Monologue

Chatillion Monologue from King John

From King John by William Shakespeare

male · dramatic · 1:36 min

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Then turn your forces from this paltry siege And stir them up against a mightier task. England, impatient of your just demands, Hath put himself in arms. The adverse winds, Whose leisure I have stay’d, have given him time To land his legions all as soon as I; His marches are expedient to this town, His forces strong, his soldiers confident. With him along is come the mother-queen, An Ate, stirring him to blood and strife; With her her niece, the Lady Blanche of Spain; With them a bastard of the King’s deceas’d. And all th’ unsettled humours of the land; Rash, inconsiderate, fiery voluntaries, With ladies’ faces and fierce dragons’ spleens, Have sold their fortunes at their native homes, Bearing their birthrights proudly on their backs, To make a hazard of new fortunes here. In brief, a braver choice of dauntless spirits Than now the English bottoms have waft o’er Did never float upon the swelling tide To do offence and scathe in Christendom. (Drums beat within.) The interruption of their churlish drums Cuts off more circumstance. They are at hand, To parley or to fight, therefore prepare.

About this piece

Chatillion addresses the urgency of the situation as England prepares for battle, urging the forces to abandon a minor siege in favor of confronting a greater threat.

20s · anticipation · power · conflict · courage · ambition

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