[Turning suddenly upon him, and shewing two Daggers.]
Here by my side doth hang my wedding knifes: Take thou the one, and with it kill thy Queen, And learn by me to find her where she lies; And with this other I'll dispatch my love, Which now lies fast a sleep within my heart: When they are gone, then I'll consent to love. Stir not, lascivious king, to hinder me; My resolution is more nimbler far, Than thy prevention can be in my rescue, And if thou stir, I strike; therefore, stand still, And hear the choice that I will put thee to: Either swear to leave thy most unholy suit And never hence forth to solicit me; Or else, by heaven, this sharp pointed knife Shall stain thy earth with that which thou would stain, My poor chaste blood. Swear, Edward, swear, Or I will strike and die before thee here.
KING EDWARD. Even by that power I swear, that gives me now The power to be ashamed of my self, I never mean to part my lips again In any words that tends to such a suit. Arise, true English Lady, whom our Isle May better boast of than ever Roman might Of her, whose ransacked treasury hath taskt The vain endeavor of so many pens: Arise, and be my fault thy honor's fame, Which after ages shall enrich thee with. I am awakened from this idle dream.-- Warwick, my Son, Darby, Artois, and Audley! Brave warriors all, where are you all this while?
[Enter all.]
Warwick, I make thee Warden of the North: Thou, Prince of Wales, and Audley, straight to Sea; Scour to New-haven; some there stay for me: My self, Artois, and Darby will through Flanders, To greet our friends there and to crave their aide. This night will scarce suffice a faithful lover; For, ere the Sun shall gild the eastern sky, We'll wake him with our Marshall harmony.
[Exeunt.]
ACT III. SCENE I. Flanders. The French Camp.
[Enter King John of France, his two sons, Charles of Normandy, and Phillip, and the Duke of Lorrain.]
KING JOHN. Here, till our Navy of a thousand sail Have made a breakfast to our foe by Sea, Let us encamp, to wait their happy speed.-- Lorraine, what readiness is Edward in? How hast thou heard that he provided is Of marshall furniture for this exploit?
LORRAINE. To lay aside unnecessary soothing, And not to spend the time in circumstance, Tis bruited for a certainty, my Lord, That he's exceeding strongly fortified; His subjects flock as willingly to war, As if unto a triumph they were led.
CHARLES. England was wont to harbour malcontents, Blood thirsty and seditious Catelynes, Spend thrifts, and such as gape for nothing else But changing and alteration of the state; And is it possible That they are now so loyal in them selves?
LORRAINE. All but the Scot, who solemnly protests, As heretofore I have informed his grace, Never to sheath his Sword or take a truce.
KING JOHN. Ah, that's the anchorage of some better hope! But, on the other side, to think what friends King Edward hath retained in Netherland, Among those ever-bibbing Epicures, Those frothy Dutch men, puft with double beer, That drink and swill in every place they come, Doth not a little aggravate mine ire; Besides, we hear, the Emperor conjoins, And stalls him in his own authority; But, all the mightier that their number is, The greater glory reaps the victory. Some friends have we beside domestic power; The stern Polonian, and the warlike Dane, The king of Bohemia, and of Sicily, Are all become confederates with us, And, as I think, are marching hither apace.
[Drum within.]
But soft, I hear the music of their drums, By which I guess that their approach is near.
[Enter the King of Bohemia, with Danes, and a Polonian Captain, with other soldiers, another way.]
KING OF BOHEMIA. King John of France, as league and neighborhood Requires, when friends are any way distrest, I come to aide thee with my country's force.
POLONIAN CAPTAIN. And from great Musco, fearful to the Turk, And lofty Poland, nurse of hardy men, I bring these servitors to fight for thee, Who willingly will venture in thy cause.