York. Ay, ay;-away with her to execution. Puc. Will nothing turn your unrelenting hearts ?— That warranteth by law to be thy privilege. I am with child, ye bloody homicides: Murder not then the fruit within my womb, York. Now heaven forfend! the holy maid with child? Is all your strict preciseness come to this? York. She and the Dauphin have been juggling : I did imagine what would be her refuge. War. Well, go to; we will have no bastards live; Especially, since Charles must father it. Puc. You are deceived; 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 liyes. Puc. 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. War. 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. 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 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, attended. Car. Lord regent, I do greet your excellence * Compassion. York. Is all our travail turn'd to this effect? So many captains, gentlemen, and soldiers, War. Be patient, York: If we conclude a peace, As little shall the Frenchmen gain thereby. Enter CHARLES, attended; ALENÇON, BASTARD, Reignier, 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. Win. 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, 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? Char. "Tis known already that I am possess'd 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, 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; Hang up your ensigns, let your drums be still, For here we entertain a solemn peace. SCENE V-London. A Room in the Palace. [Exeunt. Enter KING HENRY, in conference with SUFFOLK; GLOSTER and EXETER following. K. Hen. 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 rigour in tempestuous gusts Suff. Tush! my good lord! this superficial tale And, which is more, she is not so divine, * "Be content to live as the beneficiary of our king." But, with as humble lowliness of mind, K. Hen. And otherwise will Henry ne'er presume. How shall we then dispense with that contract, 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, Although in glorious titles he excel. 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. Suff. 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. And not to seek a queen to make him rich: Whom should we match, with Henry, being a king, Her peerless feature, joined with her birth, * Public exhibition. Approves her fit for none, but for a king: As is fair Margaret, he be link'd in love. Then yield, my lords; and here conclude with me, K. Hen. Whether it be through force of your report, That lady Margaret do vouchsafe to come Glo. Ay, grief, I fear me, both at first and last. [Exit. [Exeunt GLOSTER and EXETER. Suff. 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, Margaret shall now be queen, and rule the king; * Judge. [Exit |