And not of any challenge of desert, Or we will plague thee with incessant wars. Reig. [Aside to Charles] My lord, you do not well in obstinacy
To cavil in the course of this contract:
If once it be neglected, ten to one We shall not find like opportunity.
Alen. [Aside to Charles] To say the truth, it is your policy
To save your subjects from such massacre 160 And ruthless slaughters as are daily seen By our proceeding in hostility;
And therefore take this compact of a truce, Although you break it when your pleasure
SCENE V. London. A room in the palace.
Enter KING HENRY in conference with SUFFOLK; GLOSTER and EXETER. King. 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, So am I driven by breath of her renown, Either to suffer shipwreck, or arrive Where I may have fruition of her love. ] Suf. Tush, my good lord,-this superficial tale
How shall we then dispense with that contract, And not deface your honour with reproach!
Suf. As doth a ruler with unlawful oaths; Or one that, at a triumph1 having vow'd To try his strength, forsaketh yet the lists By reason of his adversary's odds: 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. O, yes, my lord, her father is a king, The King of Naples and Jerusalem;
And of such great authority in France As his alliance will confirm our peace, And keep the Frenchmen in allegiance. Glo. And so the Earl of Armagnac may do, Because he is near kinsman unto Charles.
Exe. Beside, his wealth doth warrant liberal dower,
Where? Reignier sooner will receive than give Suf. A dower, my lords! disgrace not so your king,
That he should be so abject, base, and poor, To choose for wealth and not for perfect love. Henry is able to enrich his queen And not to seek a queen to make him rich:
So worthless peasants bargain for their wives, As market-men for oxen, sheep, or horse. Marriage is a matter of more worth Than to be dealt in by attorneyship; [Not whom we will, but whom his grace affects, Must be companion of his nuptial bed: And therefore, lords, since he affects1 her most, It most of all these reasons bindeth us, In our opinions she should be preferr'd.] For what is wedlock forced but a hell, An age of discord and continual strife? Whereas the contrary bringeth forth bliss, And is a pattern of celestial peace.
Whom should we match with Henry, being a king,
But Margaret, that is daughter to a king? Her peerless feature, joined with her birth, Approves her fit for none but for a king: Her valiant courage and undaunted spirit- More than in women commonly is seen- Will answer hope in issue of a king; For Henry, son unto a conqueror, Is likely to beget more conquerors, If with a lady of so high resolve
As is fair Margaret he be link'd in love. Then yield, my lords; and here conclude with me That Margaret shall be queen, and none but she.
King. Whether it be through force of your report,
My noble Lord of Suffolk, or for that My tender youth was never yet attaint
With any passion of inflaming love, I cannot tell; but this I am assur'd, I feel such sharp dissension in my breast, Such fierce alarums both of hope and fear, As I am sick with working of my thoughts. Take, therefore, shipping; post, my lord, to France;
Agree to any covenants; and procure That Lady Margaret do vouchsafe to come Across the seas to England, and be crown'd 90 King Henry's faithful and anointed queen: [For your expenses and sufficient charge, Among the people gather up a tenth. ] Be gone, I say; for, till you do return, I rest perplexed with a thousand cares.— And you, good uncle, banish all offence: If you do censure2 me by what you were, Not what you are, I know it will excuse This sudden execution of my will.
So, conduct me where, from company,3 100 I may revolve and ruminate my grief. [Exit. Glo. Ay, grief, I fear me, both at first and last. [Exeunt Gloster and Exeter. Suf. Thus Suffolk hath prevail'd; and thus he goes,
As did the youthful Paris once to Greece, With hope to find the like event in love, But prosper better than the Trojan did. Margaret shall now be queen, and rule the king; But I will rule both her, the king, and realm. [Exit.
3 From company, i.e. away from company.
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