Free The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) by William Shakespeare

lose a soul.
     
    AUSTRIA.
    King Philip, listen to the Cardinal.
     
    King Philip, listen to the Cardinal.
     
    BASTARD.
    And hang a calf's-skin on his recreant limbs.
     
    And put a calfskin on his cowardly limbs.
     
    AUSTRIA.
    Well, ruffian, I must pocket up these wrongs,
    Because-
     
    Well, scoundrel, I must put these insults in my pocket,
    because–
     
    BASTARD.
    Your breeches best may carry them.
     
    Your trousers are the best place for them.
     
    KING JOHN.
    Philip, what say'st thou to the Cardinal?
     
    Philip, how will you answer the cardinal?
     
    CONSTANCE.
    What should he say, but as the Cardinal?
     
    What can he say, except what the cardinal says?
     
    LEWIS.
    Bethink you, father; for the difference
    Is purchase of a heavy curse from Rome
    Or the light loss of England for a friend.
    Forgo the easier.
     
    Think carefully, father; on the one hand
    you could get a heavy curse from Rome,
    on the other is the easy loss of England as a friend.
    Take the easier course.
     
    BLANCH.
    That's the curse of Rome.
     
    That's accepting the curse of Rome.
     
    CONSTANCE.
    O Lewis, stand fast! The devil tempts thee here
    In likeness of a new untrimmed bride.
     
    Oh Louis, be strong! The devil is tempting you,
    disguised as a virgin bride.
     
    BLANCH.
    The Lady Constance speaks not from her faith,
    But from her need.
     
    Lady Constance isn't saying what she believes,
    she's speaking according to what she wants.
     
    CONSTANCE.
    O, if thou grant my need,
    Which only lives but by the death of faith,
    That need must needs infer this principle-
    That faith would live again by death of need.
    O then, tread down my need, and faith mounts up:
    Keep my need up, and faith is trodden down!
     
    O, if you give me what I want,
    which I'm only lacking due to faithlessness,
    then you must need to think of this–
    that faith would live again if the want was removed.
    So, give me what I want, and faith increases:
    reject me, and you trample on faith.
     
    KING JOHN.
    The King is mov'd, and answers not to this.
     
    The King is disturbed, and doesn't answer this.
     
    CONSTANCE.
    O be remov'd from him, and answer well!
     
    Oh, step away from him, and answer well!
     
    AUSTRIA.
    Do so, King Philip; hang no more in doubt.
     
    Do so, King Philip; don't stand there doubting.
     
    BASTARD.
    Hang nothing but a calf's-skin, most sweet lout.
     
    Dressed in nothing but a calfskin, you sweet lout.
     
    KING PHILIP.
    I am perplex'd and know not what to say.
     
    I am confused and don't know what to say.
     
    PANDULPH.
    What canst thou say but will perplex thee more,
    If thou stand excommunicate and curs'd?
     
    What if what you say makes you more confused
    by making you excommunicated and cursed?
     
    KING PHILIP.
    Good reverend father, make my person yours,
    And tell me how you would bestow yourself.
    This royal hand and mine are newly knit,
    And the conjunction of our inward souls
    Married 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,
    Heaven knows, they were besmear'd and overstain'd
    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