Arthur, that great forerunner of thy blood, At our importance hither is he come, Of thy unnatural uncle, English John: Lew. A noble boy! Who would not do thee right? Aust. Upon thy cheek lay I this zealous kiss, Till Angiers and the right thou hast in France, 2. that great forerunner of thy blood, predecessor by right of blood to his title. So in vv. 6, 13, 96 below. 5. By this brave duke, etc. The archduke Leopold of Austria, who imprisoned Richard, is here, as in the old play, identified with Widomar, Viscount of Limoges, before whose castle of Chaluz Chabrol Richard was slain. Austria had died in 1195, four years before John's accession. 7. importance, urgent request. 27. secure and confident from foreign purposes, fearless of invasion. Even till that utmost corner of the west Const. O, take his mother's thanks, a widow's thanks, 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 Against the brows of this resisting town. Const. Stay for an answer to your embassy, Enter CHATILLON. K. Phi. A wonder, lady! lo, upon thy wish, What England says, say briefly, gentle lord; 34. more, greater. 30 40 50 choose the best positions for attack. 40. To cull the plots, etc., to 45. unadvised, rashly. And stir them up against a mightier task. His marches are expedient to this town, With ladies' faces and fierce dragons' spleens, [Drum beats. K. Phi. How much unlook'd for is this expedi- Aust. By how much unexpected, by so much We must awake endeavour for defence; For courage mounteth with occasion: Let them be welcome then; we are prepared. 60. expedient, expeditious. 63. Atè, the goddess of revenge. Ff Ace.' 64. Blanch was the daughter of John's sister Eleanor, married to Alphonso VIII. of Castile. 60 70 80 65. of the king's deceased, of the deceased king's. 67. voluntaries, volunteers. 77. circumstance, detail. Enter KING JOHN, ELINOR, Blanch, the Bastard, Lords, and forces. K. John. Peace be to France, if France in peace permit Our just and lineal entrance to our own; If not, bleed France, and peace ascend to heaven, K. Phi. Peace be to England, if that war return Upon the maiden virtue of the crown. Look here upon thy brother Geffrey's face; 90 These eyes, these brows, were moulded out of his : 100 95. under-wrought, undermined. 96. posterity. Cf. note to ii. I. 2 above. 97. Outfaced infant state, defied the royal authority personated in a child. IOI. large, full-grown form. 103. draw this brief, expand this 'abstract.' 106. this is Geffrey's; i.e. this boy is Geffrey's son (and as such inheritor of his 'right' to England). The phrase is ambiguous, but the other possible interpretations (e.g. this territory is Geffrey's) are less natural. When living blood doth in these temples beat, To draw my answer from thy articles? K. Phi. From that supernal judge, that stirs good thoughts In any breast of strong authority, To look into the blots and stains of right: Const. My bed was ever to thy son as true Than thou and John in manners; being as like It cannot be, an if thou wert his mother. Eli. There's a good mother, boy, that blots thy father. Const. There's a good grandam, boy, that would blot thee. Aust. Peace! 109. owe, own. 116. impeach, accuse. 123. a queen, and check the world; an allusion to the queen at chess. 110 120 130 131. This charge against Eleanor has no support in Holinshed; but both Fabyan and Stow report traditions of her adultery (Hol. ed. Stone, p. 51). |