KING HENRY VI. PART II. ACT I. SCENE I.-London. A room of state in the palace. Flourish of trumpets: then hautboys. Enter, on one side, King HENRY, Duke of Gloster, Salisbury, Warwick, and Cardinal BEAUFORT; on the other, Queen MARGARET, led in by Suffolk; York, Somerset, Buckingham, and Others, following. Suf. As by your high imperial majesty To marry princess Margaret for your grace; The dukes of Orleans, Calaber, Bretaigne, and Alen çon, Seven earls, twelve barons, twenty reverend bishops, I have perform'd my task, and was espous'd: Deliver up my title in the queen To your most gracious hands, that are the substance The happiest gift, that ever marquess gave, K. Hen. Suffolk, arise.-Welcome, queen Margaret: I can express no kinder sign of love, Than this kind kiss.-O Lord, that lends me life, If sympathy of love unite our thoughts. Q. Mar. Great king of England, and my gracious lord: The mutual conference, that my mind hath had- K. Hen. Her sight did ravish: but her grace in speech, Her words y-clad with wisdom's majesty, Lords, with one cheerful voice welcome my love. All. Long live queen Margaret, England's happiness!* Q. Mar. We thank you all. [Flourish. Suf. My lord protector, so it please your grace, Here are the articles of contracted peace, Between our sovereign and the French king Charles, For eighteen months concluded by consent. Glo. [Reads.] Imprimis, It is agreed between the French king, Charles, and William de la Poole, marquess of Suffolk, ambassador for Henry king of England, that the said Henry shall espouse the lady Margaret, daughter unto Reignier king of Naples, Sicilia, and Jerusalem; and crown her queen of England, ere the thirtieth of May next ensuing.-Item, That the dutchy of Anjou and the county of Maine, shall be released and delivered to the king her father K. Hen. Uncle, how now? Glo. Pardon me, gracious lord; Some sudden qualm hath struck me at the heart, And dimm'd mine eyes, that I can read no further. K. Hen. Uncle of Winchester, I pray, read on. Win. Item, It is further agreed between them, that the dutchies of Anjou and Maine shall be released and delivered over to the king her father; and she sent over of the king of England's own. proper cost and charges, without having dowry. K. Hen. They please us well.-Lord ‹ marquess, We here create thee the first duke of Suffolk, Cousin of York, we here discharge your grace Till the term of eighteen months be full expir'd.Thanks, uncle Winchester, Gloster, York, and Buckinghani, Somerset, Salisbury, and Warwick; We thank you for all this great favour done, [Exeunt King, Queen, and Suffolk. His valour, coin, and people, in the wars? In winter's cold, and summer's parching heat, Have you yourselves, Somerset, Buckingham, How France and Frenchmen might be kept in awe ? Been crown'd in Paris, in despite of foes? Car. Nephew, what means this passionate discourse? This peroration with such circumstance? For France, 'tis ours; and we will keep it still. Glo. Ay, uncle, we will keep it, if we can. But now it is impossible we should: Suffolk, the new-made duke, that rules the roast, Sal. Now, by the death of him that died for all, : War. For grief, that they are past recovery: For, were there hope to conquer them again, My sword should shed hot blood, mine eyes no tears. Anjou and Maine! myself did win them both; Those provinces these arms of mine did conquer: And are the cities, that I got with wounds, Deliver'd up again with peaceful words? Mort Dieu! York. For Suffolk's duke-may he be suffocate, That dims the honour of this warlike isle! France should have torn and rent my very heart, Before I would have yielded to this league. I never read but England's kings have had Large sums of gold, and dowries, with their wives: And our king Henry gives away his own, To match with her that brings no vantages. Glo. A proper jest, and never heard before, That Suffolk should demand a whole fifteenth, For costs and charges in transporting her! She should have staid in France, and starv'd in France, Before Car. My lord of Gloster, now you grow too hot; It was the pleasure of my lord the king. Glo. My lord of Winchester, I know your mind: 'Tis not my speeches, that you do mislike; But 'tis my presence, that doth trouble you. Rancour will out: Proud prelate, in thy face I see thy fury: if I longer stay, We shall begin our ancient bickerings. - Lordings, farewell; and say, when I am gone, I prophesied-France will be lost ere long. [Exit. Car. So, there goes our protector in a rage. "Tis known to you, he is mine enemy: Nay, more, an enemy unto you all ; And no great friend, I fear me, to the king. Consider, lords, he is the next of blood, And heir apparent to the English crown; |