Than this, that nothing do I see in you, (Though churlish thoughts themselves should be your judge,) That I can find should merit any hate. K. John. What say these young ones? What say you, my niece? Blanch. That she is bound in honor still to do What you in wisdom shall vouchsafe to say. K. John. Speak, then, prince Dauphin; can you love this lady? Lew. Nay, ask me if I can refrain from love; For I do love her most unfeignedly. K. John. Then do I give Volquessen, Touraine, Maine Poictiers, 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 pleased withal, Command thy son and daughter to join hands. K. Phi. It likes us well. Young princes, close your hands. Aust. And your lips, too; for I am well assured That I did so, when I was first assured. K. Phi. Now, citizens of Angiers, ope your gates; Let in that amity which you have made; For, at Saint Mary's chapel, presently, The rites of marriage shall be solemnized.Is not the lady Constance in this troop?I know she is not; for this match, made up, Her presence would have interrupted much.Where is she and her son? Tell me, who knows. Lew. She is sad and passionate at your highness' tent. K. Phi. And, by my faith, this league, that we made, Will give her sadness very little cure.- K. John. have Yet in some measure satisfy her so, [Exeunt all but the Bastard.- The Citizens Bast. Mad world! mad kings! mad composition! And France, whose armor conscience buckled on; Of kings, of beggars, old men, young men, maids,— But the word maid,- cheats the poor maid of that; The world, who of itself is peised well, This bawd, this broker, this all-changing word, To a most base and vile-concluded peace.- But for because he hath not wooed me yet. Y* [Exit. ACT III. SCENE I. The same. The French King's Tent. Enter CONSTANCE, ARTHUR, and SALISBURY. Const. Gone to be married! gone to swear a peace! Oppressed with wrongs, and therefore full of fears; And though thou now confess, thou didst but jest, Sal. As true, as, I believe, you think them false, As doth the fury of two desperate men, ? Lewis marry Blanch! O, boy, then where art thou? Sal. What other harm have I, good lady, done, Const. Which harm within itself so heinous is, As it makes harmful all that speak of it. Arth. I do beseech you, madam, be content. Const. If thou that bidd'st me be content, wert grim, Ugly, and slanderous to thy mother's womb, Full of unpleasing blots, and sightless stains, Lame, foolish, crooked, swart, prodigious, Patched with foul moles, and eye-offending marks, I would not care; I then would be content; For then I should not love thee; no, nor thou Become thy great birth, nor deserve a crown. But thou art fair; and at thy birth, dear boy! Nature and fortune joined to make thee great. Of nature's gifts thou mayst with lilies boast, And with the half-blown rose; but fortune, O! She is corrupted, changed, and won from thee; She adulterates hourly with thine uncle John; And with her golden hand hath plucked on France To tread down fair respect of sovereignty, And made his majesty the bawd to theirs. France is a bawd to fortune, and king John; That strumpet fortune, that usurping John.Tell me, thou fellow, is not France forsworn? Envenom him with words; or get thee gone, And leave those woes alone, which I alone Am bound to underbear. Sal. Pardon me, madam, I may not go without you to the kings. Const. Thou mayst, thou shalt; I will not go with thee. I will instruct my sorrows to be proud; For grief is proud, and makes his owner stout. [She throws herself on the ground. Enter KING JOHN, KING PHILIP, LEWIS, BLANCH, ELINOR, Bastard, AUSTRIA, and Attendants. K. Phi. 'Tis true, fair daughter; and this blessed day, Ever in France shall be kept festival. To solemnize this day, the glorious sun The yearly course, that brings this day about, Const. A wicked day, and not a holyday!— [Rising. What hath this day deserved? What hath it done; Nay, rather, turn this day out of the week; K. Phi. By Heaven, lady, you shall have no cause Const. You have beguiled me with a counterfeit, And our oppression hath made up this league.- A widow cries; be husband to me, Heavens! Let not the hours of this ungodly day Wear out the day in peace; but, ere sunset, Aust. Lady Constance, peace. Const. War! war! no peace! peace is to me a war. O Lymoges! O Austria! thou dost shame That bloody spoil. Thou slave, thou wretch, thou coward, Thou little valiant, great in villany! Thou ever strong upon the stronger side! Thou fortune's champion, that dost never fight But when her humorous ladyship is by To teach thee safety! Thou art perjured, too, |