You speedy helpers, that are substitutes [Exit. Alarums. Enter French and English, fighting. La PUCELLE and YORK fight hand to hand. LA PUCELLE is taken. The French fly. York. Damsel of France, I think, I have you fast: Unchain your spirits now with spelling charms, See how the ugly witch doth bend her brows, York. O, Charles the Dauphin is a proper man: And may ye both be suddenly surpriz'd 3 York. Fell, banning hag! enchantress, hold thy tongue. Puc. I pr'ythee, give me leave to curse a while. York. Curse, miscreant, when thou comest to the [Exeunt. stake. The north was supposed to be the particular habitation of bad spirits. 2 Lower. 3 To ban is to curse. Alarums. Enter SUFFOLK, leading in Lady Suf. Be what thou wilt, thou art my prisoner. O fairest beauty, do not fear, nor fly; [Gazes on her. For I will touch thee but with reverent hands, I kiss these fingers [Kissing her hand] for eternal peace: Who art thou? say, that 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. Thou art allotted to be ta'en by me : -no. [She turns away as going. O, stay! I have no power to let her pass; My hand would free her, but my heart saysAs plays the sun upon the glassy streams, Twinkling another counterfeited beam, 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: Fye, De la Poole ! disable not thyself +; Hast not a tongue? is she not here thy prisoner? Wilt thou be daunted at a woman's sight? Ay; beauty's princely majesty is such, Confounds the tongue, and makes the senses rough. Mar. Say, earl of Suffolk, - if thy name be so,What ransome must I pay before I For, I perceive, I am thy prisoner. pass? 4 "Do not represent thyself so weak.” Suf. How canst thou tell, she will deny thy suit, Before thou make a trial of her love? [Aside. Mar. Why speak'st thou not? what ransome must I pay? Suf. She's beautiful; and therefore to be woo'd: She is a woman; therefore to be won. [Aside. Mar. Wilt thou accept of ransome, yea, or no? Suf. Fond man! remember, that thou hast a wife; Then how can Margaret be thy paramour? [Aside. Mar. I were best leave him, for he will not hear. Suf. There all is marr'd; there lies a cooling card. Mar. He talks at random; sure, the man is mad. Suf. And yet a dispensation may be had. Mar. And yet I would that you would answer me. Suf. I'll win this lady Margaret for my king, And 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. [Aside Mar. Hear ye, captain? Are you not at lei sure? Suf. It shall be so, disdain they ne'er so much : Henry is youthful, and will quickly yield.— Madam, I have a secret to reveal. [Aside. Mar. 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. [Aside. Mar. Perhaps, I shall be rescu'd by the French; And then I need not crave his courtesy. [Aside. 5 Love. Suf. Sweet madam, give me hearing in a cause Mar. Tush! women have been captivate ere now. Suf. Lady, wherefore talk you so? [Aside. 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 scepter in thy hand, And set a precious crown upon thy head, Suf. His love. What? Mar. I am unworthy to be Henry's wife. And, madam, at your father's castle walls [Troops come forward. A Parley sounded. Enter REIGNIER, on the Walls, Suf. See, Reignier, see, thy daughter prisoner. Reig. To whom? Suf. Reig. To me. Suffolk, what remed I am a soldier; and unapt to weep, Suf. Yes, there is remedy enough, my lord: Hath gain'd thy daughter princely liberty. Suf. Fair Margaret knows, That Suffolk doth not flatter, face", or feign. Reig. Upon thy princely warrant, I descend, To give thee answer of thy just demand. [Exit from the Walls. Suf. And here I will expect thy coming. Trumpets sounded. Enter REIGNIER, below. Reig. Welcome, brave earl, into our territories; Command in Anjou what your honour pleases. Suf. Thanks, Reignier, happy for so sweet a child, Fit to be made companion with a king: What answer' makes your grace unto my suit? To be the princely bride of such a lord; Enjoy mine own, the county Maine, and Anjou, Reig. And I again,-in Henry's royal name, Give thee her hand, for sign of plighted faith. Suf. Reignier of France, I give thee kingly thanks, Because this is in traffic of a king: 6 Play the hypocrite. |