William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition (200 page)
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Authors: William Shakespeare
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BOOK: William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition
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THESEUS What are they that do play it?
PHILOSTRATE
Hard-handed men that work in Athens here,
Which never laboured in their minds till now,
And now have toiled their unbreathed memories
With this same play against your nuptial. 50
Which never laboured in their minds till now,
And now have toiled their unbreathed memories
With this same play against your nuptial. 50
THESEUS
Go, bring them in; and take your places, ladies.
Exit Philostrate
HIPPOLYTA
I love not to see wretchedness o’ercharged
And duty in his service perishing.
And duty in his service perishing.
KING JOHN
A PLAY called
The Troublesome Reign of John, King of England
, published anonymously in 1591, has sometimes been thought to be a derivative version of Shakespeare’s
King John,
first published in the 1623 Folio; more probably Shakespeare wrote his play in 1595 or 1596, using
The Troublesome Reign
—itself based on Holinshed’s
Chronicles
and John Foxe’s
Book of Martyrs
(1563)—as his principal source. Like
Richard II, King John
is written entirely in verse.
The Troublesome Reign of John, King of England
, published anonymously in 1591, has sometimes been thought to be a derivative version of Shakespeare’s
King John,
first published in the 1623 Folio; more probably Shakespeare wrote his play in 1595 or 1596, using
The Troublesome Reign
—itself based on Holinshed’s
Chronicles
and John Foxe’s
Book of Martyrs
(1563)—as his principal source. Like
Richard II, King John
is written entirely in verse.
King John (
c
.1167―1216) was famous as the opponent of papal tyranny, and
The Troublesome Reign
is a violently anti-Catholic play; but Shakespeare is more moderate. He portrays selected events from John’s reign—like
The Troublesome Reign,
making no mention of Magna Carta—and ends with John’s death, but John is not so dominant a figure in his play as Richard II or Richard III in theirs. Indeed, the longest—and liveliest—role is that of Richard Coeur-de-lion’s illegitimate son, Philip Falconbridge, the Bastard.
c
.1167―1216) was famous as the opponent of papal tyranny, and
The Troublesome Reign
is a violently anti-Catholic play; but Shakespeare is more moderate. He portrays selected events from John’s reign—like
The Troublesome Reign,
making no mention of Magna Carta—and ends with John’s death, but John is not so dominant a figure in his play as Richard II or Richard III in theirs. Indeed, the longest—and liveliest—role is that of Richard Coeur-de-lion’s illegitimate son, Philip Falconbridge, the Bastard.
King John’s reign was troublesome initially because of his weak claim to his brother Richard Coeur-de-lion’s throne. Prince Arthur, son of John’s elder brother Geoffrey, had no less strong a claim, which is upheld by his mother, Constance, and by King Philip of France. The waste and futility of the consequent war between power-hungry leaders is satirically demonstrated in the dispute over the French town of Angers, which is resolved by a marriage between John’s niece, Lady Blanche of Spain, and Louis, the French Dauphin. The moral is strikingly drawn by the Bastard—the man best fitted to be king, but debarred by accident of birth—in his speech (2.1.562-99) on ’commodity’ (self-interest). King Philip breaks his treaty with England, and in the ensuing battle Prince Arthur is captured. He becomes the play’s touchstone of humanity as he persuades John’s agent, Hubert, to disobey John’s orders to blind him, only to kill himself while trying to escape. John’s noblemen, thinking the King responsible for the boy’s death, defect to the French, but return to their allegiance on learning that the Dauphin intends to kill them after conquering England. John dies, poisoned by a monk; the play ends with the reunited noblemen swearing allegiance to John’s son, the young Henry III, and with the Bastard’s boast that
This England never did, nor never shall,
Lie at the proud foot of a conqueror
But when it first did help to wound itself.
Twentieth-century revivals of
King John
were infrequent, but it was popular in the nineteenth century, when the roles of the King, the Bastard, and Constance all appealed to successful actors; a production of 1823 at Covent Garden inaugurated a trend for historically accurate settings and costumes which led to a number of spectacular revivals.
King John
were infrequent, but it was popular in the nineteenth century, when the roles of the King, the Bastard, and Constance all appealed to successful actors; a production of 1823 at Covent Garden inaugurated a trend for historically accurate settings and costumes which led to a number of spectacular revivals.
THE PERSONS OF THE PLAYKING JOHN of England
QUEEN ELEANOR, his motherLADY FALCONBRIDGE
Philip the BASTARD, later knighted as Sir Richard Plantagenet,
her illegitimate son by King Richard I (Coeur-de-lion)
Robert FALCONBRIDGE, her legitimate son
James GURNEY, her attendantLady BLANCHE of Spain, niece of King John
PRINCE HENRY, son of King John
HUBERT, a follower of King John
Earl of SALISBURY
Earl of PEMBROKE
Earl of ESSEX
Lord BIGOT
KING PHILIP of FranceLOUIS THE DAUPHIN, his son
ARTHUR, Duke of Brittaine, nephew of King John
Lady coNSTANCE, his mother
Duke of AUSTRIA (Limoges)
CHÂTILLON, ambassador from France to England
Count MELUNA CITIZEN of Angers
Cardinal PANDOLF, a legate from the Pope
PETER OF POMFRET, a prophetHERALDS
EXECUTIONERS
MESSENGERS
SHERIFF
Lords, soldiers, attendants
[
Flourish.
]
Enter King John, Queen Eleanor, and the Earls of Pembroke, Essex, and Salisbury; with them Châtillon of France
KING JOHN
Now say, Châtillon, what would France with us?
CHÂTILLON
Thus, after greeting, speaks the King of France,
In my behaviour, to the majesty—
The borrowed majesty—of England here.
In my behaviour, to the majesty—
The borrowed majesty—of England here.
QUEEN ELEANOR
A strange beginning: ‘borrowed majesty’?
KING JOHN
Silence, good mother, hear the embassy.
CHÂTILLON
Philip of France, in right and true behalf
Of thy deceased brother Geoffrey’s son,
Arthur Plantagenet,
lays most lawful claim
To this fair island and the territories,
To Ireland, Poitou, Anjou, Touraine, Maine;
Desiring thee to lay aside the sword
Which sways usurpingly these several titles,
And put the same into young Arthur’s hand,
Thy nephew and right royal sovereign.
Of thy deceased brother Geoffrey’s son,
Arthur Plantagenet,
lays most lawful claim
To this fair island and the territories,
To Ireland, Poitou, Anjou, Touraine, Maine;
Desiring thee to lay aside the sword
Which sways usurpingly these several titles,
And put the same into young Arthur’s hand,
Thy nephew and right royal sovereign.
KING JOHN
What follows if we disallow of this?
CHÂTILLON
The proud control of fierce and bloody war,
To enforce these rights so forcibly withheld—
To enforce these rights so forcibly withheld—
KING JOHN
Here have we war for war, and blood for blood,
Controlment for controlment: so answer France.
Controlment for controlment: so answer France.
CHÂTILLON
Then take my king’s defiance from my mouth,
The farthest limit of my embassy.
The farthest limit of my embassy.
KING JOHN
Bear mine to him, and so depart in peace.
Be thou as lightning in the eyes of France,
For ere thou canst report, I will be there; 25
The thunder of my cannon shall be heard.
So hence. Be thou the trumpet of our wrath,
And sullen presage of your own decay.—
An honourable conduct let him have;
Pembroke, look to’t.—Farewell, Châtillon. 30
Be thou as lightning in the eyes of France,
For ere thou canst report, I will be there; 25
The thunder of my cannon shall be heard.
So hence. Be thou the trumpet of our wrath,
And sullen presage of your own decay.—
An honourable conduct let him have;
Pembroke, look to’t.—Farewell, Châtillon. 30
Exeunt Châtillon and Pembroke
QUEEN ELEANOR
What now, my son? Have I not ever said
How that ambitious Constance would not cease
Till she had kindled France and all the world
Upon the right and party of her son ?
This might have been prevented and made whole 35
With very easy arguments of love,
Which now the manage of two kingdoms must
With fearful-bloody issue arbitrate.
How that ambitious Constance would not cease
Till she had kindled France and all the world
Upon the right and party of her son ?
This might have been prevented and made whole 35
With very easy arguments of love,
Which now the manage of two kingdoms must
With fearful-bloody issue arbitrate.
KING JOHN
Our strong possession and our right for us.
QUEEN ELEANOR (
aside to King John
)
aside to King John
)
Your strong possession much more than your right,
Or else it must go wrong with you and me: 41
So much my conscience whispers in your ear,
Which none but heaven and you and I shall hear.
Or else it must go wrong with you and me: 41
So much my conscience whispers in your ear,
Which none but heaven and you and I shall hear.
Enter
a Sheriff, [
who whispers to Essex
]
ESSEX
My liege, here is the strangest controversy,
Come from the country to be judged by you, 45
That e’er I heard. Shall I produce the men?
Come from the country to be judged by you, 45
That e’er I heard. Shall I produce the men?
KING JOHN Let them approach.—⌈
Exit Sheriff
⌉
Exit Sheriff
⌉
Our abbeys and our priories shall pay
This expeditious charge.
What men are you?
This expeditious charge.
Enter Robert Falconbridge and Philip the Bastard
⌈
With
the
Sheriff
⌉
BASTARD
Your faithful subject I, a gentleman 50
Born in Northamptonshire, and eldest son,
As I suppose, to Robert Falconbridge,
A soldier, by the honour-giving hand
Of
Cœur-de-lion
knighted in the field.
Born in Northamptonshire, and eldest son,
As I suppose, to Robert Falconbridge,
A soldier, by the honour-giving hand
Of
Cœur-de-lion
knighted in the field.
KING JOHN What art thou? 55
FALCONBRIDGE
The son and heir to that same Falconbridge.
KING JOHN
Is that the elder, and art thou the heir?
You came not of one mother then, it seems.
You came not of one mother then, it seems.
BASTARD
Most certain of one mother, mighty King—
That is well known—and, as I think, one father. 60
But for the certain knowledge of that truth
I put you o’er to heaven, and to my mother.
Of that I doubt as all men’s children may.
That is well known—and, as I think, one father. 60
But for the certain knowledge of that truth
I put you o’er to heaven, and to my mother.
Of that I doubt as all men’s children may.
QUEEN ELEANOR
Out on thee, rude man ! Thou dost shame thy mother
And wound her honour with this diffidence. 65
And wound her honour with this diffidence. 65
BASTARD
I, Madam? No, I have no reason for it.
That is my brother’s plea and none of mine,
The which if he can prove, a pops me out
At least from fair five hundred pound a year.
Heaven guard my mother’s honour, and my land! 70
That is my brother’s plea and none of mine,
The which if he can prove, a pops me out
At least from fair five hundred pound a year.
Heaven guard my mother’s honour, and my land! 70
KING JOHN
A good blunt fellow.—Why, being younger born,
Doth he lay claim to thine inheritance ?
Doth he lay claim to thine inheritance ?
BASTARD
I know not why, except to get the land;
But once he slandered me with bastardy.
But whe’er I be as true begot or no, 75
That still I lay upon my mother’s head;
But that I am as well begot, my liege—
Fair fall the bones that took the pains for me—
Compare our faces and be judge yourself.
If old Sir Robert did beget us both 80
And were our father, and this son like him,
O old Sir Robert, father, on my knee
I give heaven thanks I was not like to thee.
But once he slandered me with bastardy.
But whe’er I be as true begot or no, 75
That still I lay upon my mother’s head;
But that I am as well begot, my liege—
Fair fall the bones that took the pains for me—
Compare our faces and be judge yourself.
If old Sir Robert did beget us both 80
And were our father, and this son like him,
O old Sir Robert, father, on my knee
I give heaven thanks I was not like to thee.
KING JOHN
Why, what a madcap hath heaven lent us here!
QUEEN ELEANOR
He hath a trick of Coeur-de-lion’s face; 85
The accent of his tongue affecteth him.
Do you not read some tokens of my son
In the large composition of this man?
The accent of his tongue affecteth him.
Do you not read some tokens of my son
In the large composition of this man?
KING JOHN
Mine eye hath well examined his parts,
And finds them perfect Richard.
(
To Robert Falconbridge
) Sirrah, speak: 90
What doth move you to claim your brother’s land?
And finds them perfect Richard.
(
To Robert Falconbridge
) Sirrah, speak: 90
What doth move you to claim your brother’s land?
BASTARD
Because he hath a half-face like my father!
With half that face would he have all my land,
A half-faced groat five hundred pound a year.
With half that face would he have all my land,
A half-faced groat five hundred pound a year.
FALCONBRIDGE
My gracious liege, when that my father lived, 95
Your brother did employ my father much—
Your brother did employ my father much—
BASTARD
Well, sir, by this you cannot get my land.
Your tale must be how he employed my mother.
Your tale must be how he employed my mother.
FALCONBRIDGE
And once dispatched him in an embassy
To Germany, there with the Emperor
To treat of high affairs touching that time.
Th‘advantage of his absence took the King,
And in the meantime sojourned at my father’s,
Where how he did prevail I shame to speak.
But truth is truth:large lengths of seas and shores
Between my father and my mother lay, 106
As I have heard my father speak himself,
When this same lusty gentleman was got.
Upon his deathbed he by will bequeathed
His lands to me, and took it on his death 110
That this my mother’s son was none of his;
And if he were, he came into the world
Full fourteen weeks before the course of time.
Then, good my liege, let me have what is mine,
My father’s land, as was my father’s will. 115
To Germany, there with the Emperor
To treat of high affairs touching that time.
Th‘advantage of his absence took the King,
And in the meantime sojourned at my father’s,
Where how he did prevail I shame to speak.
But truth is truth:large lengths of seas and shores
Between my father and my mother lay, 106
As I have heard my father speak himself,
When this same lusty gentleman was got.
Upon his deathbed he by will bequeathed
His lands to me, and took it on his death 110
That this my mother’s son was none of his;
And if he were, he came into the world
Full fourteen weeks before the course of time.
Then, good my liege, let me have what is mine,
My father’s land, as was my father’s will. 115
KING JOHN
Sirrah, your brother is legitimate.
Your father’s wife did after wedlock bear him,
And if she did play false, the fault was hers,
Which fault lies on the hazards of all husbands
That marry wives. Tell me, how if my brother,
Who, as you say, took pains to get this son,
Had of your father claimed this son for his ?
In sooth, good friend, your father might have kept
This calf, bred from his cow, from all the world;
In sooth he might. Then if he were my brother’s, 125
My brother might not claim him, nor your father,
Being none of his, refuse him. This concludes:
My mother’s son did get your father’s heir;
Your father’s heir must have your father’s land.
Your father’s wife did after wedlock bear him,
And if she did play false, the fault was hers,
Which fault lies on the hazards of all husbands
That marry wives. Tell me, how if my brother,
Who, as you say, took pains to get this son,
Had of your father claimed this son for his ?
In sooth, good friend, your father might have kept
This calf, bred from his cow, from all the world;
In sooth he might. Then if he were my brother’s, 125
My brother might not claim him, nor your father,
Being none of his, refuse him. This concludes:
My mother’s son did get your father’s heir;
Your father’s heir must have your father’s land.
FALCONBRIDGE
Shall then my father’s will be of no force 130
To dispossess that child which is not his?
To dispossess that child which is not his?
BASTARD
Of no more force to dispossess me, sir,
Than was his will to get me, as I think.
Than was his will to get me, as I think.
QUEEN ELEANOR
Whether hadst thou rather be: a Falconbridge,
And like thy brother to enjoy thy land, 135
Or the reputed son of Cœur-de-lion,
Lord of thy presence, and no land beside?
And like thy brother to enjoy thy land, 135
Or the reputed son of Cœur-de-lion,
Lord of thy presence, and no land beside?
BASTARD
Madam, an if my brother had my shape,
And I had his, Sir Robert’s his like him,
And if my legs were two such riding-rods, 140
My arms such eel-skins stuffed, my face so thin
That in mine ear I durst not stick a rose
Lest men should say ‘Look where three-farthings
goes!’,
And, to his shape, were heir to all this land,
Would I might never stir from off this place.
I would give it every foot to have this face;
It would not be Sir Nob in any case.
And I had his, Sir Robert’s his like him,
And if my legs were two such riding-rods, 140
My arms such eel-skins stuffed, my face so thin
That in mine ear I durst not stick a rose
Lest men should say ‘Look where three-farthings
goes!’,
And, to his shape, were heir to all this land,
Would I might never stir from off this place.
I would give it every foot to have this face;
It would not be Sir Nob in any case.
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