Enter Constance, Arthur, and Salisbury.CONSTANCE, ⌜to Salisbury⌝ Gone to be married? Gone to swear a peace? False blood to false blood joined? Gone to be friends? Shall Louis have Blanche and Blanche those provinces?5 It is not so. Thou hast misspoke, misheard. Be well advised; tell o’er thy tale again. It cannot be; thou dost but say ’tis so. I trust I may not trust thee, for thy word Is but the vain breath of a common man.10 Believe me, I do not believe thee, man. I have a king’s oath to the contrary. Thou shalt be punished for thus flighting me, For I am sick and capable of fears, Oppressed with wrongs and therefore full of fears,15 A widow, husbandless, subject to fears, A woman naturally born to fears. And though thou now confess thou didst but jest, With my vexed spirits I cannot take a truce, But they will quake and tremble all this day.20 What dost thou mean by shaking of thy head? Why dost thou look so sadly on my son? What means that hand upon that breast of thine?
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Why holds thine eye that lamentable rheum, Like a proud river peering o’er his bounds?25 Be these sad signs confirmers of thy words? Then speak again—not all thy former tale, But this one word, whether thy tale be true.SALISBURY As true as I believe you think them false That give you cause to prove my saying true.CONSTANCE 30 O, if thou teach me to believe this sorrow, Teach thou this sorrow how to make me die, And let belief and life encounter so As doth the fury of two desperate men Which in the very meeting fall and die.35 Louis marry Blanche?—O, boy, then where art thou?— France friend with England? What becomes of me? Fellow, be gone. I cannot brook thy sight. This news hath made thee a most ugly man.SALISBURY 40 What other harm have I, good lady, done But spoke the harm that is by others done?CONSTANCE Which harm within itself so heinous is As it makes harmful all that speak of it.ARTHUR I do beseech you, madam, be content.CONSTANCE 45 If thou that bidd’st me be content wert grim, Ugly, and sland’rous 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,50 I would not care; I then would be content, For then I should not love thee; no, nor thou
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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.55 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; Sh’ adulterates hourly with thine Uncle John, And with her golden hand hath plucked on France60 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?65 Envenom him with words, or get thee gone And leave those woes alone which I alone Am bound to underbear.SALISBURY Pardon me, madam, I may not go without you to the Kings.CONSTANCE 70 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 stoop.⌜She sits down.⌝ To me and to the state of my great grief Let kings assemble, for my grief ’s so great75 That no supporter but the huge firm Earth Can hold it up. Here I and sorrows sit. Here is my throne; bid kings come bow to it.Enter King John, ⌜hand in hand with King Philip of⌝
France, ⌜Louis the⌝ Dauphin, Blanche, ⌜Queen⌝ Eleanor,
⌜Bastard,⌝ Austria, ⌜and Attendants.⌝KING PHILIP, ⌜to Blanche⌝ ’Tis true, fair daughter, and this blessèd day Ever in France shall be kept festival.
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80 To solemnize this day the glorious sun Stays in his course and plays the alchemist, Turning with splendor of his precious eye The meager cloddy earth to glittering gold. The yearly course that brings this day about85 Shall never see it but a holy day.CONSTANCE, ⌜rising⌝ A wicked day, and not a holy day! What hath this day deserved? What hath it done That it in golden letters should be set Among the high tides in the calendar?90 Nay, rather turn this day out of the week, This day of shame, oppression, perjury. Or if it must stand still, let wives with child Pray that their burdens may not fall this day, Lest that their hopes prodigiously be crossed.95 But on this day let seamen fear no wrack; No bargains break that are not this day made; This day, all things begun come to ill end, Yea, faith itself to hollow falsehood change!KING PHILIP By heaven, lady, you shall have no cause100 To curse the fair proceedings of this day. Have I not pawned to you my majesty?CONSTANCE You have beguiled me with a counterfeit Resembling majesty, which, being touched and tried, Proves valueless. You are forsworn, forsworn.105 You came in arms to spill mine enemies’ blood, But now in arms you strengthen it with yours. The grappling vigor and rough frown of war Is cold in amity and painted peace, And our oppression hath made up this league.110 Arm, arm, you heavens, against these perjured kings!
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A widow cries; be husband to me, ⌜God!⌝ Let not the hours of this ungodly day Wear out the days in peace, but ere sunset115 Set armèd discord ’twixt these perjured kings. Hear me, O, hear me!AUSTRIA Lady Constance, peace.CONSTANCE War, war, no peace! Peace is to me a war. O Limoges, O Austria, thou dost shame120 That bloody spoil. Thou slave, thou wretch, thou coward, Thou little valiant, great in villainy, Thou ever strong upon the stronger side, Thou Fortune’s champion, that dost never fight125 But when her humorous Ladyship is by To teach thee safety. Thou art perjured too, And sooth’st up greatness. What a fool art thou, A ramping fool, to brag and stamp and swear Upon my party. Thou cold-blooded slave,130 Hast thou not spoke like thunder on my side? Been sworn my soldier, bidding me depend Upon thy stars, thy fortune, and thy strength? And dost thou now fall over to my foes? Thou wear a lion’s hide! Doff it for shame,135 And hang a calfskin on those recreant limbs.AUSTRIA O, that a man should speak those words to me!BASTARD “And hang a calfskin on those recreant limbs.”AUSTRIA Thou dar’st not say so, villain, for thy life!BASTARD “And hang a calfskin on those recreant limbs.”KING JOHN 140 We like not this. Thou dost forget thyself.
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Enter Pandulph.KING PHILIP Here comes the holy legate of the Pope.PANDULPH Hail, you anointed deputies of heaven! To thee, King John, my holy errand is. I, Pandulph, of fair Milan cardinal145 And from Pope Innocent the legate here, Do in his name religiously demand Why thou against the Church, our holy mother, So willfully dost spurn, and force perforce Keep Stephen Langton, chosen Archbishop150 Of Canterbury, from that Holy See. This, in our foresaid Holy Father’s name, Pope Innocent, I do demand of thee.KING JOHN What earthy name to interrogatories Can ⌜task⌝ the free breath of a sacred king?155 Thou canst not, cardinal, devise a name So slight, unworthy, and ridiculous To charge me to an answer, as the Pope. Tell him this tale, and from the mouth of England Add thus much more, that no Italian priest160 Shall tithe or toll in our dominions; But as we under ⌜God⌝ are supreme head, So, under Him, that great supremacy Where we do reign we will alone uphold Without th’ assistance of a mortal hand.165 So tell the Pope, all reverence set apart To him and his usurped authority.KING PHILIP Brother of England, you blaspheme in this.KING JOHN Though you and all the kings of Christendom Are led so grossly by this meddling priest,
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170 Dreading the curse that money may buy out, And by the merit of vile gold, dross, dust, Purchase corrupted pardon of a man Who in that sale sells pardon from himself, Though you and all the rest, so grossly led,175 This juggling witchcraft with revenue cherish, Yet I alone, alone do me oppose Against the Pope, and count his friends my foes.PANDULPH Then, by the lawful power that I have, Thou shalt stand cursed and excommunicate;180 And blessèd shall he be that doth revolt From his allegiance to an heretic; And meritorious shall that hand be called, Canonizèd and worshiped as a saint, That takes away by any secret course185 Thy hateful life.CONSTANCE O, lawful let it be That I have room with Rome to curse awhile! Good father cardinal, cry thou “Amen” To my keen curses, for without my wrong190 There is no tongue hath power to curse him right.PANDULPH There’s law and warrant, lady, for my curse.CONSTANCE And for mine, too. When law can do no right, Let it be lawful that law bar no wrong. Law cannot give my child his kingdom here,195 For he that holds his kingdom holds the law. Therefore, since law itself is perfect wrong, How can the law forbid my tongue to curse?PANDULPH Philip of France, on peril of a curse, Let go the hand of that arch-heretic,200 And raise the power of France upon his head Unless he do submit himself to Rome.
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QUEEN ELEANOR Look’st thou pale, France? Do not let go thy hand.CONSTANCE Look to that, devil, lest that France repent And by disjoining hands, hell lose a soul.AUSTRIA 205 King Philip, listen to the Cardinal.BASTARD And hang a calfskin on his recreant limbs.AUSTRIA Well, ruffian, I must pocket up these wrongs, Because—BASTARD Your breeches best may carry them.KING JOHN 210 Philip, what sayst thou to the Cardinal?CONSTANCE What should he say, but as the Cardinal?DAUPHIN Bethink you, father, for the difference Is purchase of a heavy curse from Rome, Or the light loss of England for a friend.215 Forgo the easier.BLANCHE That’s the curse of Rome.CONSTANCE O Louis, stand fast! The devil tempts thee here In likeness of a new untrimmèd bride.BLANCHE The Lady Constance speaks not from her faith,220 But from her need.CONSTANCE, ⌜to King Philip⌝ 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.225 O, then tread down my need, and faith mounts up; Keep my need up, and faith is trodden down.
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KING JOHN The King is moved, and answers not to this.CONSTANCE, ⌜to King Philip⌝ O, be removed from him, and answer well!AUSTRIA Do so, King Philip. Hang no more in doubt.BASTARD 230 Hang nothing but a calfskin, most sweet lout.KING PHILIP I am perplexed and know not what to say.PANDULPH What canst thou say but will perplex thee more, If thou stand excommunicate and cursed?KING PHILIP Good reverend father, make my person yours,235 And tell me how you would bestow yourself. This royal hand and mine are newly knit, And the conjunction of our inward souls Married, in league, coupled, and linked together With all religious strength of sacred vows.240 The latest breath that gave the sound of words Was deep-sworn faith, peace, amity, true love Between our kingdoms and our royal selves; And even before this truce, but new before, No longer than we well could wash our hands245 To clap this royal bargain up of peace, ⌜God⌝ knows they were besmeared and overstained With slaughter’s pencil, where revenge did paint The fearful difference of incensèd kings. And shall these hands, so lately purged of blood,250 So newly joined in love, so strong in both, Unyoke this seizure and this kind regreet? Play fast and loose with faith? So jest with heaven? Make such unconstant children of ourselves As now again to snatch our palm from palm,
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255 Unswear faith sworn, and on the marriage bed Of smiling peace to march a bloody host And make a riot on the gentle brow Of true sincerity? O holy sir, My reverend father, let it not be so!260 Out of your grace, devise, ordain, impose Some gentle order, and then we shall be blest To do your pleasure and continue friends.PANDULPH All form is formless, order orderless, Save what is opposite to England’s love.265 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 ⌜chafèd⌝ lion by the mortal paw,270 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.PANDULPH So mak’st thou faith an enemy to faith, And like a civil war sett’st oath to oath,275 Thy tongue against thy tongue. O, let thy vow First made to ⌜God,⌝ first be to ⌜God⌝ 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,280 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 mistook285 Is to mistake again; though indirect, Yet indirection thereby grows direct,
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And falsehood falsehood cures, as fire cools fire Within the scorchèd veins of one new-burned. It is religion that doth make vows kept,290 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 truth Against an oath. The truth thou art unsure295 To swear swears 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. Therefore thy later vows against thy first300 Is in thyself rebellion to thyself. 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,305 If thou vouchsafe them. But if not, then know 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 310 Will ’t not be? Will not a calfskin stop that mouth of thine?DAUPHIN Father, to arms!BLANCHE Upon thy wedding day? Against the blood that thou hast marrièd?315 What, shall our feast be kept with slaughtered men? Shall braying trumpets and loud churlish drums, Clamors of hell, be measures to our pomp?⌜She kneels.⌝ O husband, hear me! Ay, alack, how new Is “husband” in my mouth! Even for that name,
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320 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 Made hard with kneeling, I do pray to thee,325 Thou virtuous Dauphin, alter not the doom Forethought by heaven!BLANCHE, ⌜to Dauphin⌝ Now shall I see thy love. What motive may Be stronger with thee than the name of wife?CONSTANCE That which upholdeth him that thee upholds,330 His honor.—O, thine honor, Louis, thine honor!DAUPHIN, ⌜to King Philip⌝ I muse your Majesty doth seem so cold, When such profound respects do pull you on.PANDULPH I will denounce a curse upon his head.KING PHILIP, ⌜dropping King John’s hand⌝ Thou shalt not need.—England, I will fall from335 thee.CONSTANCE, ⌜rising⌝ O, fair return of banished majesty!QUEEN ELEANOR O, foul revolt of French inconstancy!KING JOHN France, thou shalt rue this hour within this hour.BASTARD Old Time the clock-setter, that bald sexton Time,340 Is it as he will? Well, then, France shall rue.BLANCHE, ⌜rising⌝ 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,
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And in their rage, I having hold of both,345 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.350 Whoever wins, on that side shall I lose. Assurèd loss before the match be played.DAUPHIN Lady, with me, with me thy fortune lies.BLANCHE There where my fortune lives, there my life dies.KING JOHN, ⌜to Bastard⌝ Cousin, go draw our puissance together.⌜Bastard exits.⌝355 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.KING PHILIP Thy rage shall burn thee up, and thou shalt turn360 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!They exit.
King John
