Speeches (Lines) for (stage directions)
in "King John"
Total: 71

1

I,1,1

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Enter KING JOHN, QUEEN ELINOR, PEMBROKE, ESSEX,]
SALISBURY, and others, with CHATILLON]

2

I,1,33

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,
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, Chatillon.

(stage directions). [Exeunt CHATILLON and PEMBROKE]

3

I,1,47

Queen Elinor. Your strong possession much more than your right,
Or else it must go wrong with you and me:
So much my conscience whispers in your ear,
Which none but heaven and you and I shall hear.

(stage directions). [Enter a Sheriff]

4

I,1,287

Philip the Bastard. Now, by this light, were I to get again,
Madam, I would not wish a better father.
Some sins do bear their privilege on earth,
And so doth yours; your fault was not your folly:
Needs must you lay your heart at his dispose,
Subjected tribute to commanding love,
Against whose fury and unmatched force
The aweless lion could not wage the fight,
Nor keep his princely heart from Richard's hand.
He that perforce robs lions of their hearts
May easily win a woman's. Ay, my mother,
With all my heart I thank thee for my father!
Who lives and dares but say thou didst not well
When I was got, I'll send his soul to hell.
Come, lady, I will show thee to my kin;
And they shall say, when Richard me begot,
If thou hadst said him nay, it had been sin:
Who says it was, he lies; I say 'twas not.

(stage directions). [Exeunt]

5

II,1,288

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Enter AUSTRIA and forces, drums, etc. on one side:]
on the other KING PHILIP and his power; LEWIS,
ARTHUR, CONSTANCE and attendants]

6

II,1,340

Constance. Stay for an answer to your embassy,
Lest unadvised you stain your swords with blood:
My Lord Chatillon may from England bring,
That right in peace which here we urge in war,
And then we shall repent each drop of blood
That hot rash haste so indirectly shed.

(stage directions). [Enter CHATILLON]

7

II,1,500

King Phillip. Peace, lady! pause, or be more temperate:
It ill beseems this presence to cry aim
To these ill-tuned repetitions.
Some trumpet summon hither to the walls
These men of Angiers: let us hear them speak
Whose title they admit, Arthur's or John's.

(stage directions). [Trumpet sounds. Enter certain Citizens upon the walls]

8

II,1,619

French Herald. You men of Angiers, open wide your gates,
And let young Arthur, Duke of Bretagne, in,
Who by the hand of France this day hath made
Much work for tears in many an English mother,
Whose sons lie scattered on the bleeding ground;
Many a widow's husband grovelling lies,
Coldly embracing the discolour'd earth;
And victory, with little loss, doth play
Upon the dancing banners of the French,
Who are at hand, triumphantly display'd,
To enter conquerors and to proclaim
Arthur of Bretagne England's king and yours.

(stage directions). [Enter English Herald, with trumpet]

9

II,1,816

Lewis. I do, my lord; and in her eye I find
A wonder, or a wondrous miracle,
The shadow of myself form'd in her eye:
Which being but the shadow of your son,
Becomes a sun and makes your son a shadow:
I do protest I never loved myself
Till now infixed I beheld myself
Drawn in the flattering table of her eye.

(stage directions). [Whispers with BLANCH]

10

II,1,875

King John. We will heal up all;
For we'll create young Arthur Duke of Bretagne
And Earl of Richmond; and this rich fair town
We make him lord of. Call the Lady Constance;
Some speedy messenger bid her repair
To our solemnity: I trust we shall,
If not fill up the measure of her will,
Yet in some measure satisfy her so
That we shall stop her exclamation.
Go we, as well as haste will suffer us,
To this unlook'd for, unprepared pomp.

(stage directions). [Exeunt all but the BASTARD]

11

II,1,914

Philip the Bastard. Mad world! mad kings! mad composition!
John, to stop Arthur's title in the whole,
Hath willingly departed with a part,
And France, whose armour conscience buckled on,
Whom zeal and charity brought to the field
As God's own soldier, rounded in the ear
With that same purpose-changer, that sly devil,
That broker, that still breaks the pate of faith,
That daily break-vow, he that wins of all,
Of kings, of beggars, old men, young men, maids,
Who, having no external thing to lose
But the word 'maid,' cheats the poor maid of that,
That smooth-faced gentleman, tickling Commodity,
Commodity, the bias of the world,
The world, who of itself is peised well,
Made to run even upon even ground,
Till this advantage, this vile-drawing bias,
This sway of motion, this Commodity,
Makes it take head from all indifferency,
From all direction, purpose, course, intent:
And this same bias, this Commodity,
This bawd, this broker, this all-changing word,
Clapp'd on the outward eye of fickle France,
Hath drawn him from his own determined aid,
From a resolved and honourable war,
To a most base and vile-concluded peace.
And why rail I on this Commodity?
But for because he hath not woo'd me yet:
Not that I have the power to clutch my hand,
When his fair angels would salute my palm;
But for my hand, as unattempted yet,
Like a poor beggar, raileth on the rich.
Well, whiles I am a beggar, I will rail
And say there is no sin but to be rich;
And being rich, my virtue then shall be
To say there is no vice but beggary.
Since kings break faith upon commodity,
Gain, be my lord, for I will worship thee.

(stage directions). [Exit]

12

III,1,915

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Enter CONSTANCE, ARTHUR, and SALISBURY]

13

III,1,1056

King John. We like not this; thou dost forget thyself.

(stage directions). [Enter CARDINAL PANDULPH]

14

III,1,1277

King John. No more than he that threats. To arms let's hie!

(stage directions). [Exeunt]

15

III,2,1278

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Alarums, excursions. Enter the BASTARD, with]
AUSTRIA'S head]

16

III,2,1284

Philip the Bastard. Now, by my life, this day grows wondrous hot;
Some airy devil hovers in the sky
And pours down mischief. Austria's head lie there,
While Philip breathes.

(stage directions). [Enter KING JOHN, ARTHUR, and HUBERT]

17

III,2,1292

Philip the Bastard. My lord, I rescued her;
Her highness is in safety, fear you not:
But on, my liege; for very little pains
Will bring this labour to an happy end.

(stage directions). [Exeunt]

18

III,3,1293

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Alarums, excursions, retreat. Enter KING JOHN,]
QUEEN ELINOR, ARTHUR, the BASTARD, HUBERT,
and Lords]

19

III,3,1318

King John. Coz, farewell.

(stage directions). [Exit the BASTARD]

20

III,3,1381

King John. For England, cousin, go:
Hubert shall be your man, attend on you
With all true duty. On toward Calais, ho!

(stage directions). [Exeunt]

21

III,4,1382

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Enter KING PHILIP, LEWIS, CARDINAL PANDULPH,]
and Attendants]

22

III,4,1492

Constance. Grief fills the room up of my absent child,
Lies in his bed, walks up and down with me,
Puts on his pretty looks, repeats his words,
Remembers me of all his gracious parts,
Stuffs out his vacant garments with his form;
Then, have I reason to be fond of grief?
Fare you well: had you such a loss as I,
I could give better comfort than you do.
I will not keep this form upon my head,
When there is such disorder in my wit.
O Lord! my boy, my Arthur, my fair son!
My life, my joy, my food, my all the world!
My widow-comfort, and my sorrows' cure!

(stage directions). [Exit]

23

III,4,1494

King Phillip. I fear some outrage, and I'll follow her.

(stage directions). [Exit]

24

III,4,1572

Lewis. Strong reasons make strong actions: let us go:
If you say ay, the king will not say no.

(stage directions). [Exeunt]

25

IV,1,1573

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Enter HUBERT and Executioners]

26

IV,1,1583

Hubert de Burgh. Uncleanly scruples! fear not you: look to't.
[Exeunt Executioners]
Young lad, come forth; I have to say with you.

(stage directions). [Enter ARTHUR]

27

IV,1,1672

First Executioner. I am best pleased to be from such a deed.

(stage directions). [Exeunt Executioners]

28

IV,1,1726

Hubert de Burgh. Silence; no more: go closely in with me:
Much danger do I undergo for thee.

(stage directions). [Exeunt]

29

IV,2,1727

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Enter KING JOHN, PEMBROKE, SALISBURY, and other Lords]

30

IV,2,1794

Pembroke. Then I, as one that am the tongue of these,
To sound the purpose of all their hearts,
Both for myself and them, but, chief of all,
Your safety, for the which myself and them
Bend their best studies, heartily request
The enfranchisement of Arthur; whose restraint
Doth move the murmuring lips of discontent
To break into this dangerous argument,—
If what in rest you have in right you hold,
Why then your fears, which, as they say, attend
The steps of wrong, should move you to mew up
Your tender kinsman and to choke his days
With barbarous ignorance and deny his youth
The rich advantage of good exercise?
That the time's enemies may not have this
To grace occasions, let it be our suit
That you have bid us ask his liberty;
Which for our goods we do no further ask
Than whereupon our weal, on you depending,
Counts it your weal he have his liberty.

(stage directions). [Enter HUBERT]

31

IV,2,1797

King John. Let it be so: I do commit his youth
To your direction. Hubert, what news with you?

(stage directions). [Taking him apart]

32

IV,2,1832

Pembroke. Stay yet, Lord Salisbury; I'll go with thee,
And find the inheritance of this poor child,
His little kingdom of a forced grave.
That blood which owed the breadth of all this isle,
Three foot of it doth hold: bad world the while!
This must not be thus borne: this will break out
To all our sorrows, and ere long I doubt.

(stage directions). [Exeunt Lords]

33

IV,2,1916

Philip the Bastard. The spirit of the time shall teach me speed.

(stage directions). [Exit]

34

IV,2,1922

Messenger. With all my heart, my liege.

(stage directions). [Exit]

35

IV,2,1924

King John. My mother dead!

(stage directions). [Re-enter HUBERT]

36

IV,2,2014

King John. Doth Arthur live? O, haste thee to the peers,
Throw this report on their incensed rage,
And make them tame to their obedience!
Forgive the comment that my passion made
Upon thy feature; for my rage was blind,
And foul imaginary eyes of blood
Presented thee more hideous than thou art.
O, answer not, but to my closet bring
The angry lords with all expedient haste.
I conjure thee but slowly; run more fast.

(stage directions). [Exeunt]

37

IV,3,2015

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Enter ARTHUR, on the walls]

38

IV,3,2027

Arthur. The wall is high, and yet will I leap down:
Good ground, be pitiful and hurt me not!
There's few or none do know me: if they did,
This ship-boy's semblance hath disguised me quite.
I am afraid; and yet I'll venture it.
If I get down, and do not break my limbs,
I'll find a thousand shifts to get away:
As good to die and go, as die and stay.
[Leaps down]
O me! my uncle's spirit is in these stones:
Heaven take my soul, and England keep my bones!

(stage directions). [Dies]

39

IV,3,2028

(stage directions). [Dies]

(stage directions). [Enter PEMBROKE, SALISBURY, and BIGOT]

40

IV,3,2039

Salisbury. Or rather then set forward; for 'twill be
Two long days' journey, lords, or ere we meet.

(stage directions). [Enter the BASTARD]

41

IV,3,2054

Salisbury. This is the prison. What is he lies here?

(stage directions). [Seeing ARTHUR]

42

IV,3,2094

Pembroke. [with Bigot] Our souls religiously confirm thy words.

(stage directions). [Enter HUBERT]

43

IV,3,2101

Salisbury. Must I rob the law?

(stage directions). [Drawing his sword]

44

IV,3,2142

Pembroke. There tell the king he may inquire us out.

(stage directions). [Exeunt Lords]

45

IV,3,2190

Philip the Bastard. Go, bear him in thine arms.
I am amazed, methinks, and lose my way
Among the thorns and dangers of this world.
How easy dost thou take all England up!
From forth this morsel of dead royalty,
The life, the right and truth of all this realm
Is fled to heaven; and England now is left
To tug and scamble and to part by the teeth
The unowed interest of proud-swelling state.
Now for the bare-pick'd bone of majesty
Doth dogged war bristle his angry crest
And snarleth in the gentle eyes of peace:
Now powers from home and discontents at home
Meet in one line; and vast confusion waits,
As doth a raven on a sick-fall'n beast,
The imminent decay of wrested pomp.
Now happy he whose cloak and cincture can
Hold out this tempest. Bear away that child
And follow me with speed: I'll to the king:
A thousand businesses are brief in hand,
And heaven itself doth frown upon the land.

(stage directions). [Exeunt]

46

V,1,2191

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Enter KING JOHN, CARDINAL PANDULPH, and Attendants]

47

V,1,2194

King John. Thus have I yielded up into your hand
The circle of my glory.

(stage directions). [Giving the crown]

48

V,1,2218

Cardinal Pandulph. It was my breath that blew this tempest up,
Upon your stubborn usage of the pope;
But since you are a gentle convertite,
My tongue shall hush again this storm of war
And make fair weather in your blustering 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.

(stage directions). [Exit]

49

V,1,2224

King John. Is this Ascension-day? Did not the prophet
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.

(stage directions). [Enter the BASTARD]

50

V,1,2276

Philip the Bastard. Away, then, with good courage! yet, I know,
Our party may well meet a prouder foe.

(stage directions). [Exeunt]

51

V,2,2277

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Enter, in arms, LEWIS, SALISBURY, MELUN, PEMBROKE,]
BIGOT, and Soldiers]

52

V,2,2399

Lewis. Outside or inside, I will not return
Till my attempt so much be glorified
As to my ample hope was promised
Before I drew this gallant head of war,
And cull'd these fiery spirits from the world,
To outlook conquest and to win renown
Even in the jaws of danger and of death.
[Trumpet sounds]
What lusty trumpet thus doth summon us?

(stage directions). [Enter the BASTARD, attended]

53

V,2,2465

Philip the Bastard. And thou shalt find it, Dauphin, do not doubt.

(stage directions). [Exeunt]

54

V,3,2466

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Alarums. Enter KING JOHN and HUBERT]

55

V,3,2471

King John. This fever, that hath troubled me so long,
Lies heavy on me; O, my heart is sick!

(stage directions). [Enter a Messenger]

56

V,3,2485

King John. Ay me! this tyrant fever burns me up,
And will not let me welcome this good news.
Set on toward Swinstead: to my litter straight;
Weakness possesseth me, and I am faint.

(stage directions). [Exeunt]

57

V,4,2486

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Enter SALISBURY, PEMBROKE, and BIGOT]

58

V,4,2493

Pembroke. They say King John sore sick hath left the field.

(stage directions). [Enter MELUN, wounded]

59

V,4,2550

Salisbury. We do believe thee: and beshrew my soul
But I do love the favour and the form
Of this most fair occasion, by the which
We will untread the steps of damned flight,
And like a bated and retired flood,
Leaving our rankness and irregular course,
Stoop low within those bounds we have o'erlook'd
And cabby run on in obedience
Even to our ocean, to our great King John.
My arm shall give thee help to bear thee hence;
For I do see the cruel pangs of death
Right in thine eye. Away, my friends! New flight;
And happy newness, that intends old right.

(stage directions). [Exeunt, leading off MELUN]

60

V,5,2551

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Enter LEWIS and his train]

61

V,5,2560

Lewis. The sun of heaven methought was loath to set,
But stay'd and made the western welkin blush,
When English measure backward their own ground
In faint retire. O, bravely came we off,
When with a volley of our needless shot,
After such bloody toil, we bid good night;
And wound our tattering colours clearly up,
Last in the field, and almost lords of it!

(stage directions). [Enter a Messenger]

62

V,5,2576

Lewis. Well; keep good quarter and good care to-night:
The day shall not be up so soon as I,
To try the fair adventure of to-morrow.

(stage directions). [Exeunt]

63

V,6,2577

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Enter the BASTARD and HUBERT, severally]

64

V,6,2626

Philip the Bastard. Withhold thine indignation, mighty heaven,
And tempt us not to bear above our power!
I'll tell tree, Hubert, half my power this night,
Passing these flats, are taken by the tide;
These Lincoln Washes have devoured them;
Myself, well mounted, hardly have escaped.
Away before: conduct me to the king;
I doubt he will be dead or ere I come.

(stage directions). [Exeunt]

65

V,7,2627

(beginning of scene)

(stage directions). [Enter PRINCE HENRY, SALISBURY, and BIGOT]

66

V,7,2633

Prince Henry. It is too late: the life of all his blood
Is touch'd corruptibly, and his pure brain,
Which some suppose the soul's frail dwelling-house,
Doth by the idle comments that it makes
Foretell the ending of mortality.

(stage directions). [Enter PEMBROKE]

67

V,7,2640

Prince Henry. Let him be brought into the orchard here.
Doth he still rage?

(stage directions). [Exit BIGOT]

68

V,7,2659

Salisbury. Be of good comfort, prince; for you are born
To set a form upon that indigest
Which he hath left so shapeless and so rude.

(stage directions). [Enter Attendants, and BIGOT, carrying KING JOHN in a chair]

69

V,7,2683

King John. The salt in them is hot.
Within me is a hell; and there the poison
Is as a fiend confined to tyrannize
On unreprievable condemned blood.

(stage directions). [Enter the BASTARD]

70

V,7,2700

Philip the Bastard. The Dauphin is preparing hitherward,
Where heaven He knows how we shall answer him;
For in a night the best part of my power,
As I upon advantage did remove,
Were in the Washes all unwarily
Devoured by the unexpected flood.

(stage directions). [KING JOHN dies]

71

V,7,2756

Philip the Bastard. O, let us pay the time but needful woe,
Since it hath been beforehand with our griefs.
This England never did, nor never shall,
Lie at the proud foot of a conqueror,
But when it first did help to wound itself.
Now these her princes are come home again,
Come the three corners of the world in arms,
And we shall shock them. Nought shall make us rue,
If England to itself do rest but true.

(stage directions). [Exeunt]