Page 159 - Shakespeare - Vol. 2
P. 159

For this down-trodden equity we tread
               In warlike march these greens before your town,
               Being no further enemy to you
               Than the constraint of hospitable zeal

               In the relief of this oppressed child [245]
               Religiously provokes. Be pleased then
               To pay that duty which you truly owe
               To him that owes it, namely this young prince:

               And then our arms, like to a muzzled bear,
               Save in aspect, hath all offence seal’d up; [250]
               Our cannons’ malice vainly shall be spent
               Against th’ invulnerable clouds of heaven;

               And with a blessed and unvex’d retire,
               With unhack’d swords and helmets all unbruis’d,
               We will bear home that lusty blood again [255]
               Which here we came to spout against your town,

               And leave your children, wives and you in peace.
               But if you fondly pass our proffer’d offer,
               ’Tis not the roundure of your old-fac’d walls
               Can hide you from our messengers of war, [260]

               Though all these English and their discipline
               Were harbour’d in their rude circumference.
               Then tell us, shall your city call us lord,
               In that behalf which we have challeng’d it?

               Or shall we give the signal to our rage [265]
               And stalk in blood to our possession?



              HUBERT
               In brief, we are the king of England’s subjects:
               For him, and in his right, we hold this town.



              KING JOHN
               Acknowledge then the king, and let me in.



              HUBERT
               That can we not; but he that proves the king, [270]

               To him will we prove loyal: till that time
               Have we ramm’d up our gates against the world.
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