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, at one side, King JOHN, with his power; ELINOR, BLANCH, and the Bastard; at the other, King PHILIP, LEWIS, AUSTRIA, and Forces. K. John. France, hast thou yet more blood to cast away? Say, shall the current of our right run on ? A peaceful progress to the ocean. K. Phi. England, thou hast not sav'd one drop of blood, In this hot trial, more than we of France; Or add a royal number to the dead; Gracing the scroll, that tells of this war's loss, And now he feasts, mouthing the flesh of men, Why stand these royal fronts amazed thus ? Then let confusion of one part confirm The other's peace; till then, blows, blood, and death! K. John. Whose party do the townsmen yet ad mit? K. Phi. Speak, citizens, for England; who's your king? 1 Cit. The king of England, when we know the king. K. Phi. Know him in us, that here hold up his right. K. John. In us, that are our own great deputy, And bear, possession of our person here; Lord of our presence, Angiers, and of you. 1 Cit. A greater power than we, denies all this; And, till it be undoubted, we do lock Our former scruple in our strong-barr'd gates: King'd of our fears; until our fears, resolv'd, Be by some certain king purg'd and depos'd. Bast. By heaven, these scroyles of Aǹgiers flout you, kings; And stand securely on their battlements, As in a theatre, whence they gape and point Be friends a while, and both conjointly bend 5 Potentates. VOL. IV. 6 Scabby fellows. 7 Mutineers. Y Your sharpest deeds of malice on this town: I'd play incessantly upon these jades, Leave them as naked as the vulgar air. To whom in favour she shall give the day, How like you this wild counsel, mighty states? K. John. Now, by the sky that hangs above our heads, I like it well;-France, shall we knit our powers, Bast. An if thou hast the mettle of a king,Being wrong'd, as we are, by this peevish town,— Turn thou the mouth of thy artillery, As we will ours, against these saucy walls: And when that we have dash'd them to the ground, K. John. We from the west will send destruction Into this city's bosom. Aust. I from the north. K. Phi. Our thunder from the south, Shall rain their drift of bullets on this town. Bast. O prudent discipline! From north to south; Austria and France shoot in each other's mouth: I'll stir them to it :-Come, away, away! [Aside. 1 Cit. Hear us, great kings: vouchsafe a while to stay, And I shall show you peace, and fair-faced league; That here come sacrifices for the field: K. John. Speak on, with favour; we are bent to hear. 1 Cit. That daughter there of Spain, the lady Blanch, Is near to England; Look upon the years Is the young Dauphin every way complete: $ Pious. He is the half part of a blessed man, Left to be finished by such a she; Whose fulness of perfection lies in him. O, two such silver currents, when they join, And two such shores to two such streams made one, Lions more confident, mountains and rocks More free from motion; no, not death himself As we to keep this city. Bast. Here's a stay, That shakes the rotten carcase of old death Out of his rags! Here's a large mouth, indeed, That spits forth death, and mountains, rocks, and/ seas; Talks as familiarly of roaring lions, As maids of thirteen do of puppy-dogs! What cannoneer begot this lusty blood? He speaks plain cannon, fire, and smoke, and bounce; He gives the bastinado with his tongue; Our ears are cudgel'd; not a word of his, But buffets better than a fist of France: 9 Speed. |