part of the tragedy which may be styled more dull than pathetic. Mr C. Kemble personates this child of love, as Shakspeare himself could wish.-If those who remember Garrick in the part complain of C. Kemble's inferior gaiety and spirit, the inferiority is granted. Still, he would be something nearer an equality with this great archetype of actors, could but those critics recall their gaiety and spirit, which, in their juvenile days, inspired them with the ardour to admire. Prince Arthur is of more importance than either manager or actors generally conceive. They seldom care whether a princely or plebeian child is to perform the part; whether from feature, or from voice, Arthur should belie his royal birth, and take away all sympathy in his own and his mother's sufferings. Though Shakspeare's King John is inferior to many of his plays, yet it contains some poetic passages, and some whole scenes, written with his hand, beyond all power of forgery. Theobald says, in his commentaries on this drama, "The action of the play begins at the thirty-fourth year of the king's life, and takes in only some transactions of his reign to the time of his demise, being an interval of about seventeen years." ENGLISH KNIGHTS-Messrs. L. Bologna, Harley, King, and Lee. FRENCH KNIGHTS-Messrs Dick, Powers, Reeves, and Sarjant. SCENE-Sometimes in England, sometimes in France. KING JOHN. ACT THE FIRST. SCENE I. England. The Palace. Flourish of Drums and Trumpets. KING JOHN, upon the Throne, QUEEN ELINOR, ESSEX, SALISBURY, PEMBROKE, HUBERT, CHATILLON, English and French GENTLEMEN,-and English GUARDS, discovered. K. John. Now, say, Chatillon, what would France with us? Cha. Thus, after greeting, speaks the King of France, In my behaviour, to the majesty, The borrow'd majesty, of England here Eli. A strange beginning ;-borrow'd majesty! K. John. Silence, good mother;-hear the embassy. Cha. Philip of France, in right and true behalf Of thy deceased brother, Geffrey's son, Arthur Plantagenet, lays most lawful claim To this fair island and the territories; To Ireland, Poictiers, Anjou, Touraine, Maine: K. John What follows, if we disallow of this? Cha. The proud control of fierce and bloody war, To enforce these rights so forcibly withheld. K. John Here have we war for war, and blood for blood, Controlment for controlment ; so answer France. Cha. Then take my king's defiance from my mouth, The furthest limit of my embassy. K. John. Bear mine to him; and so depart in peace: Be thou as lightning in the eyes of France; [Exeunt CHATILLON, HUBERT, and the Eli. What now, my son? have I not ever said, How that ambitious Constance would not cease, Till she had kindled France, and all the world, Upon the right and party of her son? This might have been prevented and made whole, Which now the manage of two kingdoms must Enter ENGLISH HERALD, who whispers Essex. Eli. Your strong possession, much more than your right; Or else it must go wrong with you, and me. Ess. My liege, here is the strangest controversy Come from the country to be judged by you, That e'er I heard: shall I produce the men? K. John. Let them approach. [Exit ENGLISH HERALD. Our abbeys and our priories shall pay This expedition's charge. Enter ENGLISH HERALD, with PHILIP and ROBERT FAULCONBRIdge. What men are you? [Exit ENGLISH HERALD. Faul. Your faithful subject I, a gentleman, Born in Northamptonshire; and eldest son, As I suppose, to Robert Faulconbridge; A soldier, by the honour-giving hand Of Coeur-de-lion, knighted in the field. K. John. What art thou? Rob. The son and heir to that same Faulconbridge. K. John. Is that the elder, and art thou the heir? You came not of one mother then, it seems. Faul. Most certain of one mother, mighty king, That is well known; and, as I think, one father: But, for the certain knowledge of that truth, I put you o'er to Heaven, and to my mother: Of that I doubt, as all men's children may. Eli. Out on thee, rude man! thou dost shame thy mother, And wound her honour with this diffidence. Faul. I, madam? no, I have no reason for it; |