King John | Page 9

And king o'er him and all that he enjoys: For this down-trodden
equity we tread In war-like march these greens before your town; Being
no further enemy to you Than the constraint of hospitable zeal In the
relief of this oppressed child Religiously provokes. Be pleased then To
pay that duty which you truly owe To him that owes it, namely, this
young prince: And then our arms, like to a muzzled bear, Save in aspect,
hath all offence seal'd up; Our cannons' malice vainly shall be spent
Against the invulnerable clouds of heaven; And with a blessed and
unvex'd retire, With unhack'd swords and helmets all unbruis'd, We
will bear home that lusty blood again Which here we came to spout
against your town, And leave your children, wives, and you, in peace.
But if you fondly pass our proffer'd offer, 'Tis not the roundure of your
old-fac'd walls Can hide you from our messengers of war, Though all
these English, and their discipline, Were harbour'd in their rude
circumference. Then, tell us, shall your city call us lord In that behalf
which we have challeng'd it? Or shall we give the signal to our rage,
And stalk in blood to our possession?
FIRST CITIZEN. In brief: we are the King of England's subjects: For
him, and in his right, we hold this town.
KING JOHN. Acknowledge then the king, and let me in.
CITIZEN. 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.
KING 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,--
BASTARD. Bastards, and else.
KING JOHN. To verify our title with their lives.
KING PHILIP. As many and as well-born bloods as those,--
BASTARD. Some bastards too.
KING PHILIP. Stand in his face, to contradict his claim.
FIRST CITIZEN. Till you compound whose right is worthiest, We for
the worthiest hold the right from both.
KING 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!

KING PHILIP. Amen, Amen!--Mount, chevaliers; to arms!
BASTARD. Saint 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.
AUSTRIA. Peace! no more.
BASTARD. O, tremble, for you hear the lion roar.
KING JOHN. Up higher to the plain; where we'll set forth In best
appointment all our regiments.
BASTARD. Speed, then, to take advantage of the field.
KING PHILIP. 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.]
FRENCH HERALD. You men of Angiers, open wide your gates And
let young Arthur, Duke of Bretagne, in, Who, by the hand of France,
this day hath made Much work for tears in many an English mother,
Whose sons lie scatter'd on the bleeding ground; Many a widow's
husband grovelling lies, Coldly embracing the discolour'd earth; And
victory, with little loss, doth play Upon the dancing banners of the
French, Who are at hand, triumphantly display'd, To enter conquerors,
and to proclaim Arthur of Bretagne England's king and yours.
[Enter an ENGLISH HERALD, with trumpets.]
ENGLISH HERALD. 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,
Hither return all gilt with Frenchmen's blood; There stuck no plume in
any English crest That is removed by a staff of France, Our colours do
return in those same hands That did display them when we first march'd
forth; And, like a jolly troop of huntsmen, come Our lusty English, all
with purpled hands, Dy'd in the dying slaughter of their foes: Open
your gates and give the victors way.
FIRST CITIZEN. Heralds, from off our towers, we might behold, From
first to last, the onset and retire Of both your armies; whose equality By
our best eyes cannot be censured: Blood hath bought blood, and blows
have answer'd blows; Strength match'd with strength, and power
confronted power: Both are alike, and both alike we like. One must

prove greatest: while they weigh so even, We hold our town for neither;
yet for both.
[Enter, on one side, KING JOHN, ELINOR, BLANCH, the BASTARD,
and Forces; at the other, KING PHILIP, LOUIS, AUSTRIA, and
Forces.]
KING JOHN. France, hast