Previous Next
 

Continue reading with a SparkNotes PLUS trial

Original Text

Modern Text
Enter KING JOHN and PANDULPH with the crown, and their Attendants.
Enter KING JOHN and PANDULPH with the crown, and their Attendants.
KING JOHN
Thus have I yielded up into your hand
The circle of my glory.
KING JOHN
Thus have I yielded up into your hand
The circle of my glory.
PANDULPH , handing JOHN the crown
Take again
From this my hand, as holding of the Pope,
5
Your sovereign greatness and authority.
PANDULPH , handing JOHN the crown
Take again
From this my hand, as holding of the Pope,
5
Your sovereign greatness and authority.
KING JOHN
Now keep your holy word. Go meet the French,
And from his Holiness use all your power
To stop their marches ’fore we are inflamed.
Our discontented counties do revolt,
10
Our people quarrel with obedience,
Swearing allegiance and the love of soul
To stranger blood, to foreign royalty.
This inundation of mistempered humor
Rests by you only to be qualified.
15
Then pause not, for the present time’s so sick
That present med’cine must be ministered,
Or overthrow incurable ensues.
KING JOHN
Now keep your holy word. Go meet the French,
And from his Holiness use all your power
To stop their marches ’fore we are inflamed.
Our discontented counties do revolt,
10
Our people quarrel with obedience,
Swearing allegiance and the love of soul
To stranger blood, to foreign royalty.
This inundation of mistempered humor
Rests by you only to be qualified.
15
Then pause not, for the present time’s so sick
That present med’cine must be ministered,
Or overthrow incurable ensues.
PANDULPH
It was my breath that blew this tempest up,
Upon your stubborn usage of the Pope;
20
But since you are a gentle convertite,
My tongue shall hush again this storm of war
And make fair weather in your blust’ring land.
On this Ascension Day, remember well:
Upon your oath of service to the Pope,
25
Go I to make the French lay down their arms.
PANDULPH
It was my breath that blew this tempest up,
Upon your stubborn usage of the Pope;
20
But since you are a gentle convertite,
My tongue shall hush again this storm of war
And make fair weather in your blust’ring land.
On this Ascension Day, remember well:
Upon your oath of service to the Pope,
25
Go I to make the French lay down their arms.
He exits, with ATTENDANTS .
He exits, with ATTENDANTS .
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,
30
But, God be thanked, it is but voluntary.
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,
30
But, God be thanked, it is but voluntary.
Enter BASTARD.
Enter BASTARD.
BASTARD
All Kent hath yielded. Nothing there holds out
But Dover Castle. London hath received
Like a kind host the Dauphin and his powers.
Your nobles will not hear you, but are gone
35
To offer service to your enemy;
And wild amazement hurries up and down
The little number of your doubtful friends.
BASTARD
All Kent hath yielded. Nothing there holds out
But Dover Castle. London hath received
Like a kind host the Dauphin and his powers.
Your nobles will not hear you, but are gone
35
To offer service to your enemy;
And wild amazement hurries up and down
The little number of your doubtful friends.
KING JOHN
Would not my lords return to me again
After they heard young Arthur was alive?
KING JOHN
Would not my lords return to me again
After they heard young Arthur was alive?
BASTARD
40
They found him dead and cast into the streets,
An empty casket where the jewel of life
By some damned hand was robbed and ta’en away.
BASTARD
40
They found him dead and cast into the streets,
An empty casket where the jewel of life
By some damned hand was robbed and ta’en away.
KING JOHN
That villain Hubert told me he did live!
KING JOHN
That villain Hubert told me he did live!
BASTARD
So, on my soul, he did, for aught he knew.
45
But wherefore do you droop? Why look you sad?
Be great in act, as you have been in thought.
Let not the world see fear and sad distrust
Govern the motion of a kingly eye.
Be stirring as the time; be fire with fire;
50
Threaten the threat’ner, and outface the brow
Of bragging horror. So shall inferior eyes,
That borrow their behaviors from the great,
Grow great by your example and put on
The dauntless spirit of resolution.
55
Away, and glister like the god of war
When he intendeth to become the field.
Show boldness and aspiring confidence.
What, shall they seek the lion in his den
And fright him there? And make him tremble there?
60
O, let it not be said! Forage, and run
To meet displeasure farther from the doors,
And grapple with him ere he come so nigh.
BASTARD
So, on my soul, he did, for aught he knew.
45
But wherefore do you droop? Why look you sad?
Be great in act, as you have been in thought.
Let not the world see fear and sad distrust
Govern the motion of a kingly eye.
Be stirring as the time; be fire with fire;
50
Threaten the threat’ner, and outface the brow
Of bragging horror. So shall inferior eyes,
That borrow their behaviors from the great,
Grow great by your example and put on
The dauntless spirit of resolution.
55
Away, and glister like the god of war
When he intendeth to become the field.
Show boldness and aspiring confidence.
What, shall they seek the lion in his den
And fright him there? And make him tremble there?
60
O, let it not be said! Forage, and run
To meet displeasure farther from the doors,
And grapple with him ere he come so nigh.
KING JOHN
The legate of the Pope hath been with me,
And I have made a happy peace with him,
65
And he hath promised to dismiss the powers
Led by the Dauphin.
KING JOHN
The legate of the Pope hath been with me,
And I have made a happy peace with him,
65
And he hath promised to dismiss the powers
Led by the Dauphin.
BASTARD
O inglorious league!
Shall we upon the footing of our land
Send fair-play orders and make compromise,
70
Insinuation, parley, and base truce
To arms invasive? Shall a beardless boy,
A cockered silken wanton, brave our fields
And flesh his spirit in a warlike soil,
Mocking the air with colors idly spread,
75
And find no check? Let us, my liege, to arms!
Perchance the Cardinal cannot make your peace;
Or if he do, let it at least be said
They saw we had a purpose of defense.
BASTARD
O inglorious league!
Shall we upon the footing of our land
Send fair-play orders and make compromise,
70
Insinuation, parley, and base truce
To arms invasive? Shall a beardless boy,
A cockered silken wanton, brave our fields
And flesh his spirit in a warlike soil,
Mocking the air with colors idly spread,
75
And find no check? Let us, my liege, to arms!
Perchance the Cardinal cannot make your peace;
Or if he do, let it at least be said
They saw we had a purpose of defense.
KING JOHN
Have thou the ordering of this present time.
KING JOHN
Have thou the ordering of this present time.
BASTARD
80
Away, then, with good courage! (Aside.) Yet I
               know
Our party may well meet a prouder foe.
BASTARD
80
Away, then, with good courage! (Aside.) Yet I
               know
Our party may well meet a prouder foe.
They exit.
They exit.

Original Text

Modern Text
Enter KING JOHN and PANDULPH with the crown, and their Attendants.
Enter KING JOHN and PANDULPH with the crown, and their Attendants.
KING JOHN
Thus have I yielded up into your hand
The circle of my glory.
KING JOHN
Thus have I yielded up into your hand
The circle of my glory.
PANDULPH , handing JOHN the crown
Take again
From this my hand, as holding of the Pope,
5
Your sovereign greatness and authority.
PANDULPH , handing JOHN the crown
Take again
From this my hand, as holding of the Pope,
5
Your sovereign greatness and authority.
KING JOHN
Now keep your holy word. Go meet the French,
And from his Holiness use all your power
To stop their marches ’fore we are inflamed.
Our discontented counties do revolt,
10
Our people quarrel with obedience,
Swearing allegiance and the love of soul
To stranger blood, to foreign royalty.
This inundation of mistempered humor
Rests by you only to be qualified.
15
Then pause not, for the present time’s so sick
That present med’cine must be ministered,
Or overthrow incurable ensues.
KING JOHN
Now keep your holy word. Go meet the French,
And from his Holiness use all your power
To stop their marches ’fore we are inflamed.
Our discontented counties do revolt,
10
Our people quarrel with obedience,
Swearing allegiance and the love of soul
To stranger blood, to foreign royalty.
This inundation of mistempered humor
Rests by you only to be qualified.
15
Then pause not, for the present time’s so sick
That present med’cine must be ministered,
Or overthrow incurable ensues.
PANDULPH
It was my breath that blew this tempest up,
Upon your stubborn usage of the Pope;
20
But since you are a gentle convertite,
My tongue shall hush again this storm of war
And make fair weather in your blust’ring land.
On this Ascension Day, remember well:
Upon your oath of service to the Pope,
25
Go I to make the French lay down their arms.
PANDULPH
It was my breath that blew this tempest up,
Upon your stubborn usage of the Pope;
20
But since you are a gentle convertite,
My tongue shall hush again this storm of war
And make fair weather in your blust’ring land.
On this Ascension Day, remember well:
Upon your oath of service to the Pope,
25
Go I to make the French lay down their arms.
He exits, with ATTENDANTS .
He exits, with ATTENDANTS .
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,
30
But, God be thanked, it is but voluntary.
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,
30
But, God be thanked, it is but voluntary.
Enter BASTARD.
Enter BASTARD.
BASTARD
All Kent hath yielded. Nothing there holds out
But Dover Castle. London hath received
Like a kind host the Dauphin and his powers.
Your nobles will not hear you, but are gone
35
To offer service to your enemy;
And wild amazement hurries up and down
The little number of your doubtful friends.
BASTARD
All Kent hath yielded. Nothing there holds out
But Dover Castle. London hath received
Like a kind host the Dauphin and his powers.
Your nobles will not hear you, but are gone
35
To offer service to your enemy;
And wild amazement hurries up and down
The little number of your doubtful friends.
KING JOHN
Would not my lords return to me again
After they heard young Arthur was alive?
KING JOHN
Would not my lords return to me again
After they heard young Arthur was alive?
BASTARD
40
They found him dead and cast into the streets,
An empty casket where the jewel of life
By some damned hand was robbed and ta’en away.
BASTARD
40
They found him dead and cast into the streets,
An empty casket where the jewel of life
By some damned hand was robbed and ta’en away.
KING JOHN
That villain Hubert told me he did live!
KING JOHN
That villain Hubert told me he did live!
BASTARD
So, on my soul, he did, for aught he knew.
45
But wherefore do you droop? Why look you sad?
Be great in act, as you have been in thought.
Let not the world see fear and sad distrust
Govern the motion of a kingly eye.
Be stirring as the time; be fire with fire;
50
Threaten the threat’ner, and outface the brow
Of bragging horror. So shall inferior eyes,
That borrow their behaviors from the great,
Grow great by your example and put on
The dauntless spirit of resolution.
55
Away, and glister like the god of war
When he intendeth to become the field.
Show boldness and aspiring confidence.
What, shall they seek the lion in his den
And fright him there? And make him tremble there?
60
O, let it not be said! Forage, and run
To meet displeasure farther from the doors,
And grapple with him ere he come so nigh.
BASTARD
So, on my soul, he did, for aught he knew.
45
But wherefore do you droop? Why look you sad?
Be great in act, as you have been in thought.
Let not the world see fear and sad distrust
Govern the motion of a kingly eye.
Be stirring as the time; be fire with fire;
50
Threaten the threat’ner, and outface the brow
Of bragging horror. So shall inferior eyes,
That borrow their behaviors from the great,
Grow great by your example and put on
The dauntless spirit of resolution.
55
Away, and glister like the god of war
When he intendeth to become the field.
Show boldness and aspiring confidence.
What, shall they seek the lion in his den
And fright him there? And make him tremble there?
60
O, let it not be said! Forage, and run
To meet displeasure farther from the doors,
And grapple with him ere he come so nigh.
KING JOHN
The legate of the Pope hath been with me,
And I have made a happy peace with him,
65
And he hath promised to dismiss the powers
Led by the Dauphin.
KING JOHN
The legate of the Pope hath been with me,
And I have made a happy peace with him,
65
And he hath promised to dismiss the powers
Led by the Dauphin.
BASTARD
O inglorious league!
Shall we upon the footing of our land
Send fair-play orders and make compromise,
70
Insinuation, parley, and base truce
To arms invasive? Shall a beardless boy,
A cockered silken wanton, brave our fields
And flesh his spirit in a warlike soil,
Mocking the air with colors idly spread,
75
And find no check? Let us, my liege, to arms!
Perchance the Cardinal cannot make your peace;
Or if he do, let it at least be said
They saw we had a purpose of defense.
BASTARD
O inglorious league!
Shall we upon the footing of our land
Send fair-play orders and make compromise,
70
Insinuation, parley, and base truce
To arms invasive? Shall a beardless boy,
A cockered silken wanton, brave our fields
And flesh his spirit in a warlike soil,
Mocking the air with colors idly spread,
75
And find no check? Let us, my liege, to arms!
Perchance the Cardinal cannot make your peace;
Or if he do, let it at least be said
They saw we had a purpose of defense.
KING JOHN
Have thou the ordering of this present time.
KING JOHN
Have thou the ordering of this present time.
BASTARD
80
Away, then, with good courage! (Aside.) Yet I
               know
Our party may well meet a prouder foe.
BASTARD
80
Away, then, with good courage! (Aside.) Yet I
               know
Our party may well meet a prouder foe.
They exit.
They exit.
Previous page Act 4, Scene 3 Next page Act 5, Scene 2

Popular pages: King John

Take a Study Break