The Complete Dramatic and Poetic Works of William Shakespeare

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this man,

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180

sume

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To be mine own attorney in this case.
I'll over then to England with this news,
And make this marriage to be solemniz'd.
So farewell, Reignier ! Set this diamond safe
In golden palaces, as it becomes.
Reig. I'do embrace thee, as I would em-

brace The Christian prince, King Henry, were he

here. Mar. Farewell, my lord! Good wishes,

praise, and prayers Shall Suffolk ever have of Margaret. (Going. Suf. Farewell, sweet madam! But hark

yon, Margaret; No princely commendations to my king ? Mar. Such commendations as becomes a

maid, A virgin, and his servant, say to him. Suf. Words sweetly plac'd and modestly

directed. But, madam, I must trouble you again ; No loving token to his Majesty ? Mar. Yes, my good lord, a pure unspotted

heart, Never yet taint with love, I send the King. Suf. And this withal.

(Kisses her. Mar. That for thyself; I will not so preTo send such peevish tokens to a king:

(Exeunt Reignier and Margaret.] Suf. O, 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 com'st to kneel at Henry's

feet, Thou mayst bereave him of his wits with wonder.

(Erit. 195 [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 Joan, I'll die with

thee !
Puc. Decrepit miser! base ignoble wretch!
I am descended of a gentler blood.
Thou art no father nor no friend of mine.
Shep. Out, out! My lords, an please you,

't is not so.
I did beget her, all the parish knows.
Her mother liveth yet, can testify
She was the first fruit of my bachelorship.

War. Graceless ! wilt thou deny thy parent

age ? York. This argues what her kind of life

hath been, Wicked and vile; and so her death concludes. Shep. Fie, Joan, that thou wilt be so ob

stacle !
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.

Puc. Peasant, avaunt! - You have suborn'd 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. 24 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 Thy mother gave thee when thou snck’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.

(Erit. 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,
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 impossible
To compass wonders but by help of devils.
No; misconceived ! Joan of Arc hath been
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 faggots, let there be enow.
Place barrels of pitch upon the fatal stake,
That so her torture may be shortened.
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 forfend! the holy maid

with child ! War. The greatest miracle that e'er ye

wrought! Is all your strict preciseness come to this?

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York. She and the Dauphin have been jug

gling: I did imagine what would be her refuge. War. Well, go to; we'll have no bastards

live, Especially since Charles must father it. Puc. You are deceiv'd; my child is none of

his. It was Alençon that enjoy'd my love.

York. Alençon ! that notorious Machiavel! It dies, an if it had a thousand lives.

Puc. 0, give me leave, I have deluded you. 'T was 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 Drive you to break your necks or hang yourselves!

[Exit (guarded]. York. Break thou in pieces and consume to

ashes, Thou foul accursed minister of hell ! Enter CARDINAL [BEAUFORT, Bishop of Win

chester, attended]. Car. Lord Regent, I do greet your excellence With letters of commission from the King. For know, my lords, the states of Christen

dom, Mov'd with remorse of these outrageous broils, Have earnestly implor'd a general peace Betwixt our nation and the aspiring French; And here at hand the Dauphin and his train 100 Approacheth, to confer about some matter.

York. Is 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 bene

fit, 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 ? 0, Warwick, Warwick! I foresee with grief The utter loss of all the realm of France. 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. 115

Enter CHARLES, ALENÇON, BASTARD, REIGx

IER (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. Car. 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. 'T is known already that I am pos

sess'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, 14 Be cast from possibility of all.

York. Insusting Charles ! hast thou by secret
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 obsti-

пасу
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
War. How say'st thou, Charles ? Shall our

condition stand ?
Char. It shall;
Only reserv'd, you claim no interest
In any of our towns of garrison.

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means

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serves.

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York. Then swear allegiance to his Majesty, Suf. A dower, my lords ! disgrace not so As thou art knight, never to disobey

your king, Nor be rebellious to the crown of England, That he should be so abject, base, and poor, Thou, nor thy nobles, to the crown of England. To choose for wealth and not for perfect love, 60

(Charles and his party give signs of Henry is able to enrich his queen
fealty.)

And not to seek a queen to make him rich.
So, now dismiss your army when ye please ;. So worthless peasants bargain for their wives,
Hang up your ensigns, let your drums be still, As market-men for oxen, sheep, or horse.
For here we entertain a solemn peace.

Marriage is a matter of more worth [Exeunt. Than to be dealt in by attorneyship.

Not whom we will, but whom his Grace affects, (SCENE) V. (London. The palace.] Must be companion of his nuptial bed. Enter SUFFOLK in conference with the KING ;

And therefore, lords, since he affects her most, GLOUCESTER and EXETER ( following).

[It] most of all these reasons bindeth us,

In our opinions she should be preferr'd. King. Your wondrous rare description, noble For what is wedlock forced but a hell, earl,

An age of discord and continual strife? Of beauteous Margaret hath astonish'd me. Whereas the contrary bringeth bliss, Her virtues graced with external gifts

And is a pattern of celestial peace. Do breed love's settled passions in my heart; Whom should we match with Henry, being a king, And like as rigour of tempestuous gusts

But Margaret, that is daughter to a king ? Provokes the mightiest hulk against the tide, Her peerless feature, joined with her birth, So am I driven by breath of her renown Approves her fit for none but for a king: Either to suffer shipwreck or arrive

Her valiant courage and undaunted spirit, Where I may have fruition of her love.

More than in women commonly is seen, Suf. Tush, my good lord, this superficial Will answer our hope in issue of a king; tale

For Henry, son unto a conqueror, Is but a preface of her worthy praise.

Is likely to beget more conquerors, The chief

perfections of that lovely dame, If with a lady of so high resolve Had I sufficient skill to utter them,

As is fair Margaret he be link'd in love. Would make a volume of enticing lines,

Then yield, my lords ; and here conclude with me Able to ravish any dull conceit;

That Margaret shall be Queen, and none but she. And, which is more, she is not so divine,

King. Whether it be through force of your So full-replete with choice of all delights,

report, But with as humble lowliness of mind

My noble Lord of Suffolk, or for that She is content to be at your command ;

My tender youth was never yet attaint Command, I mean, of virtuous chaste intents, With any passion of inflaming love, To love and honour Henry as her lord.

I cannot tell; but this I am assur'd, King. And otherwise will Henry ne'er pre- I feel such sharp dissension in my breast,

Such fierce alarums both of hope and fear, Therefore, my Lord Protector, give consent As I am sick with working of my thoughts. That Margaret may be England's royal queen. Take, therefore, shipping ; post, my lord, to

Glou. So should I give consent to flatter sin. 25 France;
You know, my lord, your Highness is betroth'd Agree to any covenants, and procure
Unto another lady of esteem.

That Lady Margaret do vouchsafe to come How shall we then dispense with that contract, To cross the seas to England and be crown'd 10 And not deface your honour with reproach ? King Henry's faithful and anointed queen.

Suf. As doth a ruler with unlawful oaths ; 30 For your expenses and sufficient charge, Or one that, at a triumph having vow'd

Among the people gather up a tenth. To try his strength, forsaketh yet the lists Be

gone,

I say; for, till you do return, By reason of his adversary's odds.

I rest perplexed with a thousand cares.
A poor earl's daughter is unequal odds,

And you, good unele, banish all offence.
And therefore may be broke without offence. 86 If you do censure me by what you were,
Glou. Why, what, I pray, is Margaret more
I

Not what you are, I know it will excuse
than that?

This sudden execution of my will. Her father is no better than an earl,

And so, conduct me where, from company, Although in glorious titles he excel.

I may revolve and ruminate my grief. Erit. Suf. Yes, my lord, her father is a king,

Glou. Ay, grief, I fear me, both at first and The King of Naples and Jerusalem ;

last. (Exeunt Gloucester (and Exeter. And of such great authority in France

Suf. Thus Suffolk hath prevail'd ; and thus As his alliance will confirm our peace And keep the Frenchmen in allegiance.

As did the youthful Paris once to Greece, Glou. And so the Earl of Armagnac may do, With hope to find the like event in love, Because he is near kinsman unto Charles.

But prosper better than the Troyan did. Exe. Beside, his wealth doth warrant a lib- Margaret shall now be Queen, and rule the King; eral dower,

But I will rule both her, the King, and realm, Where Reignier sooner will receive than give.

(Erit.

sume.

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he goes,

106

THE SECOND PART OF HENRY THE SIXTH

[DRAMATIS PERSONÆ KING HENRY VI.

A Sea-Captain, Master, and Master's Mate, and WalHUMPHREY, duke of Gloucester, his uncle.

TER WHITMORE. CARDINAL BEAUFORT, bishop of Winchester, great- Two Gentlemen, prisoners with Suffolk. uncle to the King.

JOHN HUME and JOHN SOUTHWELL, priests. RICHARD PLANTAGENET, duke of York.

ROGER BOLINGBROKE, a conjurer. EDWARD and RICHARD, his sons.

THOMAS HORNER, an armourer. DUKE OF SOMERSET.

PETER, his man. DUKE OF SUFFOLK.

Clerk of Chatham. Mayor of Saint Alban's. DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM.

SIMPCox, an impostor. LORD CLIFFORD.

JACK CADE, a rebel. Young CLIFFORD, his son.

GEORGE BEVIS, JOHN HOLLAND, Dick the butcher, EARL OF SALISBURY,

SMITH the weaver, MICHAEL, etc., followers of EARL OF WARWICK.

Cade.
LORD SCALES.

Two Murderers.
LORD SAY.
SIR HUMPHREY STAFFORD, and WILLIAM STAFFORD, MARGARET, Queen to King Henry.
his brother.

ELEANOR, duchess of Gloucester.
SIR JOHN STANLEY.

MAROERY JORDAN, a witch.
Vaux.

Wife to Simpcox.
MATTHEW GOFFE.
ALEXANDER IDEN, a Kentish gentleman.

A Spirit.
Lords, Ladies, and Attendants, Petitioners, Aldermen, a Herald, a Beadle, Sheriff, and Officers, Citizens,

Apprentices, Falconers, Guards, Soldiers, Messengers, etc.

SCENE: England.)

ACT I

SCENE I. (London. The palace.]
Flourish of trumpets: then hautboys. Enter the

KING, HUMPHREY DUKE OF GLOUCESTER,
SALISBURY, WARWICK, and CARDINAL BEAU-
FORT, on the one side ; the QUEEN, SUFFOLK,
YORK, SOMERSET, and BUCKINGHAM, on the
other.
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, Bretagne, and

Alençon,
Soven 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 sub-

stance
Of that great shadow I did represent;
The happiest gift that ever marquess, gave,
The fairest queen that ever king receiv’d.
King. Suffolk, arise. Welcome, Queen Mar-

garet!
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 ! 29
For thou hast given me in this beauteous face
A world of earthly blessings to my soul,
If sympathy of love unite our thoughts.
Queen. Great King of England and my gra-

cious 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,
With you, mine alder-liefest sovereign,
Makes me the bolder to salute my king
With ruder terms, such as my wit affords
And over-joy of heart doth minister.
King. Her sight did ravish; but her grace

in speech,
Her words y-clad with wisdom's majesty,
Makes me from wond'ring fall to weeping joys,
Such is the fulness of my heart's content.
Lords, with one cheerful voice welcome my
Lords

love.
AU (kneeling). Long live Queen Margaret,

England's happiness !
Queen. We thank you all. (Flourish.
Suf. My Lord Protector, so it please your

Grace,
Here are the articles of contracted peace
Between our sovereign and the French king

Charles,
For eighteen months concluded by consent.

Glou. (Reads.). “ Imprimis, It is agreed between the French king Charles, and William de la Pole, Marquess of Suffolk, ambassador

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son?

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for Henry King of England, that the said (45 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"

(Lets the paper fall. 62 King. Uncle, how now! Glou.

Pardon me, gracious lord ; Some sudden qualm hath struck me at the

heart And dimm'd mine eyes, that I can read no

further. King. Uncle of Winchester, I pray, read on. 88

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, withont having any dowry. King. They please us well. Lord marquess,

kneel down.
We here create thee the first Duke of Suffolk,
And gird thee with the sword. Cousin of York,
We here discharge your Grace from being regent
I' the parts of France, till term of eighteen

months
Be full expir'd. Thanks, uncle Winchester,
Gloucester, York, Buckingham, Somerset,
Salisbury, and Warwick;
We thank you all for this great favour done
In entertainment to my princely queen.
Come, let us in, and with all speed provide
To see her coronation be perform’d.

(Exeunt King, Queen, and Suffolk. Glou. Brave peers of England, pillars of the

state, To you Duke Humphrey must unload his grief, Your grief, the common grief of all the land. What! did my brother Henry spend his youth, His valour, coin, and people, in the wars ? Did he so often lodge in open field, In winter's cold and summer's parching heat, To conquer France, his true inheritance ? And did my brother Bedford toil his wits, To keep by policy what Henry got? Have you yourselves, Somerset, Buckingham, Brave York, Salisbury, and victorious War

wick, Receiv'd deep scars in France and Normandy ? Or hath mine uncle Beaufort and myself, With all the learned council of the realm, Studied so long, sat in the council-house Early and late, debating to and from How France and Frenchmen might be kept in

awe, And hath his Highness in his infancy Crowned in Paris in despite of foes ? And shall these labours and these honours

die? Shall Henry's conquest, Bedford's vigilance, Your deeds of war, and all our counsel die ? O peers of England, shameful is this league, Fatal this marriage, cancelling your fame, Blotting your names from books of memory, 100 Razing the characters of your renown,

Defacing monuments of conquer'd France,
Undoing all, as all had never been !
Car. Nephew, what means this passionate

discourse, This peroration with such circumstance ? For France, 't is ours; and we will keep it still,

Glou. Ay, uncle, we will keep it, if we can; But now it is impossible we should.' Suffolk, the new-made duke that rules the

roast, Hath given the duchy of Anjou and Maine 110 Unto the poor King Reignier, whose large style Agrees not with the leanness of his purse. Sal. Now, by the death of Him that died for

all, These counties were the keys of Normandy. But wherefore weeps Warwick, my valiant

War. For grief that they are past recovery ; For, were there hope to conquer them again, My sword should shed hot blood, mine eyes no

tears. Anjou and Maine ! myself did win them both. Those provinces these arms of mine did con

quer ; And are the cities, that I got with wounds, Deliver'd up again with peaceful words? Mort Dieu ! York. For Suffolk's duke, may he be suffo

cate, That dims the honour of this warlike isle ! France should have torn and rent my very heart, Before I would have yielded to this league. I never read but England's kings have had Large sums of gold and dowries with their

wives; And our King Henry gives away his own, To match with her that brings no vantages.

Glou. A proper jest, and never heard before, That Suffolk should demand a whole fifteenth For costs and charges in transporting her! She should have stay'd in France and stary'd

in France, Before Car. My Lord of Gloucester, now ye grow

too hot. It was the pleasure of my lord the King. Glou. My Lord of Winchester, I know your

mind. 'Tis not my speeches that you do mislike, But 't is my presence that doth trouble ye. Rancour will out. Proud prelate, in thy face I see thy fury. If I longer stay, We shall begin our ancient bickerings. Lordings, farewell; and say, when I am gone, I prophesied France will be lost ere long.

(Erit. Car. So, there goes our Protector in a rage. 'Tis known to you he is mine enemy, Nay, more, an enemy unto you all, And no great friend, I fear me, to the King. 10 Consider, lords, he is the next of blood, And heir apparent to the English crown. Had Henry got an empire by his marriage, And all the wealthy kingdoms of the west, There's reason he should be displeas'd at it. 188 Look to it, lords ! Let not his smoothing words

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