At least from fair five hundred pound a year: Doth he lay claim to thine inheritance ? Bast. I know not why, except to get the land. That still I lay upon my mother's head; And were our father, and this son like him ;- I give heaven thanks, I was not like to thee. K. John. Why, what a madcap hath heaven lent us here! Eli. He hath a trick of Coeur-de-lion's face, In the large composition of this man? K. John. Mine eye hath well examined his parts, And finds them perfect Richard.——Sirrah, speak, What doth move you to claim your brother's land? Bast. Because he hath a half-face, like my father; With that half-face would he have all my land: A half-faced groat five hundred pound a year! Rob. My gracious liege, when that my father liv'd, Your brother did employ my father much ;Bast. Well, sir, by this you cannot get my land; Your tale must be, how he employ'd my mother. K. John. Sirrah, your brother is legitimate; In sooth, good friend, your father might have kept Rob. Shall then my father's will be of no force, To dispossess that child which is not his? Bast. Of no more force to dispossess me, sir, Than was his will to get me, as I think. Eli. Whether hadst thou rather, be a Faulconbridge, And like thy brother, to enjoy thy land; Lest men should say, Look, where three-farthings goes! And, to his shape, were heir to all this land, 'Would I might never stir from off this place, I'd give it every foot to have this face; I would not be sir Nob" in any case. Eli. I like thee well; Wilt thou forsake thy fortune, Bequeath thy land to him, and follow me ? I am a soldier, and now bound to France. Bast. Brother, take you my land, I'll take my chance : Your face hath got five hundred pounds a year; Eli. Nay, I would have you go before me thither. 5 Dignity of appearance. • Robert. K. John. What is thy name? Bast. Philip, my liege; so is my name begun; Philip, good old sir Robert's wife's eldest son. K. John. From henceforth bear his name whose form thou bear'st: Kneel thou down Philip, but arise more great: Bast. Brother, by the mother's side, give me your hand; My father gave me honour, yours gave land :- Eli. The very spirit of Plantagenet ! I am thy grandame, Richard; call me so. Bast. Madam, by chance, but not by truth: What though? Something about, a little from the right, In at the window, or else o'er the hatch: Who dares not stir by day, must walk by night; And have is have, however men do catch: Near or far off, well won is still well shot; And I am I, howe'er I was begot. K. John. Go, Faulconbridge; now hast thou thy desire, A landless knight makes thee a landed 'squire.Come, madam, and come, Richard; we must speed For France, for France; for it is more than need. Bast. Brother, adieu; Good fortune come to thee! For thou wast got i'the way of honesty. [Exeunt all but the Bastard. A foot of honour better than I was; But inany a foot of land the worse. Well, now can I make any Joan a lady :- 8 For your conversion. Now your traveller,— -My dear sir, (Thus, leaning on mine elbow, I begin,) O sir, says answer, at your At your employment; at your service, sir: No, sir, says question, I, sweet sir, at yours: And so, ere answer knows what question would, (Saving in dialogue of compliment; And talking of the Alps, and Appenines, The Pyrenean, and the river Po,) It draws toward supper in conclusion so. And fits the mounting spirit, like myself: For he is but a bastard to the time, (And so am I, whether I smack, or no ;) But from the inward motion to deliver Sweet, sweet, sweet poison for the age's tooth: 7 Good evening. 8 Respectable. My travelled fop. 9 Change of condition. 2 Catechism. |