King John by William Shakespeare

The Life and Death of King john

written by William Shakespeare

PEMBROKE "Then I, as one that am the tongue of these

To sound the purpoded of all their hearts,

Both for myself and them, but chief of all

Your safety, for the which myself and them

Bend their best studies, heartily request

Th'enfranchisement of Arthur, whose restraint

Doth move the murmuring lips of discontent

To break into this dangerous arguement:

If what in rest you have, in right you hold,

When then your fears_which, as they say, attend

The steps of wrong_should move you to mew up

Your tender kinsman, and to choke his days

With barbarous ignorance, and deny his youth

The rich advantage of good excercise?

That the time's emeny may not have this

To grace occasions, let it be our suit

That you have bid us ask, his liberty;

Which for our goods we do no further ask

Then whereupon our weal, on your depending,

Counts it your weal he have his liberty."

Act IV Scene II