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What ransom must I pay before I pass?
For, perceive, I am thy prisoner.

Suff. How can'st thou tell, she will deny thy suit,

Before thou make a trial of her love? [A side. Mar. Why speak'st thou not? what ransom must I pay?

Suff. She's beautiful; and therefore to be woo'd:

She is a woman; therefore to be won. [Aside. Mar. Wilt thou accept of ransom, yea, or no?

Suff. 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.

Suff. There all is marr'd; there lies a cooling card.

Mar. He talks at random: sure, the man is mad.

Suff. And yet a dispensation may be had. Mar. And yet I would that you would answer

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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.

Suff. See, Reignier, see, thy daughter pri

souer.

Reig. To whom?
Suff. To me.

Reig. Suffolk, what remedy ?"

I am a soldier; and unapt to weep,
Or to exclaim on fortune's fickleness.

Suff. 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?
Suff. 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 deinand.

[Erit, from the Walls. Suff. And here I will expect thy coming. Trumpets sounded. Enter REIGNIER, below. Reig. Welcome, brave earl, into our territorics;

Command in Anjon what your honour pleases. Suff. 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 inte

worth,

To be the princely bride of such a lord;
Upon condition I may quietly

Enjoy mine own, the county Maine, and Anjon,
Free from oppression, or the stroke of war,
My daughter shall be Henry's, if he please.

Suf. That is ber ransom, 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.
Suff. Reignier of France, I give thee kingly
thanks,

Because this is in traffic of a king:
And yet, methinks, I could be well content
To be mine own attorney in this case. [Aside.
I'll over then to England with this news,
And make this marriage to be solemiz'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 be

here.

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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, natural graces that extinguish art;
Repeat their semblance often on the seas,
That, when thou com'st to kneel at Henry's
feet,

A virgin from her tender infancy,
Chaste and immaculate in very thought;
Whose maiden blood, thus rigorously effus'd,
Will cry for vengeance at the gates of heaven.
York. Ay, ay;--away with her to execution.
War. And hark ye, Sirs; because she is a
maid,

Spare for no fagots, let there be enough: Thou may'st bereave him of his wits with won-Place barrels of pitch upon the fatal stake, der. That so her torture may be shortened. Puc. Will nothing turn your unrelenting hearts ?

[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 SHEP

HERD.

Shep. Ah! Joan! this kills thy father's heart
outright!

Have I sought every country far and near,
And now it is my chance to find thee out,

Must I behold thy timeless cruel death!

Ah! Joan, sweet daughter

thee!

Joan, I'll die with

Puc. Decrepit miser! base ignoble wretch!

I am descended of a gentler blood;

Thou art no father, nor no friend of mine.

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 bale me to a violent death.
York. Now heaven forfend! the holy maid
with child?
e'er ye

War. The greatest miracle that

wrought:

Is all your strict preciseness come to this
York. She and the Dauphin have been jug-
gling:

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;

Shep. Out, out !-My lords, an please you, 'tis It was Alençon, that enjoy'd my love.

not so;

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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

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 intoler-

able.

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 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,

Thy mother gave thee, when thou suck'dst her Drive you to break your necks, or hang your

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,
Bat issu'd from the progeny of kings;
Virtuous and holy; chosen from above,
By inspiration of celestial grace,
To work exceeding miracles on earth.
I never had to do with wicked spirits:
Bat you, that are polluted with your lusts,
Stain'd with the guiltiess blood of innocents,
Corrupt and tainted with a thousand vices,-
Because you want the grace that others have,
You judge it straight a thing impossible
To compass wonders, but by help of devils.
No, misconceived! Joan of Arc hath been

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War. Be patient, York: if we conclude a peace,

It shall be with such strict and severe cove. nants,

As little shall the Frenchmen gain thereby. 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.
York. Speak, Winchester; for boiling choler
chokes

The hollow passage of my poison'd voice,
By sight of these our baleful enemies.
Win. Charles, and the rest, it is enacted
thus:

That-in regard king Henry gives consent,
Of mere compassion, and of lenity,

To ease your country of distressful war,
And suffer you to breathe in fruitful peace,-
You shall become true liegemen to his crown :
And, Charles, upon condition thou wilt swear
To pay him tribute, and submit thyself,
Thou shalt be plac'd as viceroy under him,
And still enjoy thy regal dignity.

Alen. Must he be then as shadow of him-
self,

Adorn his temples with a coronet, +
And yet, in substance and authority,
Retain but privilege of a private man ?
This proffer is absurd and reasonless.
Char. 'Tis known, already, that I am pos-
sess'd

With more than half the Gallian territories,
And therein reverenc'd for their lawful king:
Shall 1, 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,
Stand'st thou aloof upon comparison?
Either accept the title thou usurp'st,
Of benefit proceeding from our king,
And not of any challenge of desert,

Or we will plague thee with incessant wars.
Reig. My lord, you do not well in obstinacy
To cavil in the course of this contract :
If once it be neglected, ten to one,
We shall not find like opportunity.

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
[Aside, to CHARLES.
War. How say'st thou, Charles? shall our

serves.

condition stand?

Char. It shall:

Only reserv'd, you claim no interest
In any of our towus of garrison.

York. Then swear allegiance to his majesty;
As thou art knight, never to disobey,
Nor be rebellious to the crown of England,
Thou, nor thy nobles, to the crown of En-
gland.-

SCENE V.-London.—A Room in the Palace. Enter King HENRY, in conference with Sup FOLK; GLOSter and Exeter following. K. Hen. Your wondrous rare description, noble earl,

[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.

• Baneful.

+ Coronet is here used for crown.

[Exeunt.

Of beauteous Margaret hath astonish'd me:
Her virtues, graced with external gifts,
Do breed love's settled passions in my heart:
And like as rigour in tempestuous gusts
Provokes the mightiest hulk against the tide;
So am I driven, by breath of her renown,
Either to suffer shipwreck, or arrive
Where I may have fruition of her love.

Suff. Tush! my good lord! this superficial tale
Is but a preface of her worthy praise:
The chief perfections of that lovely dame,
(Had I sufficient skill to utter them,)
Would make a volume of enticing lines,
Able to ravish any dull conceit.
And which is more, she is not so divine,
So full replete with choice of all delights,
But, with as humble lowliness of mind,
She is content to be at your command;
Command, I mean, of virtuous chaste intents,
To love and honour Heury as her lord.

K. Hen, And otherwise will Henry ne'er presume.

Therefore, my lord protector, give consent, That Margaret may be England's royal queen.

Glo. 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 honour with reproach!

Suff. As doth a ruler with unlawful oaths; 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, And therefore may be broke without offence. Glo. Why what, I pray is Margaret more than

that ?

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king,

That he should be so abject, base, and poor,
To choose for wealth, and not for perfect love.
Henry is able to enrich his queen,
And not to seek a queen to make him rich:
So worthless peasants bargain for their wives,
As market-men for oxen, sheep, or horse
Marriage is a matter of more worth,
Than to be dealt in by attorneyship,
Not whom we will, but whom his grace affects,
Must be companion of his nuptial bed:
And therefore, lords, since he affects her most,
It most of all these reasons bindeth us,
In our opinions she should be preferr'd.
For what is wedlock forced, but a hell,
An age of discord and continual strife!
Whereas the contrary bringeth forth bliss,
And is a pattern of celestial peace.
Whom should we match with Henry, being a
But Margaret, that is daughter to a king?
Her peerless feature, joined with her birth,
Approves her fit for none, but for a king:
Her valiant courage, and undaunted spirit,
(More than in women commonly is seen,)
Will answer our hope in issue of a king;

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report,

My noble lord of Suffolk; or for what

My tender youth was never yet attaint

With any passion of inflaming love,

1 cannot tell but this I am assur'd,

I feel such sharp dissention in my breast,
Such fierce alarums both of hope and fear,
As I am sick with working of my thoughts.
Take, therefore, shipping; post, my lord
France:

Agree to any covenants: and procure
That lady Margaret do vouchsafe to come
To cross the seas to England, and be crown'd
King Henry's faithful and anointed queen ;

For your expenses and sufficient charge,
Among the people gather up a tenth.
Be gone, I say: for, till you do return,
I rest perplexed with a thousand cares.-
And you, good uncle, banish all offence :
If you do censure me by what you were,
Not what you are, I know it will excuse
This sudden execution of my will.

And so conduct me, where from company,
I may revolve and ruminate my grief. [Exit.
Glo. Ay, grief, I fear me, both at first and
last. [Exeunt GLOSTER and EXETER.
Suff. Thus Suffolk hath prevail'd: and thus he
goes,

As did the youthful Paris once to Greece;
With hope to find the like event in love,
But prosper better than the Trojan did."
to Margaret shall now be queen, and rule the

king;

But I will rule both her, the king, and realm.

• Judge.

[Exit.

SR

SECOND PART

OF

KING HENRY VI.

LITERARY AND HISTORICAL NOTICE.

SHAKSPEARE is said to have formed this and the succeeding part of Henry VI. from a dramatic production entitled, The Contention of the two famous Houses of York and Lancaster; "altering, retrenching, or amplifying," as his genius or his judgment suggested. The present drama embraces the transactions of ten years, commencing with the king's marriage, A. D. 1445, and closing with the battle of St. Alban's, won by the York faction, A. D. 1455.

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ACT I.

I have perform'd my task, and was espous'd: And humbly now upou my bended knee, SCENE 1-London.-A Room of State in In sight of England and her lordly peers, the Palace. Deliver up my title in the queen

En

Flourish of Trumpets: then Hautboys. ter, on one side, King HENRY, Duke of GLOSTER, SALISBURY, WARWICK, and Cardinal BEAUFORT; on the other, Queen MARGARET, led in by SUFFOLK; YORK, SOMERSET, BUCKINGHAM, and others, following.

Suf. As by your high imperial majesty,
I had in charge at my depart for France,
As procurator to your excellence,

To marry princess Margaret for your grace;
So, in the famous ancient city, Tours,
In presence of the kings of France and Sicil,
The dukes of Orleans, Calaber, Bretaigne, and
Alençon,
[bishops,
Seven earls, twelve barons, twenty reverend

stance

To your most gracious hands, that are the sub-
Of that great shadow I did represent;
The happiest gift that ever marquis gave,
The fairest queen that ever king receiv'd.

K. Hen. Suffolk, arise.-Welcome, queen
Margaret :

I can express no kinder sign of love, Than this kind kiss.-O Lord, that lends me life,

Lend me a beart replete with thankfulness!
For thou hast given me, in this beauteous
face,

A world of earthly blessings to my soul,
If sympathy of love unite our thoughts.

Q. Mar. Great king of England, and my gracious lord;

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