Re-enter Sheriff, with ROBERT FAULCONBRIDGE, and PHILIP, his bastard Brother. This expedition's charge.-What men are you? [bridge. Rob. The son and heir to that same FaulconK. John. Is that the elder, and art thou the heir? You came not of one mother, then, it seems. Bast. 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. .[mother. Eli. Out on thee, rude man! thou dost shame thy And wound her honor with this diffidence. Bast. I, madam? no, I have no reason for it; That is my brother's plea, and none of mine; The which if he can prove, 'a pops me out At least from fair five hundred pound a year: Heaven guard my mother's honor, and my land! K. John. A good blunt fellow:-Why, being younger born, Doth he lay claim to thine inheritance? Bast. I know not why, except to get the land. And were our father, and this son like him ;- I give heaven thanks, I was not like to thee. [us here! K. John. Mine eye hath well examined his parts, And finds them perfect Richard.- -Sirrah, speak, What doth move you to claim your brother's land? Bast. Because he hath a half-face, like my father: With that half-face would he have all my land: A half-faced groat five hundred pound a year! Rob. My gracious liege,when that my father liv'd, Your brother did employ my father much; Bast. Well, sir, by this you cannot get my land; Your tale must be, how he employ'd my mother. Rob. And once dispatch'd him in an embassy To Germany, there, with the emperor, To treat of high affairs touching that time: The advantage of his absence took the king, And in the mean time sojourn'd at my father's; Where how he did prevail, I shame to speak; But truth is truth; large length of seas and shores Between my father and my mother lay, (As I have heard my father speak himself,) When this same lusty gentleman was got. Upon his death-bed he by will bequeath'd His lands to me; and took it, on his death, That this my mother's son, was none of his; And, if he were, he came into the world Full fourteen weeks before the course of time. Trace, outline. Then, good my liege, let me have what is mine, My father's land, as was my father's will. K. John. Sirrah, your brother is legitimate; Your father's wife did after wedlock bear him; And, if she did play false, the fault was hers; Which fault lies on the hazards of all husbands That marry wives. Tell me, how if my brother, Who, as you say, took pains to get his son, Had of your father claim'd this son for his? [him; In sooth, good friend, your father might have kept This calf, bred from his cow, from all the world; In sooth he might: then, if he were my brother's, My brother might not claim him; nor your father, Being none of him, refuse him: This concludes, My mother's son did get your father's heir; Your father's heir must have your father's land. Rob. Shall then my father's will be of no force, To dispossess that child which is not his? Bast. Of no more force to dispossess me, sir, Than was his will to get me, as I think. Eli. Whether hadst thou rather,-be a Faulcon And like thy brother, to enjoy thy land; [bridge, Or the reputed son of Coeur-de-lion, Lord of thy presence, and no land beside? Bast. Madam, an if my brother had my shape, And I had his, sir Robert his, like him: And if my legs were two such riding-rods, My arms such eel-skins stuff'd; my face so thin, That in mine ear I durst not stick a rose, [goes! Lest men should say, Look, where three farthings And, to his shape, were heir to all this land, 'Would I might never stir from off this place, I'd give it every foot to have this face: I would not be sir Nob in any case. Eli. I like thee well; Wilt thou forsake thy forBequeath thy land to him, and follow me? [tune, I am a soldier, and now bound to France. Bast. Brother, take you my land, I'll take my chance: Your face hath got five hundred pounds a year; Yet sell your face for five pence, and, 'tis dear.Madam, I'll follow you until the death. Eli. Nay, I would have you go before me thither. Bast. Our country manners give our betters way. 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: Arise sir Richard, and Plantagenet. [hand; Bust. Brother, by my mother's side, give me your My father gave me honor, yours gave land:Now blessed be the hour, by night or day, When I was got, sir Robert was away. Eli. The very spirit of Plantagenet !— I am thy grandame, Richard; call me so. 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, madan, and come, Richard; we must speed For France, for France; for it is more than need. Bast. Brother, adieu; good fortune come to thee! It draws toward supper in conclusion so. And fits the mounting spirit, like myself: where is he? That holds in chase mine honor up and down? Lady F. Sir Robert's son! Ay, thou unreverend 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 Bast. Madam, I was not old sir Robert's son; Lady F. Hast thou conspired with thy brother too, That forthineown gain shouldst defend mine honor! 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. And they shall say, when Richard me begot, ACT II. To spread his colors, boy, in thy behalf, Arth. God shall forgive you Coeur-de-lion's death, Lew. A noble boy! who would not do thee right? Idle reports. seda. A character in an old drama called Soliman and Per |