With th' affiftance of a mortal hand. K. Philip. Brother of England, you blafpheme in this. K. Jobn. Tho' you, and all the Kings of Christendom Are led fo grofly by this medling priest, Dreading the curfe, that money may buy out; Againft the Pope, and count his friends my foes. Conft. O, lawful let it be (15), That I have room with Rome to curfe a while. To my keen curfes; for without my wrong There is no tongue hath power to curfe him right. Pand. There's law, and warrant, Lady, for my curfe Conft. And for mine too; when law can do no right, Let it be lawful that law bar no wrong: (15) 0, lawful let it be, That I bave leave with Rome to curfe a rubile ;] Mr. Pope, in the nicety of his ear, has, against the authority of all the copies, difplaced a jingle here; (which I have made bold to refore to the text,) th' it is obvious to every knowing reader, how customary it is with our Poet, in a thousand inftances, to play on words fimilar in found, and differing in fignification. He repeats the very fame conundrum on the two words now before us, in Juliet Cafar. Now is it Rome indeed; and rooms enough, Law Law cannot give my child his kingdom here; Eli. Look'ft thou pale, France? do not let go thy hand. Faule. And hang a calve's-skin on his recreant limbs, Faule. Your breeches beft may carry them. wrongs, K. John, Philip, what fay'ft thou to the Cardinal? Is purchace of a heavy curfe from Rome, Or the light loss of England for a friend; Blanch. That's the curfe of Rome. Conft. Leavis, ftand faft; the devil tempts thee here (16) In likeness of a new and trimmed bride. Blanch. The lady Conftance speaks not from her faith: But from her need. (16) the devil tempts thee bere In likeness of a new untrimmed bride.] Tho' all the copies concur in this reading, yet as untrimmed cannot bear any fignification to square with the fe fe required, I cannot help thinking it a corrup ed-reading. It might, indeed, admit of this explanation, undrefs'd, ready to go to bed: but then that is giving in to an allufion too grofs for Lady Conftance. I have ventur'd to throw out the negative, and read; nature. 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 Or we might read; but it departs a little wider from the traces of the text as we find it; In likeness of a new betrimmed bride. But the first conjecture anfwers the fenfe and purpofe of the speaker; and requires but a very flight variation. 6 Conf. Conft. Oh, if thou grant my need, K. John. The king is mov'd, and answers not to this. Conft. O, be remov'd from him, and anfwer well. Auft. Do fo, King Philip; hang no more in doubt. Faulc. Hang nothing but a calve's-fkin, moft sweet lout. K. Philip. I am perplext, and know not what to say. 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 perfon yours Heav'n knows, they were befmear'd and over-ftain'd Some Some gentle order, and we shall be bleft Pand. All form is formless, order orderless, Therefore, to arms! be champion of our church! France, thou may'ft hold a ferpent by the tongue, A fafting tyger fafer by the tooth, Than keep in peace that hand, which thou doft hold. And like a civil war, fet'ft oath to oath, Thy tongue against thy tongue. O, let thy vow For that, which thou haft fworn to do amifs, And being not done, where doing tends to ill, Is to mistake again; tho' indirect, Yet indirection thereby grows direct, And falfhood falfhood cures; as fire cools fire, It is religion that doth make vows kept, By what thou fwear'ft, against the thing thou fwear'ft i And moft forfworn, to keep what thou doft swear. And And better conqueft never canst thou make, So heavy, as thou shalt not shake them off; Faulc. Will't not be? Will not a calve's skin stop that mouth of thine ? Blanch. Upon thy wedding-day? Against the blood that thou haft married? O husband, hear me: (ay, alack, how new Conft. O, upon my knee, Made hard with kneeling, I do pray to thee, Blanch. Now all I fee thy love; what motive may Be ftronger with thee than the name of wife? Conft. That which upholdeth him, that thee upholds, His honour. Ch, thine honour, Lewis, thine honour !— Lewis. I mufe, your Majefty doth feem fo cold, When fuch profound respects do pull you on? Pand. I will denonce a curfe upon his head? K. Philip. Thou. falt not need. England, I'll fall from thee. Conf. O fair turn of bamfh'd Majefty! K. Job. France, thou shalt rue this hour within this hour. |