These flags of France, that are advanced here And mercilefs proceeding by these French, By the compulfion of their ordnance 2 For your advantage, it would be a more fpecious reafon for interrupting Philip. TYRWHITT. 7 Confront your city's eyes,] The old copy reads-Comfort, &c. Mr. Rowe made this neceffary change. STEEVENS. 8 your winking gates;] i. e. gates haftily clofed from an apprchenfion of danger. So, in K. Henry IV. Part II: 9 "And winking leap'd into deftruction." MALONE. dishabited,] i. e. diflodged, violently removed from their places:—a word, I believe, of our author's coinage. STEEVENS. a countercheck-] This, I believe, is one of the ancient terms used in the game of chefs. So, in Mucedorus, 1598: 2 "Poft hence thyfelf, thou counterchecking trull." STEEVENS. 3 They Shoot but calm words, folded up in smoke,] So, in our author's Rape of Lucrece: "This helpless/moke of words, doth me no right." MALONE. To make a faithlefs error in your ears: K. PHI. When I have faid, make answer to us both. And king o'er him, and all that he enjoys: In warlike march these greens before your town; Than the constraint of hospitable zeal, To him that owes it; namely, this young prince: With unhack'd fwords, and helmets all unbruis'd, 4 Forwearied-] i. e. worn out. Sax. So, Chaucer, in his Romaunt of the Rofe, fpeaking of the mantle of Avarice: "And if it were forwerid, the "Would havin," &c. STEEVENS. 5 To him that owes it ;] i. e. owns it. See our author and his contemporaries, paffim. So, in Othello: 66 that sweet fleep "That thou ow'dft yesterday." STEEVENS. 'Tis not the roundure of your old-fac'd walls 1 Cir. In brief, we are the king of England's fubjects; For him, and in his right, we hold this town. K. JOHN. Acknowledge then the king, and let me in. 1 Cir. That can we not: but he that proves the king, To him will we prove loyal; till that time, And, if not that, I bring you witneffes, K. John. To verify our title with their lives. K. PHI. As many, and as well-born bloods as thofe, BAST. Some bastards too. 4 Tis not the roundure, &c.] Roundure means the fame as the French rondeur, i. e. the circle. So, in All's loft by Luft, a tragedy by Rowley, 1633: 66 will fhe meet our arms "With an alternate roundure?" Again, in Shakspeare's 21ft Sonnet: 66 -all things rare, "That heaven's air in this huge rondure hems.” 1 STREVENS. K. PHI. Stand in his face, to contradict his claim. I CIT. Till you compound whofe right is worthiest, We, for the worthiest, hold the right from both. K. JOHN. Then God forgive the fin of all those fouls, That to their everlafting refidence, Before the dew of evening fall, fhall fleet, K. PH1. Amen, Amen!-Mount, chevaliers! to arms! BAST. St. George, that swing'd the dragon, and e'er fince, Sits on his horfeback at mine hoftefs' door, And make a monfter of you. AUST. Peace; no more. BAST. O, tremble; for you hear the lion roar. K. JOHN. Up higher to the plain; where we'll fet forth, In best appointment, all our regiments. BAST. Speed then, to take advantage of the field. K. PHI. It fhall be fo;- [To LEWIS.] and at the other hill Command the reft to ftand.-God, and our right! [Exeunt. I'd fet an ox-head to your lion's hide,] So, in the old fpurious play of K. John: "But let the frolick Frenchman take no fcorn, STELVENS. Alarums and Excurfions; then a Retreat. Enter a French Herald, with trumpets, to the gates. F. HER. You men of Angiers, open wide your gates, 6 And let young Arthur, duke of Bretagne, in; Enter an English Herald, with trumpets. E. HER. Rejoice, you men of Angiers, ring your bells; " King John, your king and England's, doth approach, Commander of this hot malicious day! 6 You men of Angiers, &c.] This fpeech is very poetical and fmooth, and except the conceit of the widow's husband embracing the earth, is juft and beautiful. JOHNSON. 7 Rejoice, you men of Angiers, &c.] The English herald falls. fomewhat below his antagonist. Silver armour gilt with blood is a poor image. Yet our author has it again in Macbeth: Here lay Duncan, His filver fkin lac'd with his golden blood." JOHNSON. |