SCENE [I. France.] Before Angiers. Enter AUSTRIA [and forces, drums, etc., on one side on the other] KING PHILIP of France [and his power]; LEWIS, ARTHUR, CONSTANCE [and attendants]." Lew. Before Angiers well met, brave Austria. Arthur, that great forerunner of thy blood, Of thy unnatural uncle, English John. 10 Embrace him, love him, give him welcome My Lord Chatillon may from England bring That right in peace which here we urge in war, And then we shall repent each drop of blood That hot rash haste so indirectly shed. To land his legions all as soon as I; His marches are expedient to this town, To make a hazard of new fortunes here. To parley or to fight; therefore prepare. temperate. 195 It ill beseems this presence to cry aim Cit. Who is it that hath warn'd us to the walls? K. Phi. 'Tis France, for England. K. John. England, for itself. You men of Angiers, and my loving subjects, K. Phi. You loving men of Angiers, Arthur's subjects, Our trumpet call'd you to this gentle parle K. John. For our advantage; therefore hear us first. 206 214 These flags of France, that are advanced here Cit. Till you compound whose right is worthiest, We for the worthiest hold the right for both. K. John. Then God forgive the sin of all those souls That to their everlasting residence, 285 Before the dew of evening fall, shall fleet Bast. Saint George, that swinged the dragon, and e'er since Sits on his horseback at mine hostess' door, Teach us some fence! [To Aust.] Sirrah, were I at home, At your den, sirrah, with your lioness, I would set an ox-head to your lion's hide, Aust. 290 Peace! no more. Bast. O, tremble, for you hear the lion roar. From first to last, the onset and retire 325 We hold our town for neither, yet for both. Re-enter the two KINGS, with their powers, at several doors. K. John. France, hast thou yet more blood to cast away? Say, shall the current of our right run on ? 335 Whose passage, vex'd with thy impediment, Shall leave his native channel and o'erswell With course disturb'd even thy confining shores, Unless thou let his silver water keep A peaceful progress to the ocean. 340 K. Phi. England, thou hast not sav'd one drop of blood, In this hot trial, more than we of France; Rather, lost more. And by this hand I swear, That sways the earth this climate overlooks, Before we will lay down our just-borne arms, We'll put thee down, 'gainst whom these arms we bear, 346 Or add a royal number to the dead, 350 When the rich blood of kings is set on fire! O, now doth Death line his dead chaps with steel; 355 The swords of soldiers are his teeth, his fangs; 360 K. John. Whose party do the townsmen yet admit ? K. Phi. Speak, citizens, for England, who 's your king? Cit. The King of England, when we know the King. K. Phi. Know him in us, that here hold up his right. 366 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. 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, Kings of our fear, until our fears, resolv'd, 371 Be by some certain king purg'd and depos'd. Bast. By heaven, these scroyles of Angiers flout you, kings, |