Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. King John (1623 First Folio Edition)
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Scene i
2165: Actus Quartus, Scaena prima.
2166: [ Enter King Iohn and Pandolph, attendants.]
2167:
K.Iohn.
Thus haue I yeelded vp into your hand
2168: The Circle of my glory.
2169:
Pan.
Take againe
2170: From this my hand, as holding of the Pope
2171: Your Soueraigne greatnesse and authoritie.
2172:
Iohn.
Now keep your holy word, go meet the French,
2173: And from his holinesse vse all your power
2174: To stop their marches 'fore we are enflam'd:
2175: Our discontented Counties doe reuolt:
2176: Our people quarrell with obedience,
2177: Swearing Allegiance, and the loue of soule
2178: To stranger-bloud, to forren Royalty;
2179: This inundation of mistempred humor,
2180: Rests by you onely to be qualified.
2181: Then pause not: for the present time's so sicke,
2182: That present medcine must be ministred,
2183: Or ouerthrow incureable ensues.
2184:
Pand.
It was my breath that blew this Tempest vp,
2185: Vpon your stubborne vsage of the Pope:
2186: But since you are a gentle conuertite,
2187: My tongue shall hush againe this storme of warre,
2188: And make faire weather in your blustring land:
2189: On this Ascention day, remember well,
2190: Vpon your oath of seruice to the Pope,
2191: Goe I to make the French lay downe their Armes. [ Exit.]
2192:
Iohn.
Is this Ascension day? did not the Prophet
2193: Say, that before Ascension day at noone,
2194: My Crowne I should giue off? euen so I haue:
2195: I did suppose it should be on constraint,
2196: But (heau'n be thank'd) it is but voluntary.
2197: [ Enter Bastard.]
2198:
Bast.
All Kent hath yeelded: nothing there holds out
2199: But Douer Castle: London hath receiu'd
2200: Like a kinde Host, the Dolphin and his powers.
2201: Your Nobles will not heare you, but are gone
2202: To offer seruice to your enemy:
2203: And wilde amazement hurries vp and downe
2204: The little number of your doubtfull friends.
2205:
Iohn.
Would not my Lords returne to me againe
2206: After they heard yong Arthur was aliue?
2207:
Bast.
They found him dead, and cast into the streets,
2208: An empty Casket, where the Iewell of life
2209: By some damn'd hand was rob'd, and tane away.
2210:
Iohn.
That villaine Hubert told me he did liue.
2211:
Bast.
So on my soule he did, for ought he knew:
2212: But wherefore doe you droope? why looke you sad?
2213: Be great in act, as you haue beene in thought:
2214: Let not the world see feare and sad distrust
2215: Gouerne the motion of a kinglye eye:
2216: Be stirring as the time, be fire with fire,
2217: Threaten the threatner, and out-face the brow
2218: Of bragging horror: So shall inferior eyes
2219: That borrow their behauiours from the great,
2220: Grow great by your example, and put on
2221: The dauntlesse spirit of resolution.
2222: Away, and glister like the god of warre
2223: When he intendeth to become the field:
2224: Shew boldnesse and aspiring confidence:
2225: What, shall they seeke the Lion in his denne,
2226: And fright him there? and make him tremble there?
2227: Oh let it not be said: forrage, and runne
2228: To meet displeasure farther from the dores,
2229: And grapple with him ere he come so nye.
2230:
Iohn.
The Legat of the Pope hath beene with mee,
2231: And I haue made a happy peace with him,
2232: And he hath promis'd to dismisse the Powers
2233: Led by the Dolphin.
2234:
Bast.
Oh inglorious league:
2235: Shall we vpon the footing of our land,
2236: Send fayre-play-orders, and make comprimise,
2237: Insinuation, parley, and base truce
2238: To Armes Inuasiue? Shall a beardlesse boy,
2239: A cockred-silken wanton braue our fields,
2240: And flesh his spirit in a warre-like soyle,
2241: Mocking the ayre with colours idlely spred,
2242: And finde no checke? Let vs my Liege to Armes:
2243: Perchance the Cardinall cannot make your peace;
2244: Or if he doe, let it at least be said
2245: They saw we had a purpose of defence.
2246:
Iohn.
Haue thou the ordering of this present time.
2247:
Bast.
Away then with good courage: yet I know
2248: Our Partie may well meet a prowder foe. [ Exeunt.]