Page 1613 - Shakespeare - Vol. 2

Sure, we thank you.
My learnèd lord, we pray you to proceed,
And justly and religiously unfold [10]
Why the law Salic that they have in France

Or should, or should not bar us in our claim.
And God forbid, my dear and faithful lord,
That you should fashion, wrest, or bow your reading,
Or nicely charge your understanding soul [15]

With opening titles miscreate, whose right
Suits not in native colours with the truth;
For God doth know how many now in health
Shall drop their blood in approbation

Or what your reverence shah incite us to. [20]
Therefore take heed how you impawn our person,
How you awake our sleeping sword of war:
We charge you, in the name of God, take heed;

For never two such kingdoms did contend
Without much fall of blood; whose guiltless drops [25]
Are every one a woe, a sore complaint
’Gainst him whose wrongs gives edge unto the swords

That makes such waste in brief mortality.
Under this conjuration speak, my lord,
For we will hear, note, and believe in heart [30]
That what you speak is in your conscience wash’d

As pure as sin with baptism.

CANTERBURY
Then hear me, gracious sovereign, and you peers,
That owe yourselves, your lives, and services
To this imperial throne. There is no bar [35]
To make against your highness’ claim to France

But this, which they produce from Pharamond,
In terram Salicam mulieres ne succedant −
“No woman shah succeed in Salic land”:

Wich Salic land the French unjustly gloze [40]
To be the realm of France, and Pharamond
The founder of this law and female bar,
Yet their own authors faithfully affirm