Wilt thou not stoop? Now cursed be the time Thy mother gave thee, when thou suck'dst her breast, Had been a little ratsbane for thy sake! Or else, when thou didst keep my lambs a-field, Dost thou deny thy father, cursed drab ? [Exit. York. Take her away; for she hath liv'd too long, To fill the world with vicious qualities. Puc. First, let me tell you whom you have con- Not me begotten of a shepherd swain, To work exceeding miracles on earth. 7 No, misconceived!] i. e. No, ye misconceivers, ye who mistake me and my qualities. That so her torture may be shortened. 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: Murder not then the fruit within my womb, Although ye hale me to a violent death. York. Now heaven forefend! the holy maid with child? 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 enjoyed 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 Upon the country where you make aboude! 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? War. Be patient, York: if we conclude a peace, 3 till mischief, and despair, Drive you to break your necks, or hang yourselves !] Perhaps Shakspeare intended to remark, in this execration, the frequency of suicide among the English, which has been commonly imputed to the gloominess of their air. JOHNSON. 9 " remorse] i. e. compassion, pity. Enter CHARLES, attended; ALENÇON, Bastard, REIGNIER, and Others. Char. Since, lords of England, it is thus agreed, That peaceful truce shall be proclaim'd in France, We come to be informed by yourselves What the conditions of that league must be. York. Speak, Winchester; for boiling choler chokes The hollow passage of my poison'd voice, Win. Charles, and the rest, it is enacted thus: And suffer you to breathe in fruitful peace,- To pay Thou shalt be plac'd as viceroy under him, Alen. Must he be then as shadow of himself? Adorn his temples with a coronet ;* And yet, in substance and authority, Char. "Tis known, already that I am possess'd I 1 ———— baleful enemies.] Baleful is sorrowful; but it had an eiently the same meaning as baneful. a with a coronet;] Coronet is here used for a crown, That which I have, than, coveting for more, York. Insulting Charles! hast thou by secret means Used intercession to obtain a league ; Alen. To say the truth, it is your policy, And therefore take this compact of a truce, Although you break it when your pleasure serves. [Aside, to CHArles, 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 the rest, give Tokens of fealty. 3 upon comparison?] Do you stand to compare your present state, a state which you have neither right or power to maintain, with the terms which we offer? 4 Of benefit-] Benefit is here a term of law. Be content to live as the beneficiary of our king. JOHNSON. |