Act IV

                                                  SCENE II

                                         KING JOHN’S PALACE

Enter KING JOHN, PEMBROKE, SALISBURY, and other Lords

KING JOHN
Here once again we sit, once again crown'd,
And looked upon, I hope, with cheerful eyes.

PEMBROKE
This once again, but that your highness pleased,
Was once superfluous: you were crowned before,
And that high royalty was never plucked off,
The faiths of men ne'er stained with revolt;
Fresh expectation troubled not the land
With any longed-for change or better state.

SALISBURY
Therefore, to be possessed with double pomp,
To guard a title that was rich before,
To gild refined gold, to paint the lily,
To throw a perfume on the violet,
To smooth the ice, or add another hue
Unto the rainbow, or with taper-light
To seek the beauteous eye of heaven to garnish,
Is wasteful and ridiculous excess.