Page 2381 - Shakespeare - Vol. 1

Sweet lord, and why? [125]

LONGAVILLE

To fright them hence with that dread penalty.

BEROWNE

A dangerous law against gentility!
Item: if any man be seen to talk with a woman within the term of three
years, he shall endure such public shame as the rest of the court can
possibly devise. [130]

This article, my liege, yourself must break;
For well you know here comes in embassy

The French King’s daughter with yourself to speak -
A maid of grace and complete majesty -

About surrender up of Aquitaine [135]
To her decrepit, sick, and bedrid father.

Therefore this article is made in vain,
Or vainly comes th’admirèd Princess hither.

KING

What say you, lords? Why, this was quite forgot.

BEROWNE

So study evermore is overshot. [140]
While it doth study to have what it would,
It doth forget to do the thing it should;
And when it hath the thing it hunteth most,
’Tis won as towns with fire - so won, so lost.

KING

We must of force dispense with this decree. [145]
She must lie here on mere necessity.

BEROWNE

Necessity will make us all forsworn
Three thousand times within this three years’ space;

For every man with his affects is born,
Not by might mastered, but by special grace. [150]

If I break faith, this word shall speak for me:
I am forsworn on mere ‘necessity’.