31

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.-

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[They depart.

Now the time is come

See, they forsake me!
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 LA PUCELLE fighting hand to hand with YORK: 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. Changed to a worser shape thou canst not

be.

35

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!

40

And may ye both be suddenly surprised

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.

[Exeunt.

Alarum. Enter SUFFOLK, with MARGARET in his hand.
Suf. 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.

46

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

50

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 prisoner underneath her wings.
Yet, if this servile usage once offend,

Go and be free again as Suffolk's friend.

55

[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,

60

mind.

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

Mar. I were best to leave him, for he will not

hear.

Suf. There all is marr'd; there lies a cooling card.

84

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 whom? Why, for my king; tush, that's a wooden thing!

Mar. He talks of wood; it is some carpenter. 90 Suf. 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.

95

Mar. Hear ye, captain, are you not at leisure? 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.

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

105

Suf. Sweet madam, give me hearing in a cause Mar. Tush, women have been captivate ere now. Suf. Lady, 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.

111

115

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 be my

Mar.

Suf. His love.

What?

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125

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.

And, madam, at your father's castle walls

We'll crave a parley, to confer with him.

A parley sounded.

130

Enter REIGNIER on the walls.

See, Reignier, see, thy daughter prisoner!

Reig. To whom?

Suf.

Reig.

To me.

Suffolk, what remedy?

I am a soldier, and unapt to weep

Or to exclaim on fortune's fickleness.

Suf. Yes, there is remedy enough, my lord. 135 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 gain'd thy daughter princely liberty.

140

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