第 4 节
作者:
左思右想 更新:2021-02-24 23:51 字数:9321
JOHN。 Bedlam; have done。 CONSTANCE。 I have but this to say… That he
is not only plagued for her sin; But God hath made her sin and her the
plague On this removed issue; plagued for her And with her plague; her
sin his injury; Her injury the beadle to her sin; All punish'd in the person of
this child; And all for her…a plague upon her! ELINOR。 Thou unadvised
scold; I can produce A will that bars the title of thy son。 CONSTANCE。 Ay;
who doubts that? A will; a wicked will; A woman's will; a cank'red
grandam's will! KING PHILIP。 Peace; lady! pause; or be more temperate。
It ill beseems this presence to cry aim To these ill…tuned repetitions。 Some
trumpet summon hither to the walls These men of Angiers; let us hear
them speak Whose title they admit; Arthur's or John's。
Trumpet sounds。 Enter citizens upon the walls
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CITIZEN。 Who is it that hath warn'd us to the walls? KING PHILIP。
'Tis France; for England。 KING JOHN。 England for itself。 You men of
Angiers; and my loving subjects… KING PHILIP。 You loving men of
Angiers; Arthur's subjects; Our trumpet call'd you to this gentle parle…
KING JOHN。 For our advantage; therefore hear us first。 These flags of
France; that are advanced here Before the eye and prospect of your town;
Have hither march'd to your endamagement; The cannons have their
bowels full of wrath; And ready mounted are they to spit forth Their iron
indignation 'gainst your walls; All preparation for a bloody siege And
merciless proceeding by these French Confront your city's eyes; your
winking gates; And but for our approach those sleeping stones That as a
waist doth girdle you about By the compulsion of their ordinance By this
time from their fixed beds of lime Had been dishabited; and wide havoc
made For bloody power to rush upon your peace。 But on the sight of us
your lawful king; Who painfully with much expedient march Have
brought a countercheck before your gates; To save unscratch'd your city's
threat'ned cheeks… Behold; the French amaz'd vouchsafe a parle; And now;
instead of bullets wrapp'd in fire; To make a shaking fever in your walls;
They shoot but calm words folded up in smoke; To make a faithless error
in your cars; Which trust accordingly; kind citizens; And let us in…your
King; whose labour'd spirits; Forwearied in this action of swift speed;
Craves harbourage within your city walls。 KING PHILIP。 When I have
said; make answer to us both。 Lo; in this right hand; whose protection Is
most divinely vow'd upon the right Of him it holds; stands young
Plantagenet; Son to the elder brother of this man; And king o'er him and
all that he enjoys; For this down…trodden equity we tread In warlike march
these greens before your town; Being no further enemy to you Than the
constraint of hospitable zeal In the relief of this oppressed child
Religiously provokes。 Be pleased then To pay that duty which you truly
owe To him that owes it; namely; this young prince; And then our arms;
like to a muzzled bear; Save in aspect; hath all offence seal'd up; Our
cannons' malice vainly shall be spent Against th' invulnerable clouds of
heaven; And with a blessed and unvex'd retire; With unhack'd swords and
helmets all unbruis'd; We will bear home that lusty blood again Which
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here we came to spout against your town; And leave your children; wives;
and you; in peace。 But if you fondly pass our proffer'd offer; 'Tis not the
roundure of your old…fac'd walls Can hide you from our messengers of war;
Though all these English and their discipline Were harbour'd in their rude
circumference。 Then tell us; shall your city call us lord In that behalf
which we have challeng'd it; Or shall we give the signal to our rage; And
stalk in blood to our possession? CITIZEN。 In brief: we are the King of
England's subjects; For him; and in his right; we hold this town。 KING
JOHN。 Acknowledge then the King; and let me in。 CITIZEN。 That can we
not; but he that proves the King; To him will we prove loyal。 Till that time
Have we ramm'd up our gates against the world。 KING JOHN。 Doth not
the crown of England prove the King? And if not that; I bring you
witnesses: Twice fifteen thousand hearts of England's breed… BASTARD。
Bastards and else。 KING JOHN。 To verify our title with their lives。 KING
PHILIP。 As many and as well…born bloods as those… BASTARD。 Some
bastards too。 KING PHILIP。 Stand in his face to contradict his claim。
CITIZEN。 Till you compound whose right is worthiest; We for the
worthiest hold the right from both。 KING JOHN。 Then God forgive the sin
of all those souls That to their everlasting residence; Before the dew of
evening fall shall fleet In dreadful trial of our kingdom's king! KING
PHILIP。 Amen; Amen! Mount; chevaliers; to arms! BASTARD。 Saint
George; that swing'd the dragon; and e'er since Sits on's horse back at mine
hostess' door; Teach us some fence! 'To AUSTRIA' Sirrah; were I at home;
At your den; sirrah; with your lioness; I would set an ox…head to your
lion's hide; And make a monster of you。 AUSTRIA。 Peace! no more。
BASTARD。 O; tremble; for you hear the lion roar! KING JOHN。 Up
higher to the plain; where we'll set forth In best appointment all our
regiments。 BASTARD。 Speed then to take advantage of the field。 KING
PHILIP。 It shall be so; and at the other hill Command the rest to stand。
God and our right! Exeunt
Here; after excursions; enter the HERALD OF FRANCE; with
trumpets; to the gates
FRENCH HERALD。 You men of Angiers; open wide your gates And
let young Arthur; Duke of Britaine; in; Who by the hand of France this day
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hath made Much work for tears in many an English mother; Whose sons
lie scattered on the bleeding ground; Many a widow's husband grovelling
lies; Coldly embracing the discoloured earth; And victory with little loss
doth play Upon the dancing banners of the French; Who are at hand;
triumphantly displayed; To enter conquerors; and to proclaim Arthur of
Britaine England's King and yours。
Enter ENGLISH HERALD; with trumpet
ENGLISH HERALD。 Rejoice; you men of Angiers; ring your bells:
King John; your king and England's; doth approach; Commander of this
hot malicious day。 Their armours that march'd hence so silver…bright
Hither return all gilt with Frenchmen's blood。 There stuck no plume in any
English crest That is removed by a staff of France; Our colours do return
in those same hands That did display them when we first march'd forth;
And like a jolly troop of huntsmen come Our lusty English; all with
purpled hands; Dy'd in the dying slaughter of their foes。 Open your gates
and give the victors way。 CITIZEN。 Heralds; from off our tow'rs we might
behold From first to last the onset and retire Of both your armies; whose
equality By our best eyes cannot be censured。 Blood hath bought blood;
and blows have answer'd blows; Strength match'd with strength; and
power confronted power; Both are alike; and both alike we like。 One must
prove greatest。 While they weigh so even; We hold our town for neither;
yet for both。
Enter the two KINGS; with their powers; at several doors
KING JOHN。 France; hast thou yet more blood to cast away? Say;
shall the current of our right run on? Whose passage; vex'd with thy
impediment; Shall leave his native channel and o'erswell With course
disturb'd even thy confining shores; Unless thou let his silver water keep A
peaceful progress to the ocean。 KING PHILIP。 England; thou hast not
sav'd one drop of blood In this hot trial more than we of France;