als Autor namhaft. Auch später hat es nicht an einzelnen englischen wie deutschen Kritikern gefehlt, welche den älteren King John für eine Jugendarbeit unseres Dichters gelten lassen wollten, oder ihm doch eine Betheiligung daran im Verein mit andern Dichtern zuzuschreiben geneigt waren. Sowohl um das Unhaltbare dieser Meinung nachzuweisen, als auch um an einer Probe zu zeigen, wie Shakspere das Werk seines anonymen Vorgängers benutzt hat, mögen ein Paar Scenen aus dem alten King John, der nach der Bezugnahme auf Marlowe's Tamburlaine im Prolog um das Jahr 1590 gespielt sein muss, hier ihren Platz finden. Das erste, hier citirte Stück entspricht der zweiten Hälfte des ersten Akts bei Shakspere. self, and the bad dealing of my brother in this princely assemblie. Enter the Shriue and whispers the Earle of Salisbury in the eare. Robert. Then, by my Prince his leaue, shall Robert speake, Sals. Please it your Maiesty, here is the Shrive of Northamptonshire with certaine per- And tell your Maiestie what right I haue sons that of late committed a riot, and haue To offer wrong, as he accounteth wrong. appeald to your Maiestie, beseeching your My father (not vnknowne vnto your Grace) Highnesse for speciall cause to heare them. Receiu'd his spurres of Knighthood in the Field, At kingly Richard hands in Palestine, Whenas the walls of Acon gaue him way: His name sir Robert Fauconbridge of Mount K. John. Will them come neere, and while Goe Salisbury and make prouision, We meane with speed to passe the Sea to Fraunce. bery. What by succession from his Ancestors, Say Shriue, what are these men, what haue And warlike seruice vnder Englands Armes, they done? Or whereto tends the course of this appeale? His liuing did amount to at his death Shriue. Please it your Maiestie, these two And this (my Lord) I challenge for my right, brethren unnaturally falling at odds about As lawfull heire to Robert Fauconbridge. their fathers living, haue broken your highnesse Phil. If first-borne sonne be heire indubitate peace, in seeking to right their owne wrongs By certaine right of Englands auntient Lawe, without course of Lawe, or order of Justice; How should my selfe make any other doubt, and unlawfully assembled themselves in muti-But I am heire to Robert Fauconbridge? nous maner, having committed a riot, appea- K. John. Fond youth, to trouble these our ling from triall in their country to your Highprincely eares, ness: and here I Thomas Nidigate Shriue Or make a question in so plaine a case: of Northamptonshire do deliver them ouer to Speake, is this man thine elder brother borne? their triall. Robert. Please it your Grace with patience K. John. My Lord of Essex, will thof for to heare? fenders to stand forth, and tell the cause of I not deny but he mine elder is, their quarrell. Essex. Gentlemen, it is the Kings pleasure that you discouer your griefs, and doubt not but you shal haue iustice. Mine elder brother too: yet in such sort, K. John. A doubtfull tale as euer I did heare, Robert. I grant (my Lord) he is my mothers sonne, Phil. Please it your Maiesty the wrong is mine yet will 1 abide all wrongs, before I once open my mouth t'vnrip the shamefull slander of my parents, the dishonor of my Base borne, and base begot, no Fauconbridge. Indeede the world reputes him lawful heire, Then (gratious Lord) let Fauconbridge enjoy First, when my Father was Embassador K. John. Proue this, the land is thine by And all this princely presence shall confesse, Englands lawe. Qu. Elian. Vngratious youth, to rip thy Then gratious Lord, rest he King Richards mothers shame, The wombe from whence thou didst thy being take, sonne, And let me rest safe in my Fathers right, Robert. I have no more, nor neede I K. John. First, where thou saidst in absence of thy Sire That see the teares distilling from mine eies, awhile: And fellow, say, whose bastard is thy brother? My brother often lodged in his house: Philip. Not for my selfe, nor for my mo- Why good sir Squire, are you so cunning growen, To make account of womens reckonings? In action, feature and proportion : And let me have my living and my right. Know you not, Omne simile non est idem? But thou shalt see how I will helpe thy claime: What saist thou Philip, sprung of auncient This is my doome, and this my doome shall stand Irreuocable, as I am King of England. Kings? Quo me rapit tempestas? What winde of honour blowes this furie forth? For thou know'st not, weele aske of them that Or whence proceede these fumes of Maiestie? know, His mother and himselfe shall end this strife: To give away my right, and put the doome Or he will give the liuing from himselfe? Methinkes I hear a hollow Ecchoe sound; Filling the aire with glorie of my birth: It may not be, my Lord. Why should it be? Birds, bubbles, leaues, and mountaines, Ecchoe, all eares, that I am Richards sonne. him heare the doom. Essex, first ask the mo- Ring in mine bridge, Who was Father to thy Sonne Philip? How are thy thoughts ywrapt in Honors heauen? Mother. Please it your Maiesty, Sir Ro- Thy Fathers land cannot maintain these thoughts, These thoughts are farre vnfitting Fauconbridge: bert Fauconbridge. Robert. This is right, aske my fellow there if I be a thiefe. K. John. Aske Philip whose sonne he is. Essex. Philip, who was thy father? Philip. Mas my Lord, and that's a question: and you had not taken some paines with her before, I should have desired you to aske my mother. K. John. Say, who was thy Father? Philip. Faith (my Lord) to answere you, sure hee is my father that was neerest my mother when I was begotten, and him I think to be Sir Robert Fauconbridge. K. John. Essex, for fashions sake demand agen, And so an end to this contention. And well they may; for why this mounting minde Doth soare too high to stoupe to Fauconbridge. Why how now? knowest thou where thou art? No, keep thy land, though Richard were thy Sire, What ere thou thinkst, say thou art Fauconbridge. K. John. Speake man, be sodaine, who thy Father was. Philip. Please it your Maiestie, Sir Robert. Philip, that Fauconbridge cleaues to thy iawes: was It will not out; I cannot for my life Robert. Robert reuiue thy heart, let His faltring tongue not suffers him to lie. What head-strong furie doth en- To checke the pride of Arthur and his mates : Manent Philip and his Mother. Philip. Madame, I beseech you deigne me so much leasure as the hearing of a matter Philip. Philip cannot repent, for he that I long to impart to you. hath done. Mother. What's the matter Philip? I K. John. Then Philip blame not me, thy think your suit in secret tends to some money matter, which you suppose burns in the bottom of my chest. selfe hast lost By wilfulnesse, thy living and thy land. The poorest kinsman that your Highnesse hath: desire; Philip. No Madame, it is no such suit as How that my scandal growes by meanes of you, Let Philip liue to shew himselfe worthy so This grosse attaint so tilteth in my thoughts, Qu. Elian. great a Sire. Philip I think thou knewst thy Grandams minde: But cheere thee Boy, I will not see thee want As long as Elianor hath foote of land: Henceforth thou shalt be taken for my sonne, And waite on me and on thine vncle heere, Who shall giue honour to thy noble mind. K. John. Philip kneele down, that thou maist throughly know How much thy resolution pleaseth vs, I cannot chase the slaunder from my thoughts. Rise up Sir Richard Plantaginet King I beg some instance whence I am extraught. Richards Sonne. Philip. Grant heauens that Philip once may shew himselfe Worthy the honour of Plantaginet, Or basest glorie of a Bastards name. Mother. Yet more adoe to haste me to my graue, And wilt thou too become a mothers crosse? K. John. Now, Gentlemen, we will away Thou moust me Philip with this idle talke, to Fraunce, Which I remit, in hope this mood will die. Philip. Nay, Lady mother, heare me further yet, For strong conceit drives duty hence awhile: That carries markes of nature like the sire, Requires the chaire, and mine the seat of steele. Phil. Come Madame come, you need not The shame is shared equall twixt vs both. Moth. Then Philip heare thy fortune, My honours losse by purchase of thy selfe, wrong, All maimd and staind by youths vnruly sway. And when thou know'st from whence thou art extraught, Or if thou knew'st what suites, what threats, To moue by loue, or massacre by death, And here by heauens eternal lampes I sweare, Why stand I to expostulate the crime As cursed Nero with his mother did, So I with you, if you resolue me not. With pro et contra, now the deed is done? Moth. Let mothers teares quench out thy That Philips father was a princes sonne: angers fire, And vrge no further what thou doest require. now, Or else she dies: Ile not infringe my vow. Blab my misdeeds, or by concealing die? my name. Rich Englands rule, worlds onely terror he, For fair King Richard was thy noble father. My sire a King, and I a landlesse boy. I marry sir, let me alone for game, Moth. And longing die, to shroud thy Away good mother, there the comfort goes. mothers shame. [Exeunt. Die bei Shakspere den vierten Akt beginnende Scene zwischen Arthur und Hubert lautet im alten King John so: |