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King John - Act 5, scene 1
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King John - Act 5, scene 1Act 5, scene 1
Scene 1
Synopsis:
King John submits his royal power to the Pope in exchange for Pandulph’s intercession against the French forces. The Bastard reports the successes of the French army, the death of Arthur, and the revolt of the nobles, and urges John to fight the French rather than seek peace through Pandulph. King John gives the Bastard the authority to deal with the French as he chooses.
Enter King John and Pandulph ⌜with the crown, andtheir⌝ Attendants.
KING JOHN
2149 Thus have I yielded up into your hand
2150 The circle of my glory.
PANDULPH, ⌜handing John the crown⌝ 2151 Take again
2152 From this my hand, as holding of the Pope,
2153 5 Your sovereign greatness and authority.
KING JOHN
2154 Now keep your holy word. Go meet the French,
2155 And from his Holiness use all your power
2156 To stop their marches ’fore we are inflamed.
2157 Our discontented counties do revolt,
2158 10 Our people quarrel with obedience,
2159 Swearing allegiance and the love of soul
2160 To stranger blood, to foreign royalty.
2161 This inundation of mistempered humor
2162 Rests by you only to be qualified.
2163 15 Then pause not, for the present time’s so sick
2164 That present med’cine must be ministered,
2165 Or overthrow incurable ensues.
PANDULPH
2166 It was my breath that blew this tempest up,
2167 Upon your stubborn usage of the Pope;
p.
173
2168
20 But since you are a gentle convertite,2169 My tongue shall hush again this storm of war
2170 And make fair weather in your blust’ring land.
2171 On this Ascension Day, remember well:
2172 Upon your oath of service to the Pope,
2173 25 Go I to make the French lay down their arms.
He exits, ⌜with Attendants.⌝
KING JOHN
2174 Is this Ascension Day? Did not the prophet
2175 Say that before Ascension Day at noon
2176 My crown I should give off? Even so I have.
2177 I did suppose it should be on constraint,
2178 30 But, ⌜God⌝ be thanked, it is but voluntary.
Enter Bastard.
BASTARD
2179 All Kent hath yielded. Nothing there holds out
2180 But Dover Castle. London hath received
2181 Like a kind host the Dauphin and his powers.
2182 Your nobles will not hear you, but are gone
2183 35 To offer service to your enemy;
2184 And wild amazement hurries up and down
2185 The little number of your doubtful friends.
KING JOHN
2186 Would not my lords return to me again
2187 After they heard young Arthur was alive?
BASTARD
2188 40 They found him dead and cast into the streets,
2189 An empty casket where the jewel of life
2190 By some damned hand was robbed and ta’en away.
KING JOHN
2191 That villain Hubert told me he did live!
BASTARD
2192 So, on my soul, he did, for aught he knew.
2193 45 But wherefore do you droop? Why look you sad?
2194 Be great in act, as you have been in thought.
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2195
Let not the world see fear and sad distrust2196 Govern the motion of a kingly eye.
2197 Be stirring as the time; be fire with fire;
2198 50 Threaten the threat’ner, and outface the brow
2199 Of bragging horror. So shall inferior eyes,
2200 That borrow their behaviors from the great,
2201 Grow great by your example and put on
2202 The dauntless spirit of resolution.
2203 55 Away, and glister like the god of war
2204 When he intendeth to become the field.
2205 Show boldness and aspiring confidence.
2206 What, shall they seek the lion in his den
2207 And fright him there? And make him tremble there?
2208 60 O, let it not be said! Forage, and run
2209 To meet displeasure farther from the doors,
2210 And grapple with him ere he come so nigh.
KING JOHN
2211 The legate of the Pope hath been with me,
2212 And I have made a happy peace with him,
2213 65 And he hath promised to dismiss the powers
2214 Led by the Dauphin.
BASTARD 2215 O inglorious league!
2216 Shall we upon the footing of our land
2217 Send fair-play orders and make compromise,
2218 70 Insinuation, parley, and base truce
2219 To arms invasive? Shall a beardless boy,
2220 A cockered silken wanton, brave our fields
2221 And flesh his spirit in a warlike soil,
2222 Mocking the air with colors idly spread,
2223 75 And find no check? Let us, my liege, to arms!
2224 Perchance the Cardinal cannot make your peace;
2225 Or if he do, let it at least be said
2226 They saw we had a purpose of defense.
KING JOHN
2227 Have thou the ordering of this present time.
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BASTARD 2228 80 Away, then, with good courage! (⌜Aside.⌝) Yet I
2229 know
2230 Our party may well meet a prouder foe.
They exit.