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Act 5, Scene 4

The same. Another part of the same.

  1. [Enter SALISBURY, PEMBROKE, and others.]
  2. Earl of Salisbury
  3. 2395 I did not think the king so stor'd with friends.
  4. Earl of Pembroke
  5. 2396 Up once again; put spirit in the French;
  6. 2397 If they miscarry, we miscarry too.
  7. Earl of Salisbury
  8. 2398 That misbegotten devil, Falconbridge,
  9. 2399 In spite of spite, alone upholds the day.
  10. Earl of Pembroke
  11. 2400 They say King John, sore sick, hath left the field.
  12. [Enter MELUN wounded, and led by Soldiers.]
  13. Melun
  14. 2401 Lead me to the revolts of England here.
  15. Earl of Salisbury
  16. 2402 When we were happy we had other names.
  17. Earl of Pembroke
  18. 2403 It is the Count Melun.
  19. Earl of Salisbury
  20. 2404 Wounded to death.
  21. Melun
  22. 2405 Fly, noble English, you are bought and sold;
  23. 2406 Unthread the rude eye of rebellion,
  24. 2407 And welcome home again discarded faith.
  25. 2408 Seek out King John, and fall before his feet;
  26. 2409 For if the French be lords of this loud day,
  27. 2410 He means to recompense the pains you take
  28. 2411 By cutting off your heads: thus hath he sworn,
  29. 2412 And I with him, and many more with me,
  30. 2413 Upon the altar at Saint Edmunds-bury;
  31. 2414 Even on that altar where we swore to you
  32. 2415 Dear amity and everlasting love.
  33. Earl of Salisbury
  34. 2416 May this be possible? may this be true?
  35. Melun
  36. 2417 Have I not hideous death within my view,
  37. 2418 Retaining but a quantity of life,
  38. 2419 Which bleeds away even as a form of wax
  39. 2420 Resolveth from his figure 'gainst the fire?
  40. 2421 What in the world should make me now deceive,
  41. 2422 Since I must lose the use of all deceit?
  42. 2423 Why should I then be false, since it is true
  43. 2424 That I must die here, and live hence by truth?
  44. 2425 I say again, if Louis do will the day,
  45. 2426 He is forsworn if e'er those eyes of yours
  46. 2427 Behold another day break in the east:
  47. 2428 But even this night,—whose black contagious breath
  48. 2429 Already smokes about the burning crest
  49. 2430 Of the old, feeble, and day-wearied sun,—
  50. 2431 Even this ill night, your breathing shall expire;
  51. 2432 Paying the fine of rated treachery
  52. 2433 Even with a treacherous fine of all your lives,
  53. 2434 If Louis by your assistance win the day.
  54. 2435 Commend me to one Hubert, with your king;
  55. 2436 The love of him,—and this respect besides,
  56. 2437 For that my grandsire was an Englishman,—
  57. 2438 Awakes my conscience to confess all this.
  58. 2439 In lieu whereof, I pray you, bear me hence
  59. 2440 From forth the noise and rumour of the field,
  60. 2441 Where I may think the remnant of my thoughts
  61. 2442 In peace, and part this body and my soul
  62. 2443 With contemplation and devout desires.
  63. Earl of Salisbury
  64. 2444 We do believe thee:—and beshrew my soul
  65. 2445 But I do love the favour and the form
  66. 2446 Of this most fair occasion, by the which
  67. 2447 We will untread the steps of damned flight;
  68. 2448 And like a bated and retired flood,
  69. 2449 Leaving our rankness and irregular course,
  70. 2450 Stoop low within those bounds we have o'erlook'd,
  71. 2451 And calmly run on in obedience
  72. 2452 Even to our ocean, to our great King John.—
  73. 2453 My arm shall give thee help to bear thee hence;
  74. 2454 For I do see the cruel pangs of death
  75. 2455 Right in thine eye.—Away, my friends! New flight,
  76. 2456 And happy newness, that intends old right.
  77. [Exeunt, leading off MELUN.]