King Edward III Quotes

“Here, till our navy of a thousand sail
Have made a breakfast to our foe by sea,
Let us encamp to wait their happy speed.-
Lorraine, what readiness is Edward in?
How hast thou heard that he provided is
Of martial furniture for this exploit?

Lorraine
To lay aside unnecessary soothing,
And not to spend the time in circumstance,
'Tis bruited for a certainty, my lord,
That he's exceeding strongly fortified;
His subjects flock as willingly to war
As if unto a triumph they were led.

Charles
England was wont to harbor malcontents,
Bloodthirsty and seditious Catilines,
Spendthrifts, and such as gape for nothing else
But changing and alteration of the state.
And is it possible that they are now
So loyal in themselves?

Lorraine
All but the Scot, who solemnly protests,
As heretofore I have informed his grace,
Never to sheathe his sword or take a truce.

King John
Ah, that's the anch'rage of some better hope.
But, on the other side, to think what friends
King Edward hath retained in Netherland
Among those ever-bibbing epicures --
Those frothy Dutchmen puffed with double beer,
That drink and swill in every place they come --
Doth not a little aggravate mine ire;
Besides we hear the emperor conjoins
And stalls him in his own authority.
But all the mightier that their number is,
The greater glory reaps the victory.
Some friends have we beside domestic power:
The stern Polonian, and the warlike Dane,
The King of Bohemia, and of Sicily
Are all become confederates with us,
And, as I think, are marching hither apace.
[Drums within.]
But soft, I hear the music of their drums,
By which I guess that their approach is near.

Enter the King of Bohemia, with Danes, and a Polonian Captain with other soldiers, some Muscovites, another way.

King of Bohemia
King John of France, as league and neighborhood
Requires when friends are any way distressed,
I come to aid thee with my country's force.

Polonian Captain
And from great Moscow, fearful to the Turk,
And lofty Poland, nurse of hardy men,
I bring these servitors to fight for thee,
Who willingly will venture in thy cause.

King John
Welcome Bohemian King, and welcome all.
This your great kindness I will not forget;
Besides your plentiful rewards in crowns
That from our treasury ye shall receive,
There comes a hare-brained nation decked in pride,
The spoil of whom will be a treble gain.
And now my hope is full, my joy complete.
At sea we are as puissant as the force
Of Agamemnon in the haven of Troy;
By land, with Xerxes we compare of strength,
Whose soldiers drank up rivers in their thirst.
Then Bayard-like, blind, overweening Ned,
To reach at our imperial diadem
Is either to be swallowed of the waves
Or hacked a-pieces when thou com'st ashore.”
― William Shakespeare, King Edward III

“Although experience teach us this is true,
That peaceful quietness brings most delight,
When most of all abuses are controlled;
Yet, insomuch it shall be known that we
As well can master our affections
As conquer other by the dint of sword,”
― William Shakespeare, King Edward III

“It is a glorious thing to stablish peace,
And kings approach the nearest unto God
By giving life and safety unto men

Queen Philllip – Act V, scene 1”
― William Shakespeare, King Edward III

“Comfort thy self, as I do, gentle Queen,
With hope of sharp, unheard of, dire revenge.--
He bids me to provide his funeral,
And so I will; but all the Peers in France
Shall mourners be, and weep out bloody tears,
Until their empty veins be dry and sere:
The pillars of his hearse shall be his bones;
The mould that covers him, their City ashes;
His knell, the groaning cries of dying men;
And, in the stead of tapers on his tomb,
An hundred fifty towers shall burning blaze,
While we bewail our valiant son's decease.”
― William Shakespeare, King Edward III

“No hope, but death, to bury up our shame.

Phillip – Act IV, scene 7”
― William Shakespeare, King Edward III

“Our drums strike nothing but discouragement,
Our trumpets sound dishonor and retire;
The spirit of fear, that feareth nought but death,
Cowardly works confusion on it self.
Charles – Act IV, scene 7”
― William Shakespeare, King Edward III

“My self, whose spirit is steel to their dull lead,
What with recalling of the prophecy,
And that our native stones from English arms
Rebel against us, find myself attainted
With strong surprise of weak and yielding fear.
King John – Act IV, scene 7”
― William Shakespeare, King Edward III

“What canst thou promise that I cannot break?
Which of these twain is greater infamy,
To disobey thy father or thy self?
Thy word, nor no mans, may exceed his power;
Nor that same man doth never break his word,
That keeps it to the utmost of his power.
The breach of faith dwells in the soul's consent:
Which if thy self without consent do break.
King John – Act IV, scene 5”
― William Shakespeare, King Edward III