Richard, that robb'd the lion of his heart, At our importance hither is he come2, Of thy unnatural uncle, English John: Lew. A noble boy! Who would not do thee right? That to my home I will no more return, 1 By this brave duke came early to his grave:] In the old "King John," the King of France tells Arthur, "Brave Austria, cause of Cordelion's death, Is also come to aid thee in thy wars." This, as Steevens observes, is an historical error; Richard I. having lost his life at the siege of Chaluz, long after he had been ransomed out of Austria's power. Leopold, duke of Austria, who threw Richard I. into prison, was killed by a fall from his horse, in 1195, four years before John ascended the throne. 2 At our IMPORTANCE hither is he come,] i. e. at our importunity. Shakespeare many times uses "important" for importunate. See Vol. ii. pp. 169. 203. 348. Vol. iii. p. 273, &c. Const. O take his mother's thanks, a widow's thanks, Till your strong hand shall help to give him strength, To make a more requital to your love. Aust. The peace of heaven is theirs, that lift their swords In such a just and charitable war. K. Phi. Well then, to work. Our cannon shall be bent Against the brows of this resisting town:- To cull the plots of best advantages. Const. Stay for an answer to your embassy, Enter CHATILLON. K. Phi. A wonder, lady!-lo, upon thy wish, Our messenger, Chatillon, is arriv'd.— What England says, say briefly, gentle lord; We coldly pause for thee: Chatillon, speak. Chat. Then turn your forces from this paltry siege, And stir them up against a mightier task. England, impatient of your just demands, Hath put himself in arms: the adverse winds, Whose leisure I have stay'd, have given him time To land his legions all as soon as I. 3 His marches are expedient to this town; His forces strong, his soldiers confident. With him along is come the mother-queen, 3 - expedient-] i. e. expeditious. See Vol. iii. p. 46, note 6. An Até stirring him to blood and strife: With ladies' faces, and fierce dragons' spleens, [Drums heard within. The interruption of their churlish drums Cuts off more circumstance: they are at hand, K. Phi. How much unlook'd for is this expedition! We must awake endeavour for defence, For courage mounteth with occasion: Let them be welcome, then; we are prepar'd. Enter King JOHN, ELINOR, BLANCH, the Bastard, PEMBROKE, and Forces. K. John. Peace be to France; if France in peace permit Our just and lineal entrance to our own: If not, bleed France, and peace ascend to heaven; Their proud contempt that beats his peace to heaven. ♦ With them a bastard of the king's deceas'd,] So in the old "King John," "Next them a bastard of the king's deceas'd, A hardy wild-head, tough and venturous." With burden of our armour here we sweat. Outfaced infant state, and done a rape K. John. From whom hast thou this great commission, France, To draw my answer from thy articles"? K. Phi. From that supernal Judge, that stirs good thoughts In any breast of strong authority, To look into the blots and stains of right. That Judge hath made me guardian to this boy; And by whose help I mean to chastise it. 5 That thou hast UNDER-WROUGHT his lawful king,] i. e. under-mined: the opposite to over-reached. 6 Shall draw this BRIEF into as huge a volume.] The word "brief" meant, in the time of Shakespeare, an abstract, or a short statement. We still use it in the same manner when we speak of a brief delivered to counsel in a cause. To draw my answer FROM thy articles?] It has been suggested that we ought to read, " To draw my answer to thy articles;" but the old wording is very intelligible: the answer of John was to be drawn from the articles of the King of France, just before propounded. Eli. Who is it, thou dost call usurper, France? It cannot be, an if thou wert his mother. Eli. There's a good mother, boy, that blots thy father. Const. There's a good grandam, boy, that would blot Bast. One that will play the devil, sir, with you, Blanch. O! well did he become that lion's robe, Bast. It lies as sightly on the back of him, As great Alcides' shoes upon an ass.— But, ass, I'll take that burden from your back, Aust. What cracker is this same, that deafs our ears With this abundance of superfluous breath? K. Phi. Lewis, determine what we shall do straight. 8 Lewis, determine what we shall do straight.] This line, in the folios, is made part of what is said by Austria, and it stands thus : "King Lewis, determine," &c. Lewis was not king, but Philip. The error may have arisen merely from not |