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George Sewell [1723–5], The works of Shakespear in six [seven] volumes. Collated and Corrected by the former Editions, By Mr. Pope ([Vol. 7] Printed by J. Darby, for A. Bettesworth [and] F. Fayram [etc.], London) [word count] [S11101].
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SCENE I. Continues in France. Enter King John, King Philip, Lewis, Blanch, Elinor, Philip the Bastard, Austria and Constance.

K. Philip.
'Tis true, fair daughter; and this blessed day,
Ever in France shall be kept festival:
To solemnize this day, the glorious sun
Stays in his course, and plays the alchymist,
Turning with splendour of his precious eye
The meager cloddy earth to glitt'ring gold.
The yearly course that brings this day about,
Shall never see it, but a holy-day.

Const.
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 burthens may not fall this day,
Lest that their hopes prodigiously be crost:
Except this day, let seamen fear no wrack;
No bargains break, that are not this day made;
This day all things begun came to ill end,
Yea, faith it self to hollow falshood chang'd.

K. Philip.
By heaven, lady, you shall have no cause
To curse the fair proceedings of this day:

-- 147 --


Have I not pawn'd to you my Majesty?

Const.
You have beguil'd me with a counterfeit
Resembling Majesty, which touch'd and try'd
Proves valueless: you are forsworn, forsworn.
You came in arms to spill my enemies blood,
But now in arms, you strengthen it with yours.
The grapling vigour and rough frown of war
Is cold in amity and painted peace,
And our oppression hath made up this league.
Arm, arm, ye heav'ns, against these perjur'd Kings:
A widow cries, be husband to me, heav'n!
Let not the hours of this ungodly day
Wear out the days in peace; but ere sun-set,
Set armed discord 'twixt these perjur'd Kings.
Hear me, oh hear me!

Aust.
Lady Constance, peace.

Const.
War, war, no peace; peace is to me a war:
O Lymoges, O Austria! thou dost shame
That bloody spoil: thou slave, thou wretch, thou coward,
Thou little valiant, great in villany:
Thou ever strong upon the stronger side;
Thou fortune's champion, that dost never fight
But when her humourous ladyship is by
To teach thee safety; thou art perjur'd too,
And sooth'st up greatness. What a fool art thou,
A ramping fool, to brag, to stamp, and swear,
Upon my party; thou cold-blooded slave,
Hast thou not spoke like thunder on my side,
Been sworn my soldier, bidding me depend
Upon thy stars, thy fortune, and thy strength?
And dost thou now fall over to my foes?
Thou wear a Lion's hide? doff it for shame,
And hang a calve's-skin on those recreant limbs.

-- 148 --

Aust.
O that a man would speak those words to me.

Bast.
And hang a calve's-skin on those recreant limbs.

Aust.
Thou dar'st not say so, villain, for thy life.

Bast.
And hang a calve's-skin on those recreant limbs.

note&plquo;Aust.
Methinks that Richard's pride and Richard's fall
&plquo;Should be a precedent to fright you, Sir.

&plquo;Bast.
&plquo;What words are these? how do my sinews shake!
&plquo;My father's foe clad in my father's spoil!
&plquo;How doth Alecto whisper in my ears;
&plquo;Delay not Richard, kill the villain strait,
&plquo;Disrobe him of the matchless monument,
&plquo;Thy father's triumph o'er the savages—
&plquo;Now by his soul I swear, my father's soul,
&plquo;Twice will I not review the morning's rise,
&plquo;'Till I have torn that trophy from thy back,
&plquo;And split thy heart, for wearing it so long.

K. John.
We like not this, thou dost forget thy self.

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George Sewell [1723–5], The works of Shakespear in six [seven] volumes. Collated and Corrected by the former Editions, By Mr. Pope ([Vol. 7] Printed by J. Darby, for A. Bettesworth [and] F. Fayram [etc.], London) [word count] [S11101].
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