Behold, the French, amaz'd, vouchfafe a parle j K. Philip. When I have faid, make answer to us both. your town:: And King o'er him, and all that he enjoys. To him that owns it; namely, this young prince With unhack'd fwords, and helmets all unbruis'd, And And ftalk in blood to our poffeffion? Cit. In brief, we are the King of England's fubjects: For him, and in his right, we hold this town. K. John. Acknowledge then the King, and let me in. Cit. That can we not; but he that proves the King, To him will we prove loyal; till that time, Have we ramm'd up our gates against the world. K. John. Doth not the crown of England prove the King? And if not that, I bring you witnesses, Twice fifteen thoufand hearts of England's breedte K. John. To verify our title with their lives. K. Philip. As many, and as well-born bloods as those Faulc. (Some bastards too.) K. Philip. Stand in his face to contradict his claim. Cit. Till you compound, whofe right is worthiest, We for the worthiest hold the right from both. K. John. Then God forgive the fin of all those fouls, That to their everlasting refidence, Before the dew of evening fall, fhall fleet, K. Philip. Amen, Amen. arms! Mount, chevaliers, to Faulc. Saint George, that swing'd the dragon, and eer fince Sits on his horfeback at mine hostess' door, Teach us fome fence. Sirrah, were I at home At your den, firrah, with your Lioness, I'd fet an ox-head to your Lion's hide, And make a monster of you. Auft. Peace, no more. [To Auftria, Faulc. O, tremble ; for you hear the Lion roar. K. John. Up higher to the plain, where we'll fet forth In beft appointment all our regiments. and at the other hill Faulc. Speed then to take th' advantage of the field. K. Philip. It fhall be fo; Command the reft to ftand. God, and our right! [Exeunt. A long Charge founded: then, after excurfions, enter the Herald of France 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, Whofe fons lye scatter'd on the bleeding ground: And many a widow's husband groveling lyes, Coldly embracing the difcolour'd earth; While victory with little lofs doth play Upon the dancing banners of the French; Who are at hand triumphantly difplay'd, To enter conquerors; and to proclaim Arthur of Bretagne, England's King, and yours. Enter 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, fo filver-bright, Our Colours do return in those same hands, Cit. Heralds, from off our tow'rs we might behold, From first to laft, the Onset and Retire Of both your armies, whofe equality Blood bath bought blood, and blows have anfwer'd blows; Strength match'd with ftrength, and power confronted power. Both are alike, and both alike we like; One must prove greatest. While they weigh fo even, Enter Enter the two Kings with their Powers, at feveral Doors. K. John. France, haft thou yet more blood to caft away? Say, fhall the current of our Right run on? A peaceful progress to the ocean. K. Philip. England, thou haft not fav'd one drop of blood In this hot tryal, more than we of France; We'll put thee down, 'gainst whom these arms we bear; Gracing the fcroul, that tells of this war's lofs, Faulc. Ha! Majefty,-how high thy glory towers, The other's peace; till then, blows, blood, and death. Cit. The King of England, when we know the King. K. John. In us, that are our own great deputy, And bear poffeffion of our perfon here; Lord of our prefence, Angiers, and of you. Cit. A greater pow'r, than ye, denies all this; (7) And till it be undoubted, we do lock Our former fcruple in our ftrong-barr'd gates. Kings of our fears, -until our fears refolv'd Be by fome certain King purg'd and depos'd. Faulc. By heav'n, the Scroyles of Angiers flout you, Kings, And ftand fecurely on their battlements, As in a Theatre, whence they gape and point Be friends a while, and both conjointly bend Leave them as naked as the vulgar air. How like you this wild counfel, mighty States? Smacks it not something of the Policy? K. John. Now by the sky, that hangs above our heads, I like it well. France, fhall we knit our Pow'rs; (7) A greater Pow'r than We denies all this ;] We must cortainly read, as Mr. Warburton acutely obferv'd to Me; A greater Pow'r, than Ye, denies all this: i. e. Tho' each of you pretend to be our rightful Kings, you are as yet only fo in fwaying over our Fears, in the Terrors we have of you not acknowledg'd Kings in our Obedience. Then |