The life and death of King John.For I do see the cruell pangs of death
[2435]
Right in thine eye. Away, my friends, new flight,And happie newnesse, that intends old right.Exeunt
Scena Quinta.
[Act 5, Scene 3]
Enter Dolphin, and his Traine.Dol.The Sun of heauen (me thought) was loth to set;But staid, and made the Westerne Welkin blush,When English measure backward their owne ground
[2440]
In faint Retire: Oh brauely came we off,When with a volley of our needlesse shot,After such bloody toile, we bid good night,And woon'd our tott'ring colours clearly vp,Last in the field, and almost Lords of it.Enter a Messenger.Mes.
[2445]
Where is my Prince, the Dolphin
?Dol.Heere: what newes
?Mes.The Count
Meloone is slaine: The English Lords
By his perswasion, are againe falne off,And your supply, which you haue wish'd so long,
[2450]
Are cast away, and sunke on
Goodwin sands.
Dol.Ah fowle, shrew'd newes. Beshrew thy very
(hart:
I did not thinke to be so sad to nightAs this hath made me. Who was he that saidKng
Iohn did flie an houre or two before
[2455]
The stumbling night did part our wearie powres
?Mes.Who euer spoke it, it is true my Lord.Dol.Well: keepe good quarter, & good care to night,The day shall not be vp so soone as I,To try the faire aduenture of to morrow.Exeunt
Scena Sexta.
[Act 5, Scene 6]
Enter Bastard and Hubert, seuerally.Hub.
[2460]
Whose there? Speake hoa, speake quickely, or
I shoote.
Bast.A Friend. What art thou?Hub.Of the part of England.Bast.Whether doest thou go?Hub.What's that to thee?
[2465]
Why may not I demand of thine affaires,As well as thou of mine?Bast.Hubert, I thinke.
Hub.Thou hast a perfect thought:I will vpon all hazards well beleeue
[2470]
Thou art my friend, that know'st my tongue so well:Who are thou?Bast.Who thou wilt: and if thou pleaseThou maist be‑friend me so much, as to thinkeI come one way of the
Plantagenets.
Hub.
[2475]
Vnkinde remembrance: thou, & endles night,Haue done me shame: Braue Soldier, pardon me,That any accent breaking from thy tongue,Should scape the true acquaintance of mine eare.Bast.Come, come: sans complement, What newes
abroad?
Hub.
[2480]
Why heere walke I, in the black brow of nightTo finde you out.
Bast.Breefe then: and what's the newes?Hub.O my sweet sir, newes fitting to the night,Blacke, fearefull, comfortlesse, and horrible.Bast.
[2485]
Shew me the very wound of this ill newes,I am no woman, Ile not swound at it.Hub.The King I feare is poyson'd by a Monke,I left him almost speechlesse, and broke outTo acquaint you with this euill, that you might
[2490]
The better arme you to the sodaine time,Then if you had at leisure knowne of this.Bast.How did he take it? Who did taste to him?Hub.A Monke I tell you, a resolued villaineWhose Bowels sodainly burst out: The King
[2495]
Yet speakes, and peraduenture may recouer.Bast.Who didst thou leaue to tend his Maiesty?Hub.Why know you not? The Lords are all come
backe,
And brought Prince
Henry in their companie,
At whose request the king hath pardon'd them,
[2500]
And they are all about his Maiestie.Bast.With‑hold thine indignation, mighty heauen,And tempt vs not to beare aboue our power.Ile tell thee
Hubert, halfe my power this night
Passing these Flats, are taken by the Tide,
[2505]
These Lincolne‑Washes haue deuoured them,My selfe, well mounted, hardly haue escap'd.Away before: Conduct me to the king,I doubt he will be dead, or ere I come.Exeunt
Scena Septima.
[Act 5, Scene 7]
Enter Prince Henry, Salisburie, and Bigot.Hen.It is too late, the life of all his blood
[2510]
Is touch'd, corruptible: and his pure braine(Which some suppose the soules fraile dwelling house)Doth by the idle Comments that it makes,Fore‑tell the ending of mortality.Enter Pembroke.Pem.His Highnesse yet doth speak, & holds beleefe,
[2515]
That being brought into the open ayre,It would allay the burning qualitieOf that fell poison which assayleth him.Hen.Let him be brought into the Orchard heere:Doth he still rage?Pem.
[2520]
He is more patientThen when you left him; euen now he sung.Hen.Oh vanity of sicknesse: fierce extreamesIn their continuance, will not feele themselues.Death hauing praide vpon the outward parts
[2525]
Leaues them inuisible, and his siege is nowAgainst the winde, the which he prickes and woundsWith many legions of strange fantasies,Which in their throng, and presse to that last hold,Counfound themselues. 'Tis strange y
t death shold sing:
[2530]
I am the Symet to this pale faint Swan,Who chaunts a dolefull hymne to his owne death,And from the organ‑pipe of frailety singsHis soule and body to their lasting rest.Sal.Be of good comfort (Prince) for you are borne
[2535]
To set a forme vpon that indigestWhich he hath left so shapelesse, and so rude.Iohn brought in.Iohn.I marrie, now my soule hath elbow roome,It
Scena Septima.
[Act 5, Scene 7]
Enter Prince Henry, Salisburie, and Bigot.Hen.It is too late, the life of all his blood
[2510]
Is touch'd, corruptible: and his pure braine(Which some suppose the soules fraile dwelling house)Doth by the idle Comments that it makes,Fore‑tell the ending of mortality.Enter Pembroke.Pem.His Highnesse yet doth speak, & holds beleefe,
[2515]
That being brought into the open ayre,It would allay the burning qualitieOf that fell poison which assayleth him.Hen.Let him be brought into the Orchard heere:Doth he still rage?Pem.
[2520]
He is more patientThen when you left him; euen now he sung.Hen.Oh vanity of sicknesse: fierce extreamesIn their continuance, will not feele themselues.Death hauing praide vpon the outward parts
[2525]
Leaues them inuisible, and his siege is nowAgainst the winde, the which he prickes and woundsWith many legions of strange fantasies,Which in their throng, and presse to that last hold,Counfound themselues. 'Tis strange y
t death shold sing:
[2530]
I am the Symet to this pale faint Swan,Who chaunts a dolefull hymne to his owne death,And from the organ‑pipe of frailety singsHis soule and body to their lasting rest.Sal.Be of good comfort (Prince) for you are borne
[2535]
To set a forme vpon that indigestWhich he hath left so shapelesse, and so rude.Iohn brought in.Iohn.I marrie, now my soule hath elbow roome,It would not out at windowes, nor at doores,There is so hot a summer in my bosome,
[2540]
That all my bowels crumble vp to dust:I am a scribled forme drawne with a penVpon a Parchment, and against this fireDo I shrinke vp.Hen.How fares your Maiesty?Ioh.
[2545]
Poyson'd, ill fare: dead, forsooke, cast off,And none of you will bid the winter comeTo thrust his ycie fingers in my maw;Nor let my kingdomes Riuers take their courseThrough my burn'd bosome: nor intreat the North
[2550]
To make his bleake windes kisse my parched lips,And comfort me with cold. I do not aske you much,I begge cold comfort: and you are so straightAnd so ingratefull, you deny me that.Hen.Oh that there were some vertue in my teares,
[2555]
That might releeue you.Iohn.The salt in them is hot.Within me is a hell, and there the poysonIs, as a fiend, confin'd to tyrannize,On vnrepreeuable condemned blood.Enter Bastard.Bast.
[2560]
Oh, I am scalded with my violent motionAnd spleene of speede, to see your Maiesty.Iohn.Oh Cozen, thou art come to set mine eye:The tackle of my heart, is crack'd and burnt,And all the shrowds wherewith my life should faile,
[2565]
Are turned to one thred, one little haire:My heart hath one poore string to stay it by,Which hold but till thy newes be vttered,And then all this thou seest, is but a clod,And module of confounded royalty.Bast.
[2570]
The Dolphin is preparing hither‑ward,Where heauen he knowes how we shall answer him.For in a night the best part of my powre,As I vpon aduantage did remoue,Were in the
Washes all vnwarily,
[2575]
Deuoured by the vnexpected flood.Sal.You breath these dead newes in as dead an eareMy Liege, my Lord: but now a King, now thus.Hen.Euen so must I run on, and euen so stop.What surety of the world, what hope, what stay,
[2580]
When this was now a King, and now is clay?Bast.Art thou gone so? I do but stay behinde,To do the office for thee, of reuenge,And then my soule shall waite on thee to heauen,As it on earth hath bene thy seruant still.
[2585]
Now, now you Starres, that moue in your right spheres,Where be your powres? Shew now your mended faiths,And instantly returne with me againe.To push destruction, and perpetuall shameOut of the weake doore of our fainting Land:
[2590]
Straight let vs seeke, or straight we shall be sought,The Dolphine rages at our verie heeles.Sal.It seems you know not then so much as we,The Cardinall
Pandulph is within at rest,
Who halfe an houre since came from the Dolphin,
[2595]
And brings from him such offers of our peace,As we with honour and respect may take,With purpose presently to leaue this warre.Bast.He will the rather do it, when he seesOur selues well sinew'd to our defence.Sal.
[2600]
Nay, 'tis in a manner done already,For many carriages hee hath dispatch'dTo the sea side, and put this cause and quarrellTo the disposing of the Cardinall,With whom your selfe, my selfe, and other Lords,
[2605]
If you thinke meete, this afternoone will poastTo consummate this businesse happily.Bast.Let it be so, and you my noble Prince,An ink mark follows the end of this line.With other Princes that may best be spar'd,Shall waite vpon your Fathers Funerall.Hen.
[2610]
At Worster must his bodie be interr'd,For so he will'd it.Bast.Thither shall it then,And happily may your sweet selfe put onThe lineall state, and glorie of the Land,
[2615]
To whom with all submission on my knee,I do bequeath my faithfull seruicesAnd true subiection euerlastingly.Sal.And the like tender of our loue wee makeTo rest without a spot for euermore.Hen.
[2620]
I haue a kinde soule, that would giue thankes,And knowes not how to do it, but with teares.Bast.Oh let vs pay the time: but needfull woe,Since it hath beene before hand with our greefes.This England neuer did, nor shall
[2625]
Lye at the proud foote of a Conqueror,But when it first did helpe to wound it selfe.Now, these her Princes are come home againe,Come the three corners of the world in Armes,And we shall shocke them: Naught shall make vs rue,
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<div type="scene" n="7">
<head rend="italic center">Scena Septima.</head>
<head type="supplied">[Act 5, Scene 7]</head>
<stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter Prince Henry, Salisburie, and Bigot.</stage>
<sp who="#F-jn-hen">
<speaker rend="italic">Hen.</speaker>
<l n="2509">It is too late, the life of all his blood</l>
<l n="2510">Is touch'd, corruptible: and his pure braine</l>
<l n="2511">(Which some suppose the soules fraile dwelling house)</l>
<l n="2512">Doth by the idle Comments that it makes,</l>
<l n="2513">Fore‑tell the ending of mortality.</l>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter Pembroke.</stage>
<sp who="#F-jn-pem">
<speaker rend="italic">Pem.</speaker>
<l n="2514">His Highnesse yet doth speak, & holds beleefe,</l>
<l n="2515">That being brought into the open ayre,</l>
<l n="2516">It would allay the burning qualitie</l>
<l n="2517">Of that fell poison which assayleth him.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-jn-hen">
<speaker rend="italic">Hen.</speaker>
<l n="2518">Let him be brought into the Orchard heere:</l>
<l n="2519">Doth he still rage?</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-jn-pem">
<speaker rend="italic">Pem.</speaker>
<l n="2520">He is more patient</l>
<l n="2521">Then when you left him; euen now he sung.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-jn-hen">
<speaker rend="italic">Hen.</speaker>
<l n="2522">Oh vanity of sicknesse: fierce extreames</l>
<l n="2523">In their continuance, will not feele themselues.</l>
<l n="2524">Death hauing praide vpon the outward parts</l>
<l n="2525">Leaues them inuisible, and his siege is now</l>
<l n="2526">Against the winde, the which he prickes and wounds</l>
<l n="2527">With many legions of strange fantasies,</l>
<l n="2528">Which in their throng, and presse to that last hold,</l>
<l n="2529">Counfound themselues. 'Tis strange y<c rend="superscript">t</c>death shold sing:</l>
<l n="2530">I am the Symet to this pale faint Swan,</l>
<l n="2531">Who chaunts a dolefull hymne to his owne death,</l>
<l n="2532">And from the organ‑pipe of frailety sings</l>
<l n="2533">His soule and body to their lasting rest.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-jn-sal">
<speaker rend="italic">Sal.</speaker>
<l n="2534">Be of good comfort (Prince) for you are borne</l>
<l n="2535">To set a forme vpon that indigest</l>
<l n="2536">Which he hath left so shapelesse, and so rude.</l>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic center" type="business">Iohn brought in.</stage>
<sp who="#F-jn-joh">
<speaker rend="italic">Iohn.</speaker>
<l n="2537">I marrie, now my soule hath elbow roome,</l>
<pb facs="FFimg:axc0346-0.jpg" n="22"/>
<cb n="1"/>
<l n="2538">It would not out at windowes, nor at doores,</l>
<l n="2539">There is so hot a summer in my bosome,</l>
<l n="2540">That all my bowels crumble vp to dust:</l>
<l n="2541">I am a scribled forme drawne with a pen</l>
<l n="2542">Vpon a Parchment, and against this fire</l>
<l n="2543">Do I shrinke vp.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-jn-hen">
<speaker rend="italic">Hen.</speaker>
<l n="2544">How fares your Maiesty?</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-jn-joh">
<speaker rend="italic">Ioh.</speaker>
<l n="2545">Poyson'd, ill fare: dead, forsooke, cast off,</l>
<l n="2546">And none of you will bid the winter come</l>
<l n="2547">To thrust his ycie fingers in my maw;</l>
<l n="2548">Nor let my kingdomes Riuers take their course</l>
<l n="2549">Through my burn'd bosome: nor intreat the North</l>
<l n="2550">To make his bleake windes kisse my parched lips,</l>
<l n="2551">And comfort me with cold. I do not aske you much,</l>
<l n="2552">I begge cold comfort: and you are so straight</l>
<l n="2553">And so ingratefull, you deny me that.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-jn-hen">
<speaker rend="italic">Hen.</speaker>
<l n="2554">Oh that there were some vertue in my teares,</l>
<l n="2555">That might releeue you.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-jn-joh">
<speaker rend="italic">Iohn.</speaker>
<l n="2556">The salt in them is hot.</l>
<l n="2557">Within me is a hell, and there the poyson</l>
<l n="2558">Is, as a fiend, confin'd to tyrannize,</l>
<l n="2559">On vnrepreeuable condemned blood.</l>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter Bastard.</stage>
<sp who="#F-jn-phi">
<speaker rend="italic">Bast.</speaker>
<l n="2560">Oh, I am scalded with my violent motion</l>
<l n="2561">And spleene of speede, to see your Maiesty.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-jn-joh">
<speaker rend="italic">Iohn.</speaker>
<l n="2562">Oh Cozen, thou art come to set mine eye:</l>
<l n="2563">The tackle of my heart, is crack'd and burnt,</l>
<l n="2564">And all the shrowds wherewith my life should faile,</l>
<l n="2565">Are turned to one thred, one little haire:</l>
<l n="2566">My heart hath one poore string to stay it by,</l>
<l n="2567">Which hold but till thy newes be vttered,</l>
<l n="2568">And then all this thou seest, is but a clod,</l>
<l n="2569">And module of confounded royalty.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-jn-phi">
<speaker rend="italic">Bast.</speaker>
<l n="2570">The Dolphin is preparing hither‑ward,</l>
<l n="2571">Where heauen he knowes how we shall answer him.</l>
<l n="2572">For in a night the best part of my powre,</l>
<l n="2573">As I vpon aduantage did remoue,</l>
<l n="2574">Were in the<hi rend="italic">Washes</hi>all vnwarily,</l>
<l n="2575">Deuoured by the vnexpected flood.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-jn-sal">
<speaker rend="italic">Sal.</speaker>
<l n="2576">You breath these dead newes in as dead an eare</l>
<l n="2577">My Liege, my Lord: but now a King, now thus.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-jn-hen">
<speaker rend="italic">Hen.</speaker>
<l n="2578">Euen so must I run on, and euen so stop.</l>
<l n="2579">What surety of the world, what hope, what stay,</l>
<l n="2580">When this was now a King, and now is clay?</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-jn-phi">
<speaker rend="italic">Bast.</speaker>
<l n="2581">Art thou gone so? I do but stay behinde,</l>
<l n="2582">To do the office for thee, of reuenge,</l>
<l n="2583">And then my soule shall waite on thee to heauen,</l>
<cb n="2"/>
<l n="2584">As it on earth hath bene thy seruant still.</l>
<l n="2585">Now, now you Starres, that moue in your right spheres,</l>
<l n="2586">Where be your powres? Shew now your mended faiths,</l>
<l n="2587">And instantly returne with me againe.</l>
<l n="2588">To push destruction, and perpetuall shame</l>
<l n="2589">Out of the weake doore of our fainting Land:</l>
<l n="2590">Straight let vs seeke, or straight we shall be sought,</l>
<l n="2591">The Dolphine rages at our verie heeles.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-jn-sal">
<speaker rend="italic">Sal.</speaker>
<l n="2592">It seems you know not then so much as we,</l>
<l n="2593">The Cardinall<hi rend="italic">Pandulph</hi>is within at rest,</l>
<l n="2594">Who halfe an houre since came from the Dolphin,</l>
<l n="2595">And brings from him such offers of our peace,</l>
<l n="2596">As we with honour and respect may take,</l>
<l n="2597">With purpose presently to leaue this warre.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-jn-phi">
<speaker rend="italic">Bast.</speaker>
<l n="2598">He will the rather do it, when he sees</l>
<l n="2599">Our selues well sinew'd to our defence.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-jn-sal">
<speaker rend="italic">Sal.</speaker>
<l n="2600">Nay, 'tis in a manner done already,</l>
<l n="2601">For many carriages hee hath dispatch'd</l>
<l n="2602">To the sea side, and put this cause and quarrell</l>
<l n="2603">To the disposing of the Cardinall,</l>
<l n="2604">With whom your selfe, my selfe, and other Lords,</l>
<l n="2605">If you thinke meete, this afternoone will poast</l>
<l n="2606">To consummate this businesse happily.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-jn-phi">
<speaker rend="italic">Bast.</speaker>
<l n="2607">Let it be so, and you my noble Prince,</l>
<note type="physical" resp="#ES">An ink mark follows the end of this line.</note>
<l n="2608">With other Princes that may best be spar'd,</l>
<l n="2609">Shall waite vpon your Fathers Funerall.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-jn-hen">
<speaker rend="italic">Hen.</speaker>
<l n="2610">At Worster must his bodie be interr'd,</l>
<l n="2611">For so he will'd it.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-jn-phi">
<speaker rend="italic">Bast.</speaker>
<l n="2612">Thither shall it then,</l>
<l n="2613">And happily may your sweet selfe put on</l>
<l n="2614">The lineall state, and glorie of the Land,</l>
<l n="2615">To whom with all submission on my knee,</l>
<l n="2616">I do bequeath my faithfull seruices</l>
<l n="2617">And true subiection euerlastingly.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-jn-sal">
<speaker rend="italic">Sal.</speaker>
<l n="2618">And the like tender of our loue wee make</l>
<l n="2619">To rest without a spot for euermore.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-jn-hen">
<speaker rend="italic">Hen.</speaker>
<l n="2620">I haue a kinde soule, that would giue thankes,</l>
<l n="2621">And knowes not how to do it, but with teares.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-jn-phi">
<speaker rend="italic">Bast.</speaker>
<l n="2622">Oh let vs pay the time: but needfull woe,</l>
<l n="2623">Since it hath beene before hand with our greefes.</l>
<l n="2624">This England neuer did, nor shall</l>
<l n="2625">Lye at the proud foote of a Conqueror,</l>
<l n="2626">But when it first did helpe to wound it selfe.</l>
<l n="2627">Now, these her Princes are come home againe,</l>
<l n="2628">Come the three corners of the world in Armes,</l>
<l n="2629">And we shall shocke them: Naught shall make vs rue,</l>
<l n="2630">If England to it selfe, do rest but true.</l>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic rightJustified" type="exit">Exeunt.</stage>
</div>
