tards too.

those,

fronted power: K. Phil.-Stand in his face, to contradict his Both are alike ; and both alike we like. claim.

One must prove greatest; whilethey weigh so even,
Cit."Till you compound whose right is worthiest, We hold our town for neither: yet for both.
We, for the worthiest, hold the right froin both. 35 Enter the two Kings with their powers, at several doors.

K. John. Then God forgive the sin of all those K.John. France, hast thou yet more blood to cast
That to their everlasting residence, [souls Say, shall the current of our right run on? (away?
Before the dew of evening fall, shall fleet, Whose passage vext with thy inpediment,
In dreadful trial of our kingdom's king!

Shall leave his native channel, and o'er-swell K. Phil. Amen, Amen -Mount, chevaliers ! 40 With course disturb'd even thy confining shores; to arins!

[and e'er since Unless thou let his silver water keep Faulc. Saint George, -that swing’d the dragon, A peaceful progress to the ocean.

[blood, Sits on his horseback at mine hostess' door,

K.Phil

. England, thou hast not sav'd one drop of Teach us some fence!—Sirrah, were I at home, In this hot trial, more than we of France; At your den, sirrah, with your lioness,

45 Rather, lost more: and by this hand I swear, Pd set an ox-head to your lion's hide,

That sways the earth this climate over-looksAnd make a monster of you.- [To Austria. Before we will lay by our just-borne arms, [bear, Aust. Peace; no more.

We'll put thee down,'gainst whom these arms we Faule. O, tremble; for you hear the lion roar. Or add a royal number to the dead;

K. John. Up higher to the plain ; where we'll 50 Gracing the scrow!, that tells of this war's loss, In best appointinent, all our regiments. (set forth, With slaughter coupled to the name of kings.

Faulc. Speed then, to take advantage of the field. Faulc. Ha, majesty! how high thy glory towers,

K. Phil. It shall be so; and at the other hill When the rich blood of kings is set on fire! Command the rest to stand.--God, and our right! Oh, now doth death line bis dead chaps with steel;

[Ereunt. 55 The swords of soldiers are his teeth, his phangs; SCENE II.

And now he feasts, mouthing the flesh of men,

In undetermin'd differences of kings.After ercursions, enter the Herald of France,

Why stand these royal fronts amazed thus? with trumpets, to the gates.

Cry, Havock, kings! back to the stained field, F. Her. You men of Augiers, open wide your 60 You equal potents", fiery-kindled spirits ! And let young Arthur, duke of Bretagne, in; (gate Then let confusion of one part contírm [death! Who, by the band of France, this day hath inadel fihe other's peace; 'till then, blows, blood and 'i.ç. the circle. 'i. e. command slaughter to proceed. Potentates.

K. John.

1

a

K.John. Whose party do the townsmen yet ad- Cit. Hear us, great kings: vouchsafe a while Init?

[your king?

to stay, K. Phil. Speak, citizens, for England; who's And I shall shew you peace, and fair-facd league; Cit. The king of England, when we know the Win you this city without stroke, or wound; king.

[his right. 5 Rescue those breathing lives to die in beds, K. Phil. Know him in us, that here hold up That here come sacrifices for the field:

K. John. In us, that are our own great deputy, Persever not, but hear me, mighty kings. And bear possession of our person here;

K. John. Speak on, with favour; we are bent Lord of our presence, Angiers, and of you.

to hear.

[Blanch, Cit. A greater power, than he, denies all this; 10 Cit. That daughter there of Spain, the lady And, 'till it be undoubted, we do lock

Is near to England: Look upon the years Our former scruple in our strong-barr'd gates: Of Lewis the Dauphin, and that forely maid : Kings of our fears; until our fears, resolv'd, If lusty love should go in quest of beauty, Be by some certain king purg'd and depos’d. Where should be find it fairer than in Blanch! Faulc. By heaven, these scroyles of Angiers 15 If zealous' love should go in search of vinue, Hout you, kings;

Where should be find it purer than in Blanch? And stand securely on their battlements,

If love ambitious sought a match of birth,
As in a theatre, whence they gape and point Whose veitis bound richer blood than lady Blanch:
At your industrious scenes and acts of death. Such as she is in beauty, virtue, birth,
Your royal presences be ruld by me; 20 Is the young Dauphin every way complete:
Do like the mutinies of Jerusalem,

If not complete, oh say, he is not she;
Be friends a while, and both conjointly bend And she again wants nothing, to pame want,
Your sharpest deeds of malice on this town: If want it be not, that she is not he:
By east and west let France and England mount He is the half part of a blessed men,
Their battering cannon, charged to the mouths; 25 Left to be finished by such a she;
'Till their foul-fearing clamours have brawld down And she a fair divided excellence,
The flinty ribs of this contemptuous city: Whose fulness of perfection lies in him.
I'd play incessantly upon these jades,

Oh, two such silver currents, when they join, Even 'till unfenced desolation

Do glorify the banks that bound them in: Leave them as naked as the vulgar air.

30 And two such shores to two such streams made one, That done, dissever your united strengths, Two such controlling bounds shall you be, kings, And part your mingled colours once again; To these two princes, if you marry them. Turn face to face, and bloody point to point: This union shall do more than baitery can, Then, in a moment, fortune shall cull forth To our fast-closed gates; for, at this match, Out of one side her happy minion;

35 With swifter spleen* than powder can enforce, To whom in favour she shall give the day, The mouth of passage shall we fing wide ope, And kiss him with a glorious victory.

And give you entrance: but, without this match, How like you this wild counsel, mighty states? The sea enraged is not half so deaf, Smacks it not something of the policy?

Lions more confident, mountains and rocks K.John. Now, by the sky that hangs above our 40 More free from motion; no, not death himself heads,

In mortal fury half so peremptory,
I like it well:-France, shall we knit our powers, As we to keep this city.
And lay this Angiers even with the ground;

Faule. Here's a stay,
Then, after, fight who shall be king of it? That shakes the rotten carcase of old death

Faulo. An if thou hast the mettle of a king, 45 Out of his rags! Here's a large mouth, indeed, Being wrong'd, as we are, by this peevish town, That spits forth death, and mountains, rocks, and Turn thon the mouth of thy artillery,

Talks as familiarly of roaring lions, (seas; As we will ours, against these saucy walls : As maids of thirteen do of puppy-dogs! And when that we have dash'd them to the ground, What canoneer begot this lusty blood ? [bounce; Why, then defy each other; and, pell-mell, 50 He speaks plain cannon, fire, and smoke, and Make work upon ourselves, for heaven or hell. He gives the bastinado with his tongue; K.Philip. Let it be so: Say, where will you Our ears are cudgel'd; not a word of his, assault?

But buffets better than a fist of France: K. John. We from the west will send destruction Zounds! I was never so bethumpt with words, Into the city's bosom.

55 Since I first call'd my brother's father, dad. Aust. I from the north.

Eli.Son,list to this conjunction, make this match; K. Philip. Our thunder from the south Give with our niece a dowry large enough: Shall rain their drift of bullets on this town. For by this knot thou shalt so surely tie Fuule. O prudent discipline! From north to Thy now unsur'd assurance to the crown, south;

60 That yon green boy shall have no sun to ripe Austria and France shoot in each other's mouth: The bloon that promiseth a mighty fruit.

Aside. I see a yielding in the looks of France; (souls I'll stir them to it: Come, away! away! Mark, how they whisper: urge them, while their

''j. e. scabby, scrophulous fellows. ? The Lady Blanch was niece to king John by his sister Eleanor. 'i. e. pious. Our author uses spleen for any violeat hurry, or tumultuous speed.

Are

Are capable of this ambition ;

Command thy sor and daughter to join hands. Lest zeal, now melted, by the windy breath K. Phil. It likes us well ;--Young princes, Of soft petitions, pity, and renvorse,

close your hands. Cool and congeal again to what it was.

Aust. And your lips too; for, I am well assurd,
Cit. Why answer not the double majesties 5 That I did so, when I was first assur'da.
This friendly treaty of our threaten’d towud K. Phil. Now, citizens of Angiers, ope your gates,

K.Phil. Speak England first, that hath been for- Let in that amity which you have made :
To speak unto this city: What say you? [ward first For at St. Mary's chapel, presently,

K.John. If that the Dauphin there, thy princely The rites of marriage shall be solemniz'd.-
Can in this book of beauty read, I love, [son, 10 Is not the lady Constance in this troop:-
Her dowry shall weigh equal with a queen: I know, she is not; for this match, made up,
For Anjou, and fair l'ouraine, Maine, and Poictiers, Her presence would have interrupted inuch:
And all that we upon this side the sea

Where is she and her son ; tell me, who knows? (Except this city now by us besieg'd)

Lewis. She is sad and passionate at your bighFind liable to our crown and dignity,

15
ness' tent.

[have made, Shall gild her bridal bed; and make her rich K. Phil. And, by my faith, this league, that we In titles, hunours, and promotions,

Will give her sadness very little cure.As she in beauty, education, blood,

Brother of England, how may we content Holds hand with any princess of the world. [face. This widow lady? In her right we came; K.Phil. What say'st thou, boy? look in the lady’s20 Which we, God knows, have turn’d another way,

Lewis. I do, my lord; and in her eye tind To our own vantage: A wonder, or a wondrous miracle,

K. John. We will leal up all : The shadow of myself form’d in her eye; For we'll create young Arthur duke of Bretagne, Which, being but the shadow of your son, And earl of Richmond; and this rich fair town Becomes a sun, and makes your son a shadow: 125 We make him lord of.--Call the lady Constance; I do protest, I never lov'd myself,

some speedy messenger bid her repair Till now infixed I beheld myself,

l'o our solennity :- I trust we shall, Drawn in the flattering table of her eye.

If not fill up the measure of her will,
[Whispers with Bl:inch. Yet in some measure satisfy her so,
Faulc. Drawn in the flattering table of her eye!— 30 That we shall stop her exclamation.
Hang'd in the frowning wrivkle of her brow! - Go we, as well as haste will suffer us,
And quarter'd in her heart !he doth espy To this unlook'd for unprepared pomp,
Himself love's traitor : This is pity now,

(Ereunt all bui Fuulconbridge. That hang’d, and drawn, and quarter'd, there Faulc. Mad world! mad kings! mad composishould be,

35 John, to stop Arthur's title in the whole, [tion! In such a love, so vile a lout as he.

Hath willingly departed' with a part: Blanch. My uncle's will, in this respect, is mine: AndFrance, whose armour conscience buckledon, If he see aught in you, that makes him like, Whom zeal and charity brought to the field, That any thing he sees, which moves his liking, As God's own soldier) rounded in the ear* I can with ease translate it to my will; 40 With that same purpose-changer, that sly devil; Or, if you will, (to speak more properly) That broker, that still breaks the pate of faith ; i will enforce it casily to my love.

That daily break-vow; he that wins of all, Further I will not flatter you, my lord,

Ofkings, of beggars, old men, young men, maids, That all I see in you is worthy love,

(Who having no external thing to lose Than this,--that nothing do I see in you, 45 But the word maid, cheats the poor maid of that) (Though churlish thoughts themselves should be That sinooth-fac'd gentleman, tickling commoyour judge)

Commodity', the bias of the world; [dity, That I can find should merit any hate.

The world, who of itself is peised well, K. John. What say these young ones? What Made to run even, upon even ground; say you, iny niece:

50 Till this advantage, this vile drawing bias, Blanch. That she is bound in honour still to do This sway of motion, this commodity, What you in wisdom still vouchsafe to sav. Makes it take head from all indifferency, K.John. Speak theo, prince Dauphin; can you From all direction, purpose, course, intent: Jove this lady?

And this same bias, this commodity; Lewis. Nay, ask me if I can refrain froin love;55 This bawd, this broker, this all-changing word, For I do love her most unfeignedly. [Maine, Clapt on the outward eye of fickle France,

K.John. Then do I give Volquessen!, Touraine, Hath drawn him from his own determin’d'aid, Poictiers, and Anjou, these five provinces, From a resolv'd and honourable war, With her to thee; and this addition more, To a most base and vile-concluded peace. Full thirty thousand marks of English coin. 160 And wlay rail I on this commodity ? Philip of France, if thou be pleas'd withal, But for because he hath not wooʻd me yet :

* This is the ancient name for the country now call'd the Vexin. 2i.e. affiancad, contracted. *To part and to depurt were formerly synonymous, i.e. wluispered in the car. 'i.e. interest.

Not

Not that I have the power to clutch my hand”, And say, there is no sin, but to be rich;
When his fair angels would salute my palm; And being rich, my virtue then shall be,
But for my band, as unattempted yet,

To say—there is no vice, but beggary:
Like a poor beggar, raileth on the rich. Since kings break faith upon commodity,
Well, whiles I am a beggar, I will rail, 5 Gain, be my lord; for I will worship thee! [Exit.

A CT III.
SCENE I.

Full of unpleasing blots, and sightless stains,
The French King's pavilion.

Lame, foolish, crooked, swart", prodigious *,

15 Patch'd with foul moles, and eye-offending marks, Enter Constance, Arthur, and Salisbury. I would not care, I then would be content; Con.GONEtobe marry'd gone to sweara peace!

For then I should not love thee; no, nor thou False blood to false blood join'd! Gone Become thy great birth, nor deserve a crown. to be friends!

But thou art fair; and at thy birth, dear boy! Shall Lewis have Blanch? and Blanch those pro-20 Nature and fortune join’d to make thee great: vinces?

Of nature's gifts thou may'st with lilies boast, It is not so; thou hast mis-spoke, mis-heard; And with the half-blown rose: but fortune, oh! Be well advis'd, tell o'er thy tale again:

She is corrupted, chang’d, and won from thee; It cannot be; thou dost but say, 'tis so;

She adulterates hourly with thine uncle John, I trust, I may not trust thee: for thy word 25 And with her golden hand hath pluck'd on France Is but the vain breath of a common man: To tread down fair respect of sovreignty, Believe me, I do not believe thee, man;

And made his majesty the bawd to theirs. I have a king's oath to the contrary.

France is a bawd to fortune, and king John; Thou shalt be punish'd for thus trighting me, That strumpet fortune, that usurping John:For I am sick, and capable of fears ;

30 Tell me, thou fellow, is not France forsworn? Oppress'd with wrongs, and therefore full of fears; Envenom hini with words; or get thee gone, A widow, husbandless, subject to fears ;

And leave those woes alon", which I alone A woman, naturally born to fears:

Am bound to under-bear. And though thou now confess, thou didst but jest, Sal. Pardon me, madam, With my vext spirits I cannot take a truce, 35 I may not go without you to the kings. But they will quake and tremble all this day. Const. Thou may'st, thou shalt, I will not go What dost thou mean by shaking of thy head?

with thee: Why dost thou look so sadly on my son ? I will instruct my sorrows to be proud; What means that hand upon that breast of thine? For grief is proud, and makes his owner stout. Why holds thine eye that lamentable rhenm, 40 To me, and to the state of niy great grief, Like a proud river peering o'er his bounds! Let kings assemble; for my grief's so great, Be these sad signs confiriners of thy words? That no supporter but the huge firm earth Then speak again; not all thy former tale, Can hold it up: here I and sorrows sit; But this one word, whether thy tale be true. Here is my throne, bid kings come bow to it. Sal. As true, as I believe, you think them false, 45

[Throws herself on the ground, That give you cause to prove my saying true. Enter King John, King Philip, Lewis, Blanch,

Const.Oi, if thou teach me to believe this sorrow, Elinor, Faulconbridge, and Austria. Teachi thou this sorrow how to make me die; K.Phil. 'Tis true, fair daughter; and this blessed And let belief and life encounter so,

Ever in France shall be kept festival: Eday As doth the fury of two desperate men, 50 To solemnize this day, the glorious sun Which, in the very meeting, fall and die. Stays in his course, and plays the alchymist; Lewis marry Blanch! Oh boy, then where art thou? Turning, with splendor of his precious eye, Francefriend with England! what becomes of me- The meagre cluddy earth to glittering gold; Fellow, be gone; I cannot brook thy sight; The yearly course that brings this day about, This news hath made thee a most ugly man. 155 Shall never see it but a holy-day,

Sul. What other harın have l, good lady, done, Coust. A wicked day, and not a holy-day! But spoke the harm that is by others done?

[Rising Const. Which harm within itself so heinous is, What hath this day deserv'd? what hath it done; As it makes harinful all that speak of it.

That it in golden letters should be set, Arth. I do beseech you, madam, be content. 60 Among the high tides', in the kalendar Const. If thou,that bidstine be content, were grim, Nay, rather, turn this day out of the week;

This day of shame, oppression, perjury: To clutch the hand, is to clasp it close. · Sightless here means disagreeable to the sight. Si,e. bluch, tawny. * i. e. portinous, such as inay seem a prodigy. i. e. sole m. seusons.

OF