Reading The life and death of King Iohn — William Shakespeare

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Section 253

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Pand.

So mak'st thou faith an enemy to faith,

And like a ciuill warre setst oath to oath,

Thy tongue against thy tongue. O let thy vow

First made to heauen, first be to heauen perform'd,

That is, to be the Champion of our Church,

What since thou sworst, is sworne against thy selfe,

And may not be performed by thy selfe,

For that which thou hast sworne to doe amisse,

Is not amisse when it is truly done:

And being not done, where doing tends to ill,

The truth is then most done not doing it:

The better Act of purposes mistooke,

Is to mistake again, though indirect,

Yet indirection thereby growes direct,

And falshood, falshood cures, as fire cooles fire

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