Oh, hold me not with silence over-long! So seems this gorgeous beauty to mine eyes. Where I was wont to feed you with my blood, Fain would I woo her, yet I dare not speak; I'll lop a member off, and give it you, l'll call for pen and ink, and write my mind: In earnest of a future benefit; Fie, De la Poole! disable not thyself“; So you do condescend to help me now.- 5 Hast not a tongue? is she not here thy prisoner? [They hmg their heads. Wilt thou be daunted at a woman's sight? No hope to have redress :-My body shall Ay; beauty's princely majesty is such, Pay recompence, if you will grant my suit. Confoundsthe tongue,and inakesthe senses rough. [They shukt iheir heads. Mar. Say, earl of Suifolk,-ifthy name beso,Cannot my body, nor blood-sacrifice, 10 What ransom must I pay before I pass? Intreat you to your wonted furtherance? For, I perceive, I am thy prisoner. Then take iny soul; my body, soul, and all, Suf.How can'st thou tell, she will deny thy suit, Before that Lngland give the French the foil. Before thou make a trial of her love? Aside [They depart. Mar. Why speak'st thou not? what ransoni See! they forsake me. Now the time is comc, 15 must I pay? That France must vail her lofty-pluined crest, Suf. She's beautiful; and therefore to be woo'd: And let her head fall into England's lap. She is a woman; therefore to be won. [4side. My ancient incantations are too weak, Mar. Wilt thou accept of ransom, yea, or no? And hell too strong for me to buckle with: Suf. Fond 'man! remember, that thou hast a Now, France, thyglory droopeth to the dust.[Erit. 20 wife; Excursions. Pucelle und York fight hand to hand. Then how can Margaret bethy paramour? [Aside. Pucelle is taken. The French fly. Mar. I were best to leave him, for he will not York. Damsel of France, I think, I have you fast: hear. (card. Unchain your spirits now with spelling charms, Suf. There all is marr'd; there lies a cooling And try it they can gain your liberty. 25 Niar. He talks at random; sure, the man is mad. A goodly prize! fit for the devil's grace! Suf. And yet a dispensation may be had. See, how the ugly witch doth bend her brows, Mur. And yet Iwould that youwould answer me. As if, with Circe, she would change my shape.[be. Suf. I'll win this lady Margaret. For whom? Pucel. Chang'd to a worser shape thou canst not Why, for my king: Tush! that's a wooden thing * York. Oh, Charles the Dauphin is a proper man; 30 Mar. He talks of wood: it is some carpenter. No shape but his can please your dainty eye.(thee! Suf. Yet so my fancy may be satisfy'd, Pucél. A plaguing mischieflight on Charles, and And peace established between these realms. And may ye both be suddenly surpris'd But there remains a scruple in that too: By bloody hands, in sleeping on your beds! For though her father be the king of Naples, York. Fell , banning'hag! enchantress, hold thy 35 Duke of Anjou and Maine, yet he is poor, tongue. And our nobility will scorn the match. [Aside, Pucel. I pr’ythee,give me leave toçurse a while. Alar. Hear yé, captain? Are you not at leisure? York.Curse, miscreant, when thou comest to the Suf. It shall be so, disdain they ne'er so much: stake. [Ereunt. Henry is youthful, and will quickly yieldAlarum. Enter Suffolk, leading in lady Margaret. 40 Madam, I have a secret to reveal. [knight, Suf. Be what thou wilt, thou art my prisoner. Mar. What though I be enthrall’d? he seems a [Gazes on her. And will not any way dishonour me. [ Aside, Oh fairest beauty, do not fear, nor fly; Suf. Lady, vouchsafe to listen what I say. For I will touch thee but with reverent hands. Mar. Perhaps, I shall be rescu'd by the French; I kiss these fingers for eternal peace, 45 And then I need not crare his courtesy. [ Aside. And lay them gently on thy tender side. Suf.Sweet madam,give me hearing in a cause-Who art thou: say, that I may honour thee. Mar. Tush! women have been captivate ere Alar. Margaret my name; and daughter to a [4side. The king of Naples, whosoe'er thou art. [king, Suf. Lady, wherefore talk you so? Suf. An earl I am, and Suffolk am I call’d. Miar. I cry you mercy, 'tis but quid for quo. Be not offended, nature's miracle, Suf. Say, gentle princess, would you net suppose Thou art allotted to be ta’en by me: Your bondage happy to be made a queen? So doth the swan her downy cygnets save, Mar. To be a queen in bondage, is more vile, Keeping them prisoners underneath her wings. Than is a slave in base servility; Yet, it this servile usage once oftend, 55 For princes should be free. Go, and be free again, as Suffolk's friend. Suf. And so shall you, [She is going. If happy England's royal king be free. Oh, stay! I have no power to let her pass; Mar. Why, what concerns his freedom unto me? My hand would free her, but iny heart says-no. Suf. I'll undertake to make thee Henry's queen; As plays the sun upon the glassy streams, 60 To put a golden scepter in thy hand, Twinkling another counterfeited beam, And set a precious crown upon thy head, To ban is to curse. 2 Do not represent thyself so weak. To disable the judgement of another was, in our author's age, the same as to destroy its credit or authority. pic, foolish. *i, e. an urkuard business, an undertaking not likely to succeed. now. 50 and prayers, If thou wilt condescend to be my Reig. I do embrace thee, as I would embrace Mar. What? The Christian prince, king Henry, were he here. Suf. His love, Mar. Farewell, my lord ! Good wishes, praise, diar. I am unworthy to be Henry's wife. Suf. No, gentle madam; I unworthy ain 15 Shall Suffolk ever have of Margaret. [She is going. Suf. Farewell, sweet madam! But hark you, Margaret; Mar. An if my father please, I am content. Mar. Such commendations as become a maid,' Sut Words sweetly plac'd, and modestly di- No loving token to his majesty? [heart, Suf. And this withal. [Kisses her. Suf. To me. Mar. That for thyself;-I will not so presume, To send such peevish'tokens to a king. [Exeunt Reignier and Margaret. Or to exclaim on fortune's fickleness. 20. Suf. O, wert thou for myself !-But, Suffolk, 25 Mad”, natural graces that extinguish art; That, when thou com'st to kneel at Henry's feet, Suf. Fair Margaret knows, Thou may'st bereave him of his wits with wonder. That Suffolk doth not flatter, face or feign. [Erit. Reig. Upon thy princely warrant, I descend, 30 SCENE V. Camp of the Duke of York in Anjou. Enter York, Warwick, a Shepherd, and Pucelle. burn. [right! And now it is my chance to find thee out, Must I behold thy timeless 'cruel death? Reig. Since thou dost deign to woo her little Pucel. Decrepit miser*! base ignoble wretch! Thou art no father, nor no friend of mine. 'tis not so; Her mother liveth yet, can testify War. Graceless! wilt thou deny thy parentage? York. This argues what her kind of life hath been; Wicked and vile; and so her death concludes. And for thy sake have I shed niany a tear : 55 Deny me not, I proythee, gentle Joan. [this man And yet, methinks, I could be well content Pucel. Peasant, avaunt!--You have suborn'd Shep. "Tis true, I gave a noble to the priest, Wilt thou not stoop? Now cursed be the titre But darkness, and the gloomy shade of death [Erit guarded. O, burn her, burn her; hanging is too good. [Erit. York. Break thou in pieces, and consume to York. Take her away; for she hath liv'd too Thou foul accursed minister of hell ! [ashes, To fill the world with vicious qualities. [long, Enter Cardinal Beaufort, 8c. Pucel. First, let me tell you whom you have 10. Car. Lord regent, I do greet your excellence condemn'd: With letters of commission from the king. Not me begotten of a shepherd swain, For know, my lords, the states of Christendom, But issued from the progeny of kings; Mov'd with remorse at these outrageous broils, Virtuous and holy; chosen froin above, Have earnestly implor'd a general peace By inspiration of celestial grace, 15 Betwixt our nation and the aspiring French; To work exceeding miracles on earth. And see at hand the Dauphin, and his train, I never had to do with wicked spirits : Approacheth, to confer about some matters. But you,--that are polluted with your lusts, York. Is all our travel turn'd to this eifect? Stain'd with the guiltless blood ot innocents, After the slaughter of so many peers, Corrupt and tainted with a thousand vices --- 20 So many captains, gentlemen, and soldiers, Because you want the grace that others have, That in this quarrel have bcen overthrown, You judge it straight a thing impossible And sold their bodies for their country's benefit, To compass wonders, but by help of devils. Shall we at last conclude efteminate peace? No, misconceived ! Joan of Arc hath been Have we not lost most part of all the towns, A virgin from her tender infancy, 25 By treason, falsehood, and by treachery, Chaste and immaculate in very thought; Our great progenitors had conquered? Whose maiden blood, thus rigorously effus'd, Oh, Warwick, Warwick! I foresee with grief Will cry for vengeance at the gates of heaven. (The utter loss of all the realm of France. York. Ay, ay ;-away with her to execution. Wur. Be patient, York; if we conclude a peace, War. And härk ye, sirs; because she is a maid, 30 It shall be with such strict and severe covenants, Spare for no faggots, let there be enough: As little shall the Frenchmen gain thereby. Place barrels of pitch upon the fatal stake, Enter Charles, Alençon, Bastard, and Reignier, That so her torture may be shorten'd. Char. Since, lords of England, it is thus agreed, Pucel. Will nothing turn yourunrelenting hearts:-- That peacefultruce shall be proclaim'd in France, Then, Joan, discover thine infirmity; 35 We come to be informed by yourselves That warranteth by law to be thy privilege.- What the conditions of that league must be. I am with child, ye bloody homicides : York. Speak, Winchester; for boiling choler Murder not then the fruit within my womb, choaks Although ye hale me to a violent death. [child: The hollow passage of my poison'd toice, York. Now heaven forefend! the holy maid with 40 By sight of these our baleful' enemies. War. The greatest miracle that e'er ye wrought: Win. Charles, and the rest, it is enacted thus: Is all your strict preciseness come to this? That-in regard king Henry gives consent, York. She and the Dauphin have been juggling: Of meer compassion, and of lenity, , go to; we will have no bastards 45 And suffer you to breathe in fruitful peace,Especially since Charles must father it. You shall become true liegemen to his crown: Pucel. You are deceiv'd; my child is none of his; And, Charles, upon condition thou wilt swear It was Alençon that enjoy'd my love. To pay him tribute, and submit thyself, York. Alençon ! that notorious Machiavel; Thou shalt be plac'd as viceroy under him, It dies, an if it had a thousand lives. 50 And still enjoy thy regal dignity. Pucel. O, give me leave, I have deluded you; Alen. Must be be then as shadow of himself, 'Twas neither Charles, nor yet the duke I nam’d, Adorn his temples with a coronet ; But Re:gnier king of Naples, that prevail’d. And yet, in substance and authority, War. A married man! that's most intolerable. Retain but privilege of a private man? York. Why, here's a girl! I think she knows 55 This proffer is absurd and reasonless. not well, Char. 'Tis known already, that I am possess'd There were so many, whom she may accuse. Of more than half the Gallian territories, Har. It's sign she hath been liberal and free. And therein reverenc'd for their lawful king : York. And, yet, forsooth, she is a virgin pure.- Shall I, for lucre of the rest unvanquish'd, Strumpet, thy words condemn thy brat, and thee : 60 Detract so much from that prerogative, Usu no entreaty, for it is in vain. [my curse: As to be call'd but viceroy of the whole? Pucel.Then lead me hence ;--with whom I leave! No, lord embassador; I'll rather keep Balef.il had anciently the same meaning as baneful. Coronet is here used for a crown. That That which I have, than, coveting for more, To love and honour Henry as her lord. (sume. . [means K. Henry. And otherwise will Henry ne'er pre- That Margaret may be England's royal queen. You know, my lord, your highness is betroth'd Unto another lady of esteem: How shall we then dispense with that contract, And not deface your honour with reproach? Reig. My lord, you do not well in obstinacy 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, Her father is no better than an earl, [that? Although in glorious titles he excel. [.Aside to the Dauphin. And of such great authority in France, As his alliance will confirm our peace, And keep the Frenchmen in allegiance. Glo. And so the earl of Armagnac may do, |25 Because he is near kinsman unto Charles. In any of our towns of garrison. Exe. Beside, his wealth doth warrant liberal " York. Then swear allegiance to his majesty ; dower; As thou art knight, never to disobey, While Reignier sooner will receive than give. Nor be rebellious to the crown of England, Suf. A dower, my lords! disgrace not so your Thou, nor thy nobles, to the crown of England.-30 king, [Charles and the rest give tokens of fealty. That he should be so abject, base, and poor, So, now dismiss your army when ye please; To chuse for wealth, and not for perfect love. 35 So worthless peasants bargain for their wives, SCENE VI. As market-men for oxen, sheep, or horse. But marriage is a matter of more worth, Than to be dealt in by attorneyship '; Not whom we will, but whom his grace affects, And, therefore, lords, since he affects her most, In our opinions she should be preferr'd. And is a pattern of celestial peace. 150 Her peerless feature, joined with her birth, Approves her fit for pone, but for a king: Suf. Tush, my good lord! this superficial tale Her valiant courage, and undaunted spirit, Is but a preface of her worthy praise: |(More than in woınan commonly is seen) will The chief perfections of that lovely dame Answer our hope in issue of a king; (Had I sufficient skill to utter them) 55 For Henry, son unto a conqueror, If with a lady of so high resolve, K. Henry. Whether it be through force of your ' Benefit is here a term of law. Be content to live as the beneficiary of our king. That is, at the sports by which a triumph is celebrated. 3i.e. by the discretional agency of another. My My tender youth was never yet attaint And you, good uncle, banish all olence: With any passion of inflaming love, If you do censure' mie by what you were, I cannot tell; but this I am assur’d, Not what you are, I know it will excuse and [Exeunt Gloster and Exeter. That lady Nargaret do vouchsafe to come Suf. Thus Suffolk hath prevail'd: and thus he To cross the seas to England, and be crown'd f10 Is did the youthful Paris once to Greece; (goes, King llenry's faithful and anointed queen: With hope to tind the like event in love, For your expences and sufficient charge, But prosper better than the Trojan did. Among the people gather up a tenth. Margaret shall now be queen, and rule the king: Be gone, I say; for, 'till you do return, But I will rule both her, the king, and realm. I rest perplexed with a thousand cares.- [Erit. 'i. e. judge. 2 Grief in this line is taken generally for pain or uneasiness; in the line that follows, specially for sorrow. SECOND |