Bur. I will wink on her to consent, my lord, if you will teach her to know my meaning; for maids, well summered and warm kept, are like flies at Bartholomew-tide, blind, though they have their eyes; and then they will endure handling, which before would not abide looking on. K. Hen. This moral ties me over to time, and a hot summer; and so I will catch the fly, your cousin, in the latter end, and she must be blind too. Bur. As love is, my lord, before it loves. K. Hen. It is so; and you may, some of you, thank love my blindness; who cannot see many a fair French city, for one fair French maid that stands in my way. for Fr. King. Yes, my lord, you see them perspectively, the cities turned into a maid; for they are all girdled with maiden walls, that war hath never entered. K. Hen. Shall Kate be my wife? Fr. King. So please you. K. Hen. I am content; so the maiden cities you talk of, may wait on her: so the maid, that stood in the way of my wish, shall show me the way to my will. Fr. King. We have consented to all terms of reason. K. Hen. Is't so, my lords of England? West. The king hath granted every article: His daughter, first; and then, in sequel, all, According to their firm, proposed natures. Exe. Only, he hath not yet subscribed this :-where your majesty demands,- that the king of France, having any occasion to write for matter of grant, shall name your highness in this form, and with this addition, in French,-Notre très cher filz Henry roy d'Angleterre, hériter de France; and thus in Latin,- Præclarissimus filius noster Henricus rex Angliæ, et hæres Franciæ. Fr. King. Nor this I have not, brother, so denied, But your request shall make me let it pass. K. Hen. I pray you then, in love and dear alliance, Let that one article rank with the rest: And, thereupon, give me your daughter. Fr. King. Take her, fair son; and from her blood raise up Issue to me; that the contending kingdoms Of France and England, whose very shores look pale May cease their hatred; and this dear conjunction In their sweet bosoms, that never war advance K. Hen. Now welcome, Kate:-and bear me witness all, That here I kiss her as my sovereign queen. [Flourish. Q. Isa. God, the best maker of all marriages, Combine your hearts in one, your realms in one! As man and wife, being two, are one in love, So be there 'twixt your kingdoms such a spousal, That never may ill office, or fell jealousy, Which troubles oft the bed of blessed marriage, Thrust in between the paction of these kingdoms, To make divorce of their incorporate league; That English may as French, French Englishmen, Receive each other!-God speak this Amen! All. Amen! K. Hen. Prepare we for our marriage:-on which day, My lord of Burgundy, we'll take your oath, And all the peers', for surety of our leagues.— Then shall I swear to Kate, and you to me; And may our oaths well kept and prosperous be! Enter CHORUS. Thus far, with rough, and all unable pen, [Exeunt. Mangling by starts the full course of their glory. That they lost France, and made his England bleed; Which oft our stage hath shown; and, for their sake, In your fair minds let this acceptance take. [Exit. PERSONS REPRESENTED. KING HENRY THE SIXTH. Duke of Gloster, Uncle to the King, and Protector. Duke of Bedford, Uncle to the King, and Regent of France. THOMAS BEAUFORT, Duke of Exeter, great Uncle to the King. HENRY BEAUFORT, great Uncle to the King, Bishop of Winchester, and afterwards Cardinal. JOHN BEAUFORT, Earl of Somerset, afterwards Duke. Earl of Warwick. Earl of Salisbury. Earl of Suffolk. JOHN TALBOT, his Son. EDMUND MORTIMER, Earl of March. Mortimer's Keeper, and a Lawyer. SIR JOHN FASTOLFE. SIR WILLIAM LUCY. SIR WILLIAM GLANSDALE. SIR THOMAS GARGRAVE. CHARLES, Dauphin, and afterwards King of France. An old Shepherd, Father to Joan la Pucelle. MARGARET, Daughter to Reignier; afterwards married to King Henry. Countess of Auvergne. JOAN LA PUCELLE, commonly called Joan of Arc. Fiends appearing to La Pucelle, Lords, Warders of the Tower, Heralds, Officers, Soldiers, Messengers, and several Attendants both on the English and French. SCENE, partly in England, and partly in France. FIRST PART OF KING HENRY THE SIXTH. ACT I. SCENE I. Westminster Abbey. Dead March. Corpsc of King Henry the Fifth discovered, lying in state; attended on by the DUKES of BEDFORD, GLOSTER, and EXETER; the EARL of WARWICK, the BISHOP of WINCHESTER, Heralds, fc. Bedford. HUNG be the heavens with black, yield day to night! Comets, importing change of times and states, Glo. England ne'er had a king, until his time. His brandished sword did blind men with his beams; Than midday sun fierce bent against their faces. What should I say? His deeds exceed all speech: He ne'er lift up his hand, but conquered. Exe. We mourn in black; why mourn we not in blood? Henry is dead, and never shall revive. Upon a wooden coffin we attend; And death's dishonorable victory We with our stately presence glorify, Like captives bound to a triumphant car. 3 c* (629) |