Page 2957 - Shakespeare - Vol. 1

He prays but faintly, and would be denied;
We pray with heart and soul, and all beside.
His weary joints would gladly rise, I know;
Our knees still kneel till to the ground they grow. [105]
His prayers are full of false hypocrisy,
Ours of true zeal and deep integrity.
Our prayers do outpray his: then let them have
That mercy which true prayer ought to have.

BOLINGBROKE

Good aunt, stand up!

DUCHESS

Nay, do not say “Stand up!”. [110]
Say “Pardon” first, and afterwards, “Stand up!”.
An if I were thy nurse thy tongue to teach,
“Pardon” should be the first word of thy speech.
I never long’d to hear a word till now.
Say “Pardon”, King; let pity teach thee how; [115]
The word is short, but not so short as sweet.
No word like “Pardon” for kings’ mouths so meet.

Y ORK

Speak it in French, King: say “Pardonne moi”.

DUCHESS

Dost thou teach pardon pardon to destroy?
Ah, my sour husband, my hard-hearted lord, [120]
That sets the word itself against the word.
Speak “Pardon” as ’tis current in our land;
The chopping French we do not understand.
Thine eye begins to speak, set thy tongue there;
Or in thy piteous heart plant thou thine ear, [125]
That hearing how our plaints and prayers do pierce,
Pity may move thee pardon to rehearse.

BOLINGBROKE

Good aunt, stand up.

DUCHESS