That water-walled bulwark, still secure Salute thee for her king: till then, fair boy, Const. O, take his mother's thanks, a widow's thanks, 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 be bent 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, Chat. Then turn your forces from this paltry siege, England, impatient of your just demands, Hath put himself in arms; the adverse winds, His marches are expedient to this town, а · Expedient. The word properly means, "that disengages itself from all entanglements." To set at liberty the foot which was held fast is exped-ire. Shakspere always uses this word in strict accordance with its derivation; as, in truth, he does most words that may be called learned. His forces strong, his soldiers confident. With her her niece, the lady Blanch of Spain; With ladies' faces, and fierce dragons' spleens,- 1 In brief, a braver choice of dauntless spirits, To do offence and scath in Christendom. [Drums beat. K. Phi. How much unlook'd-for is this expedition! For courage mounteth with occasion: Let them be welcome then, we are prepar❜d. Enter KING JOHN, ELINOR, BLANCH, the Bastard, PEMBROKE, 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! Their proud contempt that beat his peace to heaven. Outfaced infant state, and done a rape Upon the maiden virtue of the crown. These eyes, these brows, were moulded out of his : Which died in Geffrey; and the hand of time a How comes it, then, that thou art call'd a king, K. John. From whom hast thou this great commission, 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. That judge hath made me guardian to this boy : And, by whose help, I mean to chastise it. K. John. Alack, thou dost usurp authority. a And this is Geffrey's. We have restored the punctuation of the original,— "And this is Geffrey's, in the name of God." In Perhaps we should read, according to Monck Mason, "And his is Geffrey's." either case, appears to us that King Philip makes a solemn asseveration that this (Arthur) is Geffrey's son and successor, or that " Geffrey's right" is his (Arthur's) in the name of God; asserting the principle of legitimacy, by divine ordinance. As the sentence is commonly given, "In the name of God, How comes it then," &c., Philip is only employing an unmeaning oath. As thine was to thy husband: and this boy Than thou and John, in manners being as like. My boy a bastard! By my soul, I think, 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 grandame, boy, that would blot Bast. One that will play the devil, sir, with you, Blanch. O, well did he become that lion's robe, Bast. It lies as sightly on the back of him, As great Alcides' shoes upon an ass :— 2 But, ass, I'll take that burthen from your back; Aust. What cracker is this same, that deafs our ears Wilt thou resign them, and lay down thy arms? K. John. My life as soon:-I do defy thee, France. Arthur of Bretagne, yield thee to my hand; a King,-Lewis. We have here restored the original reading. Austria is impatient of the "superfluous breath" of the Bastard, and appeals to Philip and the Dauphin-" King,-Lewis, determine." King" is usually omitted, and the line given to Philip. And, out of my dear love, I'll give thee more Eli. Come to thy grandame, child. Const. Do, child, go to it' grandame, child; Give grandame kingdom, and it' grandame will Give it a plum, a cherry, and a fig: There's a good grandame. Arth. Good my mother, peace I would that I were low laid in my grave; Eli. Thou monstrous slanderer of heaven and earth! Const. Thou monstrous injurer of heaven and earth! Call not me slanderer; thou, and thine, usurp The dominations, royalties, and rights Of this oppressed boy: This is thy eldest son's son, Thy sins are visited in this poor child; The canon of the law is laid on him, Removed from thy sin-conceiving womb. K. John. Bedlam, have done. I have but this to say, That he's not only plagued for her sin, But God hath made her sin and her the plague On this removed issue, plagued for her, Her injury, the beadle to her sin; |