King John By William Shakespeare

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King John

William Shakespeare

Published: 1595

Categorie(s): Non-Fiction, History, Fiction, Drama

Source: http://shakespeare.mit.edu/ About Shakespeare:

William Shakespeare (baptised 26 April 1564 – died 23 April 1616) was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon" (or simply "The Bard"). His surviving works consist of 38 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems, and several other poems. His plays have been translated into every major living language, and are performed more often than those of any other playwright. Shakespeare was born and raised in Stratford-upon-Avon. At the age of 18 he married Anne Hathaway, who bore him three children: Susanna, and twins Hamnet and Judith. Between 1585 and 1592 he began a successful career in London as an actor, writer, and part owner of the playing company the Lord Chamberlain's Men, later known as the King's Men. He appears to have retired to Stratford around 1613, where he died three years later. Few records of Shakespeare's private life survive, and there has been considerable speculation about such matters as his sexuality, religious beliefs, and whether the works attributed to him were written by others. Shakespeare produced most of his known work between 1590 and 1613. His early plays were mainly comedies and histories, genres he raised to the peak of sophistication and artistry by the end of the sixteenth century. Next he wrote mainly tragedies until about 1608, including Hamlet, King Lear, and Macbeth, considered some of the finest examples in the English language. In his last phase, he wrote tragicomedies, also known as romances, and collaborated with other playwrights. Many of his plays were published in editions of varying quality and accuracy during his lifetime, and in 1623 two of his former theatrical colleagues published the First Folio, a collected edition of his dramatic works that included all but two of the plays now recognised as Shakespeare's. Shakespeare was a respected poet and playwright in his own day, but his reputation did not rise to its present heights until the nineteenth century. The Romantics, in particular, acclaimed Shakespeare's genius, and the Victorians hero-worshipped Shakespeare with a reverence that George Bernard Shaw called "bardolatry". In the twentieth century, his work was repeatedly adopted and rediscovered by new movements in scholarship and performance. His plays remain highly popular today and are consistently performed and reinterpreted in diverse cultural and political contexts throughout the world. Source: Wikipedia

Also available on Feedbooks Shakespeare:

- Romeo and Juliet (1597)

- Hamlet (1599)

- Macbeth (1606)

- A Midsummer Night's Dream (1596)

- Julius Caesar (1599)

- Othello (1603)

- The Merchant of Venice (1598)

- Much Ado About Nothing (1600)

- King Lear (1606)

- The Taming of the Shrew (1594)

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Act I

SCENE I. KING JOHN'S palace.

> Enter KING JOHN, QUEEN ELINOR, PEMBROKE, ESSEX, SALISBURY, and others, with CHATILLON

KING JOHN

> Now, say, Chatillon, what would France with us?

CHATILLON

> Thus, after greeting, speaks the King of France

> In my behavior to the majesty,

> The borrow'd majesty, of England here.

QUEEN ELINOR

> A strange beginning: 'borrow'd majesty!'

KING JOHN

> Silence, good mother; hear the embassy.

CHATILLON

> Philip of France, in right and true behalf

> Of thy deceased brother Geffrey's son,

> Arthur Plantagenet, lays most lawful claim

> To this fair island and the territories,

> To Ireland, Poictiers, Anjou, Touraine, Maine,

> Desiring thee to lay aside the sword

> Which sways usurpingly these several titles,

> And put these same into young Arthur's hand,

> Thy nephew and right royal sovereign.

KING JOHN

> What follows if we disallow of this?

CHATILLON

> The proud control of fierce and bloody war,

> To enforce these rights so forcibly withheld.

KING JOHN

> Here have we war for war and blood for blood,

> Controlment for controlment: so answer France.

CHATILLON

> Then take my king's defiance from my mouth,

> The farthest limit of my embassy.

KING JOHN

> Bear mine to him, and so depart in peace:

> Be thou as lightning in the eyes of France;

> For ere thou canst report I will be there,

> The thunder of my cannon shall be heard:

> So hence! Be thou the trumpet of our wrath

> And sullen presage of your own decay.

> An honourable conduct let him have:

> Pembroke, look to 't. Farewell, Chatillon.

>

> Exeunt CHATILLON and PEMBROKE

QUEEN ELINOR

> What now, my son! have I not ever said

> How that ambitious Constance would not cease

> Till she had kindled France and all the world,

> Upon the right and party of her son?

> This might have been prevented and made whole

> With very easy arguments of love,

> Which now the manage of two kingdoms must

> With fearful bloody issue arbitrate.

KING JOHN

> Our strong possession and our right for us.

QUEEN ELINOR

> Your strong possession much more than your right,

> Or else it must go wrong with you and me:

> So much my conscience whispers in your ear,

> Which none but heaven and you and I shall hear.

>

> Enter a Sheriff

ESSEX

> My liege, here is the strangest controversy

> Come from country to be judged by you,

> That e'er I heard: shall I produce the men?

KING JOHN

> Let them approach.

> Our abbeys and our priories shall pay

> This expedition's charge.

>

> Enter ROBERT and the BASTARD

>

> What men are you?

BASTARD

> Your faithful subject I, a gentleman

> Born in Northamptonshire and eldest son,

> As I suppose, to Robert Faulconbridge,

> A soldier, by the honour-giving hand

> Of Coeur-de-lion knighted in the field.

KING JOHN

> What art thou?

ROBERT

> The son and heir to that same Faulconbridge.

KING JOHN

> Is that the elder, and art thou the heir?

> You came not of one mother then, it seems.

BASTARD

> Most certain of one mother, mighty king;

> That is well known; and, as I think, one father:

> But for the certain knowledge of that truth

> I put you o'er to heaven and to my mother:

> Of that I doubt, as all men's children may.

QUEEN ELINOR

> Out on thee, rude man! thou dost shame thy mother

> And wound her honour with this diffidence.

BASTARD

> I, madam? no, I have no reason for it;

> That is my brother's plea and none of mine;

> The which if he can prove, a' pops me out

> At least from fair five hundred pound a year:

> Heaven guard my mother's honour and my land!

KING JOHN

> A good blunt fellow. Why, being younger born,

> Doth he lay claim to thine inheritance?

BASTARD

> I know not why, except to get the land.

> But once he slander'd me with bastardy:

> But whether I be as true begot or no,

> That still I lay upon my mother's head,

> But that I am as well begot, my liege,—

> Fair fall the bones that took the pains for me!—

> Compare our faces and be judge yourself.

> If old sir Robert did beget us both

> And were our father and this son like him,

> O old sir Robert, father, on my knee

> I give heaven thanks I was not like to thee!

KING JOHN

> Why, what a madcap hath heaven lent us here!

QUEEN ELINOR

> He hath a trick of Coeur-de-lion's face;

> The accent of his tongue affecteth him.

> Do you not read some tokens of my son

> In the large composition of this man?

KING JOHN

> Mine eye hath well examined his parts

> And finds them perfect Richard. Sirrah, speak,

> What doth move you to claim your brother's land?

BASTARD

> Because he hath a half-face, like my father.

> With half that face would he have all my land:

> A half-faced groat five hundred pound a year!

ROBERT

> My gracious liege, when that my father lived,

> Your brother did employ my father much,—

BASTARD

> Well, sir, by this you cannot get my land:

> Your tale must be how he employ'd my mother.

ROBERT

> And once dispatch'd him in an embassy

> To Germany, there with the emperor

> To treat of high affairs touching that time.

> The advantage of his absence took the king

> And in the mean time sojourn'd at my father's;

> Where how he did prevail I shame to speak,

> But truth is truth: large lengths of seas and shores

> Between my father and my mother lay,

> As I have heard my father speak himself,

> When this same lusty gentleman was got.

> Upon his death-bed he by will bequeath'd

> His lands to me, and took it on his death

> That this my mother's son was none of his;

> And if he were, he came into the world

> Full fourteen weeks before the course of time.

> Then, good my liege, let me have what is mine,

> My father's land, as was my father's will.

KING JOHN

> Sirrah, your brother is legitimate;

> Your father's wife did after wedlock bear him,

> And if she did play false, the fault was hers;

> Which fault lies on the hazards of all husbands

> That marry wives. Tell me, how if my brother,

> Who, as you say, took pains to get this son,

> Had of your father claim'd this son for his?

> In sooth, good friend, your father might have kept

> This calf bred from his cow from all the world;

> In sooth he might; then, if he were my brother's,

> My brother might not claim him; nor your father,

> Being none of his, refuse him: this concludes;

> My mother's son did get your father's heir;

> Your father's heir must have your father's land.

ROBERT

> Shall then my father's will be of no force

> To dispossess that child which is not his?

BASTARD

> Of no more force to dispossess me, sir,

> Than was his will to get me, as I think.

QUEEN ELINOR

> Whether hadst thou rather be a Faulconbridge

> And like thy brother, to enjoy thy land,

> Or the reputed son of Coeur-de-lion,

> Lord of thy presence and no land beside?

BASTARD

> Madam, an if my brother had my shape,

> And I had his, sir Robert's his, like him;

> And if my legs were two such riding-rods,

> My arms such eel-skins stuff'd, my face so thin

> That in mine ear I durst not stick a rose

> Lest men should say 'Look, where three-farthings goes!'

> And, to his shape, were heir to all this land,

> Would I might never stir from off this place,

> I would give it every foot to have this face;

> I would not be sir Nob in any case.

QUEEN ELINOR

> I like thee well: wilt thou forsake thy fortune,

> Bequeath thy land to him and follow me?

> I am a soldier and now bound to France.

BASTARD

> Brother, take you my land, I'll take my chance.

> Your face hath got five hundred pound a year,

> Yet sell your face for five pence and 'tis dear.

> Madam, I'll follow you unto the death.

QUEEN ELINOR

> Nay, I would have you go before me thither.

BASTARD

> Our country manners give our betters way.

KING JOHN

> What is thy name?

BASTARD

> Philip, my liege, so is my name begun,

> Philip, good old sir Robert's wife's eldest son.

KING JOHN

> From henceforth bear his name whose form thou bear'st:

> Kneel thou down Philip, but rise more great,

> Arise sir Richard and Plantagenet.

BASTARD

> Brother by the mother's side, give me your hand:

> My father gave me honour, yours gave land.

> Now blessed by the hour, by night or day,

> When I was got, sir Robert was away!

QUEEN ELINOR

> The very spirit of Plantagenet!

> I am thy grandam, Richard; call me so.

BASTARD

> Madam, by chance but not by truth; what though?

> Something about, a little from the right,

> In at the window, or else o'er the hatch:

> Who dares not stir by day must walk by night,

> And have is have, however men do catch:

> Near or far off, well won is still well shot,

> And I am I, howe'er I was begot.

KING JOHN

> Go, Faulconbridge: now hast thou thy desire;

> A landless knight makes thee a landed squire.

> Come, madam, and come, Richard, we must speed

> For France, for France, for it is more than need.

BASTARD

> Brother, adieu: good fortune come to thee!

> For thou wast got i' the way of honesty.

>

> Exeunt all but BASTARD

>

> A foot of honour better than I was;

> But many a many foot of land the worse.

> Well, now can I make any Joan a lady.

> 'Good den, sir Richard!'—'God-a-mercy, fellow!'—

> And if his name be George, I'll call him Peter;

> For new-made honour doth forget men's names;

> 'Tis too respective and too sociable

> For your conversion. Now your traveller,

> He and his toothpick at my worship's mess,

> And when my knightly stomach is sufficed,

> Why then I suck my teeth and catechise

> My picked man of countries: 'My dear sir,'

> Thus, leaning on mine elbow, I begin,

> 'I shall beseech you'—that is question now;

> And then comes answer like an Absey book:

> 'O sir,' says answer, 'at your best command;

> At your employment; at your service, sir;'

> 'No, sir,' says question, 'I, sweet sir, at yours:'

> And so, ere answer knows what question would,

> Saving in dialogue of compliment,

> And talking of the Alps and Apennines,

> The Pyrenean and the river Po,

> It draws toward supper in conclusion so.

> But this is worshipful society

> And fits the mounting spirit like myself,

> For he is but a bastard to the time

> That doth not smack of observation;

> And so am I, whether I smack or no;

> And not alone in habit and device,

> Exterior form, outward accoutrement,

> But from the inward motion to deliver

> Sweet, sweet, sweet poison for the age's tooth:

> Which, though I will not practise to deceive,

> Yet, to avoid deceit, I mean to learn;

> For it shall strew the footsteps of my rising.

> But who comes in such haste in riding-robes?

> What woman-post is this? hath she no husband

> That will take pains to blow a horn before her?

>

> Enter LADY FAULCONBRIDGE and GURNEY

>

> O me! it is my mother. How now, good lady!

> What brings you here to court so hastily?

LADY FAULCONBRIDGE

> Where is that slave, thy brother? where is he,

> That holds in chase mine honour up and down?

BASTARD

> My brother Robert? old sir Robert's son?

> Colbrand the giant, that same mighty man?

> Is it sir Robert's son that you seek so?

LADY FAULCONBRIDGE

> Sir Robert's son! Ay, thou unreverend boy,

> Sir Robert's son: why scorn'st thou at sir Robert?

> He is sir Robert's son, and so art thou.

BASTARD

> James Gurney, wilt thou give us leave awhile?

GURNEY

> Good leave, good Philip.

BASTARD

> Philip! sparrow: James,

> There's toys abroad: anon I'll tell thee more.

>

> Exit GURNEY

>

> Madam, I was not old sir Robert's son:

> Sir Robert might have eat his part in me

> Upon Good-Friday and ne'er broke his fast:

> Sir Robert could do well: marry, to confess,

> Could he get me? Sir Robert could not do it:

> We know his handiwork: therefore, good mother,

> To whom am I beholding for these limbs?

> Sir Robert never holp to make this leg.

LADY FAULCONBRIDGE

> Hast thou conspired with thy brother too,

> That for thine own gain shouldst defend mine honour?

> What means this scorn, thou most untoward knave?

BASTARD

> Knight, knight, good mother, Basilisco-like.

> What! I am dubb'd! I have it on my shoulder.

> But, mother, I am not sir Robert's son;

> I have disclaim'd sir Robert and my land;

> Legitimation, name and all is gone:

> Then, good my mother, let me know my father;

> Some proper man, I hope: who was it, mother?

LADY FAULCONBRIDGE

> Hast thou denied thyself a Faulconbridge?

BASTARD

> As faithfully as I deny the devil.

LADY FAULCONBRIDGE

> King Richard Coeur-de-lion was thy father:

> By long and vehement suit I was seduced

> To make room for him in my husband's bed:

> Heaven lay not my transgression to my charge!

> Thou art the issue of my dear offence,

> Which was so strongly urged past my defence.

BASTARD

> Now, by this light, were I to get again,

> Madam, I would not wish a better father.

> Some sins do bear their privilege on earth,

> And so doth yours; your fault was not your folly:

> Needs must you lay your heart at his dispose,

> Subjected tribute to commanding love,

> Against whose fury and unmatched force

> The aweless lion could not wage the fight,

> Nor keep his princely heart from Richard's hand.

> He that perforce robs lions of their hearts

> May easily win a woman's. Ay, my mother,

> With all my heart I thank thee for my father!

> Who lives and dares but say thou didst not well

> When I was got, I'll send his soul to hell.

> Come, lady, I will show thee to my kin;

> And they shall say, when Richard me begot,

> If thou hadst said him nay, it had been sin:

> Who says it was, he lies; I say 'twas not.

>

> Exeunt

Act II

SCENE I. France. Before Angiers.

> Enter AUSTRIA and forces, drums, etc. on one side: on the other KING PHILIP and his power; LEWIS, ARTHUR, CONSTANCE and attendants

LEWIS

> Before Angiers well met, brave Austria.

> Arthur, that great forerunner of thy blood,

> Richard, that robb'd the lion of his heart

> And fought the holy wars in Palestine,

> By this brave duke came early to his grave:

> And for amends to his posterity,

> At our importance hither is he come,

> To spread his colours, boy, in thy behalf,

> And to rebuke the usurpation

> Of thy unnatural uncle, English John:

> Embrace him, love him, give him welcome hither.

ARTHUR

> God shall forgive you Coeur-de-lion's death

> The rather that you give his offspring life,

> Shadowing their right under your wings of war:

> I give you welcome with a powerless hand,