And then we shall repent each drop of blood, Enter CHATILLION. K. Phi. A wonder, lady! Lo! upon thy wish, What England says, say briefly, gentle lord. Chat. Then turn your forces from this paltry siege, His marches are expedient to this town, [Drums beat. The interruption of their churlish drums K. Phi. How much unlook'd for is this expedition! We must awake endeavour for defence; For courage mounteth with occasion. Let them be welcome then, we are prepar'd. Enter KING JOHN, ELINOR, BLANCH, the Bastard, PEMBROKE, and Forces. 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; These eyes, these brows, were moulded out of his : To draw my answer from thy articles? K. Phi. From that supernal 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; And, by whose help, I mean to chastise it. Than thou and John in manners; being as like, 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. 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. Oh, 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 Alcides' shew'd' upon an ass. But, ass, I'll take that burden from your back; your Aust. What cracker is this same, that deafs our ears With this abundance of superfluous breath? King Philip determine what we shall do straight. K. Phi. Women and fools, break off your confer 5 ence. King John, this is the very sum of all,- Wilt thou resign them, and lay down thy arms? And, out of my dear love, I'll give thee more 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'r 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 those 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 The dominations, royalties, and rights, Of this oppressed boy. This is thy eldest son's son, Infortunate in nothing but in thee; Thy sins are visited in this poor child; The canon of the law is laid on him, Const. I have but this to say, That he is not only plagued for her sin, And with her plague; her sin, his injury; 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 Trumpets sound. Enter Citizens upon the Walls. K. John. England, for itself, You men of Angiers, and my loving subjects. K. Phi. You loving men of Angiers, Arthur's sub jects, Our trumpet call'd you to this gentle parle. K. John. For our advantage; therefore, hear us first. These flags of France, that are advanced here And merciless proceeding by these French, Come 'fore your city's eyes, your winking gates; By the compulsion of their ordinance, |