The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Part 191

If once it be neglected, ten to one We shall not find like opportunity.

ALENCON. [To CHARLES] To say the truth, it is your policy To save your subjects from such ma.s.sacre And ruthless slaughters as are daily seen By our proceeding in hostility; And therefore take this compact of a truce, Although you break it when your pleasure serves.

WARWICK. How say'st thou, Charles? Shall our condition stand?

CHARLES. It shall; Only reserv'd, 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 n.o.bles, 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. Exeunt

SCENE 5.

London. The palace

Enter SUFFOLK, in conference with the KING, GLOUCESTER and EXETER

KING HENRY. Your wondrous rare description, n.o.ble Earl, Of beauteous Margaret hath astonish'd me.

Her virtues, graced with external gifts, Do breed love's settled pa.s.sions in my heart; And like as rigour of tempestuous gusts Provokes the mightiest hulk against the tide, So am I driven by breath of her renown Either to suffer s.h.i.+pwreck or arrive Where I may have fruition of her love.

SUFFOLK. Tush, my good lord! This superficial tale Is but a preface of her worthy praise.

The chief perfections of that lovely dame, Had I sufficient skill to utter them, Would make a volume of enticing lines, Able to ravish any dull conceit; And, which is more, she is not so divine, So full-replete with choice of all delights, But with as humble lowliness of mind She is content to be at your command Command, I mean, of virtuous intents, To love and honour Henry as her lord.

KING HENRY. And otherwise will Henry ne'er presume.

Therefore, my Lord Protector, give consent That Margaret may be England's royal Queen.

GLOUCESTER. So should I give consent to flatter sin.

You know, my lord, your Highness is betroth'd Unto another lady of esteem.

How shall we then dispense with that contract, And not deface your honour with reproach?

SUFFOLK. As doth a ruler with unlawful oaths; Or one that at a triumph, having vow'd To try his strength, forsaketh yet the lists By reason of his adversary's odds: A poor earl's daughter is unequal odds, And therefore may be broke without offence.

GLOUCESTER. Why, what, I pray, is Margaret more than that?

Her father is no better than an earl, Although in glorious t.i.tles he excel.

SUFFOLK. Yes, my lord, her father is a king, The King of Naples and Jerusalem; And of such great authority in France As his alliance will confirm our peace, And keep the Frenchmen in allegiance.

GLOUCESTER. And so the Earl of Armagnac may do, Because he is near kinsman unto Charles.

EXETER. Beside, his wealth doth warrant a liberal dower; Where Reignier sooner will receive than give.

SUFFOLK. A dow'r, 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.

Henry is able to enrich his queen, And not to seek a queen to make him rich.

So worthless peasants bargain for their wives, As market-men for oxen, sheep, or horse.

Marriage is a matter of more worth Than to be dealt in by attorneys.h.i.+p; Not whom we will, but whom his Grace affects, Must be companion of his nuptial bed.

And therefore, lords, since he affects her most, It most of all these reasons bindeth us In our opinions she should be preferr'd; For what is wedlock forced but a h.e.l.l, An age of discord and continual strife?

Whereas the contrary bringeth bliss, And is a pattern of celestial peace.

Whom should we match with Henry, being a king, But Margaret, that is daughter to a king?

Her peerless feature, joined with her birth, Approves her fit for none but for a king; Her valiant courage and undaunted spirit, More than in women commonly is seen, Will answer our hope in issue of a king; For Henry, son unto a conqueror, Is likely to beget more conquerors, If with a lady of so high resolve As is fair Margaret he be link'd in love.

Then yield, my lords; and here conclude with me That Margaret shall be Queen, and none but she.

KING HENRY. Whether it be through force of your report, My n.o.ble Lord of Suffolk, or for that My tender youth was never yet attaint With any pa.s.sion of inflaming love, I cannot tell; but this I am a.s.sur'd, 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 s.h.i.+pping; post, my lord, to France; Agree to any covenants; and procure That Lady Margaret do vouchsafe to come To cross the seas to England, and be crown'd King Henry's faithful and anointed queen.

For your expenses and sufficient charge, Among the people gather up a tenth.

Be gone, I say; for till you do return I rest perplexed with a thousand cares.

And you, good uncle, banish all offence: If you do censure me by what you were, Not what you are, I know it will excuse This sudden execution of my will.

And so conduct me where, from company, I may revolve and ruminate my grief. Exit GLOUCESTER. Ay, grief, I fear me, both at first and last.

Exeunt GLOUCESTER and EXETER SUFFOLK. 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 But prosper better than the Troyan did.

Margaret shall now be Queen, and rule the King; But I will rule both her, the King, and realm. Exit

THE END

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1591

THE SECOND PART OF KING HENRY THE SIXTH

by William Shakespeare

Dramatis Personae

KING HENRY THE SIXTH HUMPHREY, DUKE OF GLOUCESTER, his uncle CARDINAL BEAUFORT, BISHOP OF WINCHESTER, great-uncle to the King RICHARD PLANTAGENET, DUKE OF YORK EDWARD and RICHARD, his sons DUKE OF SOMERSET DUKE OF SUFFOLK DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM LORD CLIFFORD YOUNG CLIFFORD, his son EARL OF SALISBURY EARL OF WARWICK LORD SCALES LORD SAY SIR HUMPHREY STAFFORD WILLIAM STAFFORD, his brother SIR JOHN STANLEY VAUX MATTHEW GOFFE A LIEUTENANT, a s.h.i.+PMASTER, a MASTER'S MATE, and WALTER WHITMORE TWO GENTLEMEN, prisoners with Suffolk JOHN HUME and JOHN SOUTHWELL, two priests ROGER BOLINGBROKE, a conjurer A SPIRIT raised by him THOMAS HORNER, an armourer PETER, his man CLERK OF CHATHAM MAYOR OF SAINT ALBANS SAUNDER SIMPc.o.x, an impostor ALEXANDER IDEN, a Kentish gentleman JACK CADE, a rebel GEORGE BEVIS, JOHN HOLLAND, d.i.c.k THE BUTCHER, SMITH THE WEAVER, MICHAEL, &c., followers of Cade TWO MURDERERS

MARGARET, Queen to King Henry ELEANOR, d.u.c.h.ess of Gloucester MARGERY JOURDAIN, a witch WIFE to SIMPc.o.x

Lords, Ladies, and Attendants; Pet.i.tioners, Aldermen, a Herald, a Beadle, a Sheriff, Officers, Citizens, Prentices, Falconers, Guards, Soldiers, Messengers, &c.

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SCENE: England

ACT I. SCENE I.

London. The palace

Flourish of trumpets; then hautboys. Enter the KING, DUKE HUMPHREY OF GLOUCESTER, SALISBURY, WARWICK, and CARDINAL BEAUFORT, on the one side; the QUEEN, SUFFOLK, YORK, SOMERSET, and BUCKINGHAM, on the other

SUFFOLK. 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; So, in the famous ancient city Tours, In presence of the Kings of France and Sicil, The Dukes of Orleans, Calaber, Bretagne, and Alencon, Seven earls, twelve barons, and twenty reverend bishops, I have perform'd my task, and was espous'd; And humbly now upon my bended knee, In sight of England and her lordly peers, Deliver up my t.i.tle in the Queen To your most gracious hands, that are the substance Of that great shadow I did represent: The happiest gift that ever marquis gave, The fairest queen that ever king receiv'd.

KING HENRY. Suffolk, arise. Welcome, Queen Margaret: I can express no kinder sign of love Than this kind kiss. O Lord, that lends me life, Lend me a heart replete with thankfulness!

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 HENRY. Her sight did ravish, but her grace in speech, Her words y-clad with wisdom's majesty, Makes me from wond'ring fall to weeping joys, Such is the fulness of my heart's content.

Lords, with one cheerful voice welcome my love.

ALL. [Kneeling] Long live Queen Margaret, England's happiness!

QUEEN. We thank you all. [Flourish]