Page 158 - Shakespeare - Vol. 2

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, [210]
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
Confronts your city’s eyes, your winking gates; [215]
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 [220]
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, [225]
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 ears: [230]
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. [235]
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: [240]