Chaste and immaculate in very thought; Place barrels of pitch upon the fatal stake, Puc. Will nothing turn your unrelenting hearts?— Then, Joan, discover thine infirmity, That warranteth by law to be thy privilege. I am with child, ye bloody homicides: York. Now, heaven forefend! the holy maid with War. The greatest miracle that e'er ye wrought! Is all your strict preciseness come to this? York. She and the Dauphin have been juggling: I did imagine what would be her refuge. War. Well, go to: we will have no bastards live; Especially, since Charles must father it. Puc. You are deceiv'd; my child is none of his : It was Alençon, that enjoy'd my love. York. Alençon, that notorious Machiavel! It dies, an if it had a thousand lives. Puc. O! give me leave; I have deluded you: 'Twas neither Charles, nor yet the duke I nam'd, But Reignier, king of Naples, that prevail'd. War. A married man: that's most intolerable. York. Why, here's a girl! I think, she knows not well, There were so many, whom she may accuse. War. It's sign she hath been liberal and free. York. And, yet, forsooth, she is a virgin pure.— Strumpet, thy words condemn thy brat, and thee: Use no entreaty, for it is in vain. Puc. Then lead me hence;-with whom I leave my curse. May never glorious sun reflex his beams Drive you to break your necks, or hang yourselves! Enter Cardinal BEAUFORT, attended. Car. Lord regent, I do greet your excellence York. Is all our travail turn'd to this effect? 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. Enter CHARLES, attended; ALENÇON, Bastard, REIGNIER, and Others. Char. Since, lords of England, it is thus agreed, That peaceful truce shall be proclaimed in France, What the conditions of that league must be. York. Speak, Winchester; for boiling choler chokes The hollow passage of my poison'd voice, By sight of these our baleful enemies. Win. Charles, and the rest, it is enacted thus:- 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 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? Or we will plague thee with incessant wars. [Aside to CHARLES. To save your subjects from such massacre, And, therefore, take this compact of a truce, War. How say'st thou, Charles? shall our condition stand? Char. It shall; only reserv'd, you claim no interest In any of our towns of garrison. York. Then swear allegiance to his majesty; As thou art knight, never to disobey, Nor be rebellious to the crown of England, Thou, nor thy nobles, to the crown of England.— [CHARLES, and his Nobles, give tokens of fealty. So; now dismiss your army when ye please: [Exeunt. SCENE V. London. A Room in the Palace. Enter King HENRY, in conference with SUFFOLK; GLOSTER and EXETER following. K. Hen. Your wondrous rare description, noble earl, Of beauteous Margaret hath astonish'd me: Her virtues, graced with external gifts, Do breed love's settled passions in my heart; And like as rigour of tempestuous gusts Provokes the mightiest hulk against the tide, Where I may have fruition of her love. Suf. Tush! my good lord, this superficial tale And, which is more, she is not so divine, K. Hen. And otherwise will Henry ne'er presume. Therefore, my lord protector, give consent, That Margaret may be England's royal queen. Glo. So should I give consent to flatter sin. How shall we, then, dispense with that contract, Suf. As doth a ruler with unlawful oaths: A poor earl's daughter is unequal odds, And therefore may be broke without offence. Glo. 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, The king of Naples and Jerusalem ; And of such great authority in France, |