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Dramatis Personae
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/ Home / Library / Complete Shakespeare / King Henry VI, Part 1 / Act V Scene III
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King Henry VI, Part 1: Act 5 Scene 3
Scene III Before Angiers.
- [Alarum. Excursions. Enter JOAN LA PUCELLE]
- 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]
- 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.
- 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!
- YORK
- Fell banning hag, enchantress, hold thy tongue!
- JOAN LA PUCELLE
- I prithee, give me leave to curse awhile.
- YORK
- Curse, miscreant, when thou comest to the stake.
- [Exeunt]
- [Alarum. Enter SUFFOLK with MARGARET in his hand]
- 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.
- MARGARET
- Margaret my name, and daughter to a king,
- The King of Naples, whosoe'er thou art.
- 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.
- 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.
- SUFFOLK
- How canst thou tell she will deny thy suit,
- Before thou make a trial of her love?
- MARGARET
- Why speak'st thou not? what ransom must I pay?
- SUFFOLK
- She's beautiful, and therefore to be woo'd;
- She is a woman, therefore to be won.
- MARGARET
- Wilt thou accept of ransom? yea, or no.
- SUFFOLK
- Fond man, remember that thou hast a wife;
- Then how can Margaret be thy paramour?
- MARGARET
- I were best to leave him, for he will not hear.
- SUFFOLK
- There all is marr'd; there lies a cooling card.
- MARGARET
- He talks at random; sure, the man is mad.
- SUFFOLK
- And yet a dispensation may be had.
- MARGARET
- And yet I would that you would answer me.
- SUFFOLK
- I'll win this Lady Margaret. For whom?
- Why, for my king: tush, that's a wooden thing!
- MARGARET
- He talks of wood: it is some carpenter.
- 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.
- MARGARET
- Hear ye, captain, are you not at leisure?
- 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.
- MARGARET
- What though I be enthrall'd? he seems a knight,
- And will not any way dishonour me.
- SUFFOLK
- Lady, vouchsafe to listen what I say.
- MARGARET
- Perhaps I shall be rescued by the French;
- And then I need not crave his courtesy.
- SUFFOLK
- Sweet madam, give me a hearing in a cause--
- MARGARET
- Tush, women have been captivate ere now.
- SUFFOLK
- Lady, wherefore talk you so?
- MARGARET
- I cry you mercy, 'tis but Quid for Quo.
- SUFFOLK
- Say, gentle princess, would you not suppose
- Your bondage happy, to be made a queen?
- MARGARET
- To be a queen in bondage is more vile
- Than is a slave in base servility;
- For princes should be free.
- SUFFOLK
- And so shall you,
- If happy England's royal king be free.
- MARGARET
- Why, what concerns his freedom unto me?
- 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--
- MARGARET
- What?
- SUFFOLK
- His love.
- MARGARET
- I am unworthy to be Henry's wife.
- 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?
- MARGARET
- An if my father please, I am content.
- 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?
- SUFFOLK
- To me.
- REIGNIER
- Suffolk, what remedy?
- I am a soldier, and unapt to weep,
- Or to exclaim on fortune's fickleness.
- 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?
- 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.
- [Exit from the walls]
- SUFFOLK
- And here I will expect thy coming.
- [Trumpets sound. Enter REIGNIER, below]
- REIGNIER
- Welcome, brave earl, into our territories:
- Command in Anjou what your honour pleases.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- MARGARET
- Farewell, my lord: good wishes, praise and prayers
- Shall Suffolk ever have of Margaret.
- [Going]
- SUFFOLK
- Farewell, sweet madam: but hark you, Margaret;
- No princely commendations to my king?
- MARGARET
- Such commendations as becomes a maid,
- A virgin and his servant, say to him.
- SUFFOLK
- Words sweetly placed and modestly directed.
- But madam, I must trouble you again;
- No loving token to his majesty?
- MARGARET
- Yes, my good lord, a pure unspotted heart,
- Never yet taint with love, I send the king.
- SUFFOLK
- And this withal.
- [Kisses her]
- MARGARET
- That for thyself: I will not so presume
- To send such peevish tokens to a king.
- [Exeunt REIGNIER and MARGARET]
- 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.
- [Exit]
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