ship, this judicious authority well observes:-"There are so many passages in the two plays now reprinted, that seem almost beyond the power of any of Shakespeare's predecessors or contemporaries, perhaps even not excepting Marlowe, that, as one method of explaining away the difficulties which attend a belief in Malone's theory, my conjecture that when these plays were printed in 1594 and 1595, they included the first additions which Shakespeare made to the originals, does not seem improbable, borne out, as it is, by an examination of the early editions. If I am so far correct, we have yet to discover the originals of the two parts of the 'Contention,' as well as that of 1 Henry VI." Lords, Ladies, and Attendants; Petitioners, Aldermen, a Herald, a Beadle, Sheriffs, and Officers; Citizens, Prentices, Falconers, Guards, Soldiers, Messengers, &c. SCENE,-Dispersedly in various parts of England. ACT I SCENE I.-London. A Room of State in the Palace. Flourish of Trumpets: then Hautboys. Enter, on one side, KING HENRY, DUKE OF GLOUCESTER, 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, Seven earls, twelve barons, and twenty reverend bishops, I have perform'd my task, and was espous'd; And humbly now upon my bended knee, In sight of England and her lordly peers, Deliver up my title in the queen To your most gracious hands, that are the substance The happiest gift that ever marquess 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 heart 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 ;The mutual conference that my mind hath had, By day, by night; waking, and in my dreams, In courtly company, or at my beads,-a With you mine alder-liefest sovereign, And over-joy of heart doth minister. K. HEN. Her sight did ravish; but her grace in speech, Her words y-clad with wisdom's majesty, Makes me, from wondering, fall to weeping, joys; a Or at my beads,-] See note (c), p. 4, Vol. I. b Alder-liefest-1 All-dearest; dearest of all; a Saxon compound found in many of our early writers, from Chaucer to Shakespeare. Such is the fulness of my heart's content.— ALL. Long live queen Margaret, England's happiness! SUF. My lord protector, so it please your grace, Between our sovereign and the French king Charles, [Flourish. GLO. [Reads.] Imprimis, It is agreed between the French king, Charles, and William de la Poole, marquess of Suffolk, ambassador for Henry king of England,-that the said Henry shall espouse the lady Margaret, daughter unto Reignier king of Naples, Sicilia, and Jerusalem; and crown her queen of England, ere the thirtieth of May next ensuing.—Item,-That the duchy of Anjou and the county of Maine shall be released and delivered to the king her father K. HEN. Uncle, how now! CAR. [Reads.] Item,—It is further agreed between them,―that the duchies of Anjou and Maine shall be released and delivered over to the king her father; and she sent over of the king of England's own proper cost and charges, without having any dowry. K. HEN. They please us well.-Lord marquess, kneel down; We thank you all for this great favour done, [Exeunt KING, QUEEN, and SUFfolk. In winter's cold and summer's parching heat, Receiv'd deep scars in France and Normandy? How France and Frenchmen might be kept in awe? Beena crown'd in Paris, in despite of foes? CAR. Nephew, what means this passionate discourse, This peroration with such circumstance? For France, 't is ours; and we will keep it still. But now it is impossible we should: Suffolk, the new-made duke that rules the roast, SAL. Now, by the death of Him that died for all, YORK. For Suffolk's duke, may he be suffocate, a Been crown'd in Paris,-] The old text reads "Crowned in Paris," &c. Capell added "Been," as did also Mr. Collier's annotator. She should have stay'd in France, and starv'd in France, CAR. My lord of Gloster, now ye grow too hot; GLO. My lord of Winchester, I know your mind; With-God preserve the good duke Humphrey! He will be found a dangerous protector. BUCK. Why should he, then, protect our sovereign, He being of age to govern of himself? Cousin of Somerset, join you with me, And all together, with the duke of Suffolk, We'll quickly hoise duke Humphrey from his seat. CAR. This weighty business will not brook delay; I'll to the duke of Suffolk presently. SOM. Cousin of Buckingham, though Humphrey's pride And greatness of his place be grief to us, Yet let us watch the haughty cardinal; His insolence is more intolerable Than all the princes in the land beside: If Gloster be displac'd, he'll be protector. BUCK. Or thou, or I, Somerset, will be protector,* Despite duke Humphrey or the cardinal. [Exit. [Exil. [Exeunt BUCKINGHAM and SOMERSET. SAL. Pride went before, ambition follows him. While these do labour for their own preferment, Behoves it us to labour for the realm. (*) First folio, protectors. |