What ransom must I pay before I pass? 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 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? Reig. Suffolk, what remedy ?" I am a soldier; and unapt to weep, Suff. Yes, there is remedy enough, my lord: 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. worth, To be the princely bride of such a lord; Enjoy mine own, the county Maine, and Anjon, Suf. That is ber ransom, I deliver her; Reig. And I again,-in Henry's royal name, Because this is in traffic of a king: Reig. I do embrace thee, as I would embrace The Christian prince, king Henry, were be here. Thou may'st not wander in that labyrinth; A virgin from her tender infancy, 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 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 Have I sought every country far and near, 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, War. The greatest miracle that wrought: Is all your strict preciseness come to this I did imagine what would be her refuge. 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; of purpose to obscure my noble birth. Shep. 'Tis true, I gave a noble to the priest, Wilt thou not stoop? Now cursed be the time York. Alençon! that notorious Machiavel! It dies, an if it had a thousand lives. Puc. O give me leave, I have deluded you; But Reignier, king of Naples, that prevail'd. 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: Puc. Then lead me hence ;-with whom I May never glorious sun reflex his beams 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, [Exit. York. Take her away; for she hath liv'd too long, To fill the world with vicious qualities. Not me begotten of a shepherd swain, 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 We come to be informed by yourselves The hollow passage of my poison'd voice, That-in regard king Henry gives consent, To ease your country of distressful war, Alen. Must he be then as shadow of him- Adorn his temples with a coronet, + With more than half the Gallian territories, 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, And therefore take this compact of a truce, serves. condition stand? Char. It shall: Only reserv'd, you claim no interest York. Then swear allegiance to his majesty; 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 So, now dismiss your army when ye please; • Baneful. + Coronet is here used for crown. [Exeunt. Of beauteous Margaret hath astonish'd me: Suff. Tush! my good lord! this superficial tale 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 ? king, That he should be so abject, base, and poor, A triumph then signified a public exhibition; ruch By the discretional agency of another "Be content to live as the beneficiary of our as a mask, or revel. king. 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, Agree to any covenants: and procure For your expenses and sufficient charge, And so conduct me, where from company, As did the youthful Paris once to Greece; 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. 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, To marry princess Margaret for your grace; stance To your most gracious hands, that are the sub- K. Hen. Suffolk, arise.-Welcome, queen 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! A world of earthly blessings to my soul, Q. Mar. Great king of England, and my gracious lord; www |