And give me signs of future accidents, [Thunder. You speedy helpers, that are substitutes This speedy and quick appearance, argues So you do condescend to help me now.— Cannot my body, nor blood-sacrifice, [man; York. O, Charles the Dauphin is a proper No shape but his can please your dainty eye. Puc. A plaguing mischief light on Charles and thee! What art thou? say, that I may honour thee. Mar. Margaret my name, and daughter to a king, The king of Naples; whosoe'er thou art. Suf. An earl I am, and Suffolk am I call'd. O stay!-I have no power to let her pass; Wilt thou be daunted at a woman's sight? Mar. Say, Earl of Suffolk,-if thy name be What ransom must I pay before I pass? [so,-For, I perceive, I am thy prisoner. Suf. [Aside.] How canst thou tell she will deny thy suit, Before thou make a trial of her love? thou hast a wife; Then, how can Margaret be thy paramour? Mar. I were best to leave him, for he will not hear. Suf. [Aside.] There all is marr'd; there lies a cooling card. [is mad. Mar. He talks at random: sure, the man Suf. [Aside.] And yet a dispensation may be had. Mar. And yet I would that you would And may ye both be suddenly surpris'd Puc. I pr'ythee, give me leave to curse a Suf. Be what thou wilt, thou art my prisoner. O fairest beauty, do not fear, nor fly, eternal peace And lay them gently on thy tender side. answer me. Suf. [Aside.] I'll win this Lady Margaret. For whom? [thing! for my king: tush, that's a wooden Mar. [Overhearing him.] He talks of wood: [satisfied, it is some carpenter. Suf. [Aside.] Yet so my fancy may be And peace established between these realms. But there remains a scruple in that, too; For though her father be the King of Naples, Duke of Anjou and Maine, yet is he poor, And our nobility will scorn the match. Mar. Hear ye, captain,-are you not at leisure? [ne'er so much : Suf. [Aside.] It shall be so, disdain they Henry is youthful, and will quickly yield.— Madam, I have a secret to reveal. Mar. [Aside.] What though I be enthrall'd? Fit to be made companion with a king : he seems a knight, And will not any way dishonour me. Suf. Lady, vouchsafe to listen what I say. Mar. [Aside.] Perhaps, I shall be rescu'd by the French; cause And then I need not crave his courtesy. Your bondage happy, to be made a queen? Suf. [vile And so shall you, What answer makes your grace unto my suit? Reig. Since thou dost deign to woo her little worth To be the princely bride of such a lord, Enjoy mine own, the county Maine, and Anjou, Suf. That is her ransom,—I deliver her; Reig. And I again, in Henry's royal name, As deputy unto that gracious king, Give thee her hand, for sign of plighted faith. Suf. Reignier of France, I give thee kingly thanks, Because this is in traffic of a king ::[Aside.] And yet, methinks, I could be well content If happy England's royal king be free. [me? Mar. Suf. What? His love. Mar. I am unworthy to be Henry's wife. Suf. No, gentle madam; I unworthy am To woo so fair a dame to be his wife, And have no portion in the choice myself. How say you, madam,-are you so content? Mar. An if my father please, I am content. Suf. Then call our captains, and our colours Troops come forward. And, madam, at your father's castle walls We'll crave a parley, to confer with him. A parley sounded. Enter Reignier, on the walls. forth! Suf. See, Reignier, see thy daughter priReig. To whom? [soner Suf. Reig. ! To me. Suffolk, what remedy? I am a soldier, and unapt to weep, Or to exclaim on fortune's fickleness. Suf. Yes, there is remedy enough, my lord : Consent (and, for thy honour, give consent) Thy daughter shall be wedded to my king; Whom I with pain have woo'd and won thereAnd this her easy-held imprisonment [to, Hath gain'd thy daughter princely liberty. Reig. Speaks Suffolk as he thinks? Suf Fair Margaret knows That Suffolk doth not flatter, face, or feign. Reig. Upon thy princely warrant, I descend To give thee answer of thy just demand. [Exit from the walls. Suf. And here I will expect thy coming. Trumpets sound. Enter Reignier, below. Reig. Welcome, brave earl, into our territories : Command in Anjou what your honour pleases. Suf. Thanks, Reignier, happy for so sweet a child, this news, And make this marriage to be solemnizd. Reig. I do embrace thee, as I would embrace The Christian prince, king Henry, were he here. Mar. Farewell, my lord: good wishes, praise, and prayers, Shall Suffolk ever have of Margaret. [Going. Suf. Farewell, sweet madam : but hark you, Margaret, No princely commendations to my king? Mar. Such commendations as become a A virgin, and his servant, say to him. [maid, Suf. Words sweetly plac'd, and modestly directed. But, madam, I must trouble you again,-- [Exeunt Reignier and Margaret. Suf. O, wert thou for myself!--But, Suffolk, stay; Thou mayst not wander in that labyrinth ; There Minotaurs, and deadly treasons, lurk. Solicit Henry with her wondrous praise : Bethink thee on her virtues that surmount Mad natural graces that extinguish art; Repeat their semblance often on the seas, That, when thou com'st to kneel at Henry's feet, Thou mayst bereave him of his wits with [Exit. wonder. SCENE IV.-Camp of the Duke of York, in Anjou. Enter York, Warwick, and others. York. Bring forth that sorceress, condemn'd to burn. Enter La Pucelle, guarded; and a Shepherd. Place barrels of pitch upon the fatal stake, outright! Have I sought every country far and near, I did beget her, all the parish knows ; stacle! God knows, thou art a collop of my flesh; Puc. Peasant, avaunt!--You have suborn'd this man, Of purpose to obscure my noble birth. Shep. 'Tis true, I gave a noble to the priest, Not me begotten of a shepherd swain, That so her torture may be shortened. Puc. Will nothing turn your unrelenting I did imagine what would be her refuge. his: Puc. O, give me leave, I have deluded you: 'Twas neither Charles, nor yet the duke I nam'd, But Reignier, king of Naples, that prevail'd. able. [not well, York. Why, here's a girl! I think she knows There were so many, whom she may accuse. War. It's sign she hath been liberal and free. York. And yet, forsooth, she is a virgin pure. Strumpet, thy words condemn thy brat and Use no entreaty, for it is in vain. [thee: Puc. Then lead me hence ;-with whom I May never glorious sun reflex his beams Enter Cardinal Beaufort, attended. York. Is all our travail turn'd to this effect? Shall we at last conclude effeminate peace? War. Be patient, York: if we conclude a peace, [nants, It shall be with such strict and severe coveAs little shall the Frenchmen gain thereby. Enter Charles, attended; Alençon, the Bastard of Orleans, Reignier, and others. Char. Since, lords of England, it is thus agreed, [France, That peaceful truce shall be proclaim'd in We come to be informed by yourselves What the conditions of that league must be. York. Speak, Winchester; for boiling choler chokes The hollow passage of my prison'd voice, [thus: As thou art knight, never to disobey Nor be rebellious to the crown of England,Thou, nor thy nobles, to the crown of England. [Charles, &c., give tokens of fealty. So, now dismiss your army when ye please; Hang up your ensigns, let your drums be still, For here we entertain a solemn peace. [Exeunt. SCENE V.-London. A Room in the Palace. Enter King Henry, in conference with Suffolk; Gloster and Exeter following. K. Hen. Your wondrous rare description, noble earl, Of beauteous Margaret hath astonish'd me: [tale Suf. Tush, my good lord,-this superficial Is but a preface of her worthy praise; him-The chief perfections of that lovely dame [self? (Had I sufficient skill to utter them) Alen. Must he be, then, as shadow of Adorn his temples with a coronet, And yet, in substance and authority, Retain but privilege of a private man? This proffer is absurd and reasonless. Char. 'Tis known already that I am possess'd With more than half the Gallian territories, And therein reverenc'd for their lawful king: Shall I, for lucre of the rest unvanquish'd, Detract so much from that prerogative, As to be call'd but viceroy of the whole ? No, lord ambassador; I'll rather keep That which I have, than, coveting for more, Be cast from possibility of all. [means York. Insulting Charles! hast thou by secret Us'd intercession to obtain a league, And, now the matter grows to compromise, Stand'st thou aloof upon comparison? Either accept the title thou usurp'st, Of benefit proceeding from our king, And not of any challenge of desert, Or we will plague thee with incessant wars. Reig. My lord, you do not well in obstinacy To cavil in the course of this contract: If once it be neglected, ten to one, We shall not find like opportunity. Alen. [Aside to Charles.] truth, it is your policy To save your subjects from such massacre, And ruthless slaughters, as are daily seen By our proceeding in hostility; To say the And therefore take this compact of a truce, Although you break it when your pleasure serves. War. How say'st thou, Charles? shall our condition stand? [interest Char. It shall; only reserv'd, you claim no In any of our towns of garrison. York. Then swear allegiance to his majesty; Would make a volume of enticing lines, K. Hen. And otherwise will Henry ne'er presume. Therefore, my lord protector, give consent, That Margaret may be England's royal queen. Glo. So should I give consent to flatter sin. You know, my lord, your highness is betroth'd Unto another lady of esteem :1 How shall we, then, dispense with that contract, And not deface your honour with reproach? Suf. As doth a ruler with unlawful oaths: Or one that, at a triumph having vow'd To try his strength, forsaketh yet the lists By reason of his adversary's odds: A poor earl's daughter is unequal odds, And therefore may be broke without offence. Glo. Why, what, I pray, is Margaret more than that? Her father is no better than an earl, Suf. Yes, my good lord, her father is a king, Glo. And so the earl of Armagnac may do, Because he is near kinsman unto Charles. Exe. Beside, his wealth doth warrant liberal dower; Where Reignier sooner will receive, than give. Suf. A dower, my lords! disgrace not so your king, That he should be so abject, base, and poor, And not to seek a queen to make him rich : Not whom we will, but whom his grace affects, As is fair Margaret, he be link'd in love. [me My noble lord of Suffolk, or for that Agree to any covenants, and procure [Exit. Glo. Ay, grief, I fear me, both at first and last. [Exeunt Gloster and Exeter. Suf. Thus Suffolk hath prevail'd; and thus he goes, As did the youthful Paris once to Greece, [Exit. |