Act V, Scene 4

Another part of the field.

[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, 2490
  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. 2495

• 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. 2500
  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, 2505
  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, 2510
  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? 2515
  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: 2520
  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 2525
  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, 2530
  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 2535
  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, 2540
  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. 2545
  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]