And so, my lord protector, see them guarded,
And safely brought to Dover; where, inshipp'd,
Commit them to the fortune of the sea.

[Exeunt King Henry, Gloster, Exeter, and Ambassadors.

Car. Stay, my lord legate: you shall first receive The sum of money which I promised

Should be deliver'd to his holiness

For clothing me in these grave ornaments.

Or be inferior to the proudest peer.

Leg. I will attend upon your lordship's leisure.
Car. Now Winchester will not submit, I trow,

[Exit.

Humphrey of Gloster, thou shalt well perceive
That neither in birth or for authority
The bishop will be overborne by thee:

I'll either make thee stoop and bend thy knee,
Or sack this country with a mutiny.

[Exit.

SCENE II. France. Plains in Anjou.

Enter CHARLES, BURGUNDY, ALENÇON, the Bastard of Orleans, REIGNIER, LA PUCELLE, and Forces, marching.

Char. These news, my lords, may cheer our drooping spirits:

'Tis said the stout Parisians do revolt,

And turn again unto the warlike French.

Alen. Then march to Paris, royal Charles of France,

And keep not back your powers in dalliance.

Puc. Peace be amongst them, if they turn to us;

Else, ruin combat with their palaces!

Enter a Messenger.

Mess. Success unto our valiant general,

And happiness to his accomplices!

Char. What tidings send our scouts ? I prithee, speak.

Mess. The English army, that divided was

Into two parts, (183) is now conjoin'd in one,
And means to give you battle presently.

Char. Somewhat too sudden, sirs, the warning is; But we will presently provide for them.

Bur. I trust the ghost of Talbot is not there:
Now he is gone, my lord, you need not fear.

Puc. Of all base passions, fear is most accurs'd:—
Command the conquest, Charles, it shall be thine;
Let Henry fret, and all the world repine.

Char. Then on, my lords; and France be fortunate!

[Exeunt.

SCENE III. Before Angiers.

Alarums: excursions. Enter LA PUCELLE.

Puc. The regent conquers, and the Frenchmen fly.-
Now help, ye charming spells and periapts;
And ye choice spirits that admonish me,
And give me signs of future accidents,-
You speedy helpers, that are substitutes
Under the lordly monarch of the north,
Appear, and aid me in this enterprise !

(134)

Enter Fiends.

This speed and quick appearance argues proof
Of your accustom'd diligence to me.

Now, ye familiar spirits, that are cull'd

Out of the powerful legions under earth,"

Help me this once, that France may get the field.

[Thunder.

[They walk about, and speak not.

O, hold me not with silence over-long!

Where I was wont to feed you with my blood,

I'll lop a member off, and give it you,

In earnest of a further benefit,

So you do condescend to help me now. [They hang their heads.

No hope to have redress ?-My body shall

Pay recompense, if you will grant my suit.

Cannot my body nor blood-sacrifice

[They shake their heads.

Entreat you to your wonted furtherance?
Then take my soul,-my body, soul, and all,

Before that England give the French the foil. [They depart.
See, they forsake me! Now the time is come,
That France must vail her lofty-plumèd crest,
And let her head fall into England's lap.
My ancient incantations are too weak,
And hell too strong for me to buckle with:

Now, France, thy glory droopeth to the dust.

[Exit.

Alarums. Enter French and English, fighting. La PUCELLE and YORK fight hand to hand:(136) LA PUCELLE is taken. The French fly.

York. Damsel of France, I think I have you fast:
Unchain your spirits now with spelling charms,
And try if they can gain your liberty.—

A goodly prize, fit for the devil's grace!
See, how the ugly witch doth bend her brows,
As if, with Circe, she would change my shape!

Puc. Chang'd to a worser shape thou canst not be.
York. O, Charles the Dauphin is a proper man ;
No shape but his can please your dainty eye.

Puc. A plaguing mischief light on Charles and thee! And may ye both be suddenly surpris'd

By bloody hands, in sleeping on your beds!

York. Fell banning hag, enchantress, hold thy tongue!
Puc. I prithee, give me leave to curse awhile.

York. Curse, miscreant, when thou comest to the stake.

Alarums. Enter SUFFOLK, leading in Margaret.

Suf. Be what thou wilt, thou art my prisoner.

O fairest beauty, do not fear nor fly!

For I will touch thee but with reverent hands,

And lay them gently on thy tender side.

[Exeunt.

[Gazes on her.

I kiss these fingers for eternal peace.' (137) [Kissing her hand.

Who art thou? say, that I may honour thee.

Mar. Margaret my name, and daughter to a king,

The King of Naples,-whosoe'er thou art.

Suf. An earl I am, and Suffolk am I call'd.

Be not offended, nature's miracle,

Thou art allotted to be ta'en by me:

So doth the swan her downy cygnets save,
Keeping them prisoners underneath her wings."
Yet, if this servile usage once offend,

Go, and be free again as Suffolk's friend.

[She turns away as going.
O, stay!-[Aside] I have no power to let her pass;
My hand would free her, but my heart says no.
As plays the sun upon the glassy streams,
Twinkling another counterfeited beam, (139)
So seems this gorgeous beauty to mine eyes.
Fain would I woo her, yet I dare not speak:
I'll call for pen and ink, and write my mind:-
Fie, de la Pole! disable not thyself;

Hast not a tongue? is she not here thy prisoner 20140)
Wilt thou be daunted at a woman's sight?

Ay, beauty's princely majesty is such,

Confounds the tongue, and makes the senses crouch.(41)
Mar. Say, Earl of Suffolk,-if thy name be so,—
What ransom must I pay before I pass?

For I perceive I am thy prisoner.

Suf. [aside] How canst thou tell she will deny thy suit Before thou make a trial of her love?

Mar. Why speak'st thou not? what ransom must I pay? Suf. [aside] She's beautiful, and therefore to be woo'd; She is a woman, therefore to be won.

Mar. Wilt thou accept of ransom-yea or no?

Suf. [aside] Fond man, remember that thou hast a wife; Then how can Margaret be thy paramour?

Mar. I were best to leave him, (142) for he will not hear.
Suf. [aside] There all is marr'd; there lies a cooling-card.
Mar. He talks at random;(143) sure, the man is mad.
Suf. [aside] And yet a dispensation may be had.
Mar. And yet I would that you would answer me.
Suf. [aside] I'll win this Lady Margaret. For whom?
Why, for my king: tush, that's a wooden thing!
Mar. He talks of wood: it is some carpenter.
Suf. [aside] Yet so my fancy may be satisfied,

And peace established between these realms.
But there remains a scruple in that too;
For though her father be the King of Naples,

Duke of Anjou and Maine, yet is he poor,

And our nobility will scorn the match.

Mar. Hear ye, captain,-are you not at leisure? Suf. [aside] It shall be so, disdain they ne'er so much : Henry is youthful, and will quickly yield.—

Madam, I have a secret to reveal.

Mar. [aside] What though I be enthrall'd? he seems a

knight,

And will not any way dishonour me.

Suf. Lady, vouchsafe to listen what I

say.

Mar. [aside] Perhaps I shall be rescu'd by the French; And then I need not crave his courtesy.

Suf. Sweet madam, give me hearing in a cause—
Mar. [aside] Tush, women have been captivate ere now.
Suf. I prithee, lady,140 wherefore talk you so ?
Mar. I cry you mercy, 'tis but quid for quo.
Suf. Say, gentle princess, would you not suppose.

Your bondage happy, to be made a queen?

Mar. To be a queen in bondage is more vile Than is a slave in base servility;

For princes should be free.

Suf.

And so shall you,

If happy England's royal king be free.

Mar. Why, what concerns his freedom unto me?
Suf. I'll undertake to make thee Henry's queen;

To put a golden sceptre in thy hand,

And set a precious crown upon thy head,

If thou wilt condescend to-(145)

Mar.
Suf.

What?

His love.

Mar. I am unworthy to be Henry's wife.
Suf. No, gentle madam; I unworthy am

To woo so fair a dame to be his wife,
And have no portion in the choice myself.
How say you, madam,—are ye so content?

Mar. An if my father please, I am content.
Suf. Then call our captains and our colours forth!-
[Troops come forward.

And, madam, at your father's castle-walls
We'll crave a parley, to confer with him.