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  • Title: The Troublesome Reign of King John ((Quarto, 1581))
  • Editor: Karen Oberer

    • Copyright Queen's Men Editions. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Author: Anonymous
    Editor: Karen Oberer
    Not Peer Reviewed

    The Troublesome Reign of King John ((Quarto, 1581))

    of King Iohn.

    350Slaunder myself to quiet your affects:
    Thou mooust me Philip with this idle talke,
    Which I remit, in hope this mood will die.
    Philip Nay Ladie mother, heare me further yet,
    For strong conceipt driues dutie hence awhile:
    355Your husband Fauconbridge was Father to that sonne,
    That carries marks of Nature like the Sire,
    The sonne that blotteth you with wedlocks breach,
    And holds my right, as lineall in discent
    From him whose forme was figured in his face.
    360Can Nature so dissemble in her frame,
    To make the one so like as like may be,
    And in the other print no character
    To chalenge any marke of true discent?
    My brothers minde is base, and too too dull,
    365To mount where Philip lodgeth his affects,
    And his externall graces that you view
    (Though I report it) counterpoise not mine:
    His constitution plaine debilitie,
    Requires the chayre, and mine the seate of steele.
    370Nay, what is he, or what am I to him?
    When any one that knoweth how to carpe,
    Will scarcely iudge vs both one Countrey borne.
    This Madame, this, hath droue me from myselfe:
    And here by heauens eternall lampes I sweare,
    375As cursed Nero with his mother did,
    So I with you, if you resolue me not.
    Mother Let mothers teares quench out thy angers fire,
    And vrge no further what thou doost require.
    Philip Let sonnes entreatie sway the mother now,
    380Or els she dies: Ile not infringe my vow.
    Mother Unhappy taske: must I recount my shame,
    Blab my misdeedes, or by concealing die?
    Some power strike me speechlesse for a time,
    Or take from him awhile his hearings vse.
    385Why wish I so, vnhappy as I am?
    The
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