suit. Give me your answer; i'faith, do; and so clap hands and a bargain: How say you, lady? Kath. Sauf vostre honneur, me understand well.

K. Hen. Marry, if you would put me to verses, or to dance for your sake, Kate, why you undid me: for the one, I have neither words nor measure; and for the other, I have no strength in measure,1 yet a reasonable measure in strength. If I could win a lady at leap-frog, or by vaulting into my saddle with my armour on my back, under the correction of bragging be it spoken, I should quickly leap for a wife. Or, if I might buffet for my love, or bound my horse for her favours, I could lay on like a butcher, and sit like a jack-an-apes, never off: but, I cannot look greenly, nor gasp out my eloquence, nor I have no cunning in protestation; only down-right oaths, which I never use till urged, nor never break for urging. If thou canst love a fellow of this temper, Kate, whose face is not worth sunburning, that never looks in his glass for love of any thing he sees there, let thine eye be thy cook. I speak to thee plain soldier: If thou canst love me for this, take me: if not, to say to thee that I shall die, is true; but for thy love, no; yet I love thee too. And while thou livest, dear Kate, take a fellow of plain and uncoined constancy3; for he perforce must do thee right, because he hath not the gift to woo in other places: for these fellows of infinite tongue, that can rhyme themselves into ladies' favours -they do always reason themselves out again. What! a speaker is but a prater; a rhyme is but a ballad. A good leg will fall; a straight back will stoop; a black beard will turn white; a curled pate will grow bald; a fair face will wither; a full eye will wax hollow: but a good heart, Kate, is the sun and moon; or rather the sun, and not the moon; for it shines bright, and never changes, but keeps his course truly. If thou would have such a one, take me: And take me, take a soldier; take a soldier, take a king: And what sayest thou then to my love? speak, my fair, and fairly, I pray thee.

Kath. Is it possible dat I should love de enemy of France?

K. Hen. No; it is not possible, you should love the enemy of France, Kate; but in loving me, you should love the friend of France; for I love France so well, that I will not part with a village of it; I will have it all mine: and, Kate, when France is mine, and I am yours, then yours is France, and you are mine.

Kath. I cannot tell vat is dat.

K. Hen. No, Kate? I will tell thee in French; which, I am sure, will hang upon my tongue like a new-married wife about her husband's neck, hardly to be shook off. Quand j'ay la possession de France, & quand vous avez la possession de moi, (let me see, what then? Saint Dennis be my speed!)-donc vostre est France, & vous estes mienne. It is as easy for me, Kate, to conquer the kingdom, as to speak so much more French: I shall never move thee in French, unless it be to laugh at me.

Kath. Sauf vostre honneur, le François que vous parlez, est meilleur que l'Anglois lequel je parle.

K. Hen. No, 'faith, is't not, Kate: but thy speaking of my tongue, and I thine, most truly falsely, must needs be granted to be much at one. But, Kate, dost thou understand thus much English? Canst thou love me? Kath. I cannot tell.

K. Hen. Can any of your neighbours tell, Kate? I'll ask them. Come, I know thou lovest me: and at night when you come into your closet, you'll question this gentlewoman about me; and I know, Kate, you will to her, dispraise those parts in me, that you love with your heart: but, good Kate, mock me mercifully; the rather, gentle princess, because I love thee truly. How answer you, la plus belle Catharine du monde, mon très chere et divine déesse?

Kath. Your majesté 'ave fausse French enough to deceive de most sage demoiselle dat is en France.

K. Hen. Now, fie upon my false French! By mine honour, in true English, I love thee, Kate: by which honour I dare not swear, thou lovest me; yet my blood begins to flatter me that thou dost, notwithstanding the poor and untempering effect of my visage. Now beshrew my father's ambition! he was always thinking of civil wars; therefore was I created with a stubborn outside, with an aspect of iron, that, when I come to woo ladies, I fright them. But, in faith, Kate, the elder I wax, the better I shall appear: my comfort is, that old age, that ill layer-up of beauty, can do no more spoil upon my face: thou hast me, if thou hast me, at the worst; and thou shalt wear me, if thou wear me, better and better; and therefore tell me, most fair Katharine, will you have me? Put off your maiden blushes; avouch the thoughts of your heart with the looks of an empress; take me by the hand, and say-Harry of England, I am thine: which word thou shalt no sooner bless mine ear withal, but I will tell thee aloud-England is thine, Ireland is thine, France is thine, and Henry Plantagenet is thine; who, though I speak it before his face, if he be not fellow with the best king, thou shalt find the best king of good fellows. Come, your answer in broken musick; for thy voice is musick, and thy English broken therefore, queen of all, Katharine, break thy mind to me in broken English, Wilt thou have me?

Kath. Dat is, as it shall please de roy mon pere. K. Hen. Nay, it will please him well, Kate; it shall please him, Kate.

Kath. Den it shall also content me.

K. Hen. Upon that I will kiss your hand, and I call you--my queen.

Kath. Laissez, mon seigneur, laissez, laissez ma foy, je ne veux point que vous abbaissez vostre grandeur, en baisant la main d'une vostre indigne serviteur; excusez moy, je vous supplie, mon très puissant seigneur.

K. Hen. Then I will kiss your lips, Kate. Kath. Les dames, & demoiselles, pour estre baisées devant leur nopces, il n'est pas la coûtume de France.

Alice. Ouy, vrayment.

K. Hen. O, Kate, nice customs curt'sy to great kings. Dear Kate, you and I cannot be confined within the weak list1 of a country's fashion: we are the makers of manners, Kate; and the liberty that follows our places, stops the mouths of all find-faults; as I will do yours, for upholding the nice fashion of your country, in denying me a kiss: therefore, patiently, and yielding. [Kissing her.] You have witchcraft in your lips, Kate: there is more eloquence in a sugar touch of them, than in the tongues of the French council; and they should sooner persuade Harry of England, than a general petition of monarchs. Here comes your father. Enter the French King and Queen, Burgundy, Bedford, Gloster, Exeter, Westmoreland, and other French and English Lords.

Bur. God save your majesty! my royal cousin, teach you our princess English?

K. Hen. I would have her learn, my fair cousin, how perfectly I love her; and that is good English.

Bur. Is she not apt?

K. Hen. Our tongue is rough, coz; and my condition2 is not smooth: so that, having neither the voice nor the heart of flattery about me, I cannot so conjure up the spirit of love in her, that he will appear in his true.likeness.

Bur. Pardon the frankness of my mirth, if I answer you for that. If you conjure up love in her in his true likeness, he must appear blind: Can you blame her then, being a maid yet rosed over with the virgin crimson of modesty, if she deny the appearance of a blind boy in her seeing self?

K. Hen. This moral ties me over to time; 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 for my blindness; who cannot see, many a fair French city, for one fair French maid that stands in my way. Shall Kate be my wife?

Fr. King. So please you.

K. Hen. I am content.

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 1 Barrier. 2 Disposition.

of grant, shall name your highness in this form, and with this addition, in French,-Notre très cher filz Henry roy d'Angleterre, héritier de France; and thus in Latin,-Præclarissimus filius noster Henricus, rex Angliæ, & hæres Francia.

Fr. K. 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

[tion

With envy of each other's happiness,
May cease their hatred; and this dear conjunc-
Plant neighbourhood and Christian-like accord
In their sweet bosoms, that never war advance
His bleeding sword 'twixt England and fair
France.

All. Amen!

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 English

Thus far, with rough, and all unable pen,

Our bending author hath pursu'd the story; In little room confining mighty men,

Mangling by starts the full course of their glory.

Small time, but, in that small, most greatly liv'd
This star of England: fortune made his sword;
By which the world's best garden1 he achiev'd,
And of it left his son imperial lord.
Henry the Sixth, in infant bands crown'd king

Of France and England, did this king succeed; Whose state so many had the managing,

That they lost France, and made his England

bleed:

And then I will proclaim young Henry king.
[Exit.
Exe. To Eltham will I, where the young king is,
Being ordain'd his special governor;
And for his safety there I'll best devise. [Exit.
W. Each hath his place and function to attend:
I am left out; for me nothing remains.
But long I will not be Jack-out-of-office;
The king from Eltham I intend to send,
And sit at chiefest stern of public weal. [Exit.
SCENE II.-FRANCE. BEFORE ORLEANS.
Enter Charles, with his Forces; Alençon,
Reignier, and others.

C. Mars his true moving, even as in the heavens,
So in the earth, to this day is not known:
Late did he shine upon the English side;
Now we are victors, upon us he smiles.
What towns of any moment, but we have?
At pleasure here we lie, near Orleans;
The whiles, the famish'd English, like pale ghosts,
Faintly besiege us one hour in a month.

A.They want their porridge, and their fat bull-
Either they must be dieted like mules, [beeves:
And have their provender tyed to their mouths,
Or piteous they will look, like drowned mice.
Reig. Let's raise the siege: Why live we idly
Talbot is taken, whom we wont to fear: [here?
Remaineth none but mad-brain'd Salisbury;
And he may well in fretting spend his gall,
Nor men, nor money, hath he to make war.
C. Sound, sound alarum; we will rush on them.

Now for the honour of the forlorn French:
Him I forgive my death, that killeth me,
When he sees me goback one foot, or fly. [Exeunt.
Alarums; Excursions; afterwards a Retreat.
Re-enter Charles, Alençon, Reignier, and others.
Ch. Whoever saw the like? what men have I?
Dogs! cowards! dastards!-I would ne'er have
But that they left me 'midst my enemies. [fled,
Reig. Salisbury is a desperate homicide;
He fighteth as one weary of his life.
The other lords, like lions wanting food,
Do rush upon us as their hungry prey.1
Al. Froissard, a countryman of ours, records,
England all Olivers and Rowlands bred,
During the time Edward the Third did reign.
More truly now may this be verified;
For none but Samsons and Goliasses,
It sendeth forth to skirmish. One to ten!
Lean raw-bon'd rascals! who would c'er suppose
They had such courage and audacity?
Char. Let's leave this town; for they are
hair-brain'd slaves,
And hunger will enforce them to be more eager:
Of old I know them; rather with their teeth
Thewalls they'll teardown, than forsakethe siege.
Reig. I think by some odd gimmals or device,

Their arms are set, like clocks, still to strike on;
Else ne'er could they hold out so, as they do.
By my consent, we'll e'en let them alone.
Alen. Be it so.

Enter the Bastard of Orleans. Bast. Where's the prince dauphin? I have news for him.

1&e. The prey for which they are hungry. 2 Machine.

Char. Bastard of Orleans, thrice welcome to us. Bast. Methinks, your looks are sad, your cheer1 appall'd;

Hath the late overthrow wrought this offence?
Be not dismay'd, for succour is at hand:
A holy maid hither with me I bring,
Which, by a vision sent to her from heaven,
Ordained is to raise this tedious siege,
And drive the English forth the bounds of
The spirit of deep prophecy she hath, [France.
Exceeding the nine sibyls of old Rome;
What's past, and what's to come, she can descry.
Speak, shall I call her in? Believe my words,
For they are certain and unfallible.

Char. Go, call her in: [Exit Bastard.] But, first, to try her skill,

Reignier, stand thou as dauphin in my place: Question her proudly, let thy looks be stern:By this means shall we sound what skill she hath. [Retires.

Enter La Pucelle, Bastard of Orleans, and others. Reig. Fair maid, is't thou wilt do these won

d'rous feats?

[me?

Where is the dauphin?-come, come from behind;
Puc. Reignier,is't thou that thinkest to beguile
Be not amaz'd, there's nothing hid from me:
I know thee well, though never seen before.
In private will I talk with thee apart:-
Stand back, you lords, and give us leave a while.
Reig. She takes upon her bravely at first dash.
My wit untrain'd in any kind of art. [daughter,
Puc. Dauphin, I am by birth a shepherd's
Heaven, and our lady gracious, hath it pleas'd
To shine on my contemptible estate:
Lo, whilst I waited on my tender lambs,
And to sun's parching heat display'd my cheeks,
Our lady deigned to appear to me;
And, in a vision full of majesty,
Will'd me to leave my base vocation,
Her aid she promis'd and assur'd success:
And free my country from calamity:
In complete glory she reveal'd herself;
And, whereas I was black and swart before,
With those clear rays which she infus'd on me,
Ask me what question thou canst possible,
That beauty am I bless'd with, which you see.
And I will answer unpremeditated:
My courage try by combat, if thou dar'st,
And thou shalt find that I exceed my sex.
Resolve on this 2: Thou shalt be fortunate,
If thou receive me for thy warlike mate.

Char. Thou hast astonish'd me with thy high In single combat thou shalt buckle with me: Only this proof I'll of thy valour make,- [terms; And, if thou vanquishest, thy words are true; Otherwise, I renounce all confidence. [sword, Deck'd with five flower-de-luces on each side; Puc. I am prepared: here is my keen-edg'd The which at Touraine, in saint Katharine's churchyard,

Out of a deal of old iron I chose forth.

man.

Char. Then come on, damsel, I fear no woman. Puc. And, while I live, I'll ne'er fly from a [They fight. Ch. Stay, stay thy hands; thou art an amazon, And fightest with the sword of Deborah. 2 Be persuaded of.

1 Countenance.