Page 165 - Shakespeare - Vol. 2

How like you this wild counsel, mighty states? [395]
Smacks it not something of the policy?

KING JOHN
Now, by the sky that hangs above our heads,
I like it well. France, shall we knit our powers
And lay this Angiers even with the ground;

Then after fight who shall be king of it? [400]

BASTARD
And if thou hast the mettle of a king,
Being wrong’d as we are by this peevish town,
Turn thou the mouth of thy artillery,

As we will ours, against these saucy walls;
And when that we have dash’d them to the ground, [405]
Why then defy each other, and pell-mell
Make work upon ourselves, for heaven or hell.

KING PHILIP
Let it be so. Say, where will you assault?

KING JOHN
We from the west will send destruction
Into this city’s bosom. [410]

AUSTRIA
I from the north.

KING PHILIP
Our thunder from the south
Shall rain their drift of bullets on this town.

BASTARD

[Aside.]
O prudent discipline! From north to south
Austria and France shoot in each other’s mouth:
I’ll stir them to it. − Come, away, away! [415]