Enter King John, Queen Elinor, Pembroke, Effex, and Salisbury, with Chatilion. K. John: N WOW fay, Chatilion, what would France Chat. Thus, after greeting, fpeaks the In my behaviour, to the Majefty The borrow'd Majefty of England here. Eli. A ftrange beginning; borrow'd Majefty! Arthur Plantagenet, lays lawful claim To this fair inland, and the territories : The troublesome reign of K. John was written in two parts by W. Shakespear and W. Rowley, and printed 1611. But the prefent Play is entirely different, and infinitely superior to it. То To Ireland, Poitiers, Anjou, Touraine, Maine: K. John. What follows, if we difallow of this? K. John. Here have we war for war, and blood for blood, Controulment for controulment; fo answer France. Chat. Then take my King's defiance from my mouth, The fartheft limit of my embassie. K. John. Bear mine to him, and fo depart in peace. Be thou as lightning in the eyes of France, For ere thou canst report, I will be there, The thunder of my cannon fhall be heard. [Ex. Chat and Pem, Eli. What now, my fon, have I not ever faid This might have been prevented, and made whole Which now the manage of two kingdoms must K. John. Our ftrong poffeffion and our right for us. Or else it must go wrong with you and me ; So much my confcience whispers in your ear, Which none but heaven, and you, and I fhall hear. Effex. My Liege, here is the ftrangeft controverfie Come from the country to be judg'd by you Our Abbies and our Priories shall pay What men are you? SCENS Enter Robert Faulconbridge and the Baftard. Rob. The fon and heir to that fame Faulconbridge. Baft. Moft certain of one mother, mighty King, Eli. Out on thee, rude man, thou doft shame thy mother, And wound her honour with this diffidence. Baft. I, Madam?. no, I have no reason for it; K. John. A good blunt fellow: why, being younger born, Doth he lay claim to thine inheritance ? Baft. I know not why, except to get the land; But once he flander'd me with baftardy: But whether I be true begot or no, That ftill I lay upon my mother's head If old Sir Robert did beget us both, יזי And were our father, and this fondike him ; I give heav'n thanks I was not like to thee. K.John. Why, what a mad-cap hath heav'n lent us here? Eli. He hath a trick of Coeur-de-lian's face, The accent of his tongue affecteth him: Do you not read fome tokens of my fon R In the large compofition of this man ? K. John. Mine eye hath well examin'd his parts, And finds them perfect Richard: firrah, speak, What doth move you to claim your brother's land? Baft. Because he hath a half-face, like. my father, With that half-face would he have all my land? A half-fac'd groat, five hundred pound a year? Rob. My gracious Liege, when that my father liv'd, Your brother did employ my father much Baft. Well, Sir, by this you cannot get my land, K. John. Sirrah, your brother is legitimate, My My mother's fon did get your father's heir, :/ Eli. Say, hadft thou rather be a Faulconbridge, Baft. Madam, an if my brother had my shape, Left men fhould fay, look where three farthings goes; I would not be † Sir Nobbe in any case. Eli. I like thee well; wilt thou forfake thy fortune, Bequeath thy land to him, and follow me ? I am a foldier and now bound to France. } Baft. Brother, take you my land, I'll take my chance; Your face hath got five hundred pound a year, Yet fell your face for five pence, and 'tis dear. Eli. Nay, I would have you go before me thither. Baft. Philip, my Liege, fo is my name begun, [bear'ft: K.John. From henceforth bear his name whofe form thou Kneel thou down Philip, but rise up more great, Arife Sir Richard and Plantagenet. Baft. Brother by th' mother's fide, give me your hand, Alluding to the three farthing pieces current in Queen Elizabeth's time which had a rofe on the reverfe and being of filver they must be fuppofed to be very thin. Sir Nobbe, a nickname, in contempt of Sir Robert. |