按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
minister of hell！
Enter CARDINAL BEAUFORT； attended
CARDINAL。 Lord Regent； I do greet your Excellence With letters of
commission from the King。 For know； my lords； the states of Christendom；
Mov'd with remorse of these outrageous broils； Have earnestly implor'd a
80
… Page 81…
King Henry VI； Part 1
general peace Betwixt our nation and the aspiring French； And here at
hand the Dauphin and his train Approacheth； to confer about some matter。
YORK。 Is all our travail turn'd to this effect？ After the slaughter of so
many peers； So many captains； gentlemen； and soldiers； That in this
quarrel have been overthrown And sold their bodies for their country's
benefit； Shall we at last conclude effeminate peace？ Have we not lost most
part of all the towns； By treason； falsehood； and by treachery； Our great
progenitors had conquered？ O Warwick； Warwick！ I foresee with grief The
utter loss of all the realm of France。 WARWICK。 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； ALENCON； BASTARD； REIGNIER； and others
CHARLES。 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； By
sight of these our baleful enemies。 CARDINAL。 Charles； and the rest； it is
enacted thus： That； in regard King Henry gives consent； Of mere
compassion and of lenity； To ease your country of distressful war； An
suffer you to breathe in fruitful peace； You shall become true liegemen to
his crown； And； Charles； upon condition thou wilt swear To pay him
tribute and submit thyself； Thou shalt be plac'd as viceroy under him； And
still enjoy thy regal dignity。 ALENCON。 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？ This proffer is absurd and
reasonless。 CHARLES。 'Tis known already that I am possess'd With more
than half the Gallian territories； And therein reverenc'd for their lawful
king。 Shall I； for lucre of the rest unvanquish'd； Detract so much from that
prerogative As to be call'd but viceroy of the whole？ No； Lord
Ambassador； I'll rather keep That which I have than； coveting for more；
Be cast from possibility of all。 YORK。 Insulting Charles！ Hast thou by
secret means Us'd intercession to obtain a league； And now the matter
grows to compromise Stand'st thou aloof upon comparison？ Either accept
the title thou usurp'st； Of benefit proceeding from our king And not of any
81
… Page 82…
King Henry VI； Part 1
challenge of desert； Or we will plague thee with incessant wars。
REIGNIER。 ＇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。 ALENCON。 ＇To CHARLES＇ To say the
truth； it is your policy To save your subjects from such massacre 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 serves。 WARWICK。 How say'st thou； Charles？ Shall our
condition stand？ CHARLES。 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＇ So； now dismiss your army
when ye please； Hang up your ensigns； let your drums be still； For here we
entertain a solemn peace。 Exeunt
82
… Page 83…
King Henry VI； Part 1
SCENE 5。
London。 The palace
Enter SUFFOLK； in conference with the KING； GLOUCESTER and
EXETER
KING HENRY。 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。 SUFFOLK。 Tush； my good lord！ This
superficial tale Is but a preface of her worthy praise。 The chief perfections
of that lovely dame； Had I sufficient skill to utter them； Would make a
volume of enticing lines； Able to ravish any dull conceit； And； which is
more； she is not so divine； So full…replete with choice of all delights； But
with as humble lowliness of mind She is content to be at your command
Command； I mean； of virtuous intents； To love and honour Henry as her
lord。 KING HENRY。 And otherwise will Henry ne'er presume。 Therefore；
my Lord Protector； give consent That Margaret may be England's royal
Queen。 GLOUCESTER。 So should I give consent to flatter sin。 You know；
my lord； your Highness is betroth'd Unto another lady of esteem。 How
shall we then dispense with that contract； And not deface your honour with
reproach？ SUFFOLK。 As doth a ruler with unlawful oaths； Or one that at a
triumph； 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。 GLOUCESTER。 Why； what； I
pray； is Margaret more than that？ Her father is no better than an earl；
Although in glorious titles he excel。 SUFFOLK。 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。 GLOUCESTER。 And so the Earl of Armagnac may do；
Because he is near kinsman unto