K. John. What is thy name? Bast. Philip, my liege; so is my name begun ; Philip, good old sir Robert's wife's eldest son. K. John. From henceforth bear his name whose form thou bear'st: Kneel thou down Philip, but arise more great; Bast. Brother, by the mother's side, give me your hand; My father gave me honour, yours gave land: Eli. The very spirit of Plantagenet !— Bast. Madam, by chance, but not by truth: What though? Something about, a little from the right, In at the window, or else o'er the hatch: Who dares not stir by day, must walk by night; And have is have, however men do catch: Near or far off, well won is still well shot; And I am I, howe'er I was begot. K. John. Go, Faulconbridge; now hast thou thy desire, A landless knight makes thee a landed 'squire.— Come, madam, and come, Richard; we must speed For France, for France; for it is more than need. Bast. Brother, adieu; Good fortune come to thee! For thou wast got i'the way of honesty. [Exeunt all but the Bastard. A foot of honour better than I was; But many a many foot of land the worse. Well, now can I make any Joan a lady : Good den*, sir Richard, God a-mercy, fellow ;And if his name be George, I'll call him Peter : For new-made honour doth forget men's names; 'Tis too respective †, and too sociable, For your conversion ‡. Now your traveller,+ Respectable. * Good evening. Change of condition. He and his tooth-pick at my worship's mess; It draws towards supper in conclusion so. And fits the mounting spirit, like myself: For it shall strew the footsteps of my rising.- Enter Lady Faulconbridge and James Gurney. O me! it is my mother :-How now, good lady? What brings you here to court so hastily? Lady F. Where is that slave, thy brother? where is he? That holds in chase mine honour up and down? Bast. My brother Robert? old sir Robert's son? Colbrand the giant, that same mighty man? * My travelled fop. + Catechism. Is it sir Robert's son, that you seek so? boy, Sir Robert's son: Why scorn'st thou at sir Robert? He is sir Robert's son; and so art thou. Bast. James Gurney, wilt thou give us leave a while? Gur. Good leave, good Philip. Bast. Philipsparrow ?-James, There's toys* abroad; anon I'll tell thee more. [Exit Gurney. Madam, I was not old sir Robert's son ; To whom am I beholden for these limbs ? Lady F. Hast thou conspired with thy brother too, That for thine own gain should'st defend mine honour? What means this scorn, thou most untoward knave? Bast. Knight, knight, good mother,-Basilisco like+: What! I am dubb'd; I have it on my shoulder. Then, good my mother, let me know my father; Bast. As faithfully as I deny the devil. Lady F. King Richard Coeur-de-lion was thy father; * Idle reports. + A character in an old drama, called Soliman and Perseda. By long and vehement suit I was seduc'd Which was so strongly urg'd, past my defence. And they shall say, when Richard me begot, ACT II. SCENE I. France. Before the walls of Angiers. Enter, on one side, the Archduke of Austria, and forces; on the other, Philip, King of France, and force; Lewis, Constance, Arthur, and attendants. Lew. Before Angiers well met, brave Austria.— Arthur, that great fore-runner of thy blood, Richard, that robb'd the lion of his heart, And fought the holy wars in Palestine, By this brave duke came early to his grave: And, for amends to his posterity, At our importance*, hither is he come, Of thy unnatural uncle, English John: Embrace him, love him, give him welcome hither. Lew. A noble boy! Who would not do thee right? That to my home I will no more return, Till Angiers, and the right thou hast in France, Const. O, take his mother's thanks, a widow's Till your strong hand shall help to give him strength, To make a more requital to your love. Aust. The peace of heaven is theirs, that lift their swords In such a just and charitable war. K. Phi. Well then, to work; our cannon shall be bent Against the brows of this resisting town.- + Best stations to over-awe the town. |