It ill beseems this presence, to cry aim1 Some trumpet summon hither to the walls Trumpets sound. Enter Citizens upon the walls. 1 Cit. Who is it, that hath warn'd us to the walls? K. Phi. "Tis France, for England. K. John. England, for itself: You men of Angiers, and my loving subjects,K. Phi. You loving men of Angiers, Arthur's subOur trumpet call'd you to this gentle parle. [jects, And merciless proceeding by these French, 1 to cry aim, to encourage. If we read, For your advantage, it would be a more specious reason for interrupting Philip.-TYRWHITT. 3 winking gates, gates hastily closed from an apprehension of danger. And now, instead of bullets wrapp'd in fire, They shoot but calm words, folded up in smoke, Which trust accordingly, kind citizens, K. Phi. When I have said, make answer to us both. your town; To him that owes it; namely, this young prince : Then, tell us, shall your city call us lord, 1 Cit. In brief, we are the king of England's subFor him, and in his right, we hold this town. [jects; K. John. Acknowledge then the king, and let me in. 1 Cit. That can we not: but he that proves the To him will we prove loyal; till that time, [king, Have we ramm'd up our gates against the world. K. John. Doth not the crown of England prove the And, if not that, I bring you witnesses, [king? Twice fifteen thousand hearts of England's breed, Phil. Bastards, and else. K. John. To verify our title with their lives. K. Phi. As many, and as well-born bloods as those, Phil. Some bastards too. K. Phi. Stand in his face, to contradict his claim. 1 Cit. Till you compound whose right is worthiest, We, for the worthiest, hold the right from both. K. 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! K. Phi. Amen, Amen!-Mount, chevaliers! to arms! Phil. St. George,—that swing'd the dragon, and e'er since, Sits on his horseback at mine hostess' door, Teach us some fence!-Sirrah, were I at home, And make a monster of you. Aust. Peace; no more. Phil. O, tremble; for you hear the lion roar. K. John. Up higher to the plain; where we'll set In best appointment, all our regiments. [forth, Phil. Speed then, to take advantage of the field. K. Phi. It shall be so;-[To LEWIS] and at the other hill Command the rest to stand.-God, and our right! SCENE II.-The same. Alarums and excursions, then a retreat. [Exeunt. Enter a French Herald, with trumpets, to the gates. F. Her. 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 groveling 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. E.Her. 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, Cit. Heralds, from off our towers we might behold, From first to last, the onset and retire Of both your armies; whose equality Blood hath bought blood, and blows have answer'd blows; Strength match'd with strength, and power confronted Both are alike; and both alike we like. [power: One must prove greatest: while they weigh so even, We hold our town for neither; yet for both. Enter, at one side, King JOHN, with his power; ELINOR, BLANCH, and PHILIP; at the other, King PHILIP, LEWIS, AUSTRIA, and forces. [away? K. John. France, hast thou yet more blood to cast Say, shall the current of our right run on? Whose passage, vex'd with thy impediment, Shall leave his native channel, and o'er-swell With course disturb'd even thy confining shores; Unless thou let his silver water keep A peaceful progress to the ocean, [blood, K. Phi. England, thou hast not sav'd one drop of Gracing the scroll, that tells of this war's loss, Phil. Ha, majesty! how high thy glory towers, 1 cannot be estimated. |