Changes to the French Court. Enter King Philip, Lewis, Pandulpho, and Attendants. K. Philip. So, by a roaring tempeft on the flood, Is fcatter'd and disjoin'd from fellowship. Pand. Courage and comfort, all shall yet go well. K. Philip. What can go well, when we have run fo ill? Are we not beaten? Is not Angiers loft? Arthur ta'en Pris'ner? divers dear friends flain? Lewis. What he hath won, that hath he fortify'd: Doth want example; who hath read, or heard, K. Philip. Well could I bear that England had this praise, So we could find some pattern of our shame. Enter Conftance. Look, who comes here? a grave unto a foul, Conft. Lo, now, now fee the iffue of your peace. Conft. No, I defy all counsel, and redress, K. Philip. O fair affliction, peace. Conft. No, no, I will not, having breath to cry; Which cannot hear a Lady's feeble voice, Pand. Lady, you utter madness, and not forrow. 7 Modern invocation.] It is hard to fay what Shakespeare means by modern: it is not oppofed to ancient. In All's we'l, that ends well, fpeaking of a girl in contempt, he ufes this word, her modern grace. It apparently means fomething fight and itconfiderable. I am I am not mad; this hair I tear is mine; K. Philip. Bind up thofe treffes; O, what love I note In the fair multitude of thofe her hairs; Where but by chance a filver drop hath fall'n, Like true, infeparable, faithful loves, Conft. To England, if you will. K. Philip. Bind up your hairs. Conft. Yes, that I will; and wherefore will I do it? I tore them from their bonds, and cry'd aloud, O, that these hands could fo redeem my fon, And will again commit them to their bonds; And, father Cardinal, I have heard you say, 8 It was neceffary that Co france fhould be interrupted, becaufe a paffion fo violent cannot be born long. I wish the fol lowing fpeeches had leen equally happy; but they only ferve to fhew, how difficult it is to maintain the pathetick long. That That we shall fee and know our friends in heav'n For fince the birth of Cain, the first male-child, There was not fuch a gracious creature born. Pand. You hold too heinous a refpect of grief. K. Philip. You are as fond of grief, as of your child. Conft. Grief fills the room up of my absent child; Lies in his bed, walks up and down with me; Puts on his pretty looks, repeats his words, Remembers me of all his gracious parts; Stuffs out his vacant garments with his form; Then have I reafon to be fond of grief. Fare you well; had you fuch a lofs as I, 9 I could give better comfort than you do. I will not keep this form upon my head, [Tearing off her bead-cloaths. When there is fuch diforder in my wit. O Lord, my boy, my Arthur, my fair fon! My life, my joy, my food, my all the world! My widow-comfort, and my forrow's cure! K. Philip. I fear fome outrage, and I'll follow her. 9 had you fuch a lofs as I, I could give better comfort- -] This is a fentiment which great forrow always dictates. Who [Exit. [Exit. ever cannot help himself cafts his eyes on others for affiftance, and often mistakes their inability for coldness. SCENE SCENE VII. Lewis. There's nothing in this world can make me joy; Life is as tedious as a twice-told tale, Vexing the dull ear of a drowsy man. A bitter fhame hath spoilt the fweet world's tafte, Lewis. All days of glory, joy, and happiness. Are not you griev'd, that Arthur is his prifoner? Thy foot to England's throne: and therefore mark. There's nothing in this, &c.] The young Prince feels his defeat with more fenfibility than his father. Shame operates most ftrongly in the earlier years, and when can difgrace be less welcome than when a man is going to his bride? Muft |