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K.Phil. Speak England first, that hath been for-
To speak unto this city: What say you? [ward first
K.John. If that the Dauphin there, thy princely
Can in this book of beauty read, I love, [son, 10
Her dowry shall weigh equal with a queen:
For Anjou, and fairTouraine, Maine, and Poictiers,]
And all that we upon this side the sea

(Except this city now by us besieg'd)

Find liable to our crown and dignity,

Shall gild her bridal bed; and make her rich

In titles, honours, and promotions,

As she in beauty, education, blood,

Holds hand with any princess of the world. [face.
K.Phil. What say'st thou, boy look in the lady's 20
Lewis. 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;
Which, being but the shadow of your son,
Becomes a sun, and makes your son a shadow:
I do protest, I never lov'd myself,
'Till now infixed I beheld myself,
Drawn in the flattering table of her eye.

[Whispers with Blanch.

Command thy son and daughter to join hands.
K. Phil. 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. Phil. Now, citizens of Angiers, ope your gates,
Let in that amity which you have made:
For at St. 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?
Lewis. She is sad and passionate at your high-
'ness' tent.
[have made,
K. Phil. And, by my faith, this league, that we
Will give her sadness very little cure.-
Brother of England, how may we content
This widow lady? In her right we came;
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,
And earl of Richmond; and this rich fair town
25 We make him lord of.-Call the lady Constance;
Some speedy messenger bid her repair
To our solemnity:-I trust we shall,
If not fill up the measure of her will,
Yet in some measure satisfy her so,
That we shall stop her exclamation.
Go we, as well as haste will suffer us,
To this unlook'd for unprepared pomp.

Faulc.Drawn in the flattering table of her eye!-30
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:
If he see aught in you, that makes him like,
That any thing he sees, which moves his liking,
I can with ease translate it to my will;
Or, if you will, (to speak more properly)
I will enforce it easily to my love.
Further I will not flatter you, my lord,
That all I see in you is worthy love,
Than this, that nothing do I see in you,
(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?

[Exeunt all but Faulconbridge.
Faulc. Mad world! mad kings! mad composi
35 John, to stop Arthur's title in the whole, [tion!
Hath willingly departed' with a part:
AndFrance,(whose armour conscience buckled on;
Whom zeal and charity brought to the field,
As God's own soldier) rounded in the ear*
40 With that same purpose-changer, that sly devil;
That broker, that still breaks the pate of faith;
That daily break-vow; he that wins of all,

Of kings, of beggars, old men, young men, maids,
(Who having no external thing to lose
45 But the word maid, cheats the poor maid of that)
That smooth-fac'd gentleman, tickling commo-
Commodity, the bias of the world; [dity,-
The world, who of itself is peised well,
Made to run even, upon even ground;
50 Till this advantage, this vile drawing bias,
This sway of motion, this commodity,
Makes it take head from all indifferency,
From all direction, purpose, course, intent:
And this same bias, this commodity;
This bawd, this broker, this all-changing word,
Clapt on the outward eye of fickle France,
Hath drawn him from his own determin'd aid,
From a resolv'd and honourable war,
To a most base and vile-concluded peace.~
60 And why rail I on this commodity?
But for because he hath not woo'd me yet:

Lewis. Nay, ask me if I can refrain from love; 55
For I do love her most unfeignedly. [Maine,

K.John. Then do I give Volquessen',Touraine,
Poictiers, and Anjou, these five provinces,
With her to thee; and this addition more,
Full thirty thousand marks of English coin.-
Philip of France, if thou be pleas'd withal,

'This is the ancient name for the country now call'd the Vexin.
To part and to depart were formerly synonymous.

2i. e. affianced, contracted.

i. e. whispered in the ear. 'i. e. interest. Not

Not that I have the power to clutch
my
hand',
When his fair angels would salute my palm;
But for my hand, as unattempted yet,
Like a poor beggar, raileth on the rich.

Well, whiles I am a beggar, I will rail,

And say, there is no sin, but to be rich;
And being rich, my virtue then shall be,
To say-there is no vice, but beggary:
Since kings break faith upon commodity,
Gain, be my lord; for I will worship thee! [Exit.

SCENE I.

The French King's pavilion.

ACT

Enter Constance, Arthur, and Salisbury. Con. GONE tobe marry'd! gone to swear a peace! False blood to false blood join'd! "Gone to be friends!

Shall Lewis have Blanch? and Blanch those pro-20

vinces ?

It is not so; thou hast mis-spoke, mis-heard;
Be well advis'd, tell o'er thy tale again:
It cannot be; thou dost but say, 'tis so;
I trust, I may not trust thee: for thy word
Is but the vain breath of a common man :
Believe me, I do not believe thee, man;
I have a king's oath to the contrary.
Thou shalt be punish'd for thus frighting me,
For I am sick, and capable of fears;
Oppress'd with wrongs, and therefore full of fears;
A widow, husbandless, subject to fears;
A woman, naturally born to fears:

III.

Full of unpleasing blots, and sightless stains,
Lame, foolish, crooked, swart, prodigious *,
15 Patch'd with foul moles, and eye-offending marks,
I would not care, I then would be content;
For then I should not love thee; no, nor thou
Become thy great birth, nor deserve a crown.
But thou art fair; and at thy birth, dear boy!
Nature and fortune join'd to make thee great:
Of nature's gifts thou may'st with lilies boast,
And with the half-blown rose: but fortune, ob!
She is corrupted, chang'd, and won from thee;
She adulterates hourly with thine uncle John,
25 And with her golden hand hath pluck'd on France
To tread down fair respect of sovreignty,
And made his majesty the bawd to theirs.
France is a bawd to fortune, and king John;
That strumpet fortune, that usurping John:-
30 Tell me, thou fellow, is not France forsworn?
Envenom him with words; or get thee gone,
And leave those woes alone, which I alone
Am bound to under-bear.

35

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I will instruct my sorrows to be proud; For grief is proud, and makes his owner stout. 40 To me, and to the state of my great grief,

And though thou now confess, thou didst but jest,
With my vext spirits I cannot take a truce,
But they will quake and tremble all this day.
What dost thou mean by shaking of thy head?
Why dost thou look so sadly on my son?
What means that hand upon that breast of thine?
Why holds thine eye that lamentable rheum,
Like a proud river peering o'er his bounds?
Be these sad signs confirmers of thy words?
Then speak again; not all thy former tale,
But this one word, whether thy tale be true.
Sal. As true, as I believe, you think them false, 45
That give you cause to prove my saying true.

Const. Oh,if thou teach me to believe this sorrow,
Teach thou this orrow how to make me die;
And let belief and life encounter so,
As doth the fury of two desperate men,
Which, in the very meeting, fall and die.—
Lewis marry Blanch! Oh boy, then where art thou?
France friend with England! what becomes of me?-
Fellow, be gone; I cannot brook thy sight;
This news hath made thee a most ugly man.
Sal. What other harm have I, good lady, done,
But spoke the harm that is by others done?
Const. Which harm within itself so heinous is,
As it makes harmful all that speak of it.

Arth. I do beseech you, madam, be content.
Const. If thou,that bidst me be content, were grim,
Ugly, and slanderous to thy mother's womb,

Let kings assemble; for my grief's so great,
That no supporter but the huge firm earth
Can hold it up: here I and sorrows sit;
Here is my throne, bid kings come bow to it.
[Throws herself on the ground.
Enter King John, King Philip, Lewis, Blanch,
Elinor, Faulconbridge, and Austria.
K.Phil. 'Tis true, fair daughter; and this blessed
Ever in France shall be kept festival:
50 To solemnize this day, the glorious sun
Stays in his course, and plays the alchymist;
Turning, with splendor of his precious eye,
The meagre cloddy earth to glittering gold:
The yearly course that brings this day about,
55 Shall never see it but a holy-day.

[day

Const. A wicked day, and not a holy-day![Rising What hath this day deserv'd? what hath it done; That it in golden letters should be set, 60 Among the high tides', in the kalendar?

Nay, rather, turn this day out of the week; This day of shame, oppression, perjury: 'To clutch the hand, is to clasp it close. Sightless here means disagreeable to the sight. black, tawny. *i. e. portentous, such as may seem a prodigy. i. e. solemn seasons.

2

1i.e.

Of

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 crost':
But on this day, let seamen fear no wreck;
No bargains break, that are on this day made:
This day, all things begun come to ill end:
Yaa, faith itself to hollow falsehood change!

K. Phil. By heaven, lady, you shall have no To curse the fair proceedings of this day: [cause Have I not pawn'd to you my majesty?

Const. You have beguil'd me with a counterfeit, Resembling majesty; which, being touch'd, and try'd,

Proves valueless: You are forsworn, forsworn; You came in arms to spill,mine enemies' blood, But now in arms you strengthen it with yours: The grappling vigour and rough frown of war, Is cold in amity and painted peace,

5

10

Keep Stephen Langton, chosen archbishop
Of Canterbury, from that holy see?
This in our 'foresaid holy father's name,
Pope Innocent, I do demand of thee.

K. John. What earthly name to interrogatories Can task the free breath of a sacred king? Thou canst not, cardinal, devise a name

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 toil in our dominions; But as we under heaven are supreme head, So, under him, that great supremacy, 15 Where we do reign, we will alone uphold, Without the assistance of a mortal hand: So tell the pope; all reverence set apart, To him, and his usurp'd authority. [this. K. Phil. Brother of England, you blaspheme in K. John. Though you, and all the kings of Christendom,

And our oppression hath made up this league :-
Arm, arm, you heavens,against these perjur'd kings! 20
A widow cries; be husband to me, heavens!
Let not the hours of this ungodly day
Wear out the day 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 O Lymoges! O Austria! thou dost shame [war. That bloody spoil: Thou slave, thou wretch, thou coward;

Are led so grossly by this meddling priest, Dreading the curse that money may buy out; And, by the merit of vile gold, dross, dust, 25 Purchase corrupted pardon of a man,

30

Who, in that sale, sells pardon from himself:
Though you, and all the rest, so grossly led,
This juggling witchcraft with revenue cherish,
Yet I, alone, alone do me oppose

Against the pope, and count his friends my foes.
Pand. Then, by the lawful power that I have,
Thou shalt stand curst, and excommunicate;
And blessed shall he be, that doth revolt
From his allegiance to an heretic;

35 And meritorious shall that hand be call'd,
Canonized, and worship'd as a saint,
That takes away by any secret course
Thy hateful life.

Thou little valiant, great in villainy!
Thou ever strong upon the stronger side!
Thou fortune's champion, that dost never fight
But when her humorous 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, and 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 calf's-skin on those recreant limbs.
Aust. O,that a man wouldspeak those words tome! 45
Faulc. And hang a calf's-skin on those recreant
limbs.

3

Aust. Thou dar'st not say so, villain, for thy life. Faulc. And hang a calf's-skin on those recreant limbs.

K. John. We like not this; thou dost forget thyself. Enter Pandulph.

pope.

Const. O, lawful let it be,

40 That I have room with Rome to curse a while! Good father cardinal, cry thou Amen,

To my keen curses: for, without my wrong, There is no tongue hath power to curse him right. Pand. There's law and warrant, lady, for my curse. Const. And for mine too; when law can do no right, Let it be lawful, that law bar no wrong: Law cannot give my child his kingdom here; For he that holds his kingdom, holds the law: Therefore, since law itself is perfect wrong, 50 How can the law forbid my tongue to curse?

K. Phil. Here comes the holy legate of the
Pand. Hail, you anointed deputies of heaven!-55
To thee, king John, my holy errand is.
I Pandulph, of fair Milan cardinal,
And from pope Innocent the legate here,
Do, in his name, religiously demand,

Why thou against the church, our holy mother,
So wilfully dost spurn; and force, perforce,

Pand. Philip of France, on peril of a curse,
Let go the hand of that arch heretic;
And raise the power of France upon his head,
Unless he do submit himself to Rome.

Eli. Look'st thou pale, France? do not let go thy hand. [repent, Const. Look to that, devil! lest that France And, by disjoining hands, hell lose a soul. Aust. King Philip, listen to the cardinal. Faulc. And hang a calt's-skin on his recreant limbs.

2

1i. e. be disappointed by the production of a prodigy, or monster. But here signifies except. 1i. e. put it off. When fools were kept for amusement in great families, they were distinguished by a calf-skin coat, which had the buttons down the back. This circumstance will explain the sarcasm of Constance and Faulconbridge, who mean to call Austria a fool. i. e. cowardly.

Aust.

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Aust. Well, ruffian, I must pocket up these Because

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[wrongs,
Faulc. Your breeches best may carry them.
K. John. Philip, what say'st thou to the cardinal?
Const. What should he say, but as the cardinal:
Lewis. Bethink you, father; for the difference
Is, purchase of a heavy curse from Rome,
Or the light loss of England for a friend:
Forego the easier.

Blanch. That's the curse of Rome.

[here Const. O Lewis, stand fast: the devil tempts thee In likeness of a new untrimmed' bride. [faith, Blanch. The lady Constance speaks not from her But from her need.

5

France, thou may'st hold a serpent by the tongue,
A cased lion by the mortal paw,

A fasting tyger safer by the tooth,

Than keep in peace that hand which thou dost hold.
K. Phil. I may disjoin my hand, but not my faith.
Pand. So mak'st thou faith an enemy to faith;
And, like a civil war, set'st oath to oath,

Thy tongue against thy tongue. O, let thy vow
First made to heaven, first be to heaven perform'd;
10 That is, to be the champion of our church!
What since thou swor'st, is sworn against thyself,
And may not be performed by thyself:
For that, which thou hast sworn to do amiss,
Is't not amiss, when it is truly done?

15 And being not done, where doing tends to ill,
The truth is then most done not doing it:
The better act of purposes mistook
is, to mistake again; though indirect,
Yet indirection thereby grows direct,
And falshood falshood cures; as fire cools fire,
Within the scorched veins of one new burn'd.
It is religion, that doth make vows kept;

Const. O, if thou grant my need,
Which only lives but by the death of faith,
That need must needs infer this principle,-
That faith will live again by death of need:
O, then, tread down myneed, and faith mounts up;
Keep my need up,and faith is trodden down. [this. 20
K. John. The king is mov'd, and answers not to
Const. O, beremov'd from him, and answer well.
Aust. Do so, King Philip; hang no more in doubt.
Faulc. Hang nothing but a calf's-skin, mostsweet
lout.

[say. 25

K. Phil. I am perplex'd, and know not what to
Pand. What canst thou say, but will perplex

thee more,

But thou hast sworn against religion: [swear'st;
By which thou swear'st against the thing thou
And mak'st an oath the surety for thy truth
Against an oath: The truth thou art unsure
To swear, swear only not to be forsworn;
Else what a mockery should it be to swear!
But thou dost swear only to be forsworn;
And most forsworn to keep what thou dost swear.
Therefore thy latter vows, against thy first,
Is in thyself rebellion to thyself:

And better conquest never canst thou make, Than arm thy constant and thy nobler parts 35 Against these giddy loose suggestions:

Upon which better part our prayers come in,
If thou vouchsafe them: but, if not, then know,
The peril of our curses light on thee;
So heavy as thou shalt not shake them off,
40 But, in despair, die under their black weight.
Aust. Rebellion, flat rebellion!

If thou stand excommunicate, and curst? [yours,
K. Phil. Good reverend father, make my person 30
And tell me, how you would bestow yourself.
This royal hand and mine are newly knit ;
And the conjunction of our inward souls
Marry'd in league, coupled and link'd together
With all religious strength of sacred vows;
The latest breath, that gave the sound of words,
Was deep-sworn faith, peace, amity, true love,
Between our kingdoms, and our royal selves;
And even before this truce, but new before,-
No longer than we well could wash our hands,
To clap this royal bargain up of peace,- [stain'd
Heaven knows, they were besmear'd and over-
With slaughter's pencil; where revenge did paint
The fearful difference of incensed kings:
And shall these hands so lately purg'd of blood,
So newly join'd in love, so strong in both,
Unyoke this seizure, and this kind regreet??
Play fast and loose with faith? so jest with heaven,
Make such unconstant children of ourselves,
As now again to snatch our palm from palm;
Unswear faith sworn; and on the marriage bed
Of smiling peace to march a bloody host,
And make a riot on the gentle brow
Of true sincerity? O holy sir,
My reverend father, let it not be so :
Out of your grace, devise, ordain, impose
Some gentle order; and then we shall be blest
To do your pleasure, and continue friends.

Pand. All form is formless, order orderless,
Save what is opposite to England's love.
Therefore to arms! be champion of our church!
Or let the church, our mother, breathe her curse,
A mother's curse, on her revolting son.

.2

45

Faulc. Will't not be?

Will not a calf's-skin stop that mouth of thine ?
Lewis. Father, to arms!

Blanch. Upon thy wedding day?
Against the blood that thou hast married?
What, shall our feast be kept with slaughter'd men?
Shall braying trumpets, and loud churlish drums,--
Clamours of hell,-be measures to our pomp?
500 husband, hear me !-aye, alack, how new

55

Is husband in my mouth!-even for that name,
Which 'till this time my tongue did ne'er pro-
Upon my knee I beg, go not to arms [nounce,
Against mine uncle.

Const. O, upon my knee,

Made hard with kneeling, I do pray to thee,
Thou virtuous Dauphin, alter not the doom
Fore-thought by heaven.

[may

Blanch. Now shall I see thy love; what motive 60 Be stronger with thee than the name of wife? Const. That which upholdeth him that thee up[nour! His honour: Ób, thine honour, Lewis, thine ho

holds,

!i.e. undressed. · ? A regreet is an exchange of salutation.

Some editions read chased.

Lewis.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors]

Const. O fair return of banish'd majesty! Eli. O foul revolt of French inconstancy! K. John. France, thou shalt rue this hour within [ton time, this hour. Faulc. Old time the clock-setter, that bald sex-10 Is it as he will? well then, France shall rue.

[lies.

[grief.

As dear be to thee as thy father was.
Arth. O, this will make my mother die with
K. John. Cousin, away for England: haste be-
[To Faulconbridge.

fore:

5 And ere our coming, see thou shake the bags
Of hoarding abbots; imprisoned angels
Set at liberty: the fat ribs of peace
Must by the hungry now be fed upon:
Use our commission in his utmost force. [back,
Faulc. Bell book and candle shall not drive me
When gold and silver becks me to come on.
I leave your highness :-Grandam, I will pray
(If ever I remember to be holy)

15

Blanch. The sun's o'ercast with blood: Fair day
Which is the side that I must go withal? [adieu!
I am with both: each army hath a hand:
And, in their rage, I having hold of both,
They whirl asunder, and dismember me.
Husband, I cannot pray that thou may'st win;
Uncle, I needs must pray that thou may'st lose
Father, I may not wish the fortune thine;
Grandam, I will not wish thy wishes thrive:
Whoever wins, on that side shall I lose;
Assured loss, before the match be play'd.
Lewis. Lady, with me; with me thy fortune
Blanch. There where my fortune lives, there my
[ther.-25
life dies.
K. John. Cousin, go draw our puissance toge-
[Exit Faulconbridge.
France, I am burned up with inflaming wrath;
A rage whose heat hath this condition,
That nothing can allay, nothing but blood,
The blood, and dearest-valu'd blood, of France.
K. Phil. Thy rage shall burn thee up, and thou
shalt turn

To ashes, ere our blood shall quench that fire:
Look to thyself, thou art in jeopardy.

K. John. No more than he that threats.-To
arms, let's hie!

SCENE

II.

A field of battle.

Austria's head.

[Exeunt.

For your fair safety; so I kiss your hand.
Eli. Farewell, gentle cousin..
[Exit Faule.
K. John. Coz, farewell..
Eli. Come hither, little kinsman; hark, a word,
[Taking him to one side of the stage.
K. John. Come hither, Hubert. O mygentle Hu-
20 We owe thee much; within this wall of flesh [bert,
There is a soul counts thee her creditor,
And with advantage means to pay thy love:
And, my good friend, thy voluntary oath
Lives in this bosom, dearly cherished.
I had a thing to say,-
Give me thy hand.
But I will fit it with some better time.
By heaven, Hubert, I am almost asham'd
Το say what good respect I have of thee.
Hub I am much bounden to your majesty.[so yet:
K. John. Good friend, thou hast no cause to say
But thou shalt have; and creep time ne'er so slow,
Yet it shall come to me to do thee good.

30

I had a thing to say,-But let it go:
The sun is in the heaven, and the proud day,
35 Attended with the pleasures of the world,
Is all too wanton, and too full of gawds2,
To give me audience:-if the midnight bell
Did with his iron tongue and brazen mouth,
Sound on3 unto the drowsy race of night;

Alarums, excursions: enter Faulconbridge, with 40 If this same were a church-yard where we stand,

Faulc. Now, by my life, this day grows wondrous Some airy devil hovers in the sky,

[hot: And pours down mischief. Austria's head lie there; While Philip breathes.

Enter King John, Arthur, and Hubert.
K. John. Hubert, keep this boy :-Philip' make
My mother is assailed in our tent,
And ta'en, I fear.

Faulc. My lord, I rescu'd her;
Her highness is in safety, fear you not:
But on, my liege; for very little pains
Will bring this labour to an happy end.
SCEN E ́ ́ III.

[up:

[Exeunt.

And thou possessed with a thousand wrongs;
Or if that surly spirit, melancholy,

Had bak'd thy blood, and made it heavy, thick;
(Which, else, runs tickling up and down the veins,
45 Making that ideot, laughter, keep men's eyes,
And strain their cheeks to idle merriment,
A passion hateful to my purposes)

Or if that thou could'st see me without eyes,
Hear me without thine ears, and make reply
50 Without a tongue, using conceit alone,
Without eyes, ears, and harmful sound of words;
Then, in despight of broad-ey'd watchful day,
I would into thy bosom pour my thoughts:
But, ah, I will not:-Yet I love thee well;
And, by my troth, I think thou lov'st me well.

Alarums, excursions, retreat. Re-enter King John, 55
Elinor, Arthur, Faulconbridge, Hubert and lords.
K. John. So shall it be; your grace shall stay
[To Elinor.
behind,

So strongly guarded.-Cousin, look not sad:

Hub. So well that what you bid me undertake, Though that my death were adjunct to my act, By heaven, I would do it.

K. John. Do not I know thou would'st? [To Arthur. 60 Good Hubert, Hubert, Hubert, throw thine eye On yon young boy: I'll tell thee what, my friend,

Thy grandam loves thee; and thy uncle will

Here the king, who kad knighted him by the name of Sir Richard, calls him by his former name. 3 Warburton thinks we should read, "sound one" and Mr.

2 Gawds are any showy ornaments.

Malone observes, that on and one are perpetually confounded in the old copies of Shakspeare,

He

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