That to their everlafting refidence, K. Philip. Amen, Amen. arms! Mount, chevaliers, to Faulc. Saint George, that fwing'd the dragon, and e'er fince Sits on his horfeback at mine hoftefs' door, Teach us fome fence. Sirrah, were I at home I'd fet an ox-head to your Lion's hide, Auft. Peace, no more. [To Austria. Faulc. O, tremble; for you hear the Lion roar. In beft appointment all our regiments. Faulc. Speed then to take th' advantage of the field. K. Philip. It fhall be fo-and at the other hill Command the reft to ftand. God, and our right! [Exeupt. SCENE IV. After excurfions, enter the Herald of France with trumpets to the gates. 8 F. Her. Ye men of Angiers, open wide your gates, And let young Arthur Duke of Bretagne in; Who by the hand of France this day hath made Much work for tears in many an English mother, Whose fons lye scatter'd on the bleeding ground: And many a widow's hufband groveling lies, Coldly embracing the difcolour'd earth; While victory with little lofs doth play. Ye men of Angiers, &c.] of the widow's husband embracing This fpeech is very poetical and the earth, is just and beautiful. fmooth, and, except the conceit Upon Upon the dancing banner, of the French, Enter English Herald with Trumpets. 9 E. Her. Rejoice, ye men of Angiers; ring your bells; King John, your King and England's, doth approach, Their armours, that march'd hence fo filver-bright, 2 Cit. Heralds, from off our tow'rs we might behold, From first to laft, the Onfet and Retire Of both your armies, whofe equality Blood hath bought blood, and blows have anfwer'd blow; Strength match'd with ftrength, and power confronted power. 9 Rejoice, ye men of Angiers, &c.] The English herald falls fomewhat below his antagonist. Silver armour gilt with blood, is a poor image. Yet our authour has it again in Macbeth. Here lay Duncan, His filver fkin lac'd with his golden blood. And, like a jolly troop of buntsmen,] It was, I think, one of the favage practices of the chafe, for all to ftain their hands in the blood of the deer, as a trophy. ? Heralds, from off, &c.—] These three fpeeches feem to have been laboured. The citizen's is the beft; yet borb alike we like, is a poor gingle. Both Both are alike, and both alike we like; One must prove greateft. While they weigh fo even, We hold our town for neither; yet for both. SCENE V. Enter the two Kings with their Powers, at feveral Doors. K. John. France, haft thou yet more blood to caft away? Say, fhall the current of our Right run on? A peaceful progress to the ocean. K. Philip. England, thou hast not fav'd one drop of blood In this hot tryal, more than we of France; Gracing the fcroul, that tells of this war's lofs, Faulc. Ha! Majefty,-how high thy glory towers, Why ftand these royal Fronts amazed thus? 3 3 Cry havock! Kings;] He with Atè by his fide, That is, command flaughter to pre- Cries, havock! ceed; fo in another place. You You equal Potents, fiery-kindled spirits! The other's peace; till then, blows, blood, and death. Cit. The King of England, when we know the King? K. Philip. Know him in us, that here hold up his Right. K. John. In us, that are our own great deputy, And bear poffeffion of our perfon here; Lord of our prefence, Angiers, and of you. 4 Cit. A greater pow'r, than ye, denies all this; And till it be undoubted, we do lock Our former fcruple in our ftrong-barr'd gates. And ftand fecurely on their battlements, Be friends a while, and both conjointly bend Even till unfenced defolation Leave them as naked as the vulgar air. 4 In former copies: A greater pow'r, than wE, denies all this; Kings Of our fears,] We i. e. -] We fhould read, than ye. What power was this? their fears. It That done, diffever your united strengths, How like you this wild counsel, mighty States? K. John. Now by the fky, that hangs above our I like it well. France, fhall we knit our Pow'rs, Faulc. And if thou haft the mettle of a King, As we will ours, against these fawcy walls; K. Philip. Let it be fo; fay, where will you affault? K. John. We from the weft will send deftruction Into this City's bofom. Auft. I from the north. K. Philip. Our thunder from the south Shall rain their drift of bullets on this town. Faule. O prudent difcipline! from North to South; Auftria and France fhoot in each other's mouth. I'll ftir them to it; come, away, away! Cit. Hear us, great Kings; vouchfafe a while to stay, ; And I fhall fhew you peace, and fair-fac'd league ; K. John. |