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King John (Folio 1, 1623)

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Michael Best
Peer Reviewed
2165
Actus Quartus, Scæna prima.
Enter King Iohn and Pandolph, attendants.
K.Iohn. Thus haue I yeelded vp into your hand
The Circle of my glory.
Pan. Take againe
2170From this my hand,as holding of the Pope
Your Soueraigne greatnesse and authoritie.
Iohn. Now keep your holy word,go meet the French,
And from his holinesse vse all your power
To stop their marches 'fore we are enflam'd:
2175Our discontented Counties doe reuolt:
Our people quarrell with obedience,
Swearing Allegiance, and the loue of soule
To stranger-bloud, to forren Royalty;
This inundation of mistempred humor,
2180Rests by you onely to be qualified.
Then pause not: for the present time's so sicke,
That present medcine must be ministred,
Or ouerthrow incureable ensues.
Pand. It was my breath that blew this Tempest vp,
2185Vpon your stubborne vsage of the Pope:
But since you are a gentle conuertite,
My tongue shall hush againe this storme of warre,
And make faire weather in your blustring land:
On this Ascention day, remember well,
2190Vpon your oath of seruice to the Pope,
Goe I to make the French lay downe their Armes.
Exit.
Iohn. Is this Ascension day? did not the Prophet
Say, that before Ascension day at noone,
My Crowne I should giue off? euen so I haue:
2195I did suppose it should be on constraint,
But (heau'n be thank'd) it is but voluntary.
Enter Bastard.
Bast. All Kent hath yeelded: nothing there holds out
But Douer Castle: London hath receiu'd
2200Like a kinde Host, the Dolphin and his powers.
Your Nobles will not heare you,but are gone
To offer seruice to your enemy:
And wilde amazement hurries vp and downe
The little number of your doubtfull friends.
2205Iohn. Would not my Lords returne to me againe
After they heard yong Arthur was aliue?
Bast. They found him dead, and cast into the streets,
An empty Casket, where the Iewell of life
By some damn'd hand was rob'd,and tane away.
2210Iohn. That villaine Hubert told me he did liue.
Bast. So on my soule he did,for ought he knew:
But wherefore doe you droope? why looke you sad?
Be great in act, as you haue beene in thought:
Let not the world see feare and sad distrust
2215Gouerne the motion of a kinglye eye:
Be stirringas the time, be fire with fire,
Threaten the threatner,and out-face the brow
Of bragging horror: So shall inferior eyes
That borrow their behauiours from the great,
2220Grow great by your example, and put on
The dauntlesse spirit of resolution.
Away, and glister like the god of warre
When he intendeth to become the field:
Shew boldnesse and aspiring confidence:
2225What,shall they seeke the Lion in his denne,
And fright him there? and make him tremble there?
Oh let it not be said: forrage,and runne
To meet displeasure farther from the dores,
And grapple with him ere he come so nye.
2230Iohn. The Legat of the Pope hath beene with mee,
And I haue made a happy peace with him,
And he hath promis'd to dismisse the Powers
Led by the Dolphin.
Bast. Oh inglorious league:
2235Shall we vpon the footing of our land,
Send fayre-play-orders,and make comprimise,
Insinuation, parley,and base truce
To Armes Inuasiue? Shall a beardlesse boy,
A cockred-silken wanton braue our fields,
2240And flesh his spirit in a warre-like soyle,
Mocking the ayre with colours idlely spred,
And finde no checke? Let vs my Liege to Armes:
Perchance the Cardinall cannot make your peace;
Or if he doe, let it at least be said
2245They saw we had a purpose of defence.
Iohn. Haue thou the ordering of this present time.
Bast. Away then with good courage: yet I know
Our Partie may well meet a prowder foe.
Exeunt.