Enter Salisbury, Pembroke, and Bigot.SALISBURY I did not think the King so stored with friends.
191
King John
ACT 5. SC. 4
PEMBROKE Up once again. Put spirit in the French. If they miscarry, we miscarry too.SALISBURY That misbegotten devil, Faulconbridge,5 In spite of spite, alone upholds the day.PEMBROKE They say King John, sore sick, hath left the field.Enter Melun, wounded, ⌜led by a Soldier.⌝MELUN Lead me to the revolts of England here.SALISBURY When we were happy, we had other names.PEMBROKE It is the Count Melun.SALISBURY 10 Wounded to death.MELUN Fly, noble English; you are bought and sold. Unthread the rude eye of rebellion And welcome home again discarded faith. Seek out King John and fall before his feet,15 For if the French be lords of this loud day, He means to recompense the pains you take By cutting off your heads. Thus hath he sworn, And I with him, and many more with me, Upon the altar at Saint Edmundsbury,20 Even on that altar where we swore to you Dear amity and everlasting love.SALISBURY May this be possible? May this be true?MELUN Have I not hideous death within my view, Retaining but a quantity of life,25 Which bleeds away even as a form of wax Resolveth from his figure ’gainst the fire?
193
King John
ACT 5. SC. 4
What in the world should make me now deceive, Since I must lose the use of all deceit? Why should I then be false, since it is true30 That I must die here and live hence by truth? I say again, if Louis do win the day, He is forsworn if e’er those eyes of yours Behold another daybreak in the East. But even this night, whose black contagious breath35 Already smokes about the burning crest Of the old, feeble, and day-wearied sun, Even this ill night your breathing shall expire, Paying the fine of rated treachery Even with a treacherous fine of all your lives,40 If Louis by your assistance win the day. Commend me to one Hubert with your king; The love of him, and this respect besides, For that my grandsire was an Englishman, Awakes my conscience to confess all this.45 In lieu whereof, I pray you bear me hence From forth the noise and rumor of the field, Where I may think the remnant of my thoughts In peace, and part this body and my soul With contemplation and devout desires.SALISBURY 50 We do believe thee, and beshrew my soul But I do love the favor and the form Of this most fair occasion, by the which We will untread the steps of damnèd flight, And like a bated and retirèd flood,55 Leaving our rankness and irregular course, Stoop low within those bounds we have o’erlooked And calmly run on in obedience Even to our ocean, to our great King John. My arm shall give thee help to bear thee hence,60 For I do see the cruel pangs of death
195
King John
ACT 5. SC. 5
Right in thine eye.—Away, my friends! New flight, And happy newness, that intends old right.They exit, ⌜assisting Melun.⌝