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Act 4, Scene 3
King John Translation Act 5, Scene 1
Enter KING JOHN, CARDINAL PANDULPH, and Attendants
KING JOHN
Thus have I yielded up into your handThe circle of my glory.
KING JOHN
So I have given my glorious crown to you.
Giving the crown
CARDINAL PANDULPH
Take againFrom this my hand, as holding of the popeYour sovereign greatness and authority.
CARDINAL PANDULPH
Take it back from me, admitting that your great power and authority comes from the Pope.
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; Our people quarrel with obedience, Swearing allegiance and the love of soul To stranger blood, to foreign royalty. This inundation of mistemper'd humour Rests by you only to be qualified: Then pause not; for the present time's so sick, That present medicine must be minister'd, Or overthrow incurable ensues.
KING JOHN
Now keep your holy promise: go meet the French and use all the Pope's power to stop their advance before they destroy us. My unhappy counties are rebelling and my people refuse to obey, swearing allegiance and love to enemies, to foreign kings. This flood of bad emotions can only be stopped by you. So don't wait, because this age is so sick that medicine must be given to it immediately or it will die.
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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.
CARDINAL PANDULPH
My words started this storm because you were treating the Pope badly. But now that you have converted back and are obedient, my words will end this storm of war and make good weather in your wind-blown country. Remember that on Ascension Day, now you've sworn loyalty to the Pope today, I'm going to make the French put down their weapons.
Exit
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.
KING JOHN
Is it Ascension Day? Didn't that prophet say that I would give away my crown before Ascension Day at noon? I have done that. I thought I would be forced to do it, but, thank God, it was voluntary.
Enter the 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 To offer service to your enemy, And wild amazement hurries up and down The little number of your doubtful friends.
BASTARD
All of Kent has surrendered. No one there holds out except Dover Castle. London has received the Dauphin and his army like a good host. Your nobles refuse to listen to you and have gone to offer their services to your enemy, and your few remaining friends are full of doubts and wild confusion.
KING JOHN
Would not my lords return to me again,After they heard young Arthur was alive?
KING JOHN
My lords wouldn't come back to me after they heard young Arthur was alive?
BASTARD
They found him dead and cast into the streets,An empty casket, where the jewel of lifeBy some damn'd hand was robb'd and ta'en away.
BASTARD
They found him dead and thrown into the streets, an empty box from which the jewel of life was stolen and taken away by some damned hand.
KING JOHN
That villain Hubert told me he did live.
KING JOHN
That criminal Hubert told me he was alive.
BASTARD
So, on my soul, he did, for aught he knew. 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; Threaten the threatener 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. 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? O, let it not be said: forage, and run To meet displeasure farther from the doors, And grapple with him ere he comes so nigh.
BASTARD
He did, because he thought it was true, I swear. But why are you drooping? Why do you look sad? Act greatly, just as your thoughts have been great. Don't let the world see fear and sad worry in your kingly eyes. Be as strong as the time calls for, be fire to meet fire. Threaten the threatener, and stare down boastful horror in the face. Your inferiors, who copy the behavior of great men, will follow your example and become fearless and brave. Go, and shine like the god of war when he wants to join a battle. Show bravery and ambitious confidence. What, can they search for the lion in his own den and frighten him there? And make him tremble there? Oh, don't let that be said of you. Go out and run to meet anger further from your doors, and wrestle with him before he comes so close.
KING JOHN
The legate of the pope hath been with me, And I have made a happy peace with him; And he hath promised to dismiss the powers Led by the Dauphin.
KING JOHN
The Pope's messenger was with me and I have made peace with him on good terms. He has promised to send away the army led by the Dauphin.
BASTARD
O inglorious league! Shall we, upon the footing of our land, Send fair-play orders and make compromise, Insinuation, parley and base truce To arms invasive? shall a beardless boy, A cocker'd silken wanton, brave our fields, And flesh his spirit in a warlike soil, Mocking the air with colours idly spread, And find no cheque? 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 defence.
BASTARD
What a shameful alliance! Will we, on our own land, play fair and make compromises, agreements, discussions, and low peace with invading armies? Will a beardless boy, a childish immoral brat, dare come to our fields and wave his weapons around on our ground, mocking the air with his foolishly spread banners, and not meet with any resistance? Let's go to battle, my king. Maybe the cardinal can't make peace for you. Or if he does, at least let it be said they saw we were prepared to defend ourselves.
KING JOHN
Have thou the ordering of this present time.
KING JOHN
You're in charge for now.
BASTARD
Away, then, with good courage! yet, I know,Our party may well meet a prouder foe.
BASTARD
Go bravely then! But I know our side may well meet an even prouder enemy.
Exeunt
