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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    Not Peer Reviewed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.

    Should be a president t'affright you all.
    565Bastard What words are these? how doo my sinews shake?
    My Fathers foe clad in my Fathers spoyle,
    A thousand furies kindle with reuendge,
    This hart that choller keepes a consistorie,
    Searing my inwards with a brand of hate:
    570How doth Alecto whisper in mine eares?
    Delay not Philip, kill the villaine straight,
    Disrobe him of the matchles moniment
    Thy Fathers triumph ore the Sauages,
    Base heardgroome, coward, peasant, worse than a threshing
    575 slaue,
    What makst thou with the Trophei of a King?
    Shamst thou not coystrell, loathsome dunghill swad,
    To grace thy carkasse with an ornament
    Too precious for a Monarchs couerture?
    580Scarce can I temper due obedience
    Unto the presence of my Soueraigne,
    From acting outrage on this trunke of hate:
    But arme thee traytor, wronger of renowme,
    For by his soule I sweare, my Fathers soule,
    585Twice will I not review the Mornings rise,
    Till I haue torne that Trophei from thy back,
    And split thy heart, for wearing it so long.
    Philip hath sworne, and if it be not done,
    Let not the world repute me Richards Sonne.
    590Lymoges Nay soft sir Bastard, harts are not split so soone,
    Let them reioyce that at the ende doo win:
    And take this lesson at thy foemans hand,
    Pawne not thy life, to get thy Fathers skin.
    Blanch Well may the world speake of his knightly valor,
    595That winnes this hide to weare a Ladies fauour.
    Bastard Ill may I thriue, and nothing brooke with mee,
    If shortly I present it not to thee.
    K. Philip Lordings forbeare, for time is comming fast,
    That deedes may trie what words cannot determine,
    C 3 And
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