Page 1614 - Shakespeare - Vol. 2

That the land Salic is in Germany,
Between the floods of Sala and of Elbe; [45]
Were Charles the Great having subdued the Saxons,
There left behind and settled certain French;

Who, holding in disdain the German women
For some dishonest manners of their life,
Establish’d then this law; to wit, no female [50]
Should be inheritrix in Salic land:

Which Salic, as I said, ’twixt Elbe and Sala,
Is at this day in Germany call’d Meissen.
Then doth it well appear the Salic law
Was not devisèd for the realm of France; [55]

Nor did the French possess the Salic land
Until four hundred one and twenty years
After defunction of King Pharamond,
Idly suppos’d the founder of this law;

Who died within the year of our redemption [60]
Four hundred twenty-six; and Charles the Great
Subdued the Saxons, and did seat the French
Beyond the river Sala, in the year

Eight hundred five. Besides, their writers say,
King Pepin, which deposèd Childeric, [65]
Did, as heir general, being descended
Or Blithild, which was daughter to King Clothair,

Make claim and title to the crown of France.
Hugh Capet also, who usurp’d the crown
Of Charles the Duke of Lorraine, sole heir male [70]
Of the true line and stock of Charles the Great,

To find his title with some shows of truth,
Though, in pure truth, it was corrupt and naught,
Convey’d himself as heir to the Lady Lingare,
Daughter to Charlemain, who was the son [75]

To Lewis the emperor, and Lewis the son
Of Charles the Great. Also King Lewis the Tenth,
Who was sole heir to the usurper Capet,
Could not keep quiet in his conscience,

Wearing the crown of France, till satisfied [80]
That fair Queen Isabel, his grandmother,