Whom he hath us'd rather for sport than need,) ger out. Bast. And thou shalt find it, Dauphin, do not doubt. [Exeunt. SCENE III, The same. A Field of Battle. Alarums. Enter King JOHN and HUBERT. K. John. How goes the day with us? O, tell me, Hubert. Hub. Badly, I fear: How fares your Majesty? K. John. This fever, that hath troubled, me so long, Lies heavy on me; O, my heart is sick! Enter a Messenger. Mess. My Lord, your valiant kinsman, Faulconbridge, Desires your Majesty to leave the field; And send him word by me, which way you go. K. John. Tell him, toward Swinstead, to the abbey there. Mess. Be of good comfort; for the great supply, That was expected by the Dauphin here, This news was brought to Richard but even now: The French fight coldly, and retire themselves. K. John. Ah me! this tyrant fever burns me up, And will not let me welcome this good news. Set on toward Swinstead: to my litter straight; Weakness possess eth me, and I am faint, The same. SCENE IV. [Exeunt. Another part of the same. Enter SALISBURY, PEMBROKE, BIGOT, and Others. Sal. I did not think the King so stor'd with friends. Pemb, Up once again; put spirit in the French; If they miscarry, we miscarry too. Sal. That misbegotten devil, Faulconbridge, In spite of spite, alone upholds, the day. Pemb. They say, King John, sore sick, hath left the field. Enter MELUN wounded, and let by Soldiers. Mel. Lead me to the revolts of England here Sal. When we were happy, we had other names. Pemb. It is the Count Melun. Sal. Wounded to death. Mel, Fly, noble English, you are bought and scld; Unthread the rude eye of rebellion, And welcome home again discarded faith. Sal. May this be possible! may this be true! Mel. Have I not hideous death within my view, Retaining but a quantity of life; Which bleeds away, even as a form of wax Be is forsworn, if e'er those eyes of yours But even this night, whose black contagious breath Already smokes about the burning crest Even with a treacherous fine of all your lives, In peace, and part this body and my soul soul But I do love the favour and the form Even to our ocean, to our great King John. My arm shall give thee help to bear thee hence; For I do see the cruel pangs of death Right in thine eye, Away, my friends! New flight; And happy newness, that intends old right. [Exeunt, leading off MELUN. SCENE V. The same. The French Camp. Enter Lewis, and his Train. Lew. The sun of heaven, methought, was loth to set; But stay'd, and made the western welkin blush, When the English measur'd backward their own ground, In faint retire: O, bravely came we off, Enter a Messenger. Mess. Where is my Prince, the Dauphin? Mess. The Count Melun is slain; the English lords, By his persuasion, are again fallen off: And your supply, which you have wish'd so long, I did not think to be so sad to-night, The day shall not be up so soon as I, To try the fair adventure of to-morrow. [Exeunt. SCENE VI. An open place in the neighbourhood of Swinstead-Abbey. Enter the Bastard, and HUBERT, meeting. Hub. Who's there? speak, ho! speak quickly, Bast. A friend: or I shoot. What art thou? Hub. Of the part of England. Bast. Whither dost thou go? Hub. What's that to thee? Why may not I de mand Of thine affairs, as well as thou of mine? |