Cit. That daughter there of Spain, the lady Blanch, Is the young Dauphin every way complete : Do glorify the banks that bound them in; And two such shores to two such streams made one, Lions more confident, mountains and rocks As we to keep this city. If not complete of, say, he is not she ;] The meaning is that if the Dauphin be not complete of, or in, these qualities, it is merely because he is not Blanch. Sir Thomas Hanmer, and subsequent editors, changed the preposition" of" into the interjection O! but needlessly, the old copies being quite intelligible. 7 by such AS SHE ;] Possibly we ought to read, " by such a she." VOL. IV. D Bast. Here's a stay, 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; As maids of thirteen do of puppy-dogs. He speaks plain cannon-fire, and smoke, and bounce; But buffets better than a fist of France. Zounds! I was never so bethump'd with words, Eli. Son, list to this conjunction; make this match; Give with our niece a dowry large enough, For by this knot thou shalt so surely tie That yond' green boy shall have no sun to ripe I see a yielding in the looks of France; Mark, how they whisper: urge them while their souls. Are capable of this ambition, Lest zeal, now melted by the windy breath Of soft petitions, pity, and remorse, Cool and congeal again to what it was. Cit. Why answer not the double majesties This friendly treaty of our threaten'd town? K. Phi. Speak England first, that hath been forward 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, Her dowry shall weigh equal with a queen: For Anjou, and fair Touraine, Maine, Poictiers, 8 For Anjou,] The old copy reads Angiers, but the same mistake has been before committed. See p. 23. Angiers is specially excepted by King John. And all that we upon this side the sea Shall gild her bridal bed, and make her rich As she in beauty, education, blood, Holds hand with any princess of the world. 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, The shadow of myself form'd in her eye, Till now infixed I beheld myself Drawn in the flattering table of her eye. [Whispers with BLANCH. 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: That any thing he sees, which moves his liking, 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 still 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, With her to thee; and this addition more, K. Phi. It likes us well.-Young princes, close 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. 9 Lew. She is sad and passionate at your highness' tent 10. Volquessen,] "This," says Steevens, "is the ancient name for the country now called the Verin; in Latin, Pagus Velocassinus. That part of it called the Norman Vexin was in dispute between Philip and John." In the old "King John," Philip demands these provinces as the dower of Blanch: "Then, I demand Volquesson, Torain, Main, Poiters, and Anjou, these five provinces, Which thou, as King of England, hold'st in France." John agrees to cede them, but not until he has consulted his mother. 10 at your highness' tent.] In the old " King John," Constance is present at the discussion and contract, and inveighs bitterly against it after the rest of the characters, excepting Arthur, have withdrawn. K. Phi. And, by my faith, this league, that we have made, Will give her sadness very little cure.— Which we, God knows, have turn'd another way, To our own vantage. K. John. We will heal up all; For we'll create young Arthur duke of Bretagne, To our solemnity.-I trust we shall, [Exeunt all but the Bastard.-The Citizens retire Bast. Mad world! mad kings! mad composition! And France, whose armour conscience buckled on, Of kings, of beggars, old men, young men, maids,— But the word maid,-cheats the poor maid of that; The world, who of itself is peised well3, 1 ROUNDED in the ear] i. e. whispered in the ear. See Vol. iii. p. 441. 2 The world, who of itself is PEISED well,] i. e. poised, or balanced well: the |