King John: Act 5, Scene 4

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    Another part of the field.

    Scene Summary

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    The dying French lord Melun, conscience-stricken, tells the English nobles Salisbury, Pembroke, and Bigot that Louis plans to have them executed once he takes England — they are too dangerous to leave alive. They immediately switch back to the English side and head to find John.

    Enter SALISBURY, PEMBROKE, and BIGOT
    SALISBURY
    I did not think the king so stored with friends.
    PEMBROKE
    Up once again; put spirit in the French:
    If they miscarry, we miscarry too.
    SALISBURY
    That misbegotten devil, Faulconbridge,
    In spite of spite, alone upholds the day.
    PEMBROKE
    They say King John sore sick hath left the field.
    Enter MELUN, wounded
    MELUN
    Lead me to the revolts of England here.
    SALISBURY
    When we were happy we had other names.
    PEMBROKE
    It is the Count Melun.
    SALISBURY
    Wounded to death.
    MELUN
    Fly, noble English, you are bought and sold;
    Unthread the rude eye of rebellion
    And welcome home again discarded faith.
    Seek out King John and fall before his feet;
    For if the French be lords of this loud day,
    He means to recompense the pains you take
    By cutting off your heads: thus hath he sworn
    And I with him, and many moe with me,
    Upon the altar at Saint Edmundsbury;
    Even on that altar where we swore to you
    Dear amity and everlasting love.
    SALISBURY
    May this be possible? may this be true?
    MELUN
    Have I not hideous death within my view,
    Retaining but a quantity of life,
    Which bleeds away, even as a form of wax
    Resolveth from his figure 'gainst the fire?
    What in the world should make me now deceive,
    Since I must lose the use of all deceit?
    Why should I then be false, since it is true
    That I must die here and live hence by truth?
    I say again, if Lewis do win the day,
    He is forsworn, if e'er those eyes of yours
    Behold another day break in the east:
    But even this night, whose black contagious breath
    Already smokes about the burning crest
    Of the old, feeble and day-wearied sun,
    Even this ill night, your breathing shall expire,
    Paying the fine of rated treachery
    Even with a treacherous fine of all your lives,
    If Lewis by your assistance win the day.
    Commend me to one Hubert with your king:
    The love of him, and this respect besides,
    For that my grandsire was an Englishman,
    Awakes my conscience to confess all this.
    In lieu whereof, I pray you, bear me hence
    From forth the noise and rumour of the field,
    Where I may think the remnant of my thoughts
    In peace, and part this body and my soul
    With contemplation and devout desires.
    SALISBURY
    We do believe thee: and beshrew my soul
    But I do love the favour and the form
    Of this most fair occasion, by the which
    We will untread the steps of damned flight,
    And like a bated and retired flood,
    Leaving our rankness and irregular course,
    Stoop low within those bounds we have o'erlook'd
    And cabby run on in obedience
    Even to our ocean, to our great King John.
    My arm shall give thee help to bear thee hence;
    For I do see the cruel pangs of death
    Right in thine eye. Away, my friends! New flight;
    And happy newness, that intends old right.
    Exeunt, leading off MELUN