Without the assistance of a mortal hand:
So tell the pope; all reverence set apart,
To him, and his usurp'd authority.
K. Phi. Brother of England, you blaspheme in this
K. John. Though you, and all the kings of Christen
Are led so grossly by this meddling priest, 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, This juggling witchcraft with revenue cherish; Yet I, alone, alone do me oppose
Against the pope, and count his friends my foes. Pand. Then, by the lawful power that I have, Thou shalt stand curs'd, and excommunicate : And blessed shall he be, that doth revolt From his allegiance to an heretick; And meritorious shall that hand be call'd, Canonized, and worship'd as a saint, That takes away by any secret course Thy hateful life.
That I have room with Rome to curse a while! Good father cardinal, cry thou, amen,
To my keen curses; for, without my wrong, There is no tongue hath power to curse him right.
Pand. There's law and warrant, lady, for my curse. Const. 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; 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?
Pand. Philip of France, on peril of a curse, Let go the hand of that archheretick; And raise the power of France upon his head, Unless he do submit himself to Rome.
Eli. Look'st thou pale, France ? do not let go thy
Const. Look to that, devil! lest that France repent,
And, by disjoining hands, hell lose a soul.
Aust. King Philip, listen to the cardinal.
Bast. And hang a calf's-skin on his recreant limbs. Aust. Well, ruffian, I must pocket up these wrongs,
Your breeches best may carry them. K. John. Philip, what say'st thou to the cardinal ? Const. What should he say, but as the cardinal ? Lew, Bethink you, father; for the difference
Is, purchase of a heavy curse from Rome, Or the light loss of England for a friend:
That's the curse of Rome.
Const. O Lewis, stand fast; the devil tempts thee
In likeness of a new untrimmed bride.
Blanch. The lady Constance speaks not from her faith,
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; 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 answers not to this.
Const. O, be remov'd from him, and answer well. Aust. Do so, king Philip; hang no more in doubt. Bast. Hang nothing but a calf's-skin, most sweet
K. Phi. I am perplex'd, and know not what to say, Pand. What can'st thou say, but will perplex thee
If thou stand excommunicate, and curs'd?
K. Phi. Good reverend father, make my person
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 link'd together With all religious strength of sacred vows; 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 hands, To clap this royal bargain up of peace,-- Heaven knows, they were besmear'd and over-stain'd With slaughter's pencil; where revenge did paint The fearful difference of incensed kings: And shall these hands, so lately purg'd of blood, So newly join'd 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; 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 : Out of your grace, devise, ordain, impose Some gentle order; and then we shall be bless'd To do your pleasure, and continue friends.
Pand. All form is formless, order orderless, Save what is opposite to England's love. 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 may'st hold a serpent by the tongue, A cased lion by the mortal paw, A fasting tiger safer by the tooth, Than keep in peace that hand which thou dost hold. K. Phi. I may disjoin my hand, but not my faith. Pand. So mak'st thou faith an enemy to faith; And, like a civil war, set'st oath to oath, Thy tongue against thy tongue. O, let thy vow
First made to heaven, first be to heaven perform'd; That is, to be the champion of our church!
What since thou swor'st, is sworn against thyself, And may not be performed by thyself: 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 mistook Is, to mistake again; though indirect, Yet indirection thereby grows direct, And falsehood falsehood cures; as fire cools fire, Within the scorched veins of one new burn'd. It is religion, that doth make vows kept; 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 unsure 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. Therefore, thy latter vows, against thy first, 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, If thou vouchsafe them: but, if not, then know,
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