Win. Stay, my lord legate: you shall first receive The sum of money which I promised sure. King. Have you perused the letters from the The bishop will be overborne by thee: pope, 19 The Earl of Armagnac, near knit to Charles, And fitter is my study and my books Exe. What! is my Lord of Winchester install'd, And call'd unto a cardinal's degree? Then I perceive that will be verified Henry the Fifth did sometime prophesy, 30 [suits 40 'If once he come to be a cardinal, your 50 [Exeunt all but Winchester and Legate. 65 I'll either make thee stoop and bend thy knee, Or sack this country with a mutiny. [Exeunt. SCENE II. France. Plains in Anjou. Enter CHARLES, BURGUNDY, ALENÇON, BAStard, ReignIER, LA PUCELLE, and forces. Char. These news, my lords, may cheer our drooping spirits: 'Tis said the stout Parisians do revolt And keep not back your powers in dalliance. Enter Scout. Where I was wont to feed you with my blood, 20 [They hang their heads. No hope to have redress? My body shall Pay recompense, if you will grant my suit. They shake their heads. Cannot my body nor blood-sacrifice Entreat you to your wonted furtherance? Then take my soul, my body, soul and all, Before that England give the French the foil. [They depart. See, they forsake me! Now the time is come That France must veil her lofty-plumed crest, And let her head fall into England's lap. My ancient incantations are too weak, And hell too strong for me to buckle with: Now, France, thy glory droopeth to the dust. [Exit. Excursions. Re-enter LA PUCELLE fighting hand to hand with YORK: LA PUCELLE IS taken. The French fly. York. Damsel of France, I think I have you fast: 30 Unchain your spirits now with spelling charms, and thee! Suf. Be what thou wilt, thou art my prisoner. [Gazes on her. O fairest beauty, do not fear nor fly! For I will touch thee but with reverent hands; I kiss these fingers for eternal peace, And lay them gently on thy tender side. Who art thou? say, that I may honor thee. Mar. Margaret my name, and daughter to a king, The King of Naples, whosoe'er thou art. 50 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 prisoner underneath her wings. Yet, if this servile usage once offend, Go and be free again as Suffolk's friend. [She is 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, 65 pay? Suf. She's beautiful, and therefore to be woo'd; She is a woman, therefore to be won. Mar. Wilt thou accept of ransom? yea, or no. Suf Fond man, remember that thou hast a wife; 80 Then how can Margaret be thy paramour? Mar. I were best to 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. 91 Suf. I'll win this Lady Margaret. For whom? Why, for my king: tush, that's a wooden thing! 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. 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 inthrall'd? he seems a knight, And will not any way dishonor me. 100 Suf. Lady, vouchsafe to listen what I say. Mar. Perhaps I shall be rescued by the French; And then I need not crave his courtesy. See, Reignier, see, thy daughter prisoner ! 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 honor 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. 140 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 terri tories: Command in Anjou what your honor pleases. Suf. Thanks, Reignier, happy for so sweet a child, Fit to be made companion with a king: To be the princely bride of such a lord; Enjoy mine own, the county Maine, and Anjou, 161 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. 180 Mar. Yes, my good lord, a pure unspotted heart, Never yet taint with love, I send the king, 190 Thou mayst not wander in that labyrinth; Thou mayst 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, Puc. Decrepit miser! base ignoble wretch! 'tis not so: I did beget her, all the parish knows: Her mother liveth yet, can testify She was the first fruit of my bachelorship. War. Graceless! wilt thou deny thy parentage? York. This argues what her kind of life hath been, [Asile] And yet, methinks, I could be well Wicked and vile; and so her death concludes. Shep. Fie, Joan, that thou wilt be so obstacle! God knows thou art a collop of my flesh; 20 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! 31 Or else, when thou didst keep my lambs a-field, To fill the world with vicious qualities. There were so many, whom she may accuse. Puc. Then lead me hence; with whom I 90 May never glorious sun reflex his beams Puc. First, let me tell you whom you have Thou foul accursed minister of hell! Not me begotten of a shepherd swain, 40 To work exceeding miracles on earth. Spare for no fagots, let there be enow: 50 Puc. Will nothing turn your unrelenting hearts? York. Now heaven forfend! the holy maid with child! War. The greatest miracle that e'er ye Is all your strict preciseness come to this? I did imagine what would be her refuge. Especially since Charles must father it. 75 With letters of commission from the king. York. Is all our travail turn'd to this effect? 110 It shall be with such strict and severe covenants Enter CHARLES, ALENÇON, Bastard, Char. Since, lords of England, it is thus The hollow passage of my poison'd voice, 120 Car. Charles, and the rest, it is enacted thus That, in regard King Henry gives consent, Puc. You are deceived; my child is none of Of mere compassion and of lenity. 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 named, But Reignier, king of Naples, that prevail'd. War. A married man! that's most intolerable. Adorn his temples with a coronet, Char. 'Tis known already that I am possess'd York. Insulting Charles! hast thou by secret means Used intercession to obtain a league, Or we will plague thee with incessant wars. Alen. To say the truth, it is your policy 150 160 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? SCENE V. London. The palace. Enter SUFFOLK, in conference with the KING, GLOUCESTER and EXETER. King. Your wondrous rare description, noble earl, Of beauteous Margaret hath astonish'd me: And, which is more, she is not so divine, II She is content to be at your command: Command, I mean, of virtuous chaste intents, 20 To love and honor Henry as her lord. King. And otherwise will Henry ne'er pre sume. Therefore, my lord protector, give consent That Margaret may be England's royal queen. Glon. So should I give consent to flatter sin. 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 honor with reproach? Suf. As doth a ruler with unlawful oaths: 30 A poor earl's daughter is unequal odds, than that? Her father is no better than an earl, Although in glorious titles he excel. 40 Suf. Yes, my lord, her father is a king, The king of Naples and Jerusalem; And of such great authority in France As his alliance will confirm our peace And keep the Frenchmen in allegiance. Glou. And so the Earl of Armagnac may do, Because he is near kinsman unto Charles. Exe. Beside, his wealth doth warrant a liberal dower, Where Reignier sooner will receive than give. Suf. A power, my lords! disgrace not so your king, That he should be so abject, base and poor, 60 [king, And not to seek a queen to make him rich: My noble lord of Suffolk, or for that 70 80 |