KING JOHN. ACT I. SCENE I.-England.-The Palace.-Flourish of KING JOHN, upon the throne, QUEEN ELINOr, Essex, K. John. [Seated.] Now say, Chatillon, what would France with us? Cha. (L.) 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. (L.) 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 : Which sways usurpingly these several titles, K. John. What follows, if we disallow of this? 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; For, ere thou can'st report I will be there, The thunder of my cannon shall be heard ; So, hence! Be thou the trumpet of our wrath, And sullen presage of your own decay.An honourable conduct let him have; Hubert, look to't :-Farewell, Chatillon. [Exeunt CHATILLON, HUBERT, and the French Gentlemen, L. Eli. [Seated L. of the throne.] What now, my son ? have I not ever said, How that ambitious Constance would not cease, This might have been prevented and made whole, Which now the manage of two kingdoms must Enter ENGLISH HERALD, L., who whispers ESSEX. K. John. Our strong possession, and our right, for us. 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 That e'er I heard shall I produce the men? [Exit ENGLISH HERALD, L. Our abbeys and our priories shall pay This expedition's charge. Enter ENGLISH HERALD, with PHILIP and ROBERT What men are you? [Exit ENGLISH Herald, L. As I suppose, to Robert Faulconbridge; A soldier, by the honour-giving hand Of Coeur-de-Lion, knighted in the field. Rob. (L.) The son and heir to that same Faulcon- K. John. Is that the elder, and art thou the heir? Faul. Most certain of one mother, mighty king, Eli. Out on thee, rude man! thou dost shame thy mother, And wound her honour with this diffidence. Faul. (L. c.) I, madam? no, I have no reason for it; That is my brother's plea, and none of mine: Doth he lay claim to thine inheritance? Faul. 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. K. John. Why, what a mad-cap Heaven hath lent us here! Eli. [To the King.] He hath a trick of Coeur-de- The accent of his tongue affecteth him : 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? Rob. My gracious liege, when that my father lived, Your brother did employ my father much ; Faul. Well, sir, by this you cannot get my land; To Germany, there, witn the Emperor, (As I have heard my father speak himself,) K. John. Sirrah, your brother is legitimate; Your father's heir must have your father's land. Faul. Of no more force to dispossess me, sir, Eli. Whether hadst thou rather be a Faulcon priage, And, like thy brother, to enjoy thy land, Or the reputed son of Coeur-de-Lion, Lord of thy presence, and no land beside? Faul. Madam, and if my brother had my shape I would not be Sir Bob in any case. Eli. I like thee well:-Wilt thou forsake thy for tune, Bequeath thy land to him, and follow me?' I am a soldier, and now bound to France. Faul. Brother, take you my land, I'll take my chance! Your face hath got five hundred pound a year; |