Valiant lord Talbot, earl of Shrewsbury? Lord Strange of Blackmere, lord Verdun of Alton, Lord Cromwell of Wingfield, lord Furnival of Sheffield, The thrice victorious lord of Falconbridge; Of all his wars within the realm of France? I'll bear them hence: thou wilt. And now to Paris, in this conquering vein; ACT V. SCENE I. London. A Room in the Palace. Enter King Hänry, Gloster, and Exeter. K.Hen. Have you perus'd the letters from the pope, The emperor, and the earl of Armagnac ? Glo. I have, my lord; and their intent is this, They humbly sue unto your excellence, To have a godly peace concluded of, Between the realms of England and of France. K. Hen. How doth your grace affect their motion? Glo. Well, my good lord; and as the only means To stop effusion of our Christian blood, And 'stablish quietness on every side. K. Hen. Ay, marry, uncle: for I always thought, It was both impious and unnatural, That such immanity ) and bloody strife Should reign among professors of one faith. Glo. Beside, my lord, the sooner to effect, And surer bind, this knot of amity, The earl of Armagnac near knit to Charles, A man of great authority in France, Proffers his only daughter to your grace In marriage, with a large and sumptuous dowry. K. Hen. Marriage, uncle! alas! my years are young; And fitter is my study and my books, Than wanton dalliance with a paramour. Yet, call the ambassadors; and, as you please, So let them have their answers every one: I shall be well content with any choice, Tends to God's glory, and my country's weal. Enter a Legate, and two Ambassadors, with He'll make his cap co-equal with the crown. Your purpose is both good and reasonable: As K. Hen. In argument and proof of which contract, Bear her this jewel, [to the Ambass.] pledge of my affection. And so, my lord protector, see them guarded, [Exeunt King HENRY and Train; GLOSTER, EXETER, and Ambassadors. For clothing me in these grave ornaments. SCENE II. France. Plains in Anjou. Enter CHARLES, BURGUNDY, ALENÇON, LA PUCBLlb, and Forces, marching. Char. These news, my lords, may cheer our drooping spirits: "Tis said, the stout Parisians do revolt, Enter a Messenger. Mess. Success unto our valiant general, And happiness to his accomplices! Char. What tidings send our scouts? I pr'ythee, speak. Mess. The English army, that divided was 4) Into two parts, is now conjoin'd in one; And means to give you battle presently. Char. Somewhat too sudden, sirs, the warning is; But we will presently provide for them. Bur. I trust, the ghost of Talbot is not there; Now he is gone, my lord, you need not fear. Puc. Of all base passions, fear is most accurs'd: Command the conquest, Charles, it shall be thine; Let Henry fret, and all the world repine. Char. Then on, my lords; And France be fortunate! [Exeunt. This speedy quick appearance argues proof Help me this once, that France may get the field. So you do condescend to help me now. [They hang their heads. My body shall No hope to have redress? [They depart. Alarums. Enter French and English, fighting. tongue. Puc. I pr'ythee, give me leave to curse a while. Alarums. Enter SUFFOLK, leading in Lady Suf. Be what thou wilt, thou art my prisoner. O fairest beauty, do not fear, nor fly; I kiss these fingers [kissing her hand] for eternal peace: no. Suf. An earl I am, and Suffolk am I call'd. Be not offended, nature's miracle, Thou art allotted to be ta'en by me: So doth the swan her downy cygnets save, Keeping them prisoners underneath her wings. Yet if this servile usage once offend, Go, and be free again, as Suffolk's friend. [She turns away as going. O, stay! I have no power to let her pass; My hand would free her, but my heart says As plays the sun upon the glassy streams, 10) Twinkling another counterfeited beam, So seems this gorgeous beauty to mine eyes. Fain would I woo her, yet I dare not speak: I'll call for pen and ink, and write my mind: Fye, De la Poole! disable not thyself; '') Hast not a tongue? is she not here thy prisoner? Wilt thou be daunted at a woman's sight? Ay; beauty's princely majesty is such, Confounds the tongue, and makes the senses rough.12) Mar. Stay, earl of Suffolk, if thy name be so, What ransome must I pay before I pass? For, I perceive, I am thy prisoner. Suf. How canst thou tell, she will deny thy suit, Before thou make a trial of her love? [Aside. Mar. Why speak'st thou not? what ransome must I pay? Suf. She's beautiful; and therefore to be woo'd: She is a woman; and therefore to be won. [Aside. Mar. Wilt thou accept of ransome, yea or no? Suf. Fond man! remember, that thou hast a wife; Then how can Margaret be thy paramour? [Aside. Mar. I were best leave him, for he will not hear. Suf. There all is marr'd; there lies a cooling card. Mar. He talks at random; sure the man is mad. Suf. And yet a dispensation may be had. Mar. And yet I would that you would answer me. Suf. I'll win this lady Margaret. For whom? Why, for my king: Tush! that's a wooden thing. 13) Mar. He talks of wood: It is some carpenter. And peace established between these realms. Suf. Yet so my fancy 14) may be satisfied, 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? Suf. It shall be so, disdain they ne'er so much; Henry is youthful, and will quickly yield. Madam, I have a secret to reveal. [Aside. [Aside. Suf. Lady, wherefore talk you so? For princes should be free. And so shall you, Mar. Suf. His love. What? 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, forth: And, madam, at your father's castle walls We'll crave a parley, to confer with him. [Troops come forward. A Parley sounded. Enter REIGNIBR, on the Walls. Suf. See, Reignier, see, thy daughter prisoner. Reig. To whom? 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 thereto; And this her easy-held imprisonment Hath gain'd thy daughter princely liberty. Reig. Speaks Suffolk as he thinks? Suf. Fair Margaret knows, That Suffolk doth not flatter, face, 15) 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 sounded. Enter REIGNIBR, below. Reig. Welcome, brave earl, into our territories; Command in Anjou what your honour pleases. Suf. Thanks, Reignier, happy for so sweet a child, Fit to be made companion with a king: 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; Upon condition I may quietly Enjoy mine own, the county Maine, and Anjou, [Aside. 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? Suf. Words sweetly plac'd, and modestly directed. Mar. Yes, my good lord; a pure unspotted heart, Never yet taint with love, I send the king. Suf. And this withal. [Kisses her. Mar. That for thyself; I will not so presume, To send such peevish tokens 16) to a king. [Exeunt REIGNIER and MARGARET. Suf. O, wert thou for myself! - But, Suffolk, stay Thou may'st not wander in that labyrinth; There Minotaurs, and ugly treasons, lurk. Solicit Henry with her wond'rous praise: Bethink thee on her virtues that surmount; Mad, 17) natural graces that extinguish art; Repeat their semblance often on the seas, That, when thou com'st to kneel at Henry's feet, Thou may'st bereave him of his wits with wonder. [Exit. 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. Shep. Ah, Joan! this kills thy father's heart outright! Have I sought every country far and near, Thou art no father, nor no friend, of mine. not so; I did beget her, all the parish knows: 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, The morn that I was wedded to her mother. Kneel down and take my blessing, good my girl. Wilt thou not stoop? Now cursed be the time Of thy nativity! I would, the milk Thy mother gave thee, when thou suck'dst her breast, Had been a little ratsbane for thy sake! Or else, when thou didst keep my lambs a-field, I wish some ravenous wolf had eaten thee! Dost thou deny thy father, cursed drab? O, burn her, burn her; hanging is too good. [Exit. York. Take her away; for she hath liv'd too long, To fill the world with vicious qualities. Puc. First, let me tell you whom you have condemn'd: Not me begotten of a shepherd swain, Corrupt and tainted with a thousand vices, War. And hark ye, sirs; because she is a maid, Pue. Will nothing turn your unrelenting hearts? Then, Joan, discover thine infirmity; That warranteth by law to be thy privilege. I am with child, ye bloody homicides: Murder not then the fruit within my womb, Although ye hale me to a violent death. York. Now heaven forefend! the holy maid with child? War. The greatest miracle that e'er ye wrought: Is all your strict preciseness come to this? York. She and the Dauphin have been juggling: I did imagine what would be her refuge. War. Well, go to; we will have no bastards live; Especially, since Charles must father it. Puc. You are deceiv'd; my child is none of his; It was Alençon, that enjoy'd my love. York. Alençon! that notorious Machiavel! It dies, an if it had a thousand lives. 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. War. A married man! that's most intolerable. York. Why, here's a girl! I think she knows not well, 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 thee: Use no entreaty, for it is in vain. Puc. Then lead me hence; with whom I leave Enter Cardinal BEAUFORT, attended. Car. Lord regent, I do greet your excellence With letters of commission from the king. For know, my lords, the states of Christendom, Mov'd with remorse 23) of these outrageous broils, Have earnestly implor'd a general peace Betwixt our nation and the aspiring French; And here at hand the Dauphin, and his train, Approacheth, to confer about some matter. York. Is all our travail turn'd to this effect? After the slaughter of so many peers, So many captains, gentlemen, and soldiers, That in this quarrel have been overthrown, And sold their bodies for their country's benefit, Shall we at last conclude effeminate peace? Have we not lost most part of all the towns, By treason, falsehood, and by treachery, Our great progenitors had conquered? O, Warwick, Warwick! I foresee with grief Enter CHARLES, attended; ALENÇON, Bastard, REIGNIER, and others. Char. Since, lords of England, it is thus agreed, That peaceful truce shall be proclaim'd in France, We come to be informed by yourselves What the conditions of that league must be. By sight of these our baleful enemies. 24) Alen. Must he be then as shadow of himself? Char. "Tis known, already that I am possess'd York. Insulting Charles! hast thou by secret means Alen. To say the truth, it is your policy, To save your subjects from such massacre, And ruthless slaughters, as are daily seen By our proceeding in hostility: And therefore take this compact of a truce, Although you break it when your pleasure serves. [Aside to CHARLES. War. How say'st thou, Charles? shall our condition stand? SCENE V. London. A Room in the Palace. Enter King HENRY, in conference with SUFFOLK; GLOSTER and EXETER following. K. Hen. Your wond'rous rare description, noble earl, Suf. Tush! my good lord! this superficial tale And, which is more, she is not so divine, K. Hen. And otherwise will Henry ne'er presume. How shall we then dispense with that contract, A poor earl's daughter is unequal odds, 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, And not to seek a queen to make him rich: As is fair Margaret, he be link'd in love. I cannot tell; but this I am assur'd, I feel such sharp dissention in my breast, [Erit. |