She is content to be at your command; King. And otherwise will Henry ne'er presume. Glou. So should I give consent to flatter sin. How shall we then dispense with that contract, The poor earl's daughter is unequal odds, And therefore may be broke without offence. Glou. Why, what, I pray, is Margaret more than that? Her father is no better than an earl, Although in glorious titles he excel. Suf. Yes, my lord, her father is a king, And keep the Frenchmen in allegiance. Glou. And so the earl of Armagnac may do, Because he is near kinsman unto Charles. Ere. Beside, his wealth doth warrant a liberal dower, Where Reignier sooner will receive than give. Suf. A dower, my lord! 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 to seek a queen to make him rich: Not whom we will, but whom his grace affects, And therefore, lords, since he affects her most, 40 50 60 60 Whom should we match with Henry, being a king, As is fair Margaret he be link'd in love. Then yield, my lords; and here conclude with me 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; 100 [Exit. And so, conduct me where, from company, Suf. Then Suffolk hath prevail'd; and thus he goes, As did the youthful Paris once to Greece, Margaret shall now be queen, and rule the king: [Exit. THE SECOND PART OF KING HENRY VI DRAMATIS PERSONÆ. KING HENRY the Sixth. CARDINAL BEAUFORT, Bishop of RICHARD PLANTAGENET, Duke of EDWARD and RICHARD, his sons. DUKE OF SUFFOLK. DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM. LORD CLIFFord. Young CLIFFORD, his son. EARL OF WARWICK. SIR HUMPHREY STAFFORD, and MATTHEW Goffe. A Sea-captain, Master, and Master's-Mate, and WALTER WHIT MORE. Two Gentlemen, prisoners with JOHN HUME and JOHN SOUTHWELL, BOLINGBROKE, a conjurer. Clerk of Chatham. Mayor of St. SIMPCOX, an impostor. JACK CADE, a rebel. Two Murderers. MARGARET, Queen to King Henry. Lords, Ladies, and Attendants, SCENE: England. A Spirit. ACT I. The palace. SCENE I. London. Flourish of trumpets: then hautboys. Enter the KING, HUMPHREY, Duke of GLOUCESTER, SALISBURY, WARWICK, and CARDINAL BEAUFORT, on the one side; the QUEEN, SUFFOLK, YORK, SOMERSET, and BUCKINGHAM, on the other. Suf. As by your high imperial majesty I had in charge at my depart for France, As procurator to your excellence, To marry Princess Margaret for your grace, In presence of the Kings of France and Sicil, The Dukes of Orleans, Calaber, Bretagne and Alençon, Seven earls, twelve barons and twenty reverend bishops, I have perform'd my task and was espoused: And humbly now upon my bended knee, In sight of England and her lordly peers, To your most gracious hands, that are the substance The happiest gift that ever marquess gave, The fairest queen that ever king received. King. Suffolk, arise. Welcome, Queen Margaret: I can express no kinder sign of love Than this kind kiss. O Lord, that lends me life, For thou hast given me in this beauteous face A world of earthly blessings to my soul, If sympathy of love unite our thoughts. Queen. Great King of England and my gracious lord, The mutual conference that my mind hath had, By day, by night, waking and in my dreams, In courtly company or at my beads, With you, mine alder-liefest sovereign, Makes me the bolder to salute my king With ruder terms, such as my wit affords And over-joy of heart doth minister. King. Her sight did ravish; but her grace in speech, Her words y-clad with wisdom's majesty, Makes me from wondering fall to weeping joys; Such is the fulness of my heart's content. Lords, with one cheerful voice welcome my love. 10 20 30 All [kneeling]. Long live Queen Margaret, England's happiness! Queen. We thank you all. Suf. My lord protector, so it please your grace, Here are the articles of contracted peace [Flourish. Between our sovereign and the French king Charles, 40 Glou. [Reads] Imprimis, It is agreed between the French king Charles, and William de la Pole, Marquess of Suffolk, ambassador for Henry King of England, that the said Henry shall espouse the Lady Margaret, daughter unto Reignier King of Naples, Sicilia and Jerusalem, and crown her Queen of England ere the thirtieth of May next ensu ing. Item, that the duchy of Anjou and the county of King. Uncle, how now! Car. [Reads]"Item, It is further agreed between them, that the duchies of Anjou and Maine shall be released and delivered over to the king her father, and she sent over of the King of England's own proper cost and charges, without having any dowry." King. They please us well. Lord marquess, kneel down: We here create thee the first duke of Suffolk, And gird thee with the sword. Cousin of York, We thank you all for this great favour done, 70 [Exeunt King, Queen, and Suffolk. In winter's cold and summer's parching heat, Have you yourselves, Somerset, Buckingham, Or hath mine uncle Beaufort and myself, 80 With all the learned council of the realm, Studied so long, sat in the council-house 90 Early and late, debating to and fro How France and Frenchmen might be kept in awe, And had his highness in his infancy Crowned in Paris in despite of foes? And shall these labours and these honours die? |