By treason, falsehood and by treachery, Our great progenitors had conquered? O, Warwick, Warwick! I foresee with grief The utter loss of all the realm of France. War. Be patient, York: if we conclude a peace, It shall be with such strict and severe covenants As little shall the Frenchmen gain thereby. 110 Enter CHARLES, ALENÇON, Bastard, REIGNIER and others. What the conditions of that league must be. York. Speak, Winchester; for boiling choler chokes 120 The hollow passage of my poison'd voice, By sight of these our baleful enemies. Win. 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, 130 Alen. Must he be then as shadow of himself? Adorn his temples with a coronet, And yet, in substance and authority, Retain but privilege of a private man? Char. 'Tis known already that I am possess'd 140 That which I have than, coveting for more, Be cast from possibility of all. York. Insulting Charles! hast thou by secret means Used 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, 150 Or we will plague thee with incessant wars. Alen. To say the truth, it is your policy And therefore take this compact of a truce, Although you break it when your pleasure serves. 160 War. How say'st thou, Charles? shall our condition stand? Char. It shall; Only reserved, you claim no interest In any of our towns of garrison. York. Then swear allegiance to his majesty, SCENE V. London. The palace. 170 [Exeunt. Enter SUFFOLK in conference with the KING, GLOUCESTER and EXETER. King. Your wondrous rare description, noble earl, Of beauteous Margaret hath astonish'd me: heart: Her virtues graced with external gifts Suf. Tush, my good lord, this superficial tale And, which is more, she is not so divine, 10 She is content to be at your command; Command, I mean, of virtuous chaste intents, King. And otherwise will Henry ne'er presume. How shall we then dispense with that contract, Suf. As doth a ruler with unlawful oaths; Or one that, at a triumph having vow'd The poor earl's daughter is unequal odds, And therefore may be broke without offence. Giou. 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, 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: 20 30 40 50 Not whom we will, but whom his grace affects, And therefore, lords, since he affects her most, 60 It most of all these reasons bindeth us, 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 King. Whether it be through force of your report, 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. 70 80 90 Take, therefore, shipping; post, my lord, to France; 100 [Exit. Suf. Then Suffolk hath prevail'd; and thus he goes, Margaret shall now be queen, and rule the king: [Exit. SCENE I. London. The palace. 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, |