Henry's line, "suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss," employs the famous Biblical allusion to Judas Iscariot's betrayal of Jesus Christ.
The Allusion: Betrayal with a Kiss
This powerful phrase directly references the New Testament account where Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus's disciples, identifies Jesus to the Roman soldiers and religious authorities by greeting him with a kiss in the Garden of Gethsemane. This act, seemingly one of affection, was a signal leading directly to Jesus's arrest and subsequent crucifixion.
Purpose of the Allusion
Henry utilizes this allusion for several compelling reasons, primarily to:
- Evoke Strong Emotions: The story of Judas's betrayal is deeply ingrained in Western culture, particularly among a historically religious audience. It immediately conjures feelings of shock, disgust, and the profound tragedy of a trust utterly violated by a deceitful show of affection.
- Warn Against Deception: By drawing parallels to this ultimate act of treachery, Henry warns his audience against trusting appearances or seemingly benign gestures from those who might ultimately intend harm or subjugation. The "kiss" symbolizes a deceptive promise of peace or friendship that masks a treacherous intent.
- Emphasize Grave Consequences: The outcome of Judas's kiss was catastrophic for Jesus. Henry implies that succumbing to similar "betrayals" – whether political promises or seemingly peaceful overtures – will lead to similarly dire and irreversible consequences for his listeners and their cause.
- Foster Shared Understanding: Henry knew his audience would be intimately familiar with this Biblical narrative. This shared cultural and religious literacy allowed him to convey a complex warning with immense emotional weight and clarity through a single, concise phrase, instantly resonating with their deeply held beliefs and understanding of right and wrong.
In essence, Henry's allusion served as a potent rhetorical device, leveraging a universally understood symbol of ultimate treachery to underscore the danger of false promises and the imperative of vigilance against those who would betray freedom under the guise of peace.
