And from Pope Innocent the legate here, K. John. What earthly name to interrogatories, So slight, unworthy, and ridiculous, To charge me to an answer, as the pope. Tell him this tale; and from the mouth of England, But as we under Heaven are supreme head, [dom, K. Phi. Brother of England, you blaspheme in this, Against the pope, and count his friends my foes. And meritorious shall that hand be call'd, O, lawful let it be, Const. To my keen curses: for, without my wrong. There is no tongue hath power to curse him right. Pand. There's law and warrant, lady, for my curse. Const. And for mine too; when law can do no right, Let it be lawful, that law bar no wrong: And raise the power of France upon his head, [hand Eli. Look'st thou pale, France? do not let go thy Const. Look to that, devil! lest that France repent, And, by disjoining hands, hell lose a soul. Aust. King Philip, listen to the cardinal. Bast. And hang a calf's-skin on his recreant limbs. Aust. Well, ruffian, I must pocket up these wrongs, Because. Bast. Your breeches best may carry them. K. John. Philip, what say'st thou to the cardinal? Const. What should he say, but as the cardinal ? Leto. 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. Blanch. That's the curse of Rome. Const. O Lewis, stand fast; the devil tempts thee In likeness of a new untrimmed bride. [here, 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, aud faith mounts up; Keep my need up, and faith is trodden down. K. John. The king is moved, and answers not to this. Const. O, be removed from him, and answer well. Aust. Do so, King Philip; hang no more in doubt. Bast. Hang nothing but a calf's-skin, most sweet lout. K. Phi. I am perplex'd, and know not what to say. Pand. What canst thou say, but will perplex thee If thou stand excommunicate, and cursed? K. Phi. Good reverend father, make my person yours, And tell me, how you would bestow yourself. Was deep-sworn faith, peace, amity, true love, And shall these hands, so lately purged of blood, 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 Pand. All form is formless, order orderless, France, thou may'st hold a serpent by the tongue, A caséd lion by the mortal paw, A fasting tiger safer by the tooth, Than keep in peace that hand which thou dost hold. K. Phi. I may disjoin my hand, but not my faith Pand. So makest thou faith an enemy to faith; And, like a civil war, set'st oath to oath, Thy tongue against thy tongue. O, let thy vow, First made to Heaven, first he to Heaven perforni'd; That is, to be the champion of our church! What since thou swor'st, is sworn against thyself, And may not be performed by thyself: For that, which thou hast sworn to do amiss, Is not amiss, when it is truly done; And being not done, where doing tends to ill, The better act of purposes mistook Is, to mistake again; though indirect, And falsehood falsehood cures; as fire cools fire, D It is religion, that doth make vows kept; By what thou swear's, against the thing thou swear'st; And most forsworn, to keep what thou dost swear. And better conquest never canst thou make, So heavy, as thou shalt not shake them off, Bast. Will 't not be? Will not a calf's-skin stop that mouth of thine? Blanch. Upon thy wedding day? Against the blood that thou hast married? What, shall our feast be kept with slaughter'd men? O husband, hear me !-ah, alack, how new Against mine uncle. Const. O, upon my knee, Made hard with kneeling, I do pray to thee, Forethought by Heaven. Blanch. Now shall I see thy love: What motive may Be stronger with thee than the name of wife? Const. That, which upholdeth him, that thee upholds, His honour: O thine honour, Lewis, thine honour! Const. O fair return of banish'd majesty! Eli. O foul revolt of French inconstancy! K. Jokn. France, thou shalt rue this hour within this hour. [time, Bast. Old time the clock-setter, that bald sexton Is it as he will? well, then, France shall rue. Blanch. The sun's o'ercast with blood: Fair day, adieu ! Which is the side, that I must go withal? Lew. Lady, with me; with me thy fortune lies. Blanch. There where my fortune lives, there my life dies. K. John. Cousin, go draw our puissance together.[Exit Bastard. France, I anı burn'd up with inflaming wrath; A rage, whose heat hath this condition, That nothing can allay, nothing but blood, The blood, and dearest valued blood, of France. K. Phi. Thy rage shall burn thee up, and thou shalt turn To ashes, ere our blood shall quench that fire: Look to thyself, thou art in jeopardy. K. John. No more than he that threats. To arms let's hie ! [Excunt. SCENE II. The same. Plains near Angiers. Alarums; Excursions. Enter the Bastard with AUSTRIA'S head. Bast. Now, by my life, this day grows wondrous hot; Some airy devil hovers in the sky, And pours down mischief. Austria's head lie there; While Philip breathes. Enter KING JOHN, ARTHUR, and HUBERT. K. John. Hubert, keep this boy.-Philip make up: My mother is assailed in our tent, And ta'en, I fear. Bast. My lord, I rescued her ; |