For he, that holds his kingdom, holds the law: And raise the power of France upon his head, Elin. Look'st thou pale, France? do not let go thy hand. Const. Look to that, devil! lest that France re pent, And, by disjoining hands, hell lose a soul. Aust. King Philip, listen to the cardinal. Bast. And hang a calf's-skin on his recreanţ limbs. Aust. Well, ruffian, I must pocket up these wrongs, Because- Bast. Your breeches best may carry them. Is, purchase of a heavy curse from Rome, Blanch. That's the curse of Rome. 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 Keep my up; 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. Phil. 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. Phil. Good reverend father, make my person yours, And tell me, how you would bestow yourself. And the conjunction of our inward souls To clap this royal bargain up of peace, Heaven knows, they were besmear'd and overstain'd With slaughter's pencil; where revenge did paint And shall these hands, so lately purg'd of blood, 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. Phil. I may disjoin my hand, but not my faith. Pand. So mak'st 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 What since thou swor'st, is sworn against thyself, And being not done, where doing tends to ill, And falsehood falsehood cures; as fire cools fire, It is religion, that doth make vows kept; 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? 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? O husband, hear me!-ah, alack, how new nounce, 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 up holds, His honour: O, thine honour, Lewis, thine honour! Lew. I muse, your majesty doth seem so cold, When such profound respects do pull you on. Pand. I will denounce a curse upon his head. K. Phi. Thou shalt not need :-England, I'll fall from thee. |