Page 224 - Shakespeare - Vol. 2

PANDULPH

It was my breath that blew this tempest up,
Upon your stubborn usage of the pope;
But since your are a gentle convertite

My tongue shall hush again this storm of war, [20]
And make fair weather in your blust’ring land.
On this Ascension-day, remember well,
Upon your oath of service to the pope,
Go I to make the French lay down their arms.

[Exit.]

KING JOHN
Is this Ascension-day? Did not the prophet [25]
Say that before Ascension-day at noon
My crown I should give off? Even so I have:

I did suppose it should be on constraint;
But, heaven be thank’d, it is but voluntary.

Enter the Bastard.

BASTARD
All Kent hath yielded: nothing there holds out [30]
But Dover Castle; London hath receiv’d,

Like a kind host, the Dolphin and his powers;
Your nobles will not hear you, but are gone
To offer service to your enemy;
And wild amazement hurries up and down [35]

The little number of your doubtful friends.

KING JOHN

Would not my lords return to me again
After they heard young Arthur was alive?

BASTARD
They found him dead and cast into the streets,
An empty casket, where the jewel of life [40]

By some damn’d hand was robb’d and ta’en away.