Our ears are cudgel'd; not a word of his, Eli. Son, list to this conjunction, make this match; Give with our niece a dowry large enough: For by this knot thou shalt so surely tie Thy now unsur'd assurance to the crown, That yon green boy shall have no sun to ripe The bloom, that promiseth a mighty fruit. I see a yielding in the looks of France; Mark, how they whisper: urge them, while their souls Lest zeal, now melted, by the windy breath Cool and congeal again to what it was. 1 Cit. Why answer not the double majesties This friendly treaty of our threaten'd town? K. Phi. Speak England first, that hath been forward first To speak unto this city: What say you? K. John. If that the Dauphin there, thy princely son, Can in this book of beauty read, I love, Her dowry shall weigh equal with a queen: For Anjou, and fair Touraine, Maine, Poitiers, Shall gild her bridal bed; and make her rich As she in beauty, education, blood, Holds hand with any princess of the world. K. Phi. What say'st thou, boy? look in the lady's face. Lew. I do, my lord, and in her eye I find A wonder, or a wondrous miracle, eye; The shadow of myself form'd in her Till now infixed I beheld myself, Drawn in the flattering table of her eye. [Whispers with Blanch. Bast. Drawn in the flattering table of her eye! Hang'd in the frowning wrinkle of her brow!And quarter'd in her heart!-be doth espy Himself love's traitor: This is pity now, That hang'd, and drawn, and quarter'd, there should be, In such a love, so vile a lout as he. Blanch. My uncle's will, in this respect, is mine: Or, if you will, (to speak more properly,) (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 honour still to do What in wisdom shall vouchsafe to say. you 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, Aust. And your lips too; for, I am well assur'd, That I did so, when I was first assur'd. 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 solemniz'd.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 have made, Will give her sadness very little cure.— K. John. We will heal up all, For we'll create young Arthur duke of Bretagne, [Exeunt all but the Bastard.-The Bast. Mad world! mad kings! mad composition! And France, (whose armour 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, But for because he hath not woo'd me yet: [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! False blood to false blood join'd! gone to be friends! Shall Lewis have Blanch! and Blanch those provin ces? It is not so; thou hast mis-spoke, mis-heard; Oppress'd with wrongs, and therefore full of fears; And though thou now confess thou didst but jest, |