It draws towards supper in conclusion so. And fits the mounting spirit, like myself: Enter LADY FAULCONBRIDGE and JAMES O me! it is my mother;-How now, good lady? Lady F. Where is that slave, thy brother? where is he, That holds in chase mine honour up and down? Bast. My brother Robert? old Sir Robert's son? Colbrand the giant, that same mighty man? Is it Sir Robert's son, that you seek so? Lady F. Sir Robert's son! Ay,thou unreverend boy, Sir Robert's son! Why scorn'st thou at Sir Robert? He is Sir Robert's son; and so art thou. 26 i. e. he is accounted but a mean man, in the present age, who does not show by his dress, deportment, and talk, that he has travelled and made observations in foreign countries. 27 Shakspeare probably meant to insinuate that a woman who travels about like a post was likely to horn her husband. 28 Colbrand was a Danish giant, whom Guy of Warwick discomfited in the presence of King Athelstan. The History of Guy was a popular book in the poet's age. Drayton has described the combat very pompously in his Polyolbion. Bast. James Gurney, wilt thou give us leave awhile! Bast. Philip?-sparrow 29!-James, [Exit GURNEY. Madam, I was not old Sir Robert's son; Sir Robert might have eat his part in me Sir Robert never holp to make this leg. Lady F. Hast thou conspired with thy brother too, That for thine own gain should'st defend mine honour? What means this scorn, thou most untoward knave? Bast. Knight, knight, good mother,―Basiliscolike 31: What! I am dubb'd; I have it on my shoulder. land; 29 The Bastard means 'Philip! Do you take me for a sparrow?” The sparrow was called Philip from its note, which was supposed to have some resemblance to that word, 'phip phip the sparrows as they fly.'-Lyly's Mother Bombie. 30 i. e. rumours, idle reports. 31 This is a piece of satire on the stupid old drama of Soliman and Perseda, printed in 1599, which had probably become the butt for stage sarcasm. In this piece there is a bragging cowardly knight called Basilisco. His pretension to valour is so blown and seen through that Piston, a buffoon servant in the play, jumps upon his back, and will not disengage him till he makes Basilisco swear upon his dagger to the contents, and in the terms he dictates; thus: Bas. O, I swear, I swear. Pist. By the contents of this blade,- Pist. I, the aforesaid Basilico Bas. I, the aforesaid Basilico,-knight, good fellow, knight. Pist. Knave, good fellow, knave. Legitimation, name, and all is gone: Then, good my mother, let me know my father; Some proper man, I hope; Who was it, mother? Lady F. Hast thou denied thyself a Faulconbridge? Bast. As faithfully as I deny the devil. Lady F. King Richard Coeur-de-lion was thy father; By long and vehement suit I was seduc'd Which was so strongly urg'd, past my defence. And so doth yours; your fault was not your folly.: And they shall say, when Richard me begot, Who says [Exeunt. 32 Shakspeare alludes to the fabulous history of King Richard I. which says that he derived his appellation of Cœur de Lion from having plucked out a lion's heart, to whose fury he had been exposed by the Duke of Austria for having slain his son with a blow of his fist. The story is related in several of the old chronicles, as well as in the old metrical romance. ACT II. SCENE I. France. Before the Walls of Angiers. Enter, on one side, the Archduke of Austria1, and Forces; on the other, PHILIP, King of France, and Forces; LEWIS, CONSTANCE, ARTHUR, and Attendants. Lew. Before Angiers well met, brave Austria.— At our importance, hither is he come, Of thy unnatural uncle, English John: Lew. A noble boy! Who would not do thee right? 1 Leopold Duke of Austria, by whom Richard had been thrown into prison in 1193, died in consequence of a fall from his horse, in 1195, some years before the date of the events upon which this play turns. The cause of the enmity between Richard and the Duke of Austria is variously related by the old chroniclers. Shakspeare has been led into this anachronism by the old play of King John. As seal to this indenture of my love; That to my home I will no more return, Till Angiers, and the right thou hast in France, Const. O, take his mother's thanks, a widow's thanks, Till your strong hand shall help to give him strength, To make a more3 requital to your love. Aust. The peace of heaven is theirs, that lift their swords In such a just and charitable war. K. Phi. Well then, to work; our cannon shall be bent 4 Against the brows of this resisting town.- Const. Stay for an answer to your embassy, :- 3 i. e. greater. So in King Henry IV. Part 1. Act iv. Sc. 3:The more and less came in with cap and knee.' 4 To mark the best stations to overawe the town. |