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That all I fee in you is worthy love,

Than this,—that nothing do I see in you,

(Though churlish thoughts themselves fhould be your judge,)

That I can find thould merit any hate.

K. John. What fay thefe young ones? What fay you, my niece?

Blanch. That the is bound in honour ftill to do What you in wifdom fhall vouchfafe to fay.

K. John. Speak then, prince Dauphin; can you love this lady?

Lew. Nay, afk me if I can refrain from love; For I do love her most unfeignedly.

K. John. Then do I give Volqueffen, Touraine, Maine, Poitiers, and Anjou, these five provinces, With her to thee; and this addition more, Full thirty thousand marks of English coin. Philip of France, if thou be pleas'd withal, Command thy fon and daughter to join hands.

K. Phi. It likes us well;-Young princes, clofe your hands.

Auft. And your lips too; for, I am well affur'd,
That I did fo, when I was firft affur'd.

K. Phi. Now, citizens of Angiers, ope your gates,
Let in that amity which you have made;
For at faint Mary's chapel, presently,
The rites of marriage fhall be folemniz'd.-
Is not the lady Conftance in this troop ?-
I know, fhe is not; for this match, made up,
Her prefence would have interrupted much :
Where is the and her fon? tell me, who knows.

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Lew. She is fad and paffionate at your highness' tent. K. Phi. And, by my faith, this league, that we have made, Will give her sadness very little cure.-

Brother

29

Brother of England, how may we content
This widow lady? In her right we came ;
Which we, God knows, have turn'd another way,
To our own vantage.

We will heal

up

all:

K. John.
For we'll create young Arthur duke of Bretagne,
And earl of Richmond; and this rich fair town
We make him lord of.-Call the lady Conftance;
Some fpeedy meffenger bid her repair

To our folemnity :-I trust we shall,
If not fill up the measure of her will,
Yet in fome measure fatisfy her so,
That we shall ftop her exclamation.
Go we, as well as haste will fuffer us,
To this unlook'd for unprepared pomp.

[Exeunt all but the Baftard.-The Citizens retire from
the walls.

Baft. Mad world! mad kings! mad composition! John, to ftop Arthur's title in the whole,

Hath willingly departed with a part:

And France, (whose armour confcience buckled on;
Whom zeal and charity brought to the field,

As God's own foldier,) rounded in the ear
With that fame purpose-changer, that fly devil;
That broker, that still breaks the pate of faith;
That daily break-vow; he that wins of all,

Of kings, of beggars, old men, young men, maids;—
Who having no external thing to lofe

But the word maid,-cheats the poor maid of that;
That smooth-faced gentleman, tickling commodity,-
Commodity, the bias of the world;

The world, who of itself is peised well,
Made to run even, upon even ground;
Till this advantage, this vile drawing bias,

This fway of motion, this commodity,
Makes it take head from all indifferency,
From all direction, purpose, courfe, intent:
And this fame bias, this commodity,

This bawd, this broker, this all-changing word,
Clapp'd on the outward eye of fickle France,
Hath drawn him from his own determin'd aid,
From a refolv'd and honourable war,
To a moft bafe and vile-concluded peace.-
And why rail I on this commodity?

But for because he hath not woo'd me yet:
Not that I have the power to clutch my hand,
When his fair angels would falute my palm;
But for my hand, as unattempted yet,
Like a poor beggar, raileth on the rich.
Well, whiles I am a beggar, I will rail,
And fay, there is no fin, but to be rich;
And being rich, my virtue then shall be,
To fay, there is no vice, but beggary :
Since kings break faith upon commodity,
Gain; be my lord; for I will worship thee!

[Exit.

ACT

Thurston dd.

King Joha

Act 3 scene 1st

Conft. Here I and Sorww sit &c.

Hopwood fculp

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