To swear, swear only not to be forsworn; 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. And better conquest never canst thou make, So heavy, as thou shalt not shake them off, But, in despair, die under their black weight. 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? Against mine uncle. Const. O, upon my knee, Made hard with kneeling, I do pray to thee, Musick for dancing. Fore-thought by heaven. 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 upholds, His honour: O, thine honour, Lewis, thine honour! 2 Lew. I muse, your majesty doth seem so cold, Const. O fair return of banish'd majesty! K. John. France, thou shalt rue this hour within this hour. Bast. Old time the clock-setter, that bald sexton time, Is it as he will? well then, France shall rue. Blanch. The sun's o'ercast with blood: Fair day, adieu ! Which is the side that I must go withal? 2 Wonder. Lew. Lady, with me; with me thy fortune lies. Blanch. There where my fortune lives, there my life dies. K. John. Cousin, go draw our puissance3 together.[Exit Bastard. France, I am burn'd up with inflaming wrath; A rage, whose heat hath this condition, Than nothing can allay, nothing but blood, The blood, and dearest-valu'd blood, of France. K. Phi. Thy rage shall burn thee up, and thou shalt turn To ashes, ere our blood shall quench that fire: K. John. No more than he that threats.-To arms Bast. 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. Enter King JOHN, ARTHUR, and HUBERT. K. John. Hubert, keep this boy :-Philip, make up: 3 Force. My mother is asssailed in our tent, And ta'en, I fear. Bast. My lord, I rescu'd her; Will bring this labour to an happy end. [Exeunt. SCENE III. The same. Alarums; Excursions; Retreat. Enter King JOHN, ELINOR, ARTHUR, the Bastard, HUBERT, and Lords. K. John. So shall it be; your grace shall stay be hind, [TO ELINOR. So strongly guarded.-Cousin, look not sad: [To ARTHUR. Thy grandam loves thee; and thy uncle will Arth. O, this will make my mother die with grief. And, ere our coming, see thou shake the bags Use our commission in his utmost force. Bast. Bell, book, and candle shall not drive me back, When gold and silver becks me to come on. 4 Gold coin. I leave your highness :-Grandam, I will pray (If ever I remember to be holy,) For your fair safety; so I kiss your hand. Eli. Farewell, my gentle cousin. K. John. Coz, farewell. [Exit Bastard. Eli. Come hither, little kinsman; hark, a word. [She takes ARTHUR aside. K. John. Come hither, Hubert. O my gentle Hubert, We owe thee much; within this wall of flesh K. John. Good friend, thou hast no cause to say so yet: But thou shalt have; and creep time ne'er so slow, I had a thing to say,-But let it go: 5 Showy ornaments. A |