The Bodleian First Folio

A digital facsimile of the First Folio of Shakespeare's plays, Bodleian Arch. G c.7.



Text and Image

Here you can read a digital edition of each play in various views.

Page Image & Text
Digital Text
XML

Reference: a6v - Histories, p. 12

Left Column


The life and death of King Iohn.
[Act 3, Scene 4] Scæna Tertia. Enter France, Dolphine, Pandulpho, Attendants. Fra.
[1330]
So by a roaring Tempest on the flood, A whole Armado of conuicted saile Is scattered and dis‑ioyn'd from fellowship.
Pand. Courage and comfort, all shall yet goe well. Fra. What can goe well, when we haue runne so ill?
[1335]
Are we not beaten? Is not Angiers lost? Arthur tane prisoner? diuers deere friends slaine? And bloudy England into England gone, Ore‑bearing interruption spight of France?
Dol. What he hath won, that hath he fortified:
[1340]
So hot a speed, with such aduice dispos'd, Such temperate order in so fierce a cause, Doth want exa ple: who hath read, or heard Of any kindred‑action like to this?
Fra. Well could I beare that England had this praise,
[1345]
So we could finde some patterne of our shame: Enter Constance. Looke who comes heere? a graue vnto a soule, Holding th'eternall spirit against her will, In the vilde prison of afflicted breath: I prethee Lady goe away with me.
Con.
[1350]
Lo; now: now see the issue of your peace.
Fra. Patience good Lady, comfort gentle Constance. Con. No, I defie all Counsell, all redresse, But that which ends all counsell, true Redresse: Death, death, O amiable, louely death,
[1355]
Thou odoriferous stench: sound rottennesse, Arise forth from the couch of lasting night, Thou hate and terror to prosperitie, And I will kisse thy detestable bones, And put my eye‑balls in thy vaultie browes,
[1360]
And ring these fingers with thy houshold wormes, And stop this gap of breath with fulsome dust, And be a Carrion Monster like thy selfe; Come, grin on me, and I will thinke thou smil'st, And busse thee as thy wife: Miseries Loue,
[1365]
O come to me.
Fra. O faire affliction, peace. Con. No, no, I will not, hauing breath to cry: O that my tongue were in the thunders mouth, Then with a passion would I shake the world,
[1370]
And rowze from sleepe that fell Anatomy Which cannot heare a Ladies feeble voyce, Which scornes a modern Inuocation.
Pand. Lady, you vtter madnesse, and not sorrow. Con. Thou art holy to belye me so,
[1375]
I am not mad: this haire I teare is mine, My name is Constance, I was Geffreyes wife, Yong Arthur is my sonne, and he is lost: I am not mad, I would to heauen I were, For then 'tis like I should forget my selfe:
[1380]
O, if I could, what griefe should I forget? Preach some Philosophy to make me mad, And thou shalt be Canoniz'd (Cardinall.) For, being not mad, but sensible of greefe, My reasonable part produces reason
[1385]
How I may be deliuer'd of these woes, And teaches mee to kill or hang my selfe: If I were mad, I should forget my sonne,

Right Column


Or madly thinke a babe of clowts were he; I am not mad: too well, too well I feele
[1390]
The different plague of each calamitie.
Fra. Binde vp those tresses: O what loue I note In the faire multitude of those her haires; Where but by chance a siluer drop hath falne, Euen to that drop ten thousand wiery fiends
[1395]
Doe glew themselues in sociable griefe, Like true, inseparable, faithfull loues, Sticking together in calamitie.
Con. To England, if you will. Fra. Binde vp your haires. Con.
[1400]
Yes that I will: and wherefore will I do it ? I tore them from their bonds, and cride aloud, O, that these hands could so redeeme my sonne, As they haue giuen these hayres their libertie: But now I enuie at their libertie,
[1405]
And will againe commit them to their bonds, Because my poore childe is a prisoner. And Father Cardinall, I haue heard you say That we shall see and know our friends in heauen: If that be true, I shall see my boy againe;
[1410]
For since the birth of Caine, the first male‑childe To him that did but yesterday suspire, There was not such a gracious creature borne: But now will Canker‑sorrow eat my bud, And chase the natiue beauty from his cheeke,
[1415]
And he will looke as hollow as a Ghost, As dim and meager as an Agues fitte, And so hee'll dye: and rising so againe, When I shall meet him in the Court of heauen I shall not know him: therefore neuer, neuer
[1420]
Must I behold my pretty Arthur more.
Pand. You hold too heynous a respect of greefe. Const. He talkes to me, that neuer had a sonne. Fra. You are as fond of greefe, as of your childe. Con. Greefe fils the roome vp of my absent childe:
[1425]
Lies in his bed, walkes vp and downe with me, Puts on his pretty lookes, repeats his words, Remembets Remembers me of all his gracious parts, Stuffes out his vacant garments with his forme; Then, haue I reason to be fond of griefe ?
[1430]
Fareyouwell: had you such a losse as I, I could giue better comfort then you doe. I will not keepe this forme vpon my head, When there is such disorder in my witte: O Lord, my boy, my Arthur, my faire sonne,
[1435]
My life, my ioy, my food, my all the world: My widow‑comfort, and my sorrowes cure.
Exit. Fra. I feare some out‑rage, and Ile follow her. Exit. Dol. There's nothing in this world can make me ioy, Life is as tedious as a twice‑told tale,
[1440]
Vexing the dull care of a drowsie man; And bitter shame hath spoyl'd the sweet words taste, That it yeelds nought but shame and bitternesse.
Pand. Before the curing of a strong disease, Euen in the instant of repaire and health,
[1445]
The fit is strongest: Euils that take leaue On their departure, most of all shew euill: What haue you lost by losing of this day?
Dol. All daies of glory, ioy, and happinesse. Pan. If you had won it, certainely you had.
[1450]
No, no: when Fortune meanes to men most good, Shee lookes vpon them with a threatening eye: 'Tis strange to thinke how much King Iohn hath lost In this which he accounts so clearely wonne: Are

Download the digital text and images of the play



 
[Act 3, Scene 3] Alarums, excursions, Retreat. Enter Iohn, Eleanor, Arthur Bastard, Hubert, Lords. Iohn. So shall it be: your Grace shall stay behinde
[1250]
So strongly guarded: Cosen, looke not sad, Thy Grandame loues thee, and thy Vnkle will As deere be to thee, as thy father was.
Arth. O this will make my mother die with griefe. Iohn. Cosen away for England, haste before,
[1255]
And ere our comming see thou shake the bags Of hoording Abbots, imprisoned angells Set at libertie: the fat ribs of peace Must by the hungry now be fed vpon: Vse our Commission in his vtmost force.
Bast.
[1260]
Bell, Booke, & Candle, shall not driue me back, When gold and siluer becks me to come on. I leaue your highnesse: Grandame, I will pray (If euer I remember to be holy) For your faire safety: so I kisse your hand.
Ele.
[1265]
Farewell gentle Cosen.
Iohn. Coz, farewell. Ele. Come hether little kinsman, harke, a worde. Iohn. Come hether Hubert. O my gentle Hubert, We owe thee much: within this wall of flesh
[1270]
There is a soule counts thee her Creditor, And with aduantage meanes to pay thy loue: And good friend, thy voluntary oath Liues in this bosome, deerely cherished. Giue me thy hand, I had a thing to say,
[1275]
But I will fit it with some better tune. By heauen Hubert, I am almost asham'd To say what good respect I haue of thee.
Hub. I am much bounden to your Maiesty. Iohn. Good friend, thou hast no cause to say so yet,
[1280]
But thou shalt haue: and creepe time nere so slow, Yet it shall come, for me to doe thee good. I had a thing to say, but let it goe: The Sunne is in the heauen, and the proud day, Attended with the pleasures of the world,
[1285]
Is all too wanton, and too full of gawdes To giue me audience: If the mid‑night bell Did with his yron tongue, and brazen mouth Sound on into the drowzie race of night: If this same were a Church‑yard where we stand,
[1290]
And thou possessed with a thousand wrongs: Or if that surly spirit melancholy Had bak'd thy bloud, and made it heauy, thicke, Which else runnes tickling vp and downe the veines, Making that idiot laughter keepe mens eyes,
[1295]
And straine their cheekes to idle merriment, A passion hatefull to my purposes: Or if that thou couldst see me without eyes, Heare me without thine eares, and make reply Without a tongue, vsing conceit alone,
[1300]
Without eyes, eares, and harmefull sound of words: Then, in despight of brooded watchfull day, I would into thy bosome poure my thoughts: But (ah) I will not, yet I loue thee well, And by my troth I thinke thou lou'st me well.
Hub.
[1305]
So well, that what you bid me vndertake, Though that my death were adiunct to my Act, By heauen I would doe it.
Iohn. Doe not I know thou wouldst? Good Hubert, Hubert, Hubert throw thine eye
[1310]
On yon young boy: Ile tell thee what my friend, He is a very serpent in my way, And wheresoere this foot of mine doth tread, He lies before me: dost thou vnderstand me? Thou art his keeper.
Hub.
[1315]
And Ile keepe him so, That he shall not offend your Maiesty.
Iohn. Death. Hub. My Lord. Iohn. A Graue. Hub.
[1320]
He shall not liue.
Iohn. Enough. I could be merry now, Hubert, I loue thee. Well, Ile not say what I intend for thee: Remember: Madam, Fare you well,
[1325]
Ile send those powers o're to your Maiesty.
Ele. My blessing goe with thee. Iohn. For England Cosen, goe. Hubert shall be your man, attend on you With al true duetie: On toward Callice, hoa. Exeunt.
 

Download the digital text of the play

                                
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<div type="scene" n="3" rend="notPresent">
   <head type="supplied">[Act 3, Scene 3]</head>
   <stage rend="italic center" type="mixed">Alarums, excursions, Retreat. Enter Iohn, Eleanor, Arthur
      <lb/>Bastard, Hubert, Lords.</stage>
   <sp who="#F-jn-joh">
      <speaker rend="italic">Iohn.</speaker>
      <l n="1249">So shall it be: your Grace shall stay behinde</l>
      <l n="1250">So strongly guarded: Cosen, looke not sad,</l>
      <l n="1251">Thy Grandame loues thee, and thy Vnkle will</l>
      <l n="1252">As deere be to thee, as thy father was.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-jn-art">
      <speaker rend="italic">Arth.</speaker>
      <l n="1253">O this will make my mother die with griefe.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-jn-joh">
      <speaker rend="italic">Iohn.</speaker>
      <l n="1254">Cosen away for<hi rend="italic">England</hi>, haste before,</l>
      <l n="1255">And ere our comming see thou shake the bags</l>
      <l n="1256">Of hoording Abbots, imprisoned angells</l>
      <l n="1257">Set at libertie: the fat ribs of peace</l>
      <l n="1258">Must by the hungry now be fed vpon:</l>
      <l n="1259">Vse our Commission in his vtmost force.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-jn-phi">
      <speaker rend="italic">Bast.</speaker>
      <l n="1260">Bell, Booke, &amp; Candle, shall not driue me back,</l>
      <l n="1261">When gold and siluer becks me to come on.</l>
      <l n="1262">I leaue your highnesse: Grandame, I will pray</l>
      <l n="1263">(If euer I remember to be holy)</l>
      <l n="1264">For your faire safety: so I kisse your hand.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-jn-eli">
      <speaker rend="italic">Ele.</speaker>
      <l n="1265">Farewell gentle Cosen.</l>
   </sp>
   <cb n="2"/>
   <sp who="#F-jn-joh">
      <speaker rend="italic">Iohn.</speaker>
      <l n="1266">Coz, farewell.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-jn-eli">
      <speaker rend="italic">Ele.</speaker>
      <l n="1267">Come hether little kinsman, harke, a worde.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-jn-joh">
      <speaker rend="italic">Iohn.</speaker>
      <l n="1268">Come hether<hi rend="italic">Hubert</hi>. O my gentle<hi rend="italic">Hubert</hi>,</l>
      <l n="1269">We owe thee much: within this wall of flesh</l>
      <l n="1270">There is a soule counts thee her Creditor,</l>
      <l n="1271">And with aduantage meanes to pay thy loue:</l>
      <l n="1272">And good friend, thy voluntary oath</l>
      <l n="1273">Liues in this bosome, deerely cherished.</l>
      <l n="1274">Giue me thy hand, I had a thing to say,</l>
      <l n="1275">But I will fit it with some better tune.</l>
      <l n="1276">By heauen<hi rend="italic">Hubert</hi>, I am almost asham'd</l>
      <l n="1277">To say what good respect I haue of thee.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-jn-hub">
      <speaker rend="italic">Hub.</speaker>
      <l n="1278">I am much bounden to your Maiesty.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-jn-joh">
      <speaker rend="italic">Iohn.</speaker>
      <l n="1279">Good friend, thou hast no cause to say so yet,</l>
      <l n="1280">But thou shalt haue: and creepe time nere so slow,</l>
      <l n="1281">Yet it shall come, for me to doe thee good.</l>
      <l n="1282">I had a thing to say, but let it goe:</l>
      <l n="1283">The Sunne is in the heauen, and the proud day,</l>
      <l n="1284">Attended with the pleasures of the world,</l>
      <l n="1285">Is all too wanton, and too full of gawdes</l>
      <l n="1286">To giue me audience: If the mid‑night bell</l>
      <l n="1287">Did with his yron tongue, and brazen mouth</l>
      <l n="1288">Sound on into the drowzie race of night:</l>
      <l n="1289">If this same were a Church‑yard where we stand,</l>
      <l n="1290">And thou possessed with a thousand wrongs:</l>
      <l n="1291">Or if that surly spirit melancholy</l>
      <l n="1292">Had bak'd thy bloud, and made it heauy, thicke,</l>
      <l n="1293">Which else runnes tickling vp and downe the veines,</l>
      <l n="1294">Making that idiot laughter keepe mens eyes,</l>
      <l n="1295">And straine their cheekes to idle merriment,</l>
      <l n="1296">A passion hatefull to my purposes:</l>
      <l n="1297">Or if that thou couldst see me without eyes,</l>
      <l n="1298">Heare me without thine eares, and make reply</l>
      <l n="1299">Without a tongue, vsing conceit alone,</l>
      <l n="1300">Without eyes, eares, and harmefull sound of words:</l>
      <l n="1301">Then, in despight of brooded watchfull day,</l>
      <l n="1302">I would into thy bosome poure my thoughts:</l>
      <l n="1303">But (ah) I will not, yet I loue thee well,</l>
      <l n="1304">And by my troth I thinke thou lou'st me well.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-jn-hub">
      <speaker rend="italic">Hub.</speaker>
      <l n="1305">So well, that what you bid me vndertake,</l>
      <l n="1306">Though that my death were adiunct to my Act,</l>
      <l n="1307">By heauen I would doe it.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-jn-joh">
      <speaker rend="italic">Iohn.</speaker>
      <l n="1308">Doe not I know thou wouldst?</l>
      <l n="1309">Good<hi rend="italic">Hubert, Hubert, Hubert</hi>throw thine eye</l>
      <l n="1310">On yon young boy: Ile tell thee what my friend,</l>
      <l n="1311">He is a very serpent in my way,</l>
      <l n="1312">And wheresoere this foot of mine doth tread,</l>
      <l n="1313">He lies before me: dost thou vnderstand me?</l>
      <l n="1314">Thou art his keeper.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-jn-hub">
      <speaker rend="italic">Hub.</speaker>
      <l n="1315">And Ile keepe him so,</l>
      <l n="1316">That he shall not offend your Maiesty.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-jn-joh">
      <speaker rend="italic">Iohn.</speaker>
      <l n="1317">Death.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-jn-hub">
      <speaker rend="italic">Hub.</speaker>
      <l n="1318">My Lord.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-jn-joh">
      <speaker rend="italic">Iohn.</speaker>
      <l n="1319">A Graue.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-jn-hub">
      <speaker rend="italic">Hub.</speaker>
      <l n="1320">He shall not liue.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-jn-joh">
      <speaker rend="italic">Iohn.</speaker>
      <l n="1321">Enough.</l>
      <l n="1322">I could be merry now,<hi rend="italic">Hubert</hi>, I loue thee.</l>
      <l n="1323">Well, Ile not say what I intend for thee:</l>
      <l n="1324">Remember: Madam, Fare you well,</l>
      <l n="1325">Ile send those powers o're to your Maiesty.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-jn-eli">
      <speaker rend="italic">Ele.</speaker>
      <l n="1326">My blessing goe with thee.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-jn-joh">
      <speaker rend="italic">Iohn.</speaker>
      <l n="1327">For<hi rend="italic">England</hi>Cosen, goe.</l>
      <l n="1328">
         <hi rend="italic">Hubert</hi>shall be your man, attend on you</l>
      <l n="1329">With al true duetie: On toward<hi rend="italic">Callice</hi>, hoa.</l>
   </sp>
   <stage rend="italic rightJustified" type="exit">Exeunt.</stage>
   <pb facs="FFimg:axc0336-0.jpg" n="12"/>
   <cb n="1"/>
</div>

                                
                            

Download the XML