History of Henry VI, Part I (1592)

Intro

Title Variant: The First Part of King Henry the Sixth; or, Harry the Sixth
by Christopher Marlowe, Thomas Nashe, and Anonymous, adapted by Shakespeare
Date variant: 1591-2
Online Critical Edition in Progress - Version 1.a.
Shakespeare Network - https://shakespearenetwork.net/

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Act V, Scene 3

Before Angiers.

Joan la Pucelle
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.
[Thunder]
You speedy helpers, that are substitutes
Under the lordly monarch of the north,
Appear and aid me in this enterprise.
[Enter Fiends]
This speedy and quick appearance argues proof
Of your accustom'd diligence to me.
Now, ye familiar spirits, that are cull'd
Out of the powerful regions under earth,
Help me this once, that France may get the field.
[They walk, 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 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.
[They shake their heads]
Cannot my body nor blood-sacrifice
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-plumed 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]
[Excursions. Re-enter JOAN LA PUCELLE fighting hand]
to hand with YORK. JOAN LA PUCELLE is taken. The
French fly]

Richard Plantagenet - Duke of 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 wench doth bend her brows,
As if with Circe she would change my shape!

Joan la Pucelle
Changed to a worser shape thou canst not be.

Richard Plantagenet - Duke of York
O, Charles the Dauphin is a proper man;
No shape but his can please your dainty eye.

Joan la Pucelle
A plaguing mischief light on Charles and thee!
And may ye both be suddenly surprised
By bloody hands, in sleeping on your beds!

Richard Plantagenet - Duke of York
Fell banning hag, enchantress, hold thy tongue!

Joan la Pucelle
I prithee, give me leave to curse awhile.

Richard Plantagenet - Duke of York
Curse, miscreant, when thou comest to the stake.

Earl of Suffolk
Be what thou wilt, thou art my prisoner.
[Gazes on her]
O fairest beauty, do not fear nor fly!
For I will touch thee but with reverent hands;
I kiss these fingers for eternal peace,
And lay them gently on thy tender side.
Who art thou? say, that I may honour thee.

Queen Margaret
Margaret my name, and daughter to a king,
The King of Naples, whosoe'er thou art.

Earl of Suffolk
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 prisoner underneath her wings.
Yet, if this servile usage once offend.
Go, and be free again, as Suffolk's friend.
[She is going]
O, stay! 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,
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?
Wilt thou be daunted at a woman's sight?
Ay, beauty's princely majesty is such,
Confounds the tongue and makes the senses rough.

Queen Margaret
Say, Earl of Suffolk--if thy name be so--
What ransom must I pay before I pass?
For I perceive I am thy prisoner.

Earl of Suffolk
How canst thou tell she will deny thy suit,
Before thou make a trial of her love?

Queen Margaret
Why speak'st thou not? what ransom must I pay?

Earl of Suffolk
She's beautiful, and therefore to be woo'd;
She is a woman, therefore to be won.

Queen Margaret
Wilt thou accept of ransom? yea, or no.

Earl of Suffolk
Fond man, remember that thou hast a wife;
Then how can Margaret be thy paramour?

Queen Margaret
I were best to leave him, for he will not hear.

Earl of Suffolk
There all is marr'd; there lies a cooling card.

Queen Margaret
He talks at random; sure, the man is mad.

Earl of Suffolk
And yet a dispensation may be had.

Queen Margaret
And yet I would that you would answer me.

Earl of Suffolk
I'll win this Lady Margaret. For whom?
Why, for my king: tush, that's a wooden thing!

Queen Margaret
He talks of wood: it is some carpenter.

Earl of Suffolk
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.

Queen Margaret
Hear ye, captain, are you not at leisure?

Earl of Suffolk
It shall be so, disdain they ne'er so much.
Henry is youthful and will quickly yield.
Madam, I have a secret to reveal.

Queen Margaret
What though I be enthrall'd? he seems a knight,
And will not any way dishonour me.

Earl of Suffolk
Lady, vouchsafe to listen what I say.

Queen Margaret
Perhaps I shall be rescued by the French;
And then I need not crave his courtesy.

Earl of Suffolk
Sweet madam, give me a hearing in a cause--

Queen Margaret
Tush, women have been captivate ere now.

Earl of Suffolk
Lady, wherefore talk you so?

Queen Margaret
I cry you mercy, 'tis but Quid for Quo.

Earl of Suffolk
Say, gentle princess, would you not suppose
Your bondage happy, to be made a queen?

Queen Margaret
To be a queen in bondage is more vile
Than is a slave in base servility;
For princes should be free.

Earl of Suffolk
And so shall you,
If happy England's royal king be free.

Queen Margaret
Why, what concerns his freedom unto me?

Earl of Suffolk
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 be my--

Queen Margaret
What?

Earl of Suffolk
His love.

Queen Margaret
I am unworthy to be Henry's wife.

Earl of Suffolk
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?

Queen Margaret
An if my father please, I am content.

Earl of Suffolk
Then call our captains and our colours forth.
And, madam, at your father's castle walls
We'll crave a parley, to confer with him.
[A parley sounded. Enter REIGNIER on the walls]
See, Reignier, see, thy daughter prisoner!

Reignier
To whom?

Earl of Suffolk
To me.

Reignier
Suffolk, what remedy?
I am a soldier, and unapt to weep,
Or to exclaim on fortune's fickleness.

Earl of Suffolk
Yes, there is remedy enough, my lord:
Consent, and for thy honour give consent,
Thy daughter shall be wedded to my king;
Whom I with pain have woo'd and won thereto;
And this her easy-held imprisonment
Hath gained thy daughter princely liberty.

Reignier
Speaks Suffolk as he thinks?

Earl of Suffolk
Fair Margaret knows
That Suffolk doth not flatter, face, or feign.

Reignier
Upon thy princely warrant, I descend
To give thee answer of thy just demand.

Earl of Suffolk
And here I will expect thy coming.

Reignier
Welcome, brave earl, into our territories:
Command in Anjou what your honour pleases.

Earl of Suffolk
Thanks, Reignier, happy for so sweet a child,
Fit to be made companion with a king:
What answer makes your grace unto my suit?

Reignier
Since thou dost deign to woo her little worth
To be the princely bride of such a lord;
Upon condition I may quietly
Enjoy mine own, the country Maine and Anjou,
Free from oppression or the stroke of war,
My daughter shall be Henry's, if he please.

Earl of Suffolk
That is her ransom; I deliver her;
And those two counties I will undertake
Your grace shall well and quietly enjoy.

Reignier
And I again, in Henry's royal name,
As deputy unto that gracious king,
Give thee her hand, for sign of plighted faith.

Earl of Suffolk
Reignier of France, I give thee kingly thanks,
Because this is in traffic of a king.
[Aside]
And yet, methinks, I could be well content
To be mine own attorney in this case.
I'll over then to England with this news,
And make this marriage to be solemnized.
So farewell, Reignier: set this diamond safe
In golden palaces, as it becomes.

Reignier
I do embrace thee, as I would embrace
The Christian prince, King Henry, were he here.

Queen Margaret
Farewell, my lord: good wishes, praise and prayers
Shall Suffolk ever have of Margaret.

Earl of Suffolk
Farewell, sweet madam: but hark you, Margaret;
No princely commendations to my king?

Queen Margaret
Such commendations as becomes a maid,
A virgin and his servant, say to him.

Earl of Suffolk
Words sweetly placed and modestly directed.
But madam, I must trouble you again;
No loving token to his majesty?

Queen Margaret
Yes, my good lord, a pure unspotted heart,
Never yet taint with love, I send the king.

Earl of Suffolk
And this withal.

Queen Margaret
That for thyself: I will not so presume
To send such peevish tokens to a king.

Earl of Suffolk
O, wert thou for myself! But, Suffolk, stay;
Thou mayst not wander in that labyrinth;
There Minotaurs and ugly treasons lurk.
Solicit Henry with her wondrous praise:
Bethink thee on her virtues that surmount,
And natural graces that extinguish art;
Repeat their semblance often on the seas,
That, when thou comest to kneel at Henry's feet,
Thou mayst bereave him of his wits with wonder.

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History of Henry VI, Part I (1592)

Act V, Scene 3

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