And leave your children, wives, and you, in peace. But if you fondly pass our proffer'd offer, 1 Cit. In brief, we are the King of England's subjects; For him, and in his right, we hold this town.. K. John. Acknowledge then the King, and let 1 Cit. That can we me in. 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. K. John. To verify our title with their lives. K. Phi. Stand in his face, to contradict his claim. 1 Cit. Till you compound whose right is wor thiest, 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, K. Phi. Amen, Amen! - Mount, chevaliers! Bast. 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, At your den, sirrah, [To AUSTRIA.] with your I'd set an ox-head to lioness, And make a monster of you, Aust. Peace; no more. Bast. O, tremble; for you hear the lion roar. K. John. Up higher to the plain; where we'll set forth, In best appointment, all our regiments. Bast. Speed then, to take advantage of the K. Phi. It shall be field, so; [To LEWIS.] and at the other hill Command the rest to stand. right! SCENE IL The same. God, and our [Exeunt. Alarums and Excursions; then a Retreat. Enter a French Herald, with trumpets, to the gates. F. Her. You men of Angiers, open wide gates, your And let young Arthur, Duke of Bretagne, in; Enter an English Herald, with trumpets. E. Her. Rejoice you men of Angiers, ring your hells; King John, your King and England's doth approach, Commander of this hot malicious day! Their armour, that march'd hence so silverbright. 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, And, like a jolly troop of huntsmen, come From first to last, the onset and retire Blood hath bought blood, and blows have answer'd blows; 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? Whose passage, vex'd with thy impediment, Shall leave his native channel, and o'erswell With course disturb'd even thy confining shore s Unless thou let his silver water keep 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; ers, When the rich blood of Kings is set on fire! O, now doth death line his dead chaps with steel; The swords of soldiers are his teeth, his fangs; Why stand these royal fronts amazed thus? Te other's peace; till then, blows, blood, and death! K. John. Whose party do the townsinen yet admit? 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; And, till it be undoubted, we do lock And stand securely on their battlements, |