King Henry the Sixth
Act V.
Scene i. London. The palace.
- Sennet. Enter King Henry Vi, Gloucester, and Exeter
- King Henry Vi: Have you perused the letters from the pope,
- The emperor and the Earl of Armagnac?
- Gloucester: I have, my lord: and their intent is this:
- They humbly sue unto your excellence
- To have a godly peace concluded of
- Between the realms of England and of France.
- King Henry Vi: How doth your grace affect their motion?
- Gloucester: Well, my good lord; and as the only means
- To stop effusion of our Christian blood
- And 'stablish quietness on every side.
- King Henry Vi: Ay, marry, uncle; for I always thought
- It was both impious and unnatural
- That such immanity and bloody strife
- Should reign among professors of one faith.
- Gloucester: Beside, my lord, the sooner to effect
- And surer bind this knot of amity,
- The Earl of Armagnac, near knit to Charles,
- A man of great authority in France,
- Proffers his only daughter to your grace
- In marriage, with a large and sumptuous dowry.
- King Henry Vi: Marriage, uncle! alas, my years are young!
- And fitter is my study and my books
- Than wanton dalliance with a paramour.
- Yet call the ambassador; and, as you please,
- So let them have their answers every one:
- I shall be well content with any choice
- Tends to God's glory and my country's weal.
- Enter Cardinal Of Winchester in Cardinal's habit, a Legate and two Ambassadors
- Exeter: What! is my Lord of Winchester install'd,
- And call'd unto a cardinal's degree?
- Then I perceive that will be verified
- Henry the Fifth did sometime prophesy,
- 'If once he come to be a cardinal,
- He'll make his cap co-equal with the crown.'
- King Henry Vi: My lords ambassadors, your several suits
- Have been consider'd and debated on.
- And therefore are we certainly resolved
- To draw conditions of a friendly peace;
- Which by my Lord of Winchester we mean
- Shall be transported presently to France.
- Gloucester: And for the proffer of my lord your master,
- I have inform'd his highness so at large
- As liking of the lady's virtuous gifts,
- Her beauty and the value of her dower,
- He doth intend she shall be England's queen.
- King Henry Vi: In argument and proof of which contract,
- Bear her this jewel, pledge of my affection.
- And so, my lord protector, see them guarded
- And safely brought to Dover; where inshipp'd
- Commit them to the fortune of the sea.
- Exeunt all but Cardinal Of Winchester and Legate
- Cardinal Of Winchester: Stay, my lord legate: you shall first receive
- The sum of money which I promised
- Should be deliver'd to his holiness
- For clothing me in these grave ornaments.
- Legate: I will attend upon your lordship's leisure.
- Cardinal Of Winchester: [Aside] Now Winchester will not submit, I trow,
- Or be inferior to the proudest peer.
- Humphrey of Gloucester, thou shalt well perceive
- That, 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 Of Orleans, Reignier, Joan La Pucelle, and forces
- Charles: These news, my lord, may cheer our drooping spirits:
- 'Tis said the stout Parisians do revolt
- And turn again unto the warlike French.
- Alencon: Then march to Paris, royal Charles of France,
- And keep not back your powers in dalliance.
- Joan La Pucelle: Peace be amongst them, if they turn to us;
- Else, ruin combat with their palaces!
- Enter Scout
- Scout: Success unto our valiant general,
- And happiness to his accomplices!
- Charles: What tidings send our scouts? I prithee, speak.
- Scout: The English army, that divided was
- Into two parties, is now conjoined in one,
- And means to give you battle presently.
- Charles: Somewhat too sudden, sirs, the warning is;
- But we will presently provide for them.
- Burgundy
- I trust the ghost of Talbot is not there:
- Now he is gone, my lord, you need not fear.
- Joan La Pucelle: Of all base passions, fear is most accursed.
- Command the conquest, Charles, it shall be thine,
- Let Henry fret and all the world repine.
- Charles: Then on, my lords; and France be fortunate!
- Exeunt
Scene iii. Before Angiers.
- Alarum. Excursions. Enter Joan La Pucelle
- Joan La Pucelle: The 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 substitutes
- Under the lordly monarch of the north,
- Appear and aid me in this enterprise.
- Enter Fiends
- This speedy and quick appearance argues proof
- Of your accustom'd diligence to me.
- Now, ye familiar spirits, that are cull'd
- Out 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 you
- In earnest of further benefit,
- So you do condescend to help me now.
- They hang their heads
- No hope to have redress? My body shall
- Pay recompense, if you will grant my suit.
- They shake their heads
- Cannot my body nor blood-sacrifice
- Entreat 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 come
- That 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 Joan La Pucelle fighting hand to hand with York. Joan La Pucelle is taken. The French fly.
- York: Damsel 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 wench doth bend her brows,
- As if with Circe she would change my shape!
- Joan La Pucelle: Changed to a worser shape thou canst not be.
- York: O, Charles the Dauphin is a proper man;
- No shape but his can please your dainty eye.
- Joan La Pucelle: A plaguing mischief light on Charles and thee!
- And may ye both be suddenly surprised
- By bloody hands, in sleeping on your beds!
- York: Fell banning hag, enchantress, hold thy tongue!
- Joan La Pucelle: I prithee, give me leave to curse awhile.
- York: Curse, miscreant, when thou comest to the stake.
- Exeunt
- Alarum. Enter Suffolk with Margaret in his hand
- Suffolk: Be 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 honour thee.
- Margaret: Margaret my name, and daughter to a king,
- The King of Naples, whosoe'er thou art.
- Suffolk: An 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?
- Ay, beauty's princely majesty is such,
- Confounds the tongue and makes the senses rough.
- Margaret: Say, Earl of Suffolk—if thy name be so—
- What ransom must I pay before I pass?
- For I perceive I am thy prisoner.
- Suffolk: How canst thou tell she will deny thy suit,
- Before thou make a trial of her love?
- Margaret: Why speak'st thou not? what ransom must I pay?
- Suffolk: She's beautiful, and therefore to be woo'd;
- She is a woman, therefore to be won.
- Margaret: Wilt thou accept of ransom? yea, or no.
- Suffolk: Fond man, remember that thou hast a wife;
- Then how can Margaret be thy paramour?
- Margaret: I were best to leave him, for he will not hear.
- Suffolk: There all is marr'd; there lies a cooling card.
- Margaret: He talks at random; sure, the man is mad.
- Suffolk: And yet a dispensation may be had.
- Margaret: And yet I would that you would answer me.
- Suffolk: I'll win this Lady Margaret. For whom?
- Why, for my king: tush, that's a wooden thing!
- Margaret: He talks of wood: it is some carpenter.
- Suffolk: Yet 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.
- Margaret: Hear ye, captain, are you not at leisure?
- Suffolk: It shall be so, disdain they ne'er so much.
- Henry is youthful and will quickly yield.
- Madam, I have a secret to reveal.
- Margaret: What though I be enthrall'd? he seems a knight,
- And will not any way dishonour me.
- Suffolk: Lady, vouchsafe to listen what I say.
- Margaret: Perhaps I shall be rescued by the French;
- And then I need not crave his courtesy.
- Suffolk: Sweet madam, give me a hearing in a cause—
- Margaret: Tush, women have been captivate ere now.
- Suffolk: Lady, wherefore talk you so?
- Margaret: I cry you mercy, 'tis but Quid for Quo.
- Suffolk: Say, gentle princess, would you not suppose
- Your bondage happy, to be made a queen?
- Margaret: To be a queen in bondage is more vile
- Than is a slave in base servility;
- For princes should be free.
- Suffolk: And so shall you,
- If happy England's royal king be free.
- Margaret: Why, what concerns his freedom unto me?
- Suffolk: I'll undertake to make thee Henry's queen,
- To put a golden sceptre in thy hand
- And set a precious crown upon thy head,
- If thou wilt condescend to be my—
- Margaret: What?
- Suffolk: His love.
- Margaret: I am unworthy to be Henry's wife.
- Suffolk: No, gentle madam; I unworthy am
- To 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?
- Margaret: An if my father please, I am content.
- Suffolk: Then call our captains and our colours forth.
- And, madam, at your father's castle walls
- We'll crave a parley, to confer with him.
- A parley sounded. Enter Reignier on the walls
- See, Reignier, see, thy daughter prisoner!
- Reignier: To whom?
- Suffolk: To me.
- Reignier: Suffolk, what remedy?
- I am a soldier, and unapt to weep,
- Or to exclaim on fortune's fickleness.
- Su Ffolk
- 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 gained thy daughter princely liberty.
- Reignier: Speaks Suffolk as he thinks?
- Suffolk: Fair Margaret knows
- That Suffolk doth not flatter, face, or feign.
- Reignier: Upon thy princely warrant, I descend
- To give thee answer of thy just demand.
- Exit from the walls
- Suffolk: And here I will expect thy coming.
- Trumpets sound. Enter Reignier, below
- Reignier: Welcome, brave earl, into our territories:
- Command in Anjou what your honour pleases.
- Suffolk: Thanks, Reignier, happy for so sweet a child,
- Fit to be made companion with a king:
- What answer makes your grace unto my suit?
- Reignier: Since thou dost deign to woo her little worth
- To be the princely bride of such a lord;
- Upon condition I may quietly
- Enjoy mine own, the country Maine and Anjou,
- Free from oppression or the stroke of war,
- My daughter shall be Henry's, if he please.
- Suffolk: That is her ransom; I deliver her;
- And those two counties I will undertake
- Your grace shall well and quietly enjoy.
- Reignier: And I again, in Henry's royal name,
- As deputy unto that gracious king,
- Give thee her hand, for sign of plighted faith.
- Suffolk: Reignier of France, I give thee kingly thanks,
- Because this is in traffic of a king.
- Aside
- And yet, methinks, I could be well content
- To 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 safe
- In golden palaces, as it becomes.
- Reignier: I do embrace thee, as I would embrace
- The Christian prince, King Henry, were he here.
- Margaret: Farewell, my lord: good wishes, praise and prayers
- Shall Suffolk ever have of Margaret.
- Going
- Suffolk: Farewell, sweet madam: but hark you, Margaret;
- No princely commendations to my king?
- Margaret: Such commendations as becomes a maid,
- A virgin and his servant, say to him.
- Suffolk: Words sweetly placed and modestly directed.
- But madam, I must trouble you again;
- No loving token to his majesty?
- Margaret: Yes, my good lord, a pure unspotted heart,
- Never yet taint with love, I send the king.
- Suffolk: And this withal.
- Kisses her
- Margaret: That for thyself: I will not so presume
- To send such peevish tokens to a king.
- Exeunt Reignier and Margaret
- Suffolk: 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 comest to kneel at Henry's feet,
- Thou mayst bereave him of his wits with wonder.
- Exit
Scene iv. Camp of the York in Anjou.
- Enter York, Warwick, and others
- York: Bring forth that sorceress condemn'd to burn.
- Enter Joan La Pucelle, guarded, and a Shepherd
- Shepherd: 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!
- Joan La Pucelle: Decrepit miser! base ignoble wretch!
- I am descended of a gentler blood:
- Thou art no father nor no friend of mine.
- Shepherd: Out, out! My lords, an please you, 'tis not so;
- I did beget her, all the parish knows:
- Her mother liveth yet, can testify
- She was the first fruit of my bachelorship.
- Warwick: Graceless! wilt thou deny thy parentage?
- York: This argues what her kind of life hath been,
- Wicked and vile; and so her death concludes.
- Shepherd: Fie, 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.
- Joan La Pucelle: Peasant, avaunt! You have suborn'd this man,
- Of purpose to obscure my noble birth.
- Shepherd: '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
- Thy 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
- York: Take her away; for she hath lived too long,
- To fill the world with vicious qualities.
- Joan La Pucelle: 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 effused,
- Will cry for vengeance at the gates of heaven.
- York: Ay, ay: away with her to execution!
- Warwick: 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.
- Joan La Pucelle: 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!
- Warwick: The greatest miracle that e'er ye wrought:
- Is all your strict preciseness come to this?
- York: She and the Dauphin have been juggling:
- I did imagine what would be her refuge.
- Warwick: Well, go to; we'll have no bastards live;
- Especially since Charles must father it.
- Joan La Pucelle: You are deceived; my child is none of his:
- It was Alencon that enjoy'd my love.
- York: Alencon! that notorious Machiavel!
- It dies, an if it had a thousand lives.
- Joan La Pucelle: O, give me leave, I have deluded you:
- 'Twas neither Charles nor yet the duke I named,
- But Reignier, king of Naples, that prevail'd.
- Warwick: A married man! that's most intolerable.
- York: Why, here's a girl! I think she knows not well,
- There were so many, whom she may accuse.
- Warwick: 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.
- Joan La Pucelle: 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 Of Winchester, attended
- Cardinal Of Winchester: Lord regent, I do greet your excellence
- With 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 peace
- Betwixt our nation and the aspiring French;
- And here at hand the Dauphin and his train
- 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 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 grief
- The utter loss of all the realm of France.
- Warwick: Be patient, York: if we conclude a peace,
- It shall be with such strict and severe covenants
- As little shall the Frenchmen gain thereby.
- Enter Charles, Alencon, Bastard Of Orleans, Reignier, and others
- Charles: 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.
- Cardinal Of Winchester: 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, submit thyself,
- Thou shalt be placed as viceroy under him,
- And still enjoy thy regal dignity.
- Alencon: Must 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'd
- With 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 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.
- Reignier: 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.
- Alencon: 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 serves.
- Warwick: How say'st thou, Charles? shall our condition stand?
- Charles: It shall;
- Only reserved, you claim no interest
- In any of our towns 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 England.
- So, now dismiss your army when ye please:
- Hang up your ensign, let your drums be still,
- For here we entertain a solemn peace.
- Exeunt
Scene v. London. The palace.
- Enter Suffolk in conference with King Henry Vi, Gloucester and Exeter
- King Henry Vi: Your wondrous rare description, noble earl,
- 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 rigor of 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.
- Suffolk: 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 Henry as her lord.
- King Henry Vi: And otherwise will Henry ne'er presume.
- Therefore, my lord protector, give consent
- That Margaret may be England's royal queen.
- Gloucester: 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?
- Suffolk: 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.
- Gloucester: Why, what, I pray, is Margaret more than that?
- Her father is no better than an earl,
- Although in glorious titles he excel.
- Suffolk: Yes, 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.
- Gloucester: And so the Earl of Armagnac may do,
- Because he is near kinsman unto Charles.
- Exeter: Beside, his wealth doth warrant a liberal dower,
- Where Reignier sooner will receive than give.
- Suffolk: A 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 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 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 resolve
- As is fair Margaret he be link'd in love.
- Then yield, my lords; and here conclude with me
- That Margaret shall be queen, and none but she.
- King Henry Vi: Whether it be through force of your report,
- My noble Lord of Suffolk, or for that
- My tender youth was never yet attaint
- With 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 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
- Gloucester: Ay, grief, I fear me, both at first and last.
- Exeunt Gloucester and Exeter
- Suffolk: 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.
- Margaret shall now be queen, and rule the king;
- But I will rule both her, the king and realm.
- Exit
- --oOo-- -