1 Cit. Why answer not the double majesties This friendly treaty of our threaten'd town?
Let in that amity which you have made; For at Saint Mary's chapel, presently, The rites of marriage shall be solemniz'd.- Is not the lady Constance in this troop?- I know she is not; for this match, made up, Her presence would have interrupted much :- Where is she and her son? tell me, who knows. Lew. She is sad and passionate at your high- [have made,
K. Phi. Speak England first, that hath been forward first
To speak unto this city: What say you?
K. Phi. And, by my faith, this league, that we Will give her sadness very little cure.- Brother of England, how may we content
K. John. If that the Dauphin there, thy This widow lady? In her right we came; princely son,
Can in this book of beauty read, I love,
Her dowry shall weigh equal with a queen:
For Anjou, and fair Touraine, Maine, Poictiers,
And all that we upon this side the sea
(Except this city now by us besieg'd) Find liable to our crown and dignity, Shall gild her bridal bed; and make her rich
In titles, honours, and promotions,
As she in beauty, education, blood,
Holds hand with any princess of the world. [face. K. Phi. What say'st thou, boy? look in the lady's Lew. I do, my lord, and in her eye I find.
A wonder, or a wondrous miracle, The shadow of myself form'd in her eye; Which, being but the shadow of your son, Becomes a sun, and makes your son a shadow: I do protest, I never lov'd myself, Till now infixed I beheld myself
Drawn in the flattering table of her eye.
[Whispers with BLANCH. Bast. Drawn in the flattering table of her [brow!
eye!Hang'd in the frowning wrinkle of her And quarter'd in her heart!-he doth espy
Himself love's traitor: This is pity now, That hang'd, and drawn, and quarter'd, there In such a love, so vile a lout as he. [should be, Blanch. My uncle's will in this respect is mine: If he see aught in you that makes him like, That any thing he sees, which moves his liking, I can with ease translate it to my will;
Or, if you will, (to speak more properly,)
I will enforce it easily to my love.
Further I will not flatter you, my lord, That all I see in you is worthy love,
Than this, that nothing do I see in you,
Which we, God knows, have turn'd another way, To our own vantage.
For we 'll create young Arthur Duke of Bretagne, And Earl of Richmond; and this rich fair town We make him lord of. Call the lady Constance; Some speedy messenger bid her repair
To our solemnity:-I trust we shall, If not fill up the measure of her will, Yet in some measure satisfy her so, That we shall stop her exclamation. Go we, as well as haste will suffer us, To this unlook'd-for unprepared pomp.
[Exeunt all but the Bast.- The Citizens retire from the walls.
Bast. Mad world! mad kings! mad composition! John, to stop Arthur's title in the whole, Hath willingly departed with a part: [on; And France, (whose armour conscience buckled Whom zeal and charity brought to the field, As God's own soldier,) rounded in the ear With that same purpose-changer, that sly devil; That broker, that still breaks the pate of faith; That daily break-vow; he that wins of all, Of kings, of beggars, old men, young men, Commodity, the bias of the world; [maids;The world, who of itself is peised well, Made to run even, upon even ground; Till this advantage, this vile drawing bias, This sway of motion, this commodity, Makes it take head from all indifferency, From all direction, purpose, course, intent: And this same bias, this commodity, Clapp'd on the outward eye of fickle France, Hath drawn him from his own determin'd aid, From a resolv'd and honourable war,
To a most base and vile-concluded peace.
(Though churlish thoughts themselves should And why rail I on this commodity?
That I can find should merit any hate.
K. John. What say these young ones? What
[do Blanch. That she is bound in honour still to What you in wisdom shall vouchsafe to say. K. John. Speak then, Prince Dauphin; can
Lew. Nay, ask me if I can refrain from love; For I do love her most unfeignedly. [Maine, K. John. Then I do give Volquessen, Touraine, Poictiers, and Anjou, these five provinces, With her to thee; and this addition more, Full thirty thousand marks of English coin.Philip of France, if thou be pleas'd withal, Command thy son and daughter to join hands. K. Phi. It likes us well; -Young princes, close [sur'd, Aust. And your lips too; for, I am well asThat I did so when I was first assur'd.*
But for because he hath not woo'd me yet: Not that I have the power to clutch || niy hand, When his fair angels I would salute my palm: But for my hand, as unattempted yet, Like a poor beggar, raileth on the rich. Well, whiles I am a beggar, I will rail, And say, there is no sin but to be rich; And being rich, my virtue then shall be, To say, there is no vice but beggary: Since kings break faith upon commodity, Gain, be my lord! for I will worship thee!
SCENE I.-The French King's Tent. Enter CONSTANCE, ARTHUR, and SALISBURY. Const. GONE to be married! gone to swear a peace! [friends! False blood to false blood join'd! Gone to be Shall Lewis have Blanch? and Blanch those provinces?
It is not so; thou hast misspoke, misheard; Be well advis'd, tell o'er thy tale again:
It cannot be; thou dost but say, 'tis so: I trust I may not trust thee; for thy word Is but the vain breath of a common man;
Believe me, I do not believe thee, man; I have a king's oath to the contrary. Thou shalt be punish'd for thus frighting me, For I am sick, and capable * of fears;
A widow, husbandless, subject to fears;
Can hold it up here I and sorrow sit; Here is my throne, bid kings come bow to it.
[She throws herself on the ground.
Enter KING JOHN, KING PHILIP, LEWIS, BLANCH, ELINOR, Bastard, AUSTRIA, and Attendants.
K. Phi. "Tis true, fair daughter; and this blessed day,
Oppress'd with wrongs, and therefore full of Ever in France shall be kept festival:
A woman, naturally born to fears; And though thou now confess thou didst but With my vex'd spirits I cannot take a truce, But they will quake and tremble all this day. What dost thou mean by shaking of thy head? Why dost thou look so sadly on my son? What means that hand upon that breast of thine? Why holds thine eye that lamentable rheum, Like a proud river peering † o'er his bounds? Be these sad signs confirmers of thy words? Then speak again; not all thy former tale, But this one word, whether thy tale be true.
Sal. As true, as, I believe, you think them false, That give you cause to prove my saying true. Const. O, if
if thou teach me to believe this
Teach thou this sorrow how to make me die; And let belief and life encounter so, As doth the fury of two desperate men, Which, in the very meeting, fall and die.- Lewis marry Blanch! O, boy, then where art thou?
France friend with England! what becomes of me?- Fellow, be gone; I cannot brook thy sight; This news hath made thee a most ugly man.
Sal. What other harm have I, good lady, done, But spoke the harm that is by others done?
Const. Which harm within itself so heinous is, As it makes harmful all that speak of it.
I do beseech you, madam, be content. Const. If thou, that bidd'st me be content, wert grim,
Ugly, and sland'rous to thy mother's womb, Full of unpleasing blots and sightless + stains, Lame, foolish, crooked, swart, prodigious, Patch'd with foul moles, and eye-offending marks, I would not care, I then would be content; For then I should not love thee; no, nor thou Become thy great birth, nor deserve a crown. But thou art fair; and at thy birth, dear boy! Nature and fortune join'd to make thee great: Of nature's gifts thou may'st with lilies boast, And with the half-blown rose but fortune, O! She is corrupted, chang'd, and won from thee; She adulterates hourly with thine uncle John; And with her golden hand hath pluck'd on France To tread down fair respect of sovereignty. Tell me, thou fellow, is not France forsworn? Envenom him with words; or get thee gone, And leave those woes alone, which I alone Am bound to under-bear.
To solemnize this day, the glorious sun Stays in his course, and plays the alchymist; Turning, with splendour of his precious eye, The meagre cloddy earth to glittering gold: The yearly course, that brings this day about, Shall never see it but a holyday.
Const. A wicked day, and not a holy day.- [Rising. What hath this day deserv'd? what hath it done; That it in golden letters should be set Among the high tides in the calendar ? Nay, rather, turn this day out of the week; This day of shame, oppression, perjury: Or, if it must stand still, let wives with child Pray that their burdens may not fall this day, Lest that their hopes prodigiously be cross'd: But on this day let seamen fear no wreck; No bargains break, that are not this day made: This day, all things begun come to ill end; Yea, faith itself to hollow falsehood change!
K. Phi. By heaven, lady, you shall have no To curse the fair proceedings of this day: [cause Have I not pawned to you my majesty?
Const. You have beguiled me with a counter- feit, [tried, Resembling majesty; which, being touch'd, and Proves valueless: You are forsworn, forsworn; You came in arms to spill mine enemies' blood, But now in arms you strengthen it with yours : The grappling vigour and rough frown of war, Is cold in amity and painted peace, And our oppression hath made up this league :- Arm, arm, you heavens, against these perjur'd
A widow cries; be husband to me, heavens! Let not the hours of this ungodly day Wear out the day in peace; but, ere sunset, Set armed discord 'twixt these perjur'd kings! Hear me, O, hear me!
Aust. Lady Constance, peace. [a war. Const. War! war! no peace! peace is to me O Lymoges! O Austria! thou dost shame That bloody spoil: Thou slave, thou wretch,
Thou little valiant, great in villany! Thou ever strong upon the stronger side! Thou fortune's champion, that dost never fight But when her humorous ladyship is by To teach thee safety! thou art perjur'd too, And sooth'st up greatness. What a fool art thou, A ramping fool; to brag, and stamp, and swear Upon my party! Thou cold-blooded slave, Hast thou not spoke like thunder on my side? Been sworn my soldier? bidding me depend Upon thy stars, thy fortune, and thy strength? And dost thou now fall over to my foes?
I may not go without you to the kings. Const. Thou may'st, thou shalt, I will not go Thou wear a lion's hide! doff it for shame, with thee:
And hang a calf-skin on those recreant limbs. Aust. O that a man should speak those words to me! [limbs. Bast. And hang a calf's-skin on those recreant Aust. Thou dar'st not say so, villain, for thy life. [limbs. Bast. And hang a calf's-skin on those recreant K. John. We like not this; thou dost forget thyself.
Pope Innocent, I do demand of thee.
K. John. What earthly name to interrogaCan task the free breath of a sacred king? Thou canst not, cardinal, devise a name So slight, unworthy, and ridiculous,
To charge me to an answer, as the pope. [land, Teli him this tale; and, from the mouth of Eng- Add thus much more, -That no Italian priest Shall tithe or toll in our dominions;
But as we under heaven are supreme head, So, under him, that great supremacy, Where we do reign, we will alone uphold, Without the assistance of a mortal hand: So tell the pope; all reverence set apart, To him, and his usurp'd authority.
K. Phi. Brother of England, you blaspheme in this. [Christendom,
K. John. Though you, and all the kings of Are led so grossly by this meddling priest, Dreading the curse that money may buy out; And, by the merit of vile gold, dross, dust, Purchase corrupted pardon of a man,
Who, in that sale, sells pardon from himself : Though you, and all the rest, so grossly led, This juggling witchcraft with revenue cherish; Yet I, alone, alone do me oppose
Against the pope, and count his friends my foes. Pand. Then, by the lawful power that I have, Thou shalt stand curs'd, and excommunicate: And blessed shall he be that doth revolt From his allegiance to an heretic;
And meritorious shall that hand be call'd, Canonized, and worshipp'd as a saint, That takes away by any secret course Thy hateful life.
O, lawful let it be, That I have room with Rome to curse a while! Good father cardinal, cry thou, amen,
To my keen curses; for, without my wrong, There is no tongue hath power to curse him
Pand. There's law and warrant, lady, for my Const. And for mine too: when law can do no right,
Let it be lawful, that law bar no wrong:
Law cannot give my child his kingdom here; For he that holds his kingdom, holds the law: Therefore, since law itself is perfect wrong, How can the law forbid my tongue to curse? Pand. Philip of France, on peril of a curse, Let go the hand of that arch-heretic; And raise the power of France upon his head, Unless he do submit himself to Rome.
Eli. Look'st thou pale, France! do not let go thy hand. [repent. Const. Look to that, devil! lest that France Aust. King Philip, listen to the cardinal. Bast. And hang a calf's-skin on his recreant
K. John. Philip, what say'st thou to the car[dinal? Const. What should he say, but as the carLew. Bethink you, father; for the difference
Is purchase of a heavy curse from Rome, Or the light loss of England for a friend: Forego the easier.
That's the curse of Rome.
Const. O Lewis, stand fast; the devil tempts thee here,
In likeness of a new untrimmed bride.
Blanch. The lady Constance speaks not from her faith, But from her need. Const.
O, if thou grant my need, Which only lives but by the death of faith, That need must needs infer this principle, That faith would live again by death of need; O, then, tread down my need, and faith mounts Keep my need up, and faith is trodden down. [up; K. John. The king is mov'd, and answers
Const. O, be remov'd from him, and answer well. [doubt. Aust. Do so, King Philip; hang no more in Bast. Hang nothing but a calf's-skin, most sweet lout. [to say. K. Phi. I am perplex'd, and know not what Pand. What canst thou say, but will perplex thee more,
If thou stand excommunicate, and curs'd?
K. Phi. Good reverend father, make my person yours,
And tell me, how you would bestow yourself. This royal hand and mine are newly knit; And the conjunction of our inward souls Married in league, coupled and link'd together With all religious strength of sacred vows; The latest breath that gave the sound of words, Was deep-sworn faith, peace, amity, true love, Between our kingdoms and our royal selves; And even before this truce, but new before,- No longer than we well could wash our hands, To clap this royal bargain up of peace, - Heaven knows, they were besmear'd and over- [paint With slaughter's pencil! where revenge did The fearful difference of incensed kings: And shali these hands, so lately purg'd of blood, So newly join'd in love, so strong in both, Unyoke this seizure, and this kind regreet ?* Play fast and loose with faith? so jest with
Make such unconstant children of ourselves, As now again to snatch our palm from palm; Unswear faith sworn; and on the marriage bed Of smiling peace to march a bloody host, And make a riot on the gentle brow Of true sincerity? O holy sir, My reverend father, let it not be so: Out of your grace, devise, ordain, impose, Some gentle order; and then we shall be bless'd To do your pleasure, and continue friends.
Pand. All form is formless, order orderless, Save what is opposite to England's love. Therefore, to arms! be champion of our church! Or let the church, our mother, breathe her curse, A mother's curse on her revolting son. France, thou may'st hold a serpent by the tongue, A cased lion by the mortal paw, A fasting tiger safer by the tooth, Than keep in peace that hand which thou dost hold. [faith. K. Phi. I may disjoin my hand, but not my Pand. So mak'st thou faith an enemy to faith; And, like a civil war, sett'st oath to oath, Thy tongue against thy tongue. O, let thy vow First made to heaven, first be to heaven perform'd;
* Exchange of salutation.
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