Puc. 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! [wrought; War. The greatest miracle that e'er ye 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 deceived; my child is none of his; It was Alencon, that enjoy'd my love. York. Alencon! 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 Use no entreaty, for it is in vain. [thee: Puc. Then lead me hence;-with whom I leave my curse: May never glorious sun reflex his beams Upon the country where you make abode! But darkness and the gloomy shade of death Environ you; till mischief and despair, selves! Drive you to break your necks, or hang your[Exit, guarded York. Break thou in pieces, and consume to ashes, Thou foul accursed minister of hell! 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, War. Be patient, York: if we conclude a peace, It shall be with such strict and severe covenants, As little shall the Frenchmen gain thereby. Enter CHARLES, attended; ALENCON, 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 The hollow passage of my poison'd voice, Win. Charles, and the rest, it is enacted thus: Alen. Must he be then as shadow of himself? Adorn his temples with a coronet; And yet, in substance and authority, Retain but privilege of a private man? 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. York. Insulting Charles! hast thou by secret means Used intercession to obtain a league; And, now the matter grows to compromise, Alen. To say the truth, it is your policy, 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? Char. It shall: Only reserv'd, you claim no interest York. Then swear allegiance to his majesty; - [CHARLES, and the rest, 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, Of beauteous Margaret hath astonish'd me: Where I may have fruition of her love. And, which is more, she is not so divine, K.Hen. And otherwise will Henry ne'er pre sume. Therefore, my lord protector, give consent, How shall we then dispense with that contract, Her father is no better than an earl, Suff. Yes, my good 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. Glo. And so the earl of Armagnac may do, Because he is near kinsman unto Charles. Exe. Beside his wealth doth warrant liberal dower; While Reignier sooner will receive than give. Suff. 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, Whom should we match with Henry, being a king, But Margaret, that is daughter to a king? As is fair Margaret, he be link'd in love. me, That Margaret shall be queen, and none but she. K. Hen. Whether it be through force of your report, |