Zounds! I was never so bethump'd with words, Eli. Son, list to this conjunction, make this match; Mark, how they whisper: urge them, while their souls Lest zeal, now melted, by the windy breath Cool and congeal again to what it was. 1 Cit. Why answer not the double majesties This friendly treaty of our threaten'd town? K. Phi. Speak England first, that hath been forward first To speak unto this city: What say you? K. John. If that the Dauphin there, thy 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, Shall gild her bridal bed; and make her rich As she in beauty, education, blood, Holds hand with any princess of the world. K. Phi. What say'st thou, boy? look in the lady's face. 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: 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 eye!Hang'd in the frowning wrinkle of her brow!— 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 should be, In such a love, so vile a lout as he. Blanch. My uncle's will, in this respect, is mine: · Further I will not flatter you, my lord, (Though churlish thoughts themselves should be your judge,) That I can find should merit any hate. K. John. What say these young ones? What say you, my niece? Blanch. That she is bound in honour still to do What you in wisdom shall vouchsafe to say. K. John. Speak then, prince Dauphin; can you love this lady? Lew. Nay, ask me if I can refrain from love; For I do love her most unfeignedly. K. John. Then do I give Volquessen, Touraine, Poictiers, and Anjou, these five provinces, Aust. And your lips too; for, I am well assur'd, That I did so, when I was first assur'd.2 K. Phi. Now, citizens of Angiers, ope your gates, 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 passionate3 at your highness' tent. K. Phi. And, by my faith, this league, that we have made, Will give her sadness very little cure.- Which we, God knows, have turn'd another way, To our own vantage.4 K. John. [Exeunt all but the Bastard.-The Citizens Bast. Mad world! mad kings! mad composition! And France, (whose armour conscience buckled on; But the word maid,-cheats the poor maid of that; The world, who of itself is peised7 well, 4 Advantage. 5 Conspired. 6 Interest. Made to run even, upon even ground; This bawd, this broker, this all-changing word, But for because he hath not woo'd me yet: ACT III. [Exit. SCENE I. The same. The French King's Tent. Enter CONSTANCE, ARTHUR, and SALISBURY. Const. Gone to be married! gone to swear a peace! False blood to false blood join'd! Gone to be friends! |