BASTARD.
Hear the crier!
AUSTRIA.
What the devil art thou?
BASTARD.
One that will play the devil, sir, with you,
An he may catch your hide and you alone.
You are the hare of whom the proverb goes,
Whose valour plucks dead lions by the beard.
I’ll smoke your skin-coat an I catch you right;
Sirrah, look to ’t; i’ faith I will, i’ faith.
BLANCHE.
O, well did he become that lion’s robe
That did disrobe the lion of that robe!
BASTARD.
It lies as sightly on the back of him
As great Alcides’ shows upon an ass.
But, ass, I’ll take that burden from your back,
Or lay on that shall make your shoulders crack.
AUSTRIA.
What cracker is this same that deafs our ears
With this abundance of superfluous breath?
KING PHILIP.
Louis, determine what we shall do straight.
LOUIS.
Women and fools, break off your conference.
KING PHILIP.
King John, this is the very sum of all:
England and Ireland, Anjou, Touraine, Maine,
In right of Arthur do I claim of thee.
Wilt thou resign them and lay down thy arms?
KING JOHN.
My life as soon: I do defy thee, France.
Arthur of Brittany, yield thee to my hand;
And out of my dear love I’ll give thee more
Than e’er the coward hand of France can win.
Submit thee, boy.