King John
Act V, Scene 5
The French camp.
From: Costume designs for King John
John Miller, George Scharf, 1823
- Enter Lewis the Dauphin and his Train.
Lewis
1 - 8- The sun of heaven, methought, was loath to set,
- But stay’d and made the western welkin blush,
- When English measure backward their own ground
- In faint retire. O, bravely came we off,
- When with a volley of our needless shot,
- After such bloody toil, we bid good night,
- And wound our tott’ring colors clearly up,
- Last in the field, and almost lords of it!
- Enter a French Messenger.
French Messenger
9- Where is my prince, the Dauphin?
Lewis
10- Here: what news?
French Messenger
11 - 14- The Count Melune is slain; the English lords
- By his persuasion are again fall’n off,
- And your supply, which you have wish’d so long,
- Are cast away, and sunk on Goodwin Sands.
Lewis
15 - 19- Ah, foul shrewd news! Beshrew thy very heart!
- I did not think to be so sad tonight
- As this hath made me. Who was he that said
- King John did fly an hour or two before
- The stumbling night did part our weary pow’rs?
French Messenger
20- Whoever spoke it, it is true, my lord.
Lewis
21 - 23- Well; keep good quarter and good care tonight;
- The day shall not be up so soon as I,
- To try the fair adventure of tomorrow.
- Exeunt.