Enter KING JOHN, QUEEN ELINOR, PEMBROKE, ESSEX, SALISBURY, and others, with CHATILLON
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KING JOHN, QUEEN ELINOR, PEMBROKE, ESSEX, SALISBURY, and others enter, along with CHATILLON.
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KING JOHN Now, say, Chatillon, what would France with us?
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KING JOHN Tell me, Chatillon, what does the king of France want from me?
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CHATILLON Thus, after greeting, speaks the King of FranceIn my behavior to the majesty,The borrow'd majesty, of England here.
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CHATILLON After greeting you, the King of France says I should behave in this way to you, your Majesty—your borrowed Majesty—
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QUEEN ELINOR A strange beginning: 'borrow'd majesty!'
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QUEEN ELINOR A strange beginning: "borrowed Majesty!"
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KING JOHN Silence, good mother; hear the embassy.
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KING JOHN Be quiet, dear mother. Listen to the message.
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CHATILLON Philip of France, in right and true behalf Of thy deceased brother Geffrey's son, Arthur Plantagenet, lays most lawful claim To this fair island and the territories, To Ireland, Poictiers, Anjou, Touraine, Maine, Desiring thee to lay aside the sword Which sways usurpingly these several titles, And put these same into young Arthur's hand, Thy nephew and right royal sovereign.
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CHATILLON Philip of France, on behalf of your dead brother Geffrey's son, Arthur Plantagenet, lays claim lawfully to this beautiful island and its territories: Ireland, Poictiers, Anjou, Touraine, and Maine. He asks you to give up the power you have stolen over these different places and give these territories to young Arthur, your nephew and your true king.
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KING JOHN What follows if we disallow of this?
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KING JOHN What will happen if I refuse to do this?
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CHATILLON The proud control of fierce and bloody war,To enforce these rights so forcibly withheld.
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CHATILLON Fierce and bloody war will force you to give back what you have stolen to the rightful owner.
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KING JOHN Here have we war for war and blood for blood,Controlment for controlment: so answer France.
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KING JOHN We can return war for war, blood for blood, and force for force: give that answer to the king of France.
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CHATILLON Then take my king's defiance from my mouth,The farthest limit of my embassy.
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CHATILLON Then let me express my king's willingness to fight you. That is the most I am allowed to do as ambassador.
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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.
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KING JOHN Tell him the same from me, and leave peacefully. Shoot back like lightning to the king of France, because before you can give your report I will be there and the thunder of my cannons will be heard. So leave! Be a trumpet that announces my anger and that frighteningly foretells your own destruction. Escort him back honorably: Pembroke, take care of it. Goodbye, Chatillon.
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