King Henry VI, First Part
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WINCHESTERStay my lord legate: you shall first receiveThe sum of money which I promisedShould be deliver'd to his holinessFor clothing me in these grave ornaments.LEGATE.I will attend upon your lordship's leisure.WINCHESTER[Aside] Now Winchester will not submit, I trow,Or be inferior to the proudest peer.Humphrey of Gloucester, thou shalt well perceiveThat neither in birth or for authority,The bishop will be overborne by thee: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, Alencon, Bastard, Reignier, La Pucelle, and forces.]
CHARLESThese news, my lords, may cheer our drooping spirits:'Tis said the stout Parisians do revoltAnd turn again unto the warlike French.ALENCONThen march to Paris, royal Charles of France,And keep not back your powers in dalliance.PUCELLEPeace be amongst them, if they turn to us;Else, ruin combat with their palaces![Enter Scout.]
SCOUTSuccess unto our valiant general,And happiness to his accomplices!CHARLESWhat tidings send our scouts? I prithee, speak.SCOUTThe English army, that divided wasInto two parties, is now conjoin'd in one,And means to give you battle presently.CHARLESSomewhat too sudden, sirs, the warning is;But we will presently provide for them.BURGUNDYI trust the ghost of Talbot is not there:Now he is gone, my lord, you need not fear.PUCELLEOf all base passions, fear is most accursed.Command the conquest, Charles, it shall be thine,Let Henry fret and all the world repine.CHARLESThen on, my lords; and France be fortunate![Exeunt.]
SCENE III. Before Angiers
[Alarum. Excursions. Enter La Pucelle.]
PUCELLEThe regent conquers, and the Frenchmen fly.Now help, ye charming spells and periapts;And ye choice spirits that admonish me,And give me signs of future accidents. [Thunder]You speedy helpers, that are substitutesUnder the lordly monarch of the north,Appear and aid me in this enterprise.[Enter Fiends.]
This speedy and quick appearance argues proofOf your accustom'd diligence to me.Now, ye familiar spirits, that are cull'dOut of the powerful regions under earth,Help me this once, that France may get the field.[They walk and speak not.]
O, hold me not with silence over-long!Where I was wont to feed you with my blood,I 'll lop a member off and give it youIn earnest of a further benefit,So you do condescend to help me now.[They hang their heads.]
No hope to have redress? My body shallPay recompense, if you will grant my suit.[They shake their heads.]
Cannot my body nor blood-sacrificeEntreat 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 comeThat France must vail 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.]
YORKDamsel of France, I think I have you fast:Unchain your spirits now with spelling charms,And try if they can gain your liberty.A goodly prize, fit for the devil's grace!See, how the ugly witch doth bend her brows,As if with Circe she would change my shape!PUCELLEChang'd to a worser shape thou canst not be.YORKO, Charles the Dauphin is a proper man;No shape but his can please your dainty eye.PUCELLEA plaguing mischief light on Charles and thee!And may ye both be suddenly surprisedBy bloody hands, in sleeping on your beds!YORKFell banning hag; enchantress, hold thy tongue!PUCELLEI prithee, give me leave to curse awhile.YORKCurse, miscreant, when thou comest to the stake.[Exeunt.]
[Alarum. Enter Suffolk, with Margaret in his hand.]
SUFFOLKBe 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.MARGARETMargaret my name, and daughter to a king,The King of Naples, whosoe'er thou art.SUFFOLKAn 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,Twinkling another counterfeited beam,So seems this gorgeous beauty to mine eyes.Fain would I woo her, yet I dare not speak:I'll call for pen and ink, and write my mind.Fie, de la Pole! disable not thyself;Hast not a tongue? is she not here?Wilt thou be daunted at a woman's sight?Aye, beauty's princely majesty is such,Confounds the tongue and makes the senses rough.MARGARETSay, Earl of Suffolk, – if thy name be so —What ransom must I pay before I pass?For I perceive I am thy prisoner.SUFFOLKHow canst thou tell she will deny thy suit,Before thou make a trial of her love?MARGARETWhy speak'st thou not? what ransom must I pay?SUFFOLKShe's beautiful and therefore to be woo'd;She is a woman, therefore to be won.MARGARETWilt thou accept of ransom? yea, or no.SUFFOLKFond man, remember that thou hast a wife;Then how can Margaret be thy paramour?MARGARETI were best leave him, for he will not hear.SUFFOLKThere all is marr'd; there lies a cooling card.MARGARETHe talks at random; sure, the man is mad.SUFFOLKAnd yet a dispensation may be had.MARGARETAnd yet I would that you would answer me.SUFFOLKI'll win this Lady Margaret. For whom?Why, for my king; tush, that 's a wooden thing!MARGARETHe talks of wood: it is some carpenter.SUFFOLKYet 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.MARGARETHear ye, captain, are you not at leisure?SUFFOLKIt shall be so, disdain they ne'er so much:Henry is youthful and will quickly yield.Madam, I have a secret to reveal.MARGARETWhat though I be enthrall'd? he seems a knight,And will not any way dishonor me.SUFFOLKLady, vouchsafe to listen what I say.MARGARETPerhaps I shall be rescued by the French;And then I need not crave his courtesy.SUFFOLKSweet madam, give me hearing in a cause —MARGARETTush! women have been captivate ere now.SUFFOLKLady, wherefore talk you so?MARGARETI cry you mercy, 'tis but Quid for Quo.SUFFOLKSay, gentle princess, would you not supposeYour bondage happy, to be made a queen?MARGARETTo be a queen in bondage is more vileThan is a slave in base servility;For princes should be free.SUFFOLKAnd so shall you,If happy England's royal king be free.MARGARETWhy, what concerns his freedom unto me?SUFFOLKI'll undertake to make thee Henry's queen,To put a golden scepter in thy handAnd set a precious crown upon thy head,If thou wilt condescend to be my —MARGARETWhat?SUFFOLKHis love.MARGARETI am unworthy to be Henry's wife.SUFFOLKNo, gentle madam; I unworthy amTo woo so fair a dame to be his wife,And have no portion in the choice myself.How say you, madam, are ye so content?MARGARETAn if my father please, I am content.SUFFOLKThen call our captain and our colors forth.And, madam, at your father's castle wallsWe'll crave a parley, to confer with him.[A parley sounded. Enter Reignier on the walls.]
See, Reignier, see, thy daughter prisoner!REIGNIERTo whom?SUFFOLKTo me.REIGNIERSuffolk, what remedy?I am a soldier, and unapt to weep,Or to exclaim on fortune's fickleness.SUFFOLKYes, 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 imprisonmentHath gain'd thy daughter princely liberty.REIGNIERSpeaks Suffolk as he thinks?SUFFOLKFair Margaret knowsThat Suffolk doth not flatter, face, or feign.REIGNIERUpon thy princely warrant, I descendTo give thee answer of thy just demand.[Exit from the walls.]
SUFFOLKAnd here I will expect thy coming.[Trumpets sound. Enter Reignier, below.]
REIGNIERWelcome, brave earl, into our territories:Command in Anjou what your honor pleases.SUFFOLKThanks, Reignier, happy for so sweet a child,Fit to be made companion with a king:What answer makes your grace unto my suit?REIGNIERSince thou dost deign to woo her little worthTo be the princely bride of such a lord;Upon condition I may quietlyEnjoy mine own, the country Maine and Anjou,Free from oppression or the stroke of war,My daughter shall be Henry's, if he please.SUFFOLKThat is her ransom; I deliver her;And those two counties I will undertakeYour Grace shall well and quietly enjoy.REIGNIERAnd I again, in Henry's royal name,As deputy unto that gracious king,Give thee her hand, for sign of plighted faith.SUFFOLKReignier of France, I give thee kingly thanks,Because this is in traffic of a king.[Aside] And yet, methinks, I could be well contentTo be mine own attorney in this case.I 'll over then to England with this news,And make this marriage to be solemnized.So, farewell, Reignier; set this diamond safeIn golden palaces, as it becomes.REIGNIERI do embrace thee as I would embraceThe Christian prince, King Henry, were he here.MARGARETFarewell, my lord: good wishes, praise and prayers.Shall Suffolk ever have of Margaret. [Going.SUFFOLKFarewell, sweet madam: but hark you, Margaret;No princely commendations to my king?MARGARETSuch commendations as becomes a maid,A virgin and his servant, say to him.SUFFOLKWords sweetly placed and modestly directed.But, madam, I must trouble you again;No loving token to his majesty?MARGARETYes, my good lord, a pure unspotted heart,Never yet taint with love, I send the king.SUFFOLKAnd this withal. [Kisses her.]MARGARETThat for thyself: I will not so presumeTo send such peevish tokens to a king.[Exeunt Reignier and Margaret.]
SUFFOLKO, wert thou for myself! But, Suffolk, stay;Thou mayst not wander in that labyrinth;There Minotaurs and ugly treasons lurk.Solicit Henry with her wondrous praise:Bethink thee on her virtues that surmount,And natural graces that extinguish art;Repeat their semblance often on the seas,That, when thou comest to kneel at Henry's feet,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.]
YORKBring forth that sorceress condemn'd to burn.[Enter La Pucelle, guarded, and a Shepherd.]SHEPHERDAh, 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 Joan, I 'll die with thee!PUCELLEDecrepit miser! base ignoble wretch!I am descended of a gentler blood:Thou art no father nor no friend of mine.SHEPHERDOut, out! My lords, as please you, 'tis not so;I did beget her, all the parish knows.Her mother liveth yet, can testifyShe was the first fruit of my bachelorship.WARWICKGraceless! wilt thou deny thy parentage?YORKThis argues what her kind of life hath been,Wicked and vile; and so her death concludes.SHEPHERDFie, Joan, that thou wilt be so obstacle!God knows thou art a collop of my flesh;And for thy sake have I shed many a tear:Deny me not, I prithee, gentle Joan.PUCELLEPeasant, avaunt! You have suborn'd this man,Of purpose to obscure my noble birth.SHEPHERD'Tis true, I gave a noble to the priestThe 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 timeOf thy nativity! I would the milkThy mother gave thee when thou suck'dst her 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.]
YORKTake her away; for she hath lived too long,To fill the world with vicious qualities.PUCELLEFirst, let me tell you whom you have condemn'd:Not me begotten of a shepherd swain,But issued 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:But you, that are polluted with your lusts,Stain'd with the guiltless blood of innocents,Corrupt and tainted with a thousand vices,Because you want the grace that others have,You judge it straight a thing impossibleTo compass wonders but by help of devils.No, misconceived! Joan of Arc hath beenA virgin from her tender infancy,Chaste and immaculate in very thought;Whose maiden blood, thus rigorously effused,Will cry for vengeance at the gates of heaven.YORKAye, aye: away with her to execution!WARWICKAnd hark ye, sirs; because she is a maid,Spare for no faggots, let there be enow:Place barrels of pitch upon the fatal stake,That so her torture may be shortened.PUCELLEWill 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.YORKNow heaven forfend! the holy maid with child!WARWICKThe greatest miracle that e'er ye wrought:Is all your strict preciseness come to this?YORKShe and the Dauphin have been juggling:I did imagine what would be her refuge.WARWICKWell, go to; we'll have no bastards live;Especially since Charles must father it.PUCELLEYou are deceived; my child is none of his:It was Alencon that enjoy'd my love.YORKAlencon! that notorious Machiavel!It dies, an if it had a thousand lives.PUCELLEO, give me leave, I have deluded you:'Twas neither Charles nor yet the duke I named,But Reignier, king of Naples, that prevail'd.WARWICKA married man! that's most intolerable.YORKWhy, here's a girl! I think she knows not wellThere were so many, whom she may accuse.WARWICKIt's sign she hath been liberal and free.YORKAnd yet, forsooth, she is a virgin pure.Strumpet, thy words condemn thy brat and thee:Use no entreaty, for it is in vain.PUCELLEThen lead me hence; with whom I leave my curse:May never glorious sun reflex his beamsUpon the country where you make abode:But darkness and the gloomy shade of deathEnviron you, till mischief and despairDrive you to break your necks or hang yourselves![Exit, guarded.]
YORKBreak thou in pieces and consume to ashes,Thou foul accursed minister of hell![Enter Cardinal Beaufort, Bishop of Winchester, attended.]
CARDINALLord regent, I do greet your excellenceWith letters of commission from the king.For know, my lords, the states of Christendom,Moved with remorse of these outrageous broils,Have earnestly implored a general peaceBetwixt our nation and the aspiring French;And here at hand the Dauphin and his trainApproacheth, to confer about some matter.YORKIs all our travail turn'd to this effect?After the slaughter of so many peers,So many captains, gentlemen and soldiers,That in this quarrel have been overthrown,And sold their bodies for their country's benefit,Shall we at last conclude effeminate peace?Have we not lost most part of all the towns,By treason, falsehood, and by treachery,Our great progenitors had conquered?O, Warwick, Warwick! I foresee with griefThe utter loss of all the realm of France.WARWICKBe patient, York: if we concludea peace,It shall be with such strict and severe covenantsAs little shall the Frenchmen gain thereby.[Enter Charles, Alencon, Bastard, Reignier, and others.]
CHARLESSince, lords of England, it is thus agreedThat peaceful truce shall be proclaim'd in France,We come to be informed by yourselvesWhat the conditions of that league must be.YORKSpeak, Winchester; for boiling choler chokesThe hollow passage of my poison'd voice,By sight of these our baleful enemies.CARDINALCharles, 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 swearTo pay him tribute and submit thyself,Thou shalt be placed as viceroy under him,And still enjoy the regal dignity.ALENCONMust 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?This proffer is absurd and reasonless.CHARLES'Tis known already that I am possess'dWith more than half the Gallian territories,And therein reverenced 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 keepThat which I have than, coveting for more,Be cast from possibility of all.YORKInsulting Charles! hast thou by secret meansUsed 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 kingAnd not of any challenge of desert,Or we will plague thee with incessant wars.REIGNIERMy lord, you do not well in obstinacyTo cavil in the course of this contract:If once it be neglected, ten to oneWe shall not find like opportunity.ALENCONTo say the truth, it is your policyTo save your subjects from such massacreAnd 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 serves.WARWICKHow say'st thou, Charles? shall our condition stand?CHARLESIt shall;Only reserv'd, you claim no interestIn any of our towns of garrison.YORKThen swear allegiance to his majesty,As thou art knight, never to disobeyNor be rebellious to the crown of EnglandThou, nor thy nobles, to the crown of England.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. The royal palace
[Enter Suffolk in conference with the King, Gloucester and Exeter.]
KINGYour wondrous rare description, noble earl,Of beauteous Margaret hath astonish'd me.Her virtues graced with external giftsDo breed love's settled passions in my heart:And like as rigor of tempestuous gustsProvokes the mightiest hulk against the tide,So am I driven by breath of her renown,Either to suffer shipwreck or arriveWhere I may have fruition of her love.SUFFOLKTush, my good lord, this superficial taleIs 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 mindShe is content to be at your command;Command, I mean, of virtuous intents,To love and honor Henry as her lord.KINGAnd otherwise will Henry ne'er presume.Therefore, my lord protector, give consentThat Margaret may be England's royal queen.GLOUCESTERSo should I give consent to flatter sin.You know, my lord, your highness is betroth'dUnto another lady of esteem:How shall we then dispense with that contract,And not deface your honor with reproach?SUFFOLKAs doth a ruler with unlawful oaths;Or one that, at a triumph having vow'dTo try his strength, forsaketh yet the listsBy reason of his adversary's odds:A poor earl's daughter is unequal odds,And therefore may be broke without offense.GLOUCESTERWhy, what, I pray, is Margaret more than that?Her father is no better than an earl,Although in glorious titles he excel.SUFFOLKYes, 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.GLOUCESTERAnd so the Earl of Armagnac may do,Because he is near kinsman unto Charles.EXETERBeside, his wealth doth warrant a liberal dower,Where Reignier sooner will receive than give.SUFFOLKA dower, my lords! disgrace not so your 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 worthThan 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 bliss,And is a pattern of celestial peace.Whom should we match with Henry, being a king,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;For Henry, son unto a conqueror,Is likely to beget more conquerors,If with a lady of so high resolveAs is fair Margaret he be link'd in love.Then yield, my lords; and here conclude with meThat Margaret shall be queen, and none but she.KINGWhether it be through force of your report,My noble Lord of Suffolk, or for thatMy tender youth was never yet attaintWith any passion of inflaming love,I cannot tell; but this I am assured,I feel such sharp dissension 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, to France;Agree to any covenants, and procureThat Lady Margaret do vouchsafe to comeTo cross the seas to England, and be crown'dKing 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 offense:If you do censure me by what you were,Not what you are, I know it will excuseThis sudden execution of my will.And so, conduct me where, from company,I may revolve and ruminate my grief.[Exit.]
GLOUCESTERAye, grief, I fear me, both at first and last.[Exeunt Gloucester and Exeter.]
SUFFOLKThus 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 Troyan did.Margaret shall now be queen, and rule the king;But I will rule both her, the king and realm.[Exit.]