_Quo me rapit tempestas?_ What wind of honour blows this fury forth? Or whence proceed these fumes of majesty? Methinks I hear a hollow echo sound That Philip is the son unto a king. The whistling leaves upon the trembling trees Whistle in consort I am Richard's son: The bubbling murmur of the water's fall Records _Philippus Regis Filius_: Birds in their flight make music with their wings, Filling the air with glory of my birth: Birds, bubbles, leaves, and mountain's echo, all Ring in mine ears that I am Richard's son. Fond man! ah, whither art thou carried? How are thy thoughts ywrapt in honour's heaven? Forgetful what thou art, and whence thou camest. Thy father's land cannot maintain these thoughts; These thoughts are far unfitting Fauconbridge: And well they may; for why, this mounting mind Doth soar too high to stoop to Fauconbridge. 2. [KING JOHN, _feeling the near approach of death, is filled with remorse._] Methinks I see a catalogue of sin Wrote by a fiend in marble characters, The least enough to lose my part in heaven. Methinks the devil whispers in mine ears And tells me 'tis in vain to hope for grace, I must be damned for Arthur's sudden death. I see, I see a thousand thousand men Come to accuse me for my wrong on earth, And there is none so merciful a God That will forgive the number of my sins. How have I liv'd but by another's loss? What have I lov'd but wreck of other's weal? When have I vow'd and not infring'd mine oath? Where have I done a deed deserving well? How, what, when and where have I bestow'd a day That tended not to some notorious ill? My life, replete with rage and tyranny, Craves little pity for so strange a death; Or who will say that John deceas'd too soon? Who will not say he rather liv'd too long? 3. [ARTHUR _warns the_ KING OF FRANCE _not to expect ready submission from_ JOHN.] I rather think the menace of the world Sounds in his ears as threats of no esteem; And sooner would he scorn Europa's power Than lose the smallest title he enjoys; For questionless he is an Englishman. [Footnote 49: boasting.] [Footnote 50: I am.] [Footnote 51: counsel.] [Footnote 52: _Oedipus Tyrannus_ (Lewis Campbell's translation).] CHAPTER V COMEDY: LYLY, GREENE, PEELE, NASH