Yet I, alone, alone do me oppose Against the pope, and count his friends my foes. Const. O, lawful let it be, That I have room with Rome to curse awhile! Το my keen curses; for, without my wrong, curse. Const. And for mine too; when law can do no right, Let it be lawful, that law bar no wrong: Eli. Look'st thou pale, France? do not let go thy hand. Const. Look to that, devil! lest that France re pent. Aust. King Philip, listen to the cardinal. Bast. And hang a calf's-skin on his recreant limbs. King John. Philip, what say'st thou to the cardinal? Const. What should he say, but as the cardinal? Lew. Bethink you, father: for the difference Is, purchase of a heavy curse from Rome, 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, 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 up; Keep my need up, and faith is trodden down. K. John. The king is mov'd, and answers not to this. Const. O, be remov'd 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 can'st 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. And even before this truce, but new before,- Of true sincerity? O holy sir, My reverend father, let it not be so: 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. K. Phi. I may disjoin my hand, but not my faith. 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; That is, to be the champion of our church! What since thou swor'st, is sworn against thyself, + Exchange of salutation. And may not be performed by thyself: For that which thou hast sworn to do amiss, And being not done, where doing tends to ill, Is, to mistake again; though indirect, And falsehood, falsehood cures; as fire cools fire, By what thou swear'st, against the thing thou swear'st; And mak'st an oath the surety for thy truth 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? Shall braying trumpets, and loud churlish drums, Clamours of hell,-be measures to our pomp? O husband, hear me ! ah, alack, how new Is husband in my mouth! - even for that name, Which till this time my tongue did ne'er pronounce, Upon my knee I beg, go not to arms 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 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! from thee. Const. O fair return of banish'd majesty! 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? 5 Musick for dancing. 6 Wonder. |