William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition (205 page)
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Authors: William Shakespeare
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BOOK: William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition
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PANDOLF
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 mayst hold a serpent by the tongue,
A crazed lion by the mortal paw, 185
A fasting tiger safer by the tooth,
Than keep in peace that hand which thou dost hold.
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 mayst hold a serpent by the tongue,
A crazed lion by the mortal paw, 185
A fasting tiger safer by the tooth,
Than keep in peace that hand which thou dost hold.
KING PHILIP
I may disjoin my hand, but not my faith.
PANDOLF
So mak‘st thou faith an enemy to faith,
And like a civil war, sett’st oath to oath, 190
Thy tongue against thy tongue. O, let thy vow,
First made to heaven, first be to heaven performed;
That is, to be the champion of our Church.
What since thou swor‘st is sworn against thyself,
And may not be performèd by thyself; 195
For that which thou hast sworn to do amiss
Is not amiss when it is truly done;
And being not done where doing tends to ill,
The truth is then most done not doing it.
The better act of purposes mistook 200
Is to mistake again; though indirect,
Yet indirection thereby grows direct,
And falsehood falsehood cures, as fire cools fire
Within the scorchèd veins of one new burned.
It is religion that doth make vows kept;
But thou hast sworn against religion;
By what thou swear’st, against the thing thou
swear‘st;
And mak’st an oath the surety for thy troth:
Against an oath, the truth. Thou art unsure
To swear: swear’st only not to be forsworn—210
Else what a mockery should it be to swear!—
But thou dost swear only to be forsworn,
And most forsworn to keep what thou dost swear;
Therefore thy later vows against thy first
Is in thyself rebellion to thyself, 215
And better conquest never canst thou make
Than arm thy constant and thy nobler parts
Against these giddy loose suggestions;
Upon which better part our prayers come in
If thou vouchsafe them. But if not, then know 220
The peril of our curses light on thee
So heavy as thou shalt not shake them off,
But in despair die under their black weight.
And like a civil war, sett’st oath to oath, 190
Thy tongue against thy tongue. O, let thy vow,
First made to heaven, first be to heaven performed;
That is, to be the champion of our Church.
What since thou swor‘st is sworn against thyself,
And may not be performèd by thyself; 195
For that which thou hast sworn to do amiss
Is not amiss when it is truly done;
And being not done where doing tends to ill,
The truth is then most done not doing it.
The better act of purposes mistook 200
Is to mistake again; though indirect,
Yet indirection thereby grows direct,
And falsehood falsehood cures, as fire cools fire
Within the scorchèd veins of one new burned.
It is religion that doth make vows kept;
But thou hast sworn against religion;
By what thou swear’st, against the thing thou
swear‘st;
And mak’st an oath the surety for thy troth:
Against an oath, the truth. Thou art unsure
To swear: swear’st only not to be forsworn—210
Else what a mockery should it be to swear!—
But thou dost swear only to be forsworn,
And most forsworn to keep what thou dost swear;
Therefore thy later vows against thy first
Is in thyself rebellion to thyself, 215
And better conquest never canst thou make
Than arm thy constant and thy nobler parts
Against these giddy loose suggestions;
Upon which better part our prayers come in
If thou vouchsafe them. But if not, then know 220
The peril of our curses light on thee
So heavy as thou shalt not shake them off,
But in despair die under their black weight.
AUSTRIA
Rebellion, flat rebellion!
BASTARD Wilt not be?
Will not a calf’s-skin stop that mouth of thine? 225
LOUIS THE DAUPHIN
Father, to arms!
BLANCHE Upon thy wedding day?
Against the blood that thou hast married ?
What, shall our feast be kept with slaughtered men?
Shall braying trumpets and loud churlish drums,
Clamours of hell, be measures to our pomp? 230
What, shall our feast be kept with slaughtered men?
Shall braying trumpets and loud churlish drums,
Clamours of hell, be measures to our pomp? 230
She kneels
O husband, hear me ! Ay, 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.
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.
CONSTANCE (
kneeling
) O, upon my knee 235
kneeling
) O, upon my knee 235
Made hard with kneeling, I do pray to thee,
Thou virtuous Dauphin, alter not the doom
Forethought by heaven.
Thou virtuous Dauphin, alter not the doom
Forethought by heaven.
BLANCHE (
to Louis the Dauphin
)
to Louis the Dauphin
)
Now shall I see thy love: what motive may
Be stronger with thee than the name of wife? 240
Be stronger with thee than the name of wife? 240
CONSTANCE
That which upholdeth him that thee upholds:
His honour.—O thine honour, Louis, thine honour!
His honour.—O thine honour, Louis, thine honour!
LOUIS THE DAUPHIN (
to King Philip
)
to King Philip
)
I muse your majesty doth seem so cold
When such profound respects do pull you on.
When such profound respects do pull you on.
PANDOLF
I will denounce a curse upon his head. 245
KING PHILIP
Thou shalt not need.—England, I will fall from thee.
⌈
He takes his hand from King John’s hand. Blanche and Constance rise
⌉
CONSTANCE
O, fair return of banished majesty!
QUEEN ELEANOR
O, foul revolt of French inconstancy I
KING JOHN
France, thou shalt rue this hour within this hour.
BASTARD
Old Time the clock-setter, that bald sexton Time, 250
Is it as he will?—Well then, France shall rue.
Is it as he will?—Well then, France shall rue.
BLANCHE
The sun’s o’ercast with blood; fair day, adieu!
Which is the side that I must go withal?
I am with both, each army hath a hand,
And in their rage, I having hold of both, 255
They whirl asunder and dismember me.
Husband, I cannot pray that thou mayst win.—
Uncle, I needs must pray that thou mayst lose.—
Father, I may not wish the fortune thine.—
Grandam, I will not wish thy wishes thrive.
Whoever wins, on that side shall I lose,
Assured loss before the match be played.
Which is the side that I must go withal?
I am with both, each army hath a hand,
And in their rage, I having hold of both, 255
They whirl asunder and dismember me.
Husband, I cannot pray that thou mayst win.—
Uncle, I needs must pray that thou mayst lose.—
Father, I may not wish the fortune thine.—
Grandam, I will not wish thy wishes thrive.
Whoever wins, on that side shall I lose,
Assured loss before the match be played.
LOUIS THE DAUPHIN
Lady, with me, with me thy fortune lies.
BLANCHE
There where my fortune lives, there my life dies.
KING JOHN (
to the Bastard
)
to the Bastard
)
Cousin, go draw our puissance together.—
France, I am burned up with inflaming wrath,
A rage whose heat hath this condition:
That nothing can allay, nothing but blood,
The blood, and dearest-valued blood, of France.
⌈
Exit the Bastard
⌉
A rage whose heat hath this condition:
That nothing can allay, nothing but blood,
The blood, and dearest-valued blood, of France.
KING PHILIP
Thy rage shall burn thee up, and thou shalt turn 270
To ashes ere our blood shall quench that fire.
Look to thyself, thou art in jeopardy.
To ashes ere our blood shall quench that fire.
Look to thyself, thou art in jeopardy.
KING JOHN
No more than he that threats.—To arms let’s hie!
Exeunt
⌈
severally
⌉
Alarum; excursions. Enter the Bastard, with the Duke of Austria’s head
BASTARD
Now, by my life, this day grows wondrous hot;
Some airy devil hovers in the sky
And pours down mischief. Austria’s head lie there,
While Philip breathes.
Some airy devil hovers in the sky
And pours down mischief. Austria’s head lie there,
While Philip breathes.
Enter King John, Arthur Duke of Brittaine, and Hubert
KING JOHN
Hubert, keep this boy.—Philip, make up! 5
My mother is assailed in our tent,
And ta’en I fear.
My mother is assailed in our tent,
And ta’en I fear.
BASTARD My lord, I rescued her;
Her highness is in safety; fear you not.
But on, my liege, for very little pains
Will bring this labour to an happy end. 10
But on, my liege, for very little pains
Will bring this labour to an happy end. 10
Exeunt
⌈
King John and the Bastard at one door, Hubert and Arthur at another door
⌉
Alarum; excursions; retreat. Enter King John, Queen Eleanor, Arthur Duke of Brittaine, the Bastard, Hubert, lords,
⌈
with soldiers
⌉
KING JOHN (
to Queen Eleanor
)
to Queen Eleanor
)
So shall it be; your grace shall stay behind
So strongly guarded. (
To Arthur
) Cousin, look not sad;
Thy grandam loves thee, and thy uncle will
As dear be to thee as thy father was.
So strongly guarded. (
To Arthur
) Cousin, look not sad;
Thy grandam loves thee, and thy uncle will
As dear be to thee as thy father was.
ARTHUR
O, this will make my mother die with grief. 5
KING JOHN (
to the Bastard
)
to the Bastard
)
Cousin, away for England! Haste before,
And ere our coming, see thou shake the bags
Of hoarding abbots. The fat ribs of peace
Must by the hungry now be fed upon.
Imprisoned angels set at liberty. 10
Use our commission in his utmost force.
And ere our coming, see thou shake the bags
Of hoarding abbots. The fat ribs of peace
Must by the hungry now be fed upon.
Imprisoned angels set at liberty. 10
Use our commission in his utmost force.
BASTARD
Bell, book, and candle shall not drive me back
When gold and silver becks me to come on.
I leave your highness.—Grandam, I will pray,
If ever I remember to be holy,
For your fair safety. So I kiss your hand.
When gold and silver becks me to come on.
I leave your highness.—Grandam, I will pray,
If ever I remember to be holy,
For your fair safety. So I kiss your hand.
QUEEN ELEANOR
Farewell, gentle cousin.
KING JOHN Coz, farewell.
Exit the Bastard
Exit the Bastard
QUEEN ELEANOR
Come hither, little kinsman. Hark, a word.
She takes Arthur aside
KING JOHN
Come hither, Hubert.
O my gentle Hubert,
We owe thee much. Within this wall of flesh 20
There is a soul counts thee her creditor,
And with advantage means to pay thy love;
And, my good friend, thy voluntary oath
Lives in this bosom, dearly cherished.
Give me thy hand.
I had a thing to say, 25
But I will fit it with some better tune.
By heaven, Hubert, I am almost ashamed
To say what good respect I have of thee.
He takes Hubert aside
We owe thee much. Within this wall of flesh 20
There is a soul counts thee her creditor,
And with advantage means to pay thy love;
And, my good friend, thy voluntary oath
Lives in this bosom, dearly cherished.
Give me thy hand.
He takes Hubert’s hand
But I will fit it with some better tune.
By heaven, Hubert, I am almost ashamed
To say what good respect I have of thee.
HUBERT
I am much bounden to your majesty.
KING JOHN
Good friend, thou hast no cause to say so yet, 30
But thou shalt have; and creep time ne‘er so slow,
Yet it shall come for me to do thee good.
I had a thing to say—but let it go.
The sun is in the heaven, and the proud day,
Attended with the pleasures of the world, 35
Is all too wanton and too full of gauds
To give me audience. If the midnight bell
Did with his iron tongue and brazen mouth
Sound on into the drowsy race of night;
If this same were a churchyard where we stand, 40
And thou possessed with a thousand wrongs;
Or if that surly spirit, melancholy,
Had baked thy blood and made it heavy, thick,
Which else runs tickling up and down the veins,
Making that idiot, laughter, keep men’s eyes 45
And strain their cheeks to idle merriment—
A passion hateful to my purposes—
Or if that thou couldst see me without eyes,
Hear me without thine ears, and make reply
Without a tongue, using conceit alone,
Without eyes, ears, and harmful sound of words;
Then in despite of broad-eyed watchful day
I would into thy bosom pour my thoughts.
But, ah, I will not. Yet I love thee well,
And by my troth, I think thou lov’st me well.
But thou shalt have; and creep time ne‘er so slow,
Yet it shall come for me to do thee good.
I had a thing to say—but let it go.
The sun is in the heaven, and the proud day,
Attended with the pleasures of the world, 35
Is all too wanton and too full of gauds
To give me audience. If the midnight bell
Did with his iron tongue and brazen mouth
Sound on into the drowsy race of night;
If this same were a churchyard where we stand, 40
And thou possessed with a thousand wrongs;
Or if that surly spirit, melancholy,
Had baked thy blood and made it heavy, thick,
Which else runs tickling up and down the veins,
Making that idiot, laughter, keep men’s eyes 45
And strain their cheeks to idle merriment—
A passion hateful to my purposes—
Or if that thou couldst see me without eyes,
Hear me without thine ears, and make reply
Without a tongue, using conceit alone,
Without eyes, ears, and harmful sound of words;
Then in despite of broad-eyed watchful day
I would into thy bosom pour my thoughts.
But, ah, I will not. Yet I love thee well,
And by my troth, I think thou lov’st me well.
HUBERT
So well that what you bid me undertake,
Though that my death were adjunct to my act,
By heaven, I would do it.
Though that my death were adjunct to my act,
By heaven, I would do it.
KING JOHN Do not I know thou wouldst?
Good Hubert, Hubert, Hubert, throw thine eye
On yon young boy. I’ll tell thee what, my friend,
He is a very serpent in my way,
And wheresoe’er this foot of mine doth tread,
He lies before me. Dost thou understand me?
Thou art his keeper.
On yon young boy. I’ll tell thee what, my friend,
He is a very serpent in my way,
And wheresoe’er this foot of mine doth tread,
He lies before me. Dost thou understand me?
Thou art his keeper.
HUBERT And I’ll keep him so
That he shall not offend your majesty. 65
KING JOHN
Death.
HUBERT My lord.
KING JOHN A grave.
HUBERT He shall not live.
KING JOHN Enough.
I could be merry now. Hubert, I love thee.
Well, I’ll not say what I intend for thee.
Remember. (
To Queen Eleanor
) Madam, fare you well.
I’ll send those powers o’er to your majesty. 70
Well, I’ll not say what I intend for thee.
Remember. (
To Queen Eleanor
) Madam, fare you well.
I’ll send those powers o’er to your majesty. 70
QUEEN ELEANOR
My blessing go with thee.
KING JOHN (to Arthur) For England, cousin, go.
Hubert shall be your man, attend on you
With all true duty.—On toward Calais, ho!
With all true duty.—On toward Calais, ho!
Exeunt
⌈
Queen Eleanor, attended, at one door
,
the rest at another door
⌉
Enter King Philip, Louis the Dauphin, Cardinal Pandolf, and attendants
KING PHILIP
So, by a roaring tempest on the flood,
A whole armada of convicted sail
Is scattered and disjoined from fellowship.
A whole armada of convicted sail
Is scattered and disjoined from fellowship.
PANDOLF
Courage and comfort; all shall yet go well.
KING PHILIP
What can go well when we have run so ill?
Are we not beaten? Is not Angers lost,
Arthur ta‘en prisoner, divers dear friends slain,
And bloody England into England gone,
O’erbearing interruption, spite of France?
Are we not beaten? Is not Angers lost,
Arthur ta‘en prisoner, divers dear friends slain,
And bloody England into England gone,
O’erbearing interruption, spite of France?
LOUIS THE DAUPHIN
What he hath won, that hath he fortified. 10
So hot a speed, with such advice disposed,
Such temperate order in so fierce a cause,
Doth want example. Who hath read or heard
Of any kindred action like to this?
So hot a speed, with such advice disposed,
Such temperate order in so fierce a cause,
Doth want example. Who hath read or heard
Of any kindred action like to this?
KING PHILIP
Well could I bear that England had this praise, 15
So we could find some pattern of our shame.
Look who comes here! A grave unto a soul,
Holding th’eternal spirit against her will
In the vile prison of afflicted breath.—
I prithee, lady, go away with me. 20
So we could find some pattern of our shame.
Enter Constance, distracted, with her hair about her ears
Holding th’eternal spirit against her will
In the vile prison of afflicted breath.—
I prithee, lady, go away with me. 20
CONSTANCE
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