King Edward the Third
Page: 16

Say that my grief is no way medicinable
But by the loss and bruising of thine honour.

WARWICK.
If nothing but that loss may vantage you,
I would accompt that loss my vantage too.

KING EDWARD.
Thinkst that thou canst unswear thy oath again?

WARWICK.
I cannot; nor I would not, if I could.


KING EDWARD.
But, if thou dost, what shall I say to thee?

WARWICK.
What may be said to any perjured villain,
That breaks the sacred warrant of an oath.

KING EDWARD.
What wilt thou say to one that breaks an oath?

WARWICK.
That he hath broke his faith with God and man,
And from them both stands excommunicate.

KING EDWARD.
What office were it, to suggest a man
To break a lawful and religious vow?

WARWICK.
An office for the devil, not for man.

KING EDWARD.
That devil's office must thou do for me,
Or break thy oath, or cancel all the bonds
Of love and duty twixt thy self and me;
And therefore, Warwick, if thou art thy self,
The Lord and master of thy word and oath,
Go to thy daughter; and in my behalf
Command her, woo her, win her any ways,
To be my mistress and my secret love.
I will not stand to hear thee make reply:
Thy oath break hers, or let thy sovereign die.

[Exit.]

WARWICK.
O doting King! O detestable office!
Well may I tempt my self to wrong my self,
When he hath sworn me by the name of God
To break a vow made by the name of God.
What, if I swear by this right hand of mine
To cut this right hand off? The better way
Were to profane the Idol than confound it:
But neither will I do; I'll keep mine oath,
And to my daughter make a recantation
Of all the virtue I have preacht to her:
I'll say, she must forget her husband Salisbury,
If she remember to embrace the king;
I'll say, an oath may easily be broken,
But not so easily pardoned, being broken;
I'll say, it is true charity to love,
But not true love to be so charitable;
I'll say, his greatness may bear out the shame,
But not his kingdom can buy out the sin;
I'll say, it is my duty to persuade,
But not her honesty to give consent.

[Enter Countess.]

See where she comes; was never father had