King John: Act III, Scene i

King John.         Act 3, Scene 1.      Constance

(This text is featured in our interview with Tracy Michelle Arnold)

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86  A wicked day and not a holy day.
87  What hath this day deserved? what hath it done,
88  That it in golden letters should be set
89  Among the high tides in the calendar?
90  Nay, rather turn this day out of the week,
91  This day of shame, oppression, perjury.
92  Or, if it must stand still, let wives with child
93  Pray that their burdens may not fall this day,
94  Lest that their hopes prodigiously be crossed;
95  But on this day let seamen fear no wreck;
96  No bargains break that are not this day made;
97  This day all things begun come to ill end;
98  Yea, faith itself to hollow falsehood change.
KING PHILIP 
99  By heaven, lady, you shall have no cause
100  To curse the fair proceedings of this day.
101  Have I not pawned to you my majesty?
CONSTANCE
102  You have beguiled me with a counterfeit
103  Resembling majesty, which, being touched and tried,
104  Proves valueless. You are forsworn, forsworn.
105  You came in arms to spill mine enemy's blood,
106  But now in arms you strengthen it with yours.
107  The grappling vigor and rough frown of war
108  Is cold in amity and painted peace,
109  And our oppression hath made up this league.
110  Arm, arm, you heavens, against these perjured kings!
111  A widow cries, be husband to me, heavens.
112  Let not the hours of this ungodly day
113  Wear out the days in peace, but ere sunset
114  Set armèd discord 'twixt these perjured kings.