So
you
do condescend to help me now.

(They hang their heads. No hope to have redress? my body shall Pay recompence, if you will grant my suit.

[They shake their heads. Cannot my body, nor blood-facrifice, Intreat you to your wonted furtherance? Then, take my soul; my body, foul and all; Before that England give the French the foil.

(They depart. See, they forsake me. Now the time is come, That France must vail her lofty plumed crest, And let her head fall into England's lap. My ancient incantations are too weak, And Hell too strong for me to buckle with: Now, France, thy glory droopeth to the duft. (Exit. Excursions. Pucelle and York fight hand to hand.

Pucelle is taken. I'he French fly. York. Damsel of France, I think, I have you fast. Unchain your fpirits now with spelling Charms, And try if they can gain your liberty. A goodly prize, fit for the devil's Grace ! See, how the ugly witch doth bend her brows, As if, with Circe, she would change my shape.

Pucel. Chang'd to a worfer shape thou canst not be.

York. Oh, Charles the Dauphin is a proper man; No shape, but his, can please your dainty eye. Pucel. A plaguing mischief light on Charles and

thee! And may ye both be suddenly surpriz’d By bloody hands, in sleeping on your beds! York. Fell, banning hag! inchantress, hold thy

tongue. Pucel. I prythee, give me leave to curse a while. York. Curse, miscreant, when thou comeft to the stake,

Exeunt. SCENE

Alarm. Enter Suffolk, with Lady Margaret in his hand. Suf. B E what thou wilt, thou art my prisoner,

[Gazes on her. Oh, faireft beauty, do not fear, nor fly; For I will touch thee but with reverend hands: I kiss these fingers for eternal peace, And lay them gently on thy tender side. Who art thou? say; that I may honour thee.

Mar. Margaret, my name; and daughter to a King; The King of Naples; whosoe'er thou art.

Suf. An Earl I am, and Suffolk am I call'd.
Be not offended, Nature's miracle,
Thou art allotted to be ta’en by me :
So doth the Swan her downy cignets save,
Keeping them prisoners underneath her wings.
Yet if this servile usage once offend,
Go and be free again, as Suffolk's friend. (She is going.
Oh, stay! I have no power to let her pals;
My hand would free her, but my heart says, no.
As plays the sun upon the glassy streams,
Twinkling another counterfeited beam,
So seems this gorgeous beauty to mine eyes.
Fain would I woo her, yet I dare not speak:
I'll call for pen and ink, and write my mind.
Fie, De la Pole, disable not thyself:
Hast not a tongue? is she not here thy pris'ner ?
Wilt thou be daunted at a woman's sight?
Ay; beauty's princely majelly is such,
Confounds the tongue, and makes the senses rough.

Mar. Say, Earl of Suffolk, if thy name be fo,
What ransom muft I pay before I pass ?
For, I perceive, I am thy prisoner.

Suf. How canít thou tell, she will deny thy suit, Before thou make a trial of her love ? (Aside.

Alar.

Mar. Why speak'st thou not? what ransom muft

I pay?

Suf. She's beautiful; and therefore to be wooed: She is a woman, therefore to be won. (Afide.

Mar. Wilt thou accept of ransom, yea, or no?

Suf. Fond man! remember, that thou hast a wife; Then how can Margaret be thy paramour ? Afide.

Mar. 'Twere best to leave him, for he will not hear.
Suf. There all is marr’d; there lies a cooling card.
Mar. He talks at random; sure, the man is mad.
Suf. And yet a dispensation may be had.
Mar. And yet I would, that thou would answer me.

Suf. I'll win this lacy Margaret. For whom? Why, for my King: Tush, that's a wooden thing.

Mar. He talks of wood: it is some carpenter.

Suf. Yet so my fancy may be satisfy'd, And Peace established between these realms. But there remains a scruple in that too: For though her father be the King of Naples, Duke of Anjou and Maine, yet he is poor ; And our Nobility will scorn the match. [ Aside.

Mar. Hear ye me, Captain? are ye not at leisure?

Suf. It shall be fo, disdain they ne'er so much :
Henry is youthful, and will quickly yield.
Madam, I have a secret to reveal.

Mar. What tho' I be enthrall’d, he seems a Knight, And will not any way dishonour me. [Aside.

Suf. Lady, vouchsafe to listen what I say.

Mar. Perhaps, I shall be rescu'd by the French ; And then I need not crave his courtesy. [ Aside.

Suf. Sweet Madam, give me hearing in a cause. Mar. Tush, women have been captivate ere now.

[Ajide. Suf. Lady, wherefore talk you so ? Mar. I cry you mercy, 'tis but Quid for Quo.

Suf. Say, gentle Princess, would you not suppose Your bondage happy, to be made a Queen ? Mar. To be a Queen in Bondage, is more vile

Than

Than is a slave in base servility;
For Princes should be free.

Suf. And fo fhall you,
If happy England's Royal King be free.

Mar. Why, what concerns his freedom unto me?

Suf. I'll undertake to make thee Henry's Queen,
To put a golden Scepter in thy hand,
And set a precious Crown upon thy head,
If thou wilt condesend to be my-

Mar. What?
Suf. His love.
Mar. I am unworthy to be Henry's wife.

Suf. No, gentle Madam; I unworthy am
To woo fo fair a dame to be his wife;
And have no portion in the choice myself.
How fay you, Madam, are you so content ?
Mar. An if

my father please, I am content.
Suf. Then call our Captains and our colours forth.
And, Madam, at your father's castle-walls,
We'll crave a parley to confer with him.

S CE N E

Sound. Enter Reignier on the walls.
E E, Reignier, see thy daughter prisoner.

Suf.

S Reig. To whom?

Suf. To me.

Reig. Suffolk, what remedy?
I am a soldier, and unapt to weep,
Or to exclaim on fortune's fickleness.

Suf. Yes, there is remedy enough, my lord:
Consent, and for thy honour give consent,
Thy daughter shall be wedded to my King;
Whom I with pain have woo'd and won thereto;
And this her easy-held imprisonment
Hath gain'd thy daughter princely liberty.
Reig. Speaks Suffolk is he thinks?

Suf.

Suf. Fair Margaret knows,
That Suffolk doth not flatter, face, or fain.

Reig. Upon thy princely Warrant I defcend;
To give thee answer of thy just demand.
Suf. And here I will expect thy Coming.

Trumpets found. Enter Reignier.
Reig. Welcome, brave Earl, into our territories;
Command in Anjou, whať your Honour pleases.

Suf. Thanks, Reignier, happy in so sweet a child, Fit to be made companion of a King: What answer inakes

your Grace unto my suit ? Reig. Since thou doft deign to woo her little worth, To be the Princely bride of such a lord ; Upon condition I may quietly Enjoy mine own, the country Maine and Anjou, Free from oppression or the stroke of war, My daughter shall be Henry's, if he please.

Suf. That is her ranfom, I deliver her;
And those two Countries, I will undertake,
Your Grace shall well and quietly enjoy.

Reig. And I again in Henry's Royal name,
As Deputy unto that gracious King,
Give thee her hand for sign of plighted faith.

Suf. Reignier of France, I give thee kingly thanks,
Because this is in traffic of a King.
And yet, merhinks, I could be well content
To be mine own Attorney in this case. Aside.
I'll over then to England with this News,
And make this marriage to be solemniz'd :
So farewel, Reigrier; fet this diamond safe
In golden Palaces, as it becomes.

Reig. I do embrace thee, as I would embrace The Christian Prince King Henry, were he here. Mar. Farewel, my lord: good wishes, praise and

pray'rs Shall Suffolk ever have of Margaret. (She is going

Suf.