2.1.0.1292Enter, before Angiers, Philip King of France, Lewis [the] Dauphin, 293Austria, Constance, Arthur, [and soldiers]. Before Angiers well met brave Austria. --
2.1.2295Arthur: that great forerunner of thy blood,
2.1.3296Richard, that robbed the lion of his heart
2.1.4297And fought the holy wars in Palestine,
2.1.5298By this brave duke came early to his grave.
2.1.6299And for amends to his posterity,
2.1.7300At our importance hither is he come
2.1.8301To spread his colors, boy, in thy behalf,
2.1.10303Of thy unnatural uncle, English John.
2.1.11304Embrace him, love him, give him welcome hither.
God shall forgive you Coeur-de-lion's death
2.1.13306The rather that you give his offspring life,
2.1.14307Shadowing their right under your wings of war.
2.1.15308I give you welcome with a powerless hand,
2.1.16309But with a heart full of unstainèd love.
2.1.17310Welcome before the gates Angiers, Duke.
A noble boy. Who would not do thee right?
[To Arthur] Upon thy cheek lay I this zealous kiss
2.1.20313As seal to this indenture of my love:
2.1.21314That to my home I will no more return
2.1.22315Till Angiers and the right thou hast in France,
2.1.23316Together with that pale, that white-faced shore,
2.1.24317Whose foot spurns back the ocean's roaring tides
2.1.25318And coops from other lands her islanders,
2.1.26319Even till that England, hedged in with the main,
2.1.27320That water-wallèd bulwark, still secure
2.1.28321And confident from foreign purposes,
2.1.29322Even till that utmost corner of the west
2.1.30323Salute thee for her King. Till then fair boy
2.1.31324Will I not think of home, but follow arms.
O take his mother's thanks, a widow's thanks,
2.1.33326Till your strong hand shall help to give him strength
2.1.34327To make a more requital to your love.
The peace of heaven is theirs that lift their swords
Well then, to work. Our canon shall be bent
2.1.38331Against the brows of this resisting town.
2.1.39332Call for our chiefest men of discipline,
2.1.40333To cull the plots of best advantages.
2.1.41334We'll lay before this town our royal bones,
2.1.42335Wade to the market-place in Frenchmen's blood,
2.1.43336But we will make it subject to this boy.
Stay for an answer to your embassy,
2.1.45338Lest unadvised you stain your swords with blood.
2.1.46339My Lord Chatillon may from England bring
2.1.47340That right in peace which here we urge in war,
2.1.48341And then we shall repent each drop of blood
2.1.49342That hot rash haste so indirectly shed.
A wonder lady! Lo, upon thy wish
2.1.52346What England says, say briefly gentle lord;
2.1.53347We coldly pause for thee. Chatillon, speak.
Then turn your forces from this paltry siege,
2.1.55349And stir them up against a mightier task.
2.1.56350England, impatient of your just demands,
2.1.57351Hath put himself in arms. The adverse winds,
2.1.58352Whose leisure I have stayed, have given him time
2.1.59353To land his legions all as soon as I.
2.1.60354His marches are expedient to this town,
2.1.61355His forces strong, his soldiers confident.
2.1.62356With him along is come the Mother Queen,
2.1.63357An Atè stirring him to blood and strife;
2.1.64358With her her niece, the Lady Blanche of Spain;
2.1.65359With them a bastard of the King's deceased,
2.1.66360And all th'unsettled humors of the land --
2.1.67361Rash, inconsiderate, fiery voluntaries,
2.1.68362With ladies' faces, and fierce dragons' spleens --
2.1.69363Have sold their fortunes at their native homes,
2.1.70364Bearing their birthrights proudly on their backs,
2.1.71365To make a hazard of new fortunes here.
2.1.72366In brief, a braver choice of dauntless spirits
2.1.73367Than now the English bottoms have waft o'er
2.1.74368Did never float upon the swelling tide,
2.1.75369To do offence and scathe in Christendom.
2.1.76370The interruption of their churlish drums
2.1.77371Cuts off more circumstance. They are at hand,
2.1.78373To parley or to fight -- therefore prepare.
How much unlooked-for is this expedition.
By how much unexpected, by so much
2.1.83378Let them be welcome then; we are prepared.
2.1.83.1379Enter King [John] of England, [the] Bastard, Queen [Eleanor], Blanche, Pembroke, 380and others. Peace be to France, if France in peace permit
2.1.85382Our just and lineal entrance to our own;
2.1.86383If not, bleed France, and peace ascend to heaven,
2.1.87384Whiles we, god's wrathful agent, do correct
2.1.88385Their proud contempt that beats his peace to heaven.
Peace be to England, if that war return
2.1.90387From France to England, there to live in peace.
2.1.91388England we love, and for that England's sake
2.1.92389With burden of our armor here we sweat.
2.1.93390This toil of ours should be a work of thine;
2.1.94391But thou from loving England art so far
2.1.95392That thou hast under-wrought his lawful King,
2.1.97394Out-facèd infant state, and done a rape
2.1.98395Upon the maiden virtue of the crown.
2.1.99396[Indicating Arthur] Look here upon thy brother Geoffrey's face:
2.1.100397These eyes, these brows, were molded out of his;
2.1.101398This little abstract doth contain that large
2.1.102399Which died in Geoffrey, and the hand of time
2.1.103400Shall draw this brief into as huge a volume.
2.1.104401That Geoffrey was thy elder brother born,
2.1.105402And this his son; England was Geoffrey's right,
2.1.106403And this is Geoffrey's. In the name of god,
2.1.107404How comes it then that thou art called a king,
2.1.108405When living blood doth in these temples beat
2.1.109406Which own the crown that thou o'ermasterest?
From whom hast thou this great commission, France,
From that supernal Judge that stirs good thoughts
2.1.114411To look into the blots and stains of right;
2.1.115412That judge hath made me guardian to this boy,
2.1.117414And by whose help I mean to chastise it.
Alack thou dost usurp authority.
Excuse it is to beat usurping down.
Who is it thou dost call usurper France?
Let me make answer: thy usurping son.
Out insolent! Thy bastard shall be king
2.1.123420That thou mayest be a queen, and check the world.
My bed was ever to thy son as true
2.1.125422As thine was to thy husband, and this boy
2.1.127424Than thou and John, in manners being as like
2.1.131428It cannot be, an if thou wert his mother.
There's a good mother, boy, that blots thy father.
There's a good grandam, boy, that
431would blot thee.
Peace!
Peace! Hear the crier!
Peace! Hear the crier! What the devil art thou?
One that will play the devil, sir, with you,
2.1.136436An 'a may catch your hide and you alone.
2.1.137437You are the hare of whom the proverb goes,
2.1.138438Whose valor plucks dead lions by the beard.
2.1.139439I'll smoke your skin-coat an I catch you right.
2.1.140440Sirrah, look too't, i'faith I will, i'faith.
O, well did he become that lion's robe
It lies as sightly on the back of him
2.1.145445But, ass, I'll take that burden from your back,
2.1.146446Or lay on that shall make your shoulders crack.
What cracker is this same that deafs our ears
2.1.148448With this abundance of superfluous breath?
Lewis, determine what we shall do straight.
Women and fools, break off your conference.
2.1.152452England and Ireland, Angiers, Touraine, Maine,
2.1.154454Wilt thou resign them and lay down thy arms?
My life as soon. I do defy thee France. --
2.1.156456[To Arthur] Arthur of Bretagne, yield thee to my hand,
2.1.157457And out of my dear love I'll give thee more
2.1.158458Than e'er the coward hand of France can win.
Submit thee boy. Come to thy grandam child.
Do, child, go to it grandam child,
2.1.161462Give grandam kingdom, and it grandam will
There's a good grandam. Good my mother peace.
2.1.164466I would that I were low laid in my grave;
2.1.165467I am not worth this coil that's made for me.
His mother shames him so, poor boy, he weeps.
Now shame upon you whe'er she does or no!
2.1.168470His grandam's wrongs, and not his mother's shames
2.1.169471Draws those heaven-moving pearls from his poor eyes,
2.1.170472Which heaven shall take in nature of a fee.
2.1.171473Ay, with these crystal beads heaven shall be bribed
Thou monstrous slanderer of heaven and earth!
Thou monstrous injurer of heaven and earth,
2.1.175477Call not me slanderer; thou and thine usurp
2.1.177479Of this oppressèd boy. This is thy eldest son's son,
2.1.179481Thy sins are visited in this poor child;
Bedlam have done!
Bedlam have done! I have but this to say,
2.1.184487That he is not only plagued for her sin,
2.1.185488But God hath made her sin and her the plague
2.1.187490And with her plague; her sin his injury,
2.1.189492All punished in the person of this child,
Thou unadvisèd scold, I can produce
Ay, who doubts that? A will; a wicked will,
2.1.194497A woman's will, a cankered Grandam's will.
Peace lady. Pause, or be more temperate.
2.1.199502These men of Angiers; let us hear them speak
2.1.200503Whose title they admit, Arthur's or John's.
Who is it that hath warned us to the walls?
'Tis France, for England.
'Tis France, for England. England for itself.
2.1.203509You men of Angiers, and my loving subjects --
You loving men of Angiers, Arthur's subjects,
2.1.205511Our trumpet called you to this gentle parle --
For our advantage; therefore hear us first.
2.1.207513These flags of France that are advancèd here
2.1.208514Before the eye and prospect of your town,
2.1.209515Have hither marched to your endamagement.
2.1.210516The canons have their bowels full of wrath,
2.1.211517And ready mounted are they to spit forth
2.1.212518Their iron indignation 'gainst your walls.
2.1.214520And merciless proceeding by these French
2.1.215521Confronts your city's eyes, your winking gates;
2.1.216522And, but for our approach, those sleeping stones,
2.1.219525By this time from their fixèd beds of lime
2.1.220526Had been dishabited, and wide havoc made
2.1.221527For bloody power to rush upon your peace.
2.1.222528But on the sight of us your lawful King,
2.1.224530Have brought a counter-check before your gates
2.1.225531To save unscratched your city's threatened cheeks,
2.1.226532Behold the French, amazed, vouchsafe a parle.
2.1.227533And now, instead of bullets wrapped in fire
2.1.229535They shoot but calm words folded up in smoke
2.1.230536To make a faithless error in your ears --
2.1.232538And let us in. Your king, whose labored spirits
2.1.233539Fore-wearied in this action of swift speed,
2.1.234540Craves harborage within your city walls.
When I have said, make answer to us both.
2.1.236542Lo, in this right hand, whose protection
2.1.238544Of him it holds, stands young Plantagenet,
2.1.240546And King o'er him and all that he enjoys.
2.1.242548In warlike march these greens before your town,
2.1.248554To him that owns it, namely, this young prince.
2.1.249555And then our arms, like to a muzzled bear
2.1.250556Save in aspect, hath all offence sealed up.
2.1.251557Our canons' malice vainly shall be spent
2.1.252558Against th'invulnerable clouds of heaven,
2.1.254560With unhacked swords and helmets all unbruised,
2.1.255561We will bear home that lusty blood again,
2.1.256562Which here we came to spout against your town,
2.1.257563And leave your children, wives, and you in peace.
2.1.258564But if you fondly pass our proffered offer,
2.1.259565'Tis not the roundure of your old-faced walls
2.1.260566Can hide you from our messengers of war,
2.1.261567Though all these English and their discipline
2.1.262568Were harbored in their rude circumference.
2.1.263569Then tell us: shall your city call us lord
2.1.264570In that behalf which we have challenged it?
In brief, we are the king of England's subjects.
2.1.268574For him, and in his right, we hold this town.
Acknowledge then the King, and let me in.
That can we not. But he that proves the king,
2.1.271577To him will we prove loyal. Till that time
2.1.272578Have we rammed up our gates against the world.
Doth not the crown of England, prove the
580king?
2.1.275582Twice fifteen thousand hearts of England's breed --
Bastards and else.
-- To verify our title with their lives.
As many and as well-born bloods as those --
Some bastards too.
-- Stand in his face to contradict his claim.
Till you compound whose right is worthiest,
2.1.282589We for the worthiest hold the right from both.
Then God forgive the sin of all those souls,
2.1.285592Before the dew of evening fall, shall fleet
2.1.286593In dreadful trial of our kingdom's king.
Amen, Amen. Mount, chevaliers, to arms!
Saint George that swinged the dragon
596and e'er since
2.1.289Sits on's horseback at mine Hostess' door
2.1.290597Teach us some fence.
[To Austria] Sirrah, were I at home
2.1.292599I would set an ox-head to your lion's hide
And make a monster of you. Peace! No more.
O tremble, for you hear the lion roar.
Up higher to the plain, where we'll set forth
Speed then to take advantage of the field.
It shall be so, and at the other hill
2.1.299607Command the rest to stand. God and our right!
2.1.299.1Exeunt [separately. The Citizen remains on the wall]. 2.1.299.2608Here, after excursions, enter the Herald of France, 609with trumpets, to the gates. You men of Angiers open wide your gates
2.1.301611And let young Arthur Duke of Bretagne in,
2.1.302612Who by the hand of France this day hath made
2.1.303613Much work for tears in many an English mother,
2.1.304614Whose sons lie scattered on the bleeding ground.
2.1.309619Who are at hand, triumphantly displayed,
2.1.311621Arthur of Bretagne England's king and yours.
Rejoice you men of Angiers, ring your bells.
2.1.313624King John, your king and England's, doth approach,
2.1.315626Their armors, that marched hence so silver-bright,
2.1.316627Hither return all gilt with Frenchmen's blood.
2.1.317628There stuck no plume in any English crest
2.1.319630Our colors do return in those same hands
2.1.320631That did display them when we first marched forth,
2.1.322633Our lusty English, all with purpled hands,
2.1.323634Dyed in the dying slaughter of their foes.
2.1.324635Open your gates, and give the victors way.
Heralds, from off our towers we might behold
2.1.329640Blood hath bought blood and blows have answered blows;
2.1.330641Strength matched with strength, and power confronted
642power.
2.1.332644One must prove greatest. While they weigh so even,
2.1.333645We hold our town for neither, yet for both.
2.1.333.1646Enter the two Kings with their powers, 647at several doors [King John, the Bastard, Salisbury, Queen Eleanor, and Blanche at one door, King Philip, Lewis the Dauphin, and Austria at the other]. France, hast thou yet more blood to cast away?
2.1.335649Say, shall the current of our right run on,
2.1.336650Whose passage, vexed with thy impediment,
2.1.337651Shall leave his native channel and o'er-swell,
2.1.338652With course disturbed, even thy confining shores,
England thou hast not saved one drop of blood
2.1.342656In this hot trial more than we of France;
2.1.343657Rather lost more. And by this hand I swear,
2.1.344658That sways the earth this climate overlooks,
2.1.345659Before we will lay down our just-borne arms,
2.1.346660We'll put thee down, 'gainst whom these arms we bear,
2.1.348662Gracing the scroll that tells of this war's loss
2.1.349663With slaughter coupled to the name of kings.
Ha, majesty! How high thy glory towers
2.1.351665When the rich blood of kings is set on fire.
2.1.352666O, now doth death line his dead chaps with steel;
2.1.353667The swords of soldiers are his teeth, his fangs,
2.1.354668And now he feasts, mousing the flesh of men,
2.1.356670Why stand these royal fronts amazèd thus?
2.1.357671Cry havoc kings! Back to the stainèd field
2.1.358672You equal potents, fiery kindled spirits;
2.1.360674The other's peace. Till then, blows, blood, and death.
Whose party do the townsmen yet admit?
Speak Citizens, for England. Who's your king?
The king of England -- when we know the king.
Know him in us that here hold up his right.
In us, that are our own great deputy
2.1.367681Lord of our presence, Angiers, and of you.
A greater power than we denies all this,
2.1.370684Our former scruple in our strong-barred gates,
2.1.371685Kings of our fear, until our fears resolved
2.1.372686Be by some certain king purged and deposed.
By heaven, these scroyles of Angiers flout you, kings,
2.1.374688And stand securely on their battlements,
2.1.375689As in a theater, whence they gape and point
2.1.376690At your industrious scenes and acts of death.
2.1.379693Be friends awhile, and both conjointly bend
2.1.380694Your sharpest deeds of malice on this town.
2.1.381695By east and west let France and England mount
2.1.382696Their battering canon, chargèd to the mouths,
2.1.383697Till their soul-fearing clamors have brawled down
2.1.384698The flinty ribs of this contemptuous city.
2.1.388702That done, dissever your united strengths
2.1.389703And part your mingled colors once again.
2.1.390704Turn face to face, and bloody point to point;
2.1.391705Then in a moment Fortune shall cull forth
2.1.393707To whom in favor she shall give the day,
2.1.395709How like you this wild counsel mighty states?
Now, by the sky that hangs above our heads,
2.1.398712I like it well. France, shall we knit our powers,
2.1.399713And lay this Angiers even with the ground,
2.1.400714Then after fight who shall be king of it?
[To King Philip] An if thou hast the mettle of a king,
2.1.402716Being wronged as we are by this peevish town,
2.1.404718As we will ours, against these saucy walls;
2.1.405719And when that we have dashed them to the ground,
2.1.407721Make work upon ourselves, for heaven or hell.
Let it be so. Say, where will you assault?
We from the west will send destruction
I from the north.
Our thunder from the south
2.1.413727Shall rain their drift of bullets on this town.
[Aside] O prudent discipline! From north to south
2.1.415729Austria and France shoot in each other's mouth.
Hear us great kings! Vouchsafe awhile to stay,
2.1.418732And I shall show you peace and fair-faced league,
2.1.419733Win you this city without stroke or wound,
2.1.420734Rescue those breathing lives to die in beds,
2.1.421735That here come sacrifices for the field.
2.1.422736Persever not, but hear me, mighty kings.
Speak on with favor. We are bent to hear.
That daughter there of Spain, the Lady Blanche,
2.1.426740Of Lewis the Dauphin and that lovely maid.
2.1.427741If lusty love should go in quest of beauty,
2.1.428742Where should he find it fairer than in Blanche?
2.1.429743If zealous love should go in search of virtue,
2.1.430744Where should he find it purer than in Blanche?
2.1.431745If love ambitious sought a match of birth,
2.1.432746Whose veins bound richer blood than Lady Blanche?
2.1.433747Such as she is, in beauty, virtue, birth,
2.1.434748Is the young Dauphin every way complete.
2.1.436750And she again wants nothing to name want,
2.1.441755Whose fullness of perfection lies in him.
2.1.442756Oh, two such silver currents when they join
2.1.443757Do glorify the banks that bound them in,
2.1.444758And two such shores to two such streams made one.
2.1.445759Two such controlling bounds shall you be, kings,
2.1.446760To these two princes, if you marry them.
2.1.447761This union shall do more than battery can
2.1.448762To our fast-closèd gates, for at this match,
2.1.449763With swifter spleen than powder can enforce,
2.1.450764The mouth of passage shall we fling wide ope,
2.1.451765And give you entrance. But without this match,
2.1.453767Lions more confident, mountains and rocks
2.1.454768More free from motion, no not death himself
As we to keep this city. Here's a stay,
2.1.457772That shakes the rotten carcass of old death
2.1.458773Out of his rags. Here's a large mouth indeed
2.1.459774That spits forth death and mountains, rocks, and seas;
2.1.463778He speaks plain cannon-fire, and smoke, and bounce;
2.1.465780Our ears are cudgeled; not a word of his
2.1.466781But buffets better than a fist of France.
2.1.467782Zounds, I was never so bethumped with words,
2.1.468783Since I first called my brother's father Dad.
Son, list to this conjunction; make this match.
2.1.470785Give with our niece a dowry large enough,
2.1.471786For, by this knot, thou shalt so surely tie
2.1.473788That yon green boy shall have no sun to ripe
2.1.474789The bloom that promiseth a mighty fruit.
2.1.475790I see a yielding in the looks of France;
2.1.476791Mark how they whisper. Urge them while their souls
2.1.478793Lest zeal, now melted by the windy breath
Why answer not the double majesties
2.1.482797This friendly treaty of our threatened town?
Speak England first, that hath been forward first
[Taking Blanche by the hand] If that the Dauphin there, thy princely son,
2.1.486801Can in this book of beauty read, "I love,"
2.1.487802Her dowry shall weigh equal with a queen:
2.1.488803For Anjou and fair Touraine, Maine, Poitiers,
2.1.489804And all that we upon this side the sea --
2.1.492807Shall gild her bridal bed and make her rich
2.1.495810Holds hand with any princess of the world.
What sayest thou boy? look in the lady's face.
[Taking her hand] I do, my lord, and in her eye I find
2.1.500815Which, being but the shadow of your son,
2.1.501816Becomes a sun and makes your son a shadow.
2.1.504819Drawn in the flattering table of her eye.
Drawn in the flattering table of her eye,
2.1.506822 Hanged in the frowning wrinkle of her brow,
2.1.507823And quartered in her heart! He doth espy
2.1.508824 Himself love's traitor. This is pity now,
2.1.509825That hanged and drawn and quartered there should be
[To Lewis] My uncle's will in this respect is mine.
2.1.512828If he see aught in you that makes him like,
2.1.513829That anything he sees which moves his liking
2.1.514830I can with ease translate it to my will.
2.1.517833Further I will not flatter you, my lord,
2.1.519835Than this, that nothing do I see in you,
2.1.520836Though churlish thoughts themselves should be your
837judge,
What say these young ones? What say you my
840niece?
That she is bound in honor still to do
2.1.524842What you in wisdom still vouchsafe to say.
Speak then, Prince Dauphin. Can you love this
844lady?
Nay, ask me if I can refrain from love,
Then I do give Volquessen, Toraine, Maine,
2.1.529848Poitiers and Anjou; these five provinces
2.1.530849With her to thee, and this addition more:
2.1.531850Full thirty thousand marks of English coin.
2.1.532851Phillip of France, if thou be pleased withal,
2.1.533852Command thy son and daughter to join hands.
It likes us well. Young princes, close your hands.
And your lips too, for I am well assured
2.1.536.1[Lewis and Blanche join hands and kiss.] Now citizens of Angiers ope your gates;
2.1.540859The rites of marriage shall be solemnized.
2.1.541860Is not the Lady Constance in this troop?
2.1.542861I know she is not, for this match made up
2.1.543862Her presence would have interrupted much.
2.1.544863Where is she and her son? Tell me, who knows?
She is sad and passionate at your highness' tent.
And by my faith, this league that we have made
2.1.550869Which we, God knows, have turned another way,
To our own vantage. We will heal up all,
2.1.552872For we'll create young Arthur Duke of Bretagne
2.1.553873And Earl of Richmond, and this rich, fair town
2.1.554874We make him lord of. Call the Lady Constance.
[Exit Salisbury.]
To our solemnity. I trust we shall,
Mad world, mad kings, mad composition!
2.1.563883John, to stop Arthur's title in the whole,
2.1.565885And France, whose armor Conscience buckled on,
2.1.566886Whom zeal and charity brought to the field
2.1.567887As God's own soldier, rounded in the ear
2.1.568888With that same purpose-changer, that sly devil,
2.1.569889That broker, that still breaks the pate of faith,
2.1.570890That daily break-vow, he that wins of all,
2.1.571891Of kings, of beggars, old men, young men, maids --
2.1.573893But the word "maid" -- cheats the poor maid of that;
2.1.574894That smooth-faced gentleman, tickling Commodity.
2.1.576896The world, who of itself is peisèd well,
2.1.578898Till this advantage, this vile-drawing bias,
2.1.580900Makes it take head from all indifferency,
2.1.581901From all direction, purpose, course, intent.
2.1.583903This bawd, this broker, this all-changing word,
2.1.584904Clapped on the outward eye of fickle France,
2.1.585905Hath drawn him from his own determined aid,
2.1.587907To a most base and vile-concluded peace.
2.1.589909But for because he hath not wooed me yet.
2.1.590910Not that I have the power to clutch my hand
2.1.591911When his fair angels would salute my palm,
2.1.593913Like a poor beggar, raileth on the rich.
2.1.594914Well, whiles I am a beggar, I will rail,
2.1.599919Gain be my lord, for I will worship thee.