But as we, under heaven, are supreme head, K. Phi. Brother of England, you blaspheme in this. Dreading the curse that money may buy out; Against the Pope and count his friends my foes. Const. O, lawful let it be That I have room with Rome to curse awhile! Good father Cardinal, cry thou amen Το 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. Pand. Philip of France, on peril of a curse, And raise the power of France upon his head, Eli. Look'st thou pale, France? do not let go thy hand. 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. 160 170 180 190 Bast. Your breeches best may carry them. Or the light loss of England for a friend : Blanch. 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, K. John. The King is moved, and answers not to this. K. Phi. Good reverend father, make my person yours, This royal hand and mine are newly knit, Heaven knows, they were besmear'd and overstain'd 210 220 230 So newly join'd in love, so strong in both, And shall these hands, so lately purg'd of blood, 240 Unyoke this seizure and this kind regreet? untrimmed in deshabille: there is an allusion to the temptation of St. Anthony. Play fast and loose with faith? so jest with heaven, Pand. All form is formless, order orderless, France, thou mayst hold a serpent by the tongue, A fasting tiger safer by the tooth, Than keep in peace that hand which thou dost hold. And like a civil war set'st oath to oath, What since thou swor'st is sworn against thyself 250 260 For that which thou hast sworn to do amiss 270 Is not amiss when it is truly done, And being not done, where doing tends to ill, The truth is then most done not doing it: Is to mistake again; though indirect, And falsehood falsehood cures, as fire cools fire Within the scorched veins of one new-burn'd. It is religion that doth make vows kept; But thou hast sworn against religion, By what thou swear'st against the thing thou swear'st, Against an oath: the truth thou art unsure To swear, swears only not to be forsworn; 280 270 For that which thou hast sworn, etc. These lines, from 270 to 200, are involved and somewhat obscure, and are a striking example of a see-sawing antithetical affectation of sententiousness into which Shakespeare's ingenuity and easy manipulation of language sometimes betrayed him. Else what a mockery should it be to swear! But thou dost swear only to be forsworn; And most forsworn, to keep what thou dost swear. Is in thyself rebellion to thyself; 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? Lew. Father, to arms! Blanch. Upon thy wedding-day? Against the blood that thou hast married? What, shall our feast be kept with slaughter'd men? Shall braying trumpets and loud churlish drums, O husband, hear me! ay, alack, how new Against mine uncle. Const. O, upon my knee, Made hard with kneeling, I do pray to thee, Blanch. Now shall I see thy love: what motive may Const. That which upholdeth him that thee upholds, 200 300 310 K. Phi. Thou shalt not need. England, I will fall from thee. Const. O fair return of banish'd majesty! Eli. O foul revolt of French inconstancy! 320 K. John. France, thou shalt rue this hour within this hour. Bast. Old Time the clock-setter, that bald sexton Time, 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? I am with both: each army hath a hand; 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. France, I am burn'd up with inflaming wrath; That nothing can allay, nothing but blood, The blood, and dearest-valued blood, of France. 330 [Exit Bastard. 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. 340 K. John. No more than he that threats. To arms let's hie! 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; And pours down mischief. Austria's head lie there, Enter KING JOHN, ARTHUR, and HUBERT. K. John. Hubert, keep this boy. Philip, make up: And ta'en, I fear. SCENE III. The same. [Exeunt. [Exeunt. Alarums, excursions, retreat. Enter KING JOHN, ELINOR, ARTHUR, the BASTARD, HUBERT, and Lords. K. John. [To Elinor.] So shall it be; your grace shall stay behind. So strongly guarded. [To Arthur.] Cousin, look not sad: 2 cousin: applied in a general way to any kinsman. |