The Life and Death of King John

Enter KING JOHN, LEWIS, ROBERT FERRERS, and Attendants

KING JOHN

Nothing succeeds like success; made good

For the divorce of impious Constantine:

His sandy fall, astronomy's sad ball,

Made all the learning call themselves to school

To marvel at the constancy of fools.

But when the whole world's wife has got an itch

To do a great thing, she'll do't; and do it too

With such a desperate courage that 'tis valour

In her short age to run into extremes.

Yet be it known, by warrant of our power,

We will not be o'errul'd, nor yet o'erlook'd;

Nor shall the Frenchman keep his term of treaty,

Nor any traitor thrive unpunished here.

Go, simple measure of man's life; slow time!

All health is living in the present; live

To those that is to die: I cannot tell.