5

Conft. What fhould he fay, but as the Cardinal? Lewis. Bethink you, faiher; for the difference Is purchase of a heavy curfe from Rome 3, Or the light lofs of England for a friend; Forgo the easier.

Blanch. That's the curfe of Rome.

Conft. Lewis, ftand faft; the Devil tempts thee herè In likeness of a new and trimmed bride.

Blanch. The Lady Conftance speaks not from her faith:

But from her need.

Conft. Oh, if thou grant my need,

Which only lives but by the death of faith,
That need muft needs infer this principle,
That faith would live again by death of need:
O, then tread down my need, and faith mounts up;
Keep my need up, and faith is trodden down.

K. John. The King is mov'd, and anfwers not to this.
Conft. O, be remov'd from him, and anfwer well.
Auft. Do fo, King Philip; hang no more in doubt.

s It is a political maxim, that kingdoms are never married. Lewis upon the wedding is for making war upon his new relations.

6

the Devil tempts

thee here In Likeness of a new untrimmed Bride.] Tho' all the Copies concur in this Reading, yet as untrimmed cannot bear any Signification to fquare with the Senfe required, I cannot help thinking it a corrupted Reading. I have ventured to throw out the Negative, and read;

In Likeness of a new and trimmed

Bride.

i. e. of a new Bride, and one deck'd and adorn'd as well by Art as Nature. THEOBALD. -a new untrimmed bride.] Mr. Theobald fays, that as un

trimmed cannot bear any fignifica tion to fquare with the fenfe required, it must be corrupt; therefore he will cafhier it, and read, and trimmed; in which he is followed by the Oxford Editor; but they are both too hafty. fquares very well with the fenfe, It and fignifies unfeady. The term is taken from Navigation. We fay too, in a fimilar way of speaking, not well manneð. WARB.

I think Mr. Theobald's correction more plausible than Dr. Warburton's explanation. A commentator fhould be grave, and therefore I can read thefe notes with the proper feverity of attention; but the idea of trimming a lady to keep her steady, would be too rifible for any common power of face.

Faulc.

Faule. Hang nothing but a calve's-fkin, moft fweet

lout.

K. Philip. I am perplext, and know not what to fay. Pand. What can't thou fay, but will perplex thee

more,

If thou ftand excommunicate and curft?

K. Philip. Good rev'rend father; make my person

yours;

And tell me how you would bestow yourself. This royal hand and mine are newly knit, And the conjunction of our inward fouls Marry'd in league, coupled and link'd together With all religious ftrength of facred vows. The latest breath, that gave the found of words, Was deep fworn faith, peace, amity, true love, Between cur kingdoms and our royal Selves. And even before this truce, but new before, No longer than we well could wash our hands To clap this royal bargain up of peace, Heav'n knows, they were befmear'd and over-ftain'd With flaughter's pencil; where revenge did paint The fearful diff'rence of incenfed Kings. And fhall these hands, fo lately purg'd of blood, So newly join'd in love, fo ftrong in both, Unyoke this feizure, and this kind regreet? Play fat and loofe with faith? fo, jeft with heav'n? Make fuch unconftant children of ourselves, As now again to fnatch our palm from palm? Un-fwear faith fworn, and on the marriage-bed Of fmiling-peace to march a bloody hoft, And make a riot on the gentle brow Of true fincerity? O holy Sir, My reverend father, let it not be fo; Out of your grace, devife, ordain, impofe Some gentle order, and we fhall be bleft

7 So frong in both.] I believe the meaning is, were fo firang in both parties.

Το

To do your pleasure, and continue friends.
Pand. All form is formless, order orderless,
Save what is oppofite to England's love.

Therefore, to arms! be champion of our Church!
Or let the Church our mother breathe her curse,
A mother's curfe on her revolting fon.
France, thou may'ft hold a ferpent by the tongue,
A chafed lyon by the mortal paw,

A fafting tyger fafer by the tooth,

Than keep in peace that hand, which thou doft hold.
K. Phil. I may dif-join my hand, but not my faith.
Pand. So mak'ft thou faith an enemy to faith;
And, like a civil war, fet'ft oath to oath,

Thy tongue against thy tongue. O, let thy vow
Firft made to heav'n, first be to heav'n perform'd;
That is, to be the champion of our Church.
What fince thou fwor'ft, is fworn against thyself;
And may not be performed by thyself.
For that, which thou haft fworn to do amifs,
Is't not amifs, when it is truly done?
And being not done, where doing tends to ill,
The truth is then moft done, not doing it..
The better act of purposes miftook

Is to mistake again; tho' indirect,

Yet indirection thereby grows direct,

And falfhood falfhood cures; as fire cools fire,
Within the fcorched veins of one new-burn'd.
It is religion that doth make vows kept,

But what thou haft fworn against religion:
But what thoufwear'ft, against the thing thou fwear'ft:

8 Is NOT amifs, when it is

truly done:] This is a conclufion de travers. We should read,

Is YET amifs, The Oxford Editor, according to his ufual cuftom, will improve it. further, and reads, most amifs..

VOL. III.

WARBURTON.

Í rather read,

And

Is't not amifs, when it is truly

done?

as the alteration is lefs, and the fenfe which Dr. Warburton first difcovered is preferved.

9 But thou haft fworn against religion, &c.] In this long fpeech, the legate is made to Gg

shew

And mak'ft an oath the furety for thy truth, Against an oath. The truth thou art unfure To fwear, fwear only not to be forfworn;

Elfe what a mockery fhould it be to fwear?
But thou doft fwear, only to be forfworn,
And most forfworn, to keep what thou dost swear.
Therefore thy latter vows, againft thy first,
Is in thyself rebellion to thyself.

And better conqueft never canft thou make,
Than arm thy conftant and thy nobler parts
Against thefe giddy, loofe fuggeftions:
Upon which better part, our pray'rs come in,
If thou vouchfafe them. But if not, then know,
The peril of our curfes light on thee

So heavy, as thou shalt not shake them off;
But, in defpair, die under their black weight.
Auft. Rebellion, flat rebellion.

Faulc. Will't not be?

Will not a calve's-skin stop that mouth of thine?
Lewis. Father, to arms!

Blanch. Upon thy wedding day?
Against the blood that thou haft married?

What, shall our feaft be kept with flaughter'd men ? Shall braying trumpets, and loud churlish drums, Clamours of hell, be meafures to our pomp

?

O husband, hear me; (ah! alack, how new
Is husband in my mouth ?) ev'n 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.

Conft. O, upon my knee,

Made hard with kneeling, I do pray to thee,
Thou virtuous Dauphin, alter not the doom
Forethought by heav'n.

Blanch. Now fhall I fee thy love; what motive may Be stronger with thee than the name of wife?

Conft. That which upholdeth him, that thee upholds, His honour. Oh, thine honour, Lewis, thine ho

nour!

Lewis. I muse, your Majefty doth feem fo cold, When such profound refpects do pull you on?

1

Gg 2

Pand.