assador; I'll rather keep I have, than, coveting for more, Insulting Charles! hast thou by secret means tercession to obtain a league; "ow the matter grows to compromise, Jer accept the title thou usurp'st, 1 And not of any challenge of desert, 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, Although you break it when your pleasure serves. [Aside to CHARles. War. How say'st thou, Charles? shall our condition stand? Char. 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. [CHARLES, and the rest, give tokens of fealty. So, now dismiss your army when ye please; [Exeunt. 1 "Be content to live as the beneficiary of our king." Benefit is here a term of law. Have we not lost most part of all the towns, War. Be patient, York; if we conclude a peace, Enter CHARLES, attended; ALENÇON, Bastard, REIGNIER, and others. Char. Since, lords of England, it is thus agreed, That peaceful truce shall be proclaimed 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 poisoned voice, By sight of these our baleful enemies. Win. Charles, and the rest, it is enacted thus: Alen. 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. Char. 'Tis known, already, that I am possessed 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, Alen. To say the truth, it is your policy, And therefore take this compact of a truce, Although you break it when your pleasure serves. [Aside to CHARLES. War. How say'st thou, Charles? shall our condition stand? Char. 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. [CHARLES, and the rest, give tokens of fealty. So, now dismiss your army when ye please; [Exeunt. 1 "Be content to live as the beneficiary of our king." Benefit is here a term of law. SCENE V. London. A Room in the Palace. Enter KING HENRY, in conference with SUFFOLK; GLOSTER and EXETER following. K. Hen. Your wondrous rare description, noble earl, Suff. Tush! my good lord! this superficial tale And, which is more, she is not so divine, K. Hen. And otherwise will Henry ne'er presume. Glo. So should I give consent to flatter sin. How shall we then dispense with that contract, Suff. As doth a ruler with unlawful oaths; 1 A triumph then signified a public exhibition; such as a tournament, mask, or revel. To try his strength, forsaketh yet the lists 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? Her father is no better than an earl, Suff. Yes, my good lord, her father is a king, Exe. Beside, his wealth doth warrant liberal dower; While Reignier sooner will receive than give. king. That he should be so abject, base, and poor, And not to seek a queen to make him rich; Whom should we match with Henry, being a king, 1 By the intervention of another man's choice. |