I will inftruct my Sorrows to be proud; Enter (10) bid Kings come bow to it.] I muft here account for the Liberty I have taken to make a Change in the Divifion of the 2d and 3d Acts. In the old Editions, the 2d Act was made to end here; tho' 'tis evident, Lady Constance here, in her Despair, feats herself on the Floor: and She must be fuppofed, as I formerly obferv'd, immediately to rife again, only to go off and end the At decently; or the flat Scene must shut her in from the Sight of the Audience, an Abfurdity I cannot wish to accufe Shakespeare of. Mr. Gildon and fome other Criticks fancied, that a confiderable Part of the 2d Act was loft; and that the Chafin began here. I had joined in this Sufpicion of a Scene or two being loft; and unwittingly drew Mr. Pope into this Error. "It seems to be fo, fays he, and it were "to be wish'd the Reftorer (meaning Me,) could fupply it." To deferve this Great Man's Thanks, I'll venture at the Task; and hope to convince my Readers, that nothing is loft; but that I have fupplied the fufpected Chafm, only by rectifying the Divifion of the Acts. Upon looking a little more narrowly into the Constitution of the Play, I am fatisfied that the 3d At ought to begin with that Scene, which has hitherto been accounted the Laft of the 2d A&: and my Reasons for it are thefe. The Match being concluded, in the Scene before That, betwixt the Dauphin and Blanch, a Messenger is fent for Lady Conftance to K. Philip's Tent, for Her to come to St. Mary's Church to the Solemnity. The Princes all go out, as to the Marriage; and the Bastard staying a little behind, to defcant on Intereft and Commodity, very properly ends the A&. The next Scene then, in the French King's Tent, brings us Salifbury delivering his Meffage to Conftance, who, refusing to go to the Solemnity, fets herfelf down on the Floor. The whole Train returning from the Church to the French King's Pavilion, Philip expreffes fuch Satisfaction on Occafion of the happy Solemnity of that Day; that Conftance rifes from the Floor, Enter King John, King Philip, Lewis, Blanch, Elinor, Faulconbridge, and Austria. K. Philip. 'Tis true, fair daughter; and this blessed day Ever in France fhall be kept feftival: [Rifing. Conft. A wicked day, and not an holy-day. What hath this day deserv'd? what hath it done, That it in golden letter fhould be fet Among the high tides in the kalendar? Nay, rather turn this day out of the week, This day of fhame, oppreffion, perjury: Or, if it muft ftand ftill, let wives with child Pray, that their burthens may not fall this day, Left that their hopes prodigiously be croft: But on this day, let feamen fear no wreck; No bargains break, that are not this day made; This day, all things begun come to ill end, Yea, faith itself to hollow falfhood change! K. Philip. By heaven, lady, you shall have no cause To curfe the fair proceedings of this day: Have I not pawn'd to you my Majesty? Conft. You have beguil'd me with a counterfeit Refembling Majefty, which, touch'd and try'd, Proves valueless you are forfworn, forfworn. You came in arms to fpill my enemies blood, : : and joins in the Seene by entring her Protest against their Joy, and curfing the Business of the Day. Thus, I conceive, the Scenes are fairly continued; and there is no Chaẩm in the Ac tion but a proper Interval made both for Salisbury's coming to Lady Conftance, and for the Solemnization of the Marriage. Befides, as Faulconbridge is evidently the Poet's favourite Character; 'twas very well judg'd to close the At with his Soliloquy. But But now in arms, you ftrengthen it with yours. And our oppreffion hath made up this league: Wear out the day in peace; but ere fun-fet, Auft. Lady Conftance, peace. Conft War, war, no peace; peace is to me a war. That bloody fpoil: thou flave, thou wretch, thou coward, Thou ever ftrong upon the ftronger fide; Faulc. What words are these? how do my finews My father's foe clad in my father's fpoil! "Delay not, Richard, kill the villain ftrait; "Thy "Thy father's triumph o'er the favage.". K. John. We like not this, thou doft forget thyfelf. K. Philip. Here comes the holy Legate of the Pope. I Pandulph, of fair Milain Cardinal, Why thou against the Church, our holy Mother, K. John. What earthly name to interrogatories Can task the free breath of a facred King? To charge me to an anfwer, as the Pope. Tell him this tale, and from the mouth of England But as we under heav'n are fupreme head, K. Philip. Brother of England, you blafpheme in this. K. John. Tho' you, and all the Kings of Christendom Are led fo grofly by this medling Prieft, Dreading the curfe, that mony may buy out; Purchase corrupted pardon of a man, Who Who in that fale fells pardon from himself: Against the Pope, and count his friends my foes. Conft. O, lawful let it be, That I have room with Rome to curfe a while. To my keen curfes; for without my wrong Eli. Look'ft thou pale, France? do not let go thy hand. Conft. Look to that, devil! left that France repent, And, by disjoining hands, hell lose a foul.Auft. King Philip, liften to the Cardinal. Faulc. And hang a calve's-skin on his recreant limbs. Auft. Well, ruffian, I muft pocket up thefe wrongs, Becaufe- Faulc. Your breeches beft may carry them. |