[Exeunt CHATILLON and PEMBRO That might have been prevented and made whole Which now the manage of two kingdoms must With fearful bloody issue arbitrate. K. John. Our strong possession and our right for us. Eli. Your strong possession much more than your righ 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 the Sheriff of Northamptonshire, who whispers ESSE Essex. My liege, here is the strangest controversy, Come from the country to be judg'd by you, That e'er I heard: shall I produce the men? K. John. Let them approach. Our abbeys and our priories shall pay This expedition's charge. The which if he can prove, 'a pops me out K. John. A good blunt fellow.-Why, being younger Doth he lay claim to thine inheritance? Bast. I know not why, except to get the land. Fair fall the bones that took the pains for me!— And were our father, and this son like him,— I give heaven thanks I was not like to thee! [born, K. John. Why, what a madcap hath heaven lent us here! The accent of his tongue affecteth him: In the large composition of this man? K. John. Mine eye hath well examined his parts, Bast. Well, sir, by this you cannot get my land: I Then, good my liege, let me have what is mine, K. John. Sirrah, your brother is legitimate; Bast. Of no more force to dispossess me, sir, Eli. Whether hadst thou rather be a Falconbridge, And like thy brother, to enjoy thy land, Or the reputed son of Coeur-de-lion, Lord of thy presence, and no land beside? Bast. Madam, an if my brother had my shape And I had his, Sir Robert 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'd give it every foot to have this face; I would not be Sir Nob in any case. Eli. 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. Bast. Brother: take you my land, I'll take my chance, Eli. Nay, I would have you go before me thither. Bast. Philip, my liege; so is my name begun; K. John. From henceforth bear his name whose form thou bear'st: Kneel thou down Philip, but arise more great.— Arise Sir Richard and Plantagenet. Bast. Brother by the mother's side, give me your hand: My father gave me honour, yours gave land.Now blessed be the hour, by night or day, When I was got, Sir Robert was away! Eli. The very spirit of Plantagenet !— I am thy grandam, Richard; call me so. Bast. 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; Near or far off, well won is still well shot; K. John. Go, Falconbridge; now hast thou thy desire; [Exeunt all except the BASTARD. : A foot of honour better than I was; And so, ere answer knows what question would,—— And talking of the Alps and Apennines, It draws toward supper in conclusion so. And fits the mounting spirit like myself: Enter LADY FALCONBRIDGE and JAMES GURNEY. Lady F. Where is that slave, thy brother? where is That holds in chase mine honour up and down? Bast. 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 F. 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. Bast. James Gurney, wilt thou give us leave awhile? Gur. Good leave, good Philip. Bast. [Exit G Philip?-sparrow!-Jan There's toys abroad: anon I'll tell thee more. 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 not 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 F. Hast thou conspired with thy brother too, That for thine own gain shouldst defend mine honour? What means this scorn, thou most untoward knave? Bast. 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 ; |