And all the unsettled humours of the land,- In brief, a braver choice of dauntless spirits, [Drums beat, Cuts off more circumstance: they are at hand, To parley, or to fight; therefore, prepare. K. Phi. How much unlook'd for is this expedition! Aust. By how much unexpected, by so much We must awake endeavour for defence; For courage mounteth with occasion: Enter King JOHN, ELINOR, BLANCH, the Bastard, K. John. Peace be to France; if France in peace permit Our just and lineal entrance to our own! If not; bleed France, and peace ascend to heaven! K. Phi. Peace be to England; if that war return From France to England, there to live in peace! England we love; and, for that England's sake, • Mischief. With burden of our armour here we sweat: To draw my answer from thy articles? K. Phi. From that supernal 4 judge, that stirs good thoughts In any breast of strong authority, To look into the blots and stains of right. That judge hath made me guardian to this boy: 1 Undermined. 2 Succession. 4 Celestial. 3 A short writing. Eli. Who is it, thou dost call usurper, France? Const. Let me make answer;-thy usurping son. Eli. Out, insolent! thy bastard shall be king; That thou may'st be a queen, and check the world! Const. My bed was ever to thy son as true, As thine was to thy husband: and this boy Liker in feature to his father Geffrey, Than thou and John in manners; being as like, As rain to water, or devil to his dam. My boy a bastard! By my soul, I think, 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! Bast. 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. 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, But, ass, I'll take that burden from your back; 5 Austria wears a lion's skin. that deafs our ears Aust. What cracker is this same, K. Phi. Lewis, determine what we shall do straight. ence. King John, this is the very sum of all,- 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. Eli. His mother shames him so, poor boy, he weeps. Const. Now shame upon you, whe'r7 she does, or no! His grandam's wrongs, and not his mother's shames, Eli. Thou monstrous slanderer of heaven and earth! Const. Thou monstrous injurer of heaven and earth! Call not me slanderer; thou, and thine, usurp The dominations, royalties, and rights, Of this oppressed boy: This is thy eldest son's son, Thy sins are visited in this poor child; I have but this to say,→ That he's not only plagued for her sin, But God hath made her sin and her the plague 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 temperate : Some trumpet summon hither to the walls Trumpets sound. Enter Citizens upon the walls. 8 To encourage. |