This union shall do more than battery can, Lions more confident, mountains and rocks As we to keep this city. Bast. Here's a stay,1 That shakes the rotten carcase of old death Out of his rags! Here's a large mouth, indeed, That spits forth death, and mountains, rocks, and seas; Talks as familiarly of roaring lions, As maids of thirteen do of puppy-dogs! What cannoneer begot this lusty blood? He speaks plain cannon, fire, and smoke, and bounce; He gives the bastinado with his tongue; 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: Thy now unsur'd assurance to the crown, The bloom that promiseth a mighty fruit. With swifter spleen, &c.] Our author uses spleen for any violent hurry, or tumultuous speed. 1 Here's a stay,] Some of the Commentators think that stay means a hinderer, and others, a supporter, or partizan. I see a yielding in the looks of France; Are capable of this ambition: Lest zeal, now melted, by the windy breath Of soft petitions, pity, and remorse, 1 Cit. Why answer not the double majesties This friendly treaty of our threaten'd town? K. Phi. Speak England first, that hath been for ward 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, For Anjou, and fair Touraine, Maine, Poictiers, 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, Drawn in the flattering table of her eye.2 [Whispers with BLANCH. 2 Drawn in the flattering table of her eye.] Table is picture, or, rather, the board or canvas on which any object is painted. Tableau, Fr. Bast. Drawn in the flattering table of her eye!Hang'd in the frowning wrinkle of her brow! And quarter'd in her heart!-he 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. If he see aught in you, that makes him like, That any thing he sees, which moves his liking, I can with ease translate it to my will; Or, if you will, (to speak more properly,) I will enforce it easily to my love. Further I will not flatter you, my lord, That all I see in you is worthy love, Than this, that nothing do I see in you, (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 you in wisdom shall vouchsafe to say. 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, 3 Volquessen,] This is the ancient name for the country now called the Vexin; in Latin, Pagus Velocassinus. That part of it called the Norman Vexin, was in dispute between Philip and John. Command thy son and daughter to join hands. your hands. 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, That I did so, when I was first assur'd.] Assur'd is here used both in its common sense, and in an uncommon one, where it signifies affianced, contracted. 5 She is sad and passionate - Passionate, in this instance, does not signify disposed to anger, but a prey to mournful sensations. Go we, as well as haste will suffer us, To this unlook'd for unprepared pomp. The Citizens [Exeunt all but the Bastard. retire from the walls. Bast. Mad world! mad kings! mad composition! John, to stop Arthur's title in the whole, Hath willingly departed with a part: 6 And France, (whose armour conscience buckled on; Whom zeal and charity brought to the field, But the word maid, -cheats the poor maid of that; dity, 8 Commodity, the bias of the world; 6 departed with a part:] To part and to depart were for merly synonymous. 7 rounded in the ear - i. e. whispered in the ear. Commodity, the bias of the world;] Commodity is interest. |