Re-enter the two Kings, with their powers, severally.[169]
K. John. France, hast thou yet more blood to cast away?[170]
Say, shall the current of our right run on?[171]335
Whose passage, vex'd with thy impediment,
Shall leave his native channel, and o'erswell
With course disturb'd even thy confining shores,
Unless thou let his silver water keep[172]
A peaceful progress to the ocean.340
K. Phi. England, thou hast not saved one drop of blood,
In this hot trial, more than we of France;
Rather, lost more. And by this hand I swear,
That sways the earth this climate overlooks,
Before we will lay down our just-borne arms,[173]345
We'll put thee down, 'gainst whom these arms we bear,
Or add a royal number to the dead,
Gracing the scroll that tells of this war's loss
With slaughter coupled to the name of kings.
Bast. Ha, majesty! how high thy glory towers,350
When the rich blood of kings is set on fire!
O, now doth Death line his dead chaps with steel;
The swords of soldiers are his teeth, his fangs;
And now he feasts, mousing the flesh of men,[174]
In undetermined differences of kings.355
Why stand these royal fronts amazed thus?
Cry, 'havoc!' kings; back to the stained field,
You equal potents, fiery kindled spirits![175]
Then let confusion of one part confirm
The other's peace; till then, blows, blood, and death!360
K. John. Whose party do the townsmen yet admit?
K. Phi. Speak, citizens, for England; who's your king?[176]
First Cit. The king of England, when we know the king.
K. Phi. Know him in us, that here hold up his right.
K. John. In us, that are our own great deputy,365
And bear possession of our person here,[177]
Lord of our presence, Angiers, and of you.[178]
First Cit. A greater power than we denies all this;[179]
And till it be undoubted, we do lock
Our former scruple in our strong-barr'd gates;370
King'd of our fears, until our fears, resolved,[180][181]
Be by some certain king purged and deposed.[181]