Alarums.

Enter French and English, fighting. LA PUCELLE and YORK fight hand to hand. LA PUCELLE is taken. The French fly.

York. Damsel of France, I think, I have you fast: Unchain your spirits now with spelling charms, And try if they can gain your liberty. — A goodly prize, fit for the devil's grace! See, how the ugly witch doth bend her brows, As if, with Circe, she would change my shape.

Puc. Chang'd to a worser shape thou canst not be. York. O, Charles the Dauphin is a proper man; No shape but his can please your dainty eye.

Puc. A plaguing mischief light on Charles, and thee! And may ye both be suddenly surpriz'd

By bloody hands, in sleeping on your beds!

York. Fell, banning hag! enchantress, hold thy tongue.

Puc. I pr'ythee, give me leave to curse a while.
York. Curse, miscreant, when thou comest to the

stake.

[Exeunt.

Alarums. Enter SUFFOLK, leading in Lady MARGaret.

Suf. Be what thou wilt, thou art my prisoner.

O fairest beauty, do not fear, nor fly;

[Gazes on her.

For I will touch thee but with reverent hands,

And lay them gently on thy tender side.

I kiss these fingers [kissing her hand] for eternal peace:

Who 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.

Be not offended, nature's miracle,

Thou art allotted to be ta'en by me:

+ Fell, banning hag !] To ban is to curse.

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 no.
As plays the sun upon the glassy streams, 5
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."

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?

5 As plays the sun upon the glassy streams, &c.] This comparison, made between things which seem sufficiently unlike, is intended to express the softness and delicacy of lady Margaret's beauty, which delighted, but did not dazzle; which was bright, but gave no pain by its lustre. JOHNSON.

6 disable not thyself;] Do not represent thyself so weak. To disable the judgment of another was, in that age, the same as to destroy its credit or authority. JOHNSON.

7

- and makes the senses rough.] The meaning of this word is not very obvious. Sir Thomas Hanmer reads-crouch.

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. 8 Mar. He talks of wood: It is some carpenter. Suf. Yet so my fancy may be satisfied, 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.

[Aside.

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.

Mar. What though I be enthrall'd? he seems a

knight,

And will not any way dishonour me.

[Aside.

Suf. Lady, vouchsafe to listen what I say.

Mar. Perhaps I shall be rescu'd by the French;

And then I need not crave his courtesy.

[Aside.

Suf. Sweet madam, give me hearing in a cause-
Mar. Tush! women have been captivate ere now.

[Aside.

Suf. Lady, wherefore talk you so?

Mar. I cry you mercy, 'tis but quid for quo.

Suf. Say, gentle princess, would you not suppose
Your bondage happy to be made a queen?
Mar. To be a queen in bondage is more vile,

a wooden thing.] is an awkward business, an undertaking not likely to succeed.

9

- my fancy —] i. e. my love.

Than is a slave in base servility;

For princes should be free.

Suf.

And so

shall you,

If happy England's royal king be free.

Mar. Why, what concerns his freedom unto me? Suf. I'll undertake to make thee Henry's queen; To put a golden scepter in thy hand,

And set a precious crown upon thy head,

If thou wilt condescend to be my

Mar.

Suf. His love.

What?

Mar. I am unworthy to be Henry's wife.
Suf. No, gentle madam; I unworthy am
To woo so fare 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 REIGNIER, 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?

Fair Margaret knows,

Suf.
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 sounded. 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, 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,
Free from oppression, or the stroke of war,
My daughter shall be Henry's, if he please.
Suf. That is her ransome, I deliver her;
And those two counties, I will undertake,
Your grace shall well and quietly enjoy.

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 traffick of a king:

And yet, methinks, I could be well content

To be mine own attorney in this case.
I'll over then to England with this news,
And make this marriage to be solemniz'd;
So, farewell, Reignier! Set this diamond safe
In golden palaces, as it becomes.

Reig. I do embrace thee, as I would embrace
The Christian prince, king Henry, were he here.

hypocrite.

[Aside.

face,] To face is to carry a false appearance: to play the