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

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2. The Troublesome Reign of King John, (Quarto, 1581) ()
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Complete text

 of King Iohn.
 2664Listen, braue Lords, a fearfull mourning tale
 2665To be deliuered by a man of death.
 2666Behold these scarres, the dole of bloudie Mars
 2667Are harbingers from natures common foe,
 2668Cyting this trunke to Tellus prison house;
 2669Lifes charter (Lordings) lasteth not an hower:
 2670And fearfull thoughts, forerunners of my end,
 2671Bids me giue Phisicke to a sickly soule.
 2672O Peeres of England, know you what you doo,
 2673Theres but a haire that sunders you from harme,
 2674The hooke is bayted, and the traine is made,
 2675And simply you runne doating to your deaths.
 2676But least I dye, and leaue my tale vntolde,
 2677With silence slaughtering so braue a crew,
 2678This I auerre, if Lewes win the day,
 2679Theres not an Englishman that lifts his hand
 2680Against King Iohn to plant the heire of Fraunce,
 2681But is already damnd to cruell death.
 2682I heard it vowd; my self amongst the rest
 2683Swore on the Altar aid to this Edict.
 2684Two causes Lords, makes me display this drift,
 2685The greatest for the freedome of my soule,
 2686That longs to leaue this mansion free from guilt:
 2687The other on a naturall instinct,
 2688For that my Grandsire was an Englishman.
 2689Misdoubt not Lords the truth of my discourse,
 2690No frenzie, nor no brainsick idle fit,
 2691But well aduisde, and wotting what I say,
 2692Pronounce I here before the face of heauen,
 2693That nothing is discouered but a truth.
 2694Tis time to flie, submit your selues to Iohn,
 2695The smiles of Fraunce shade in the frownes of death,
 2696Lift vp your swords, turne face against the French,
 2697Expell the yoke thats framed for your necks.
 2698Back warmen, back, imbowell not the clyme,
 2699Your seate, your nurse, your birth dayes breathing place,
 D 2That

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

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