That no supporter but the huge firm earth [She throws herself on the ground. Enter King JOHN, King PHILIP, LEWIS, BLANCH, ELINOR, Bastard, AUSTRIA, and Attendants. K. Phi. 'Tis true, fair daughter; and this blessed day, Ever in France shall be kept festival: Const. A wicked day, and not a holyday! [Rising. What hath this day deserv'd? what hath it done; That it in golden letters should be set, Among the high tides," in the kalendar? 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 cross'd:" But on this day, let seamen fear no wreck; 8 despair. Distress, while there remains any prospect of relief, is weak and flexible, but when no succour remains, is fearless and stubborn; angry alike at those that injure, and at those that do not help; careless to please where nothing can be gained, and fearless to offend when there is nothing further to be dreaded. Such was this writer's knowledge of the passions. 7- prodigiously be cross'd:] i. e. be disappointed by the production of a prodigy, a monster. But on this day,] That is, except on this day. No bargains break, that are not this day made: K. Phi. By heaven, lady, you shall have no cause Const. You have beguil'd me with a counterfeit, Resembling majesty; which, being touch'd, and tried, Proves valueless: You are forsworn, forsworn; And our oppression hath made up this league:- Wear out the day in peace; but, ere sunset, Aust. Lady Constance, peace. Const. War! war! no peace! peace is to me a war. O Lymoges! O Austria!' thou dost shame 90 Lymoges! O Austria!] The propriety or impropriety of these titles, which every editor has suffered to pass unnoted, deserves a little consideration. Shakspeare has, on this occasion, followed the old play, which at once furnished him with the character of Faulconbridge, and ascribed the death of Richard I. to the duke of Austria. In the person of Austria he has conjoined the two well-known enemies of Coeur-de-lion. Leopold, duke of Austria, threw him into prison, in a former expedition; [in 1193] but the castle of Chaluz, before which he fell [in 1199] belonged to Vidomar, viscount of Limoges; and the archer who pierced his shoulder with an arrow (of which wound he died) was Bertrand de Gourdon. The editors seem hitherto to have understood Lymoges as being an appendage to the title of Austria, and therefore enquired no further about it. That bloody spoil: Thou slave, thou wretch, thou coward; Thou little valiant, great in villainy! Thou ever strong upon the stronger side! To teach thee safety! thou art perjur'd too, me! Bast. And hang a calf's-skin on those recreant Aust. Thou dar'st not say so, villain, for thy life. limbs. K. John. We like not this; thou dost forget thyself. Enter PANDUlph. K. Phi. Here comes the holy legate of the pope. Pand. Hail, you anointed deputies of heaven!To thee, King John, my holy errand is. I Pandulph, of fair Milan cardinal, Why thou against the church, our holy mother, Of Canterbury, from that holy see ? K. John. What earthly name to interrogatories, 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 priest Shall tithe or toll in our dominions; But as we under heaven are supreme head, K. Phi. Brother of England, you blaspheme in this. K. John. Though you, and all the kings of Are led so grossly by this meddling priest, Against the pope, and count his friends my foes. 1 What earthly name to interrogatories, Can task the free breath, &c.] i. e. What earthly name, subjoined to interrogatories, can force a king to speak and answer them? |