Enter CHARLES, attended; ALENÇON, the Bastard of Orleans, 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 prison'd By sight of these our baleful enemies. voice, Car. 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, And still enjoy thy regal dignity. Alen. Must he be, then, a shadow(155) of himself? Adorn his temples with a coronet, And yet, in substance and authority, Retain but privilege of a private man? This proffer is absurd and reasonless. Char. "Tis known already that I am possess'd That which I have than, coveting for more, Be cast from possibility of all. York. Insulting Charles! hast thou by secret means Us'd 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, And not of any challenge of desert, Or we will plague thee with incessant wars. Reig. [aside to Charles] My lord, you do not well in obstinacy To cavil in the course of this contráct: If once it be neglected, ten to one Alen. [aside to Charles] To say the truth, it is your policy To save your subjects from such massacre 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. War. How say'st thou, Charles? shall our condition stand? 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 nobles, to the crown of England. 56) [Charles and the rest give tokens of fealty. So, now dismiss your army when ye please, [Exeunt. SCENE V. London. A room in the palace. 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 : Either to suffer shipwreck, or arrive Where I may have fruition of her love. Suf. Tush, my good lord,-this superficial tale K. Hen. And otherwise will Henry ne'er presume. Glo. So should I give consent to flatter sin. How shall we, then, dispense with that contract, Suf. As doth a ruler with unlawful oaths; 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. Suf. O, yes, my lord, (157) 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. Glo. And so the Earl of Armagnac may do, Because he is near kinsman unto Charles. Exe. Beside, his wealth doth warrant a liberal dower, (158) Where Reignier sooner will receive than give. Suf. 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: Not whom we will, but whom his grace affects, 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 K. Hen. Whether it be through force of your report, My noble Lord of Suffolk, or for that Take, therefore, shipping; post, my lord, to France; VOL. V. G Agree to any covenants; and procure That Lady Margaret do vouchsafe to come. To cross(163) the seas to England, and be crown'd And so, conduct me where, from company, Glo. Ay, grief, I fear me, both at first and last. [Exit. [Exeunt Gloster and Exeter. Suf. 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; [Exit. |