K. Hen. Then, good my lord, teach your
cousin to consent winking.
Bur. I will wink on her to consent, my lord,
if you will teach her to know my meaning: for
maids, well summered and warm kept, are like
flies at Bartholomew-tide, blind, though they 335
have their eyes; and then they will endure hand-
ling, which before would not abide looking on.
K. Hen. This moral ties me over to time
and a hot summer; and so I shall catch the
fly, your cousin, in the latter end, and she must
be blind too. 341
Bur. As love is, my lord, before it loves.
K. Hen. It is so: and you may, some of you,
thank love for my blindness, who cannot see
many a fair French city for one fair French
maid that stands in my way. 346
Fr. King. Yes, my lord, you see them per-
spectively, the cities turned into a maid; for
they are all girdled with maiden walls that war
hath never entered.
K. Hen. Shall Kate be my wife?
Fr. King. So please you. 352
K. Hen. I am content; so the maiden cities
you talk of may wait on her: so the maid that
stood in the way for my wish shall show me the
way to my will. 356
Fr. King. We have consented to all terms of
reason.
K. Hen. Is 't so, my lords of England?
West. The king hath granted every article:
His daughter first, and then in sequel all, 361
According to their firm proposed natures.
335 Bartholomew-tide: St. Bartholomew's day, August 24
347 perspectively; cf. n.
