Page 154 - Shakespeare - Vol. 2
P. 154
As thine was to thy husband; and this boy [125]
Liker in feature to his father Geoffrey
Than thou and John in manners; being as like
As rain to water, or devil to his dam.
My boy a bastard! By my soul, I think
His father never was so true begot: [130]
It cannot be and if thou wert his mother.
ELEANOR
There’s a good mother, boy, that blots thy father.
CONSTANCE
There’s good grandam, boy, that would blot thee.
AUSTRIA
Peace!
BASTARD
Hear the crier!
AUSTRIA
What the devil art thou?
BASTARD
One that will play the devil, sir, with you, [135]
And a may catch your hide and you alone:
You are the hare of whom the proverb goes,
Whose valour plucks dead lions by the beard.
I’ll smoke your skin-coat, and I catch you right;
Sirrah, look to’t; i’ faith I will, i’ faith. [140]
BLANCHE
O, well did he become that lion’s robe
That did disrobe the lion of that robe!
BASTARD
It lies as sightly on the back of him