William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition (84 page)
Read William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition Online
Authors: William Shakespeare
Tags: #Drama, #Literary Criticism, #Shakespeare
BOOK: William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition
4.71Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
SUFFOLK (
aside
)
aside
)
I’ll win this Lady Margaret. For whom?
Why, for my king—tush, that’s a wooden thing.
Why, for my king—tush, that’s a wooden thing.
MARGARET (aside)
He talks of wood. It is some carpenter.
SUFFOLK (
aside
)
aside
)
Yet so my fancy may be satisfied,
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 is he poor,
And our nobility will scorn the match.
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 is he poor,
And our nobility will scorn the match.
MARGARET
Hear ye, captain? Are you not at leisure?
SUFFOLK (
aside
)
aside
)
It shall be so, disdain they ne’er so much.
Henry is youthful, and will quickly yield.
(To Margaret) Madam, I have a secret to reveal.
Henry is youthful, and will quickly yield.
(To Margaret) Madam, I have a secret to reveal.
MARGARET (aside)
What though I be enthralled, he seems a knight
And will not any way dishonour me.
And will not any way dishonour me.
SUFFOLK
Lady, vouchsafe to listen what I say.
MARGARET (
aside
)
aside
)
Perhaps I shall be rescued by the French,
And then I need not crave his courtesy.
And then I need not crave his courtesy.
SUFFOLK
Sweet madam, give me hearing in a cause.
MARGARET (
aside
)
aside
)
Tush, women have been captivate ere now.
SUFFOLK Lady, wherefore talk you so?
MARGARET
I cry you mercy, ’tis but
quid for quo.
quid for quo.
SUFFOLK
Say, gentle Princess, would you not suppose
Your bondage happy to be made a queen?
Your bondage happy to be made a queen?
MARGARET
To be a queen in bondage is more vile
Than is a slave in base servility,
For princes should be free.
Than is a slave in base servility,
For princes should be free.
SUFFOLK
And so shall you,
If happy England’s royal king be free.
MARGARET
Why, what concerns his freedom unto me?
SUFFOLK
I’ll undertake to make thee Henry’s queen,
To put a golden sceptre in thy hand,
And set a precious crown upon thy head,
If thou wilt condescend to be my—
To put a golden sceptre in thy hand,
And set a precious crown upon thy head,
If thou wilt condescend to be my—
MARGARET What?
SUFFOLK His love.
MARGARET
I am unworthy to be Henry’s wife.
SUFFOLK
No, gentle madam, I unworthy am
To woo so fair a dame to be his wife
(Aside) And have no portion in the choice myself.—
How say you, madam; are ye so content?
To woo so fair a dame to be his wife
(Aside) And have no portion in the choice myself.—
How say you, madam; are ye so content?
MARGARET
An if my father please, I am content.
SUFFOLK
Then call our captains and our colours forth,
⌈
Enter captains, colours, and trumpeters
⌉
And, madam, at your father’s castle walls
We’ll crave a parley to confer with him.
We’ll crave a parley to confer with him.
Sound a parley. Enter René Duke of Anjou on the walls
See, Rene, see thy daughter prisoner.
RENÉ
To whom ?
SUFFOLK To me.
RENÉ Suffolk, what remedy?
I am a soldier, and unapt to weep
Or to exclaim on fortune’s fickleness.
Or to exclaim on fortune’s fickleness.
SUFFOLK
Yes, there is remedy enough, my lord.
Assent, and for thy honour give consent
Thy daughter shall be wedded to my king,
Whom I with pain have wooed and won thereto;
And this her easy-held imprisonment
Hath gained thy daughter princely liberty.
Assent, and for thy honour give consent
Thy daughter shall be wedded to my king,
Whom I with pain have wooed and won thereto;
And this her easy-held imprisonment
Hath gained thy daughter princely liberty.
RENÉ
Speaks Suffolk as he thinks?
SUFFOLK Fair Margaret knows
That Suffolk doth not flatter, face or feign.
RENÉ
Upon thy princely warrant I descend
To give thee answer of thy just demand.
To give thee answer of thy just demand.
SUFFOLK
And here I will expect thy coming. ⌈
Exit Rene above
⌉
Exit Rene above
⌉
Trumpets sound. Enter René
RENE
Welcome, brave Earl, into our territories.
Command in Anjou what your honour pleases.
Command in Anjou what your honour pleases.
SUFFOLK
Thanks, René, happy for so sweet a child,
Fit to be made companion with a king.
What answer makes your grace unto my suit?
Fit to be made companion with a king.
What answer makes your grace unto my suit?
RENÉ
Since thou dost deign to woo her little worth
To be the princely bride of such a lord,
Upon condition I may quietly
Enjoy mine own, the countries Maine and Anjou,
Free from oppression or the stroke of war,
My daughter shall be Henry’s, if he please.
To be the princely bride of such a lord,
Upon condition I may quietly
Enjoy mine own, the countries Maine and Anjou,
Free from oppression or the stroke of war,
My daughter shall be Henry’s, if he please.
SUFFOLK
That is her ransom. I deliver her,
And those two counties I will undertake
Your grace shall well and quietly enjoy.
And those two counties I will undertake
Your grace shall well and quietly enjoy.
RENÉ
And I again in Henry’s royal name,
As deputy unto that gracious king,
Give thee her hand for sign of plighted faith.
As deputy unto that gracious king,
Give thee her hand for sign of plighted faith.
SUFFOLK
René of France, I give thee kingly thanks,
Because this is in traffic of a king.
(
Aside
) And yet methinks I could be well content
To be mine own attorney in this case.
(
To René)
I’ll over then to England with this news,
And make this marriage to be solemnized.
So farewell, René; set this diamond safe
In golden palaces, as it becomes.
Because this is in traffic of a king.
(
Aside
) And yet methinks I could be well content
To be mine own attorney in this case.
(
To René)
I’ll over then to England with this news,
And make this marriage to be solemnized.
So farewell, René; set this diamond safe
In golden palaces, as it becomes.
RENÉ
I do embrace thee as I would embrace
The Christian prince King Henry, were he here.
The Christian prince King Henry, were he here.
MARGARET (
to Suffolk)
to Suffolk)
Farewell, my lord. Good wishes, praise, and prayers
Shall Suffolk ever have of Margaret.
Shall Suffolk ever have of Margaret.
She is going
SUFFOLK
Farewell, sweet madam; but hark you, Margaret—
No princely commendations to my king?
No princely commendations to my king?
MARGARET
Such commendations as becomes a maid,
A virgin, and his servant, say to him.
A virgin, and his servant, say to him.
SUFFOLK
Words sweetly placed, and modestly directed.
⌈
She is going
⌉
But madam, I must trouble you again—
No loving token to his majesty?
No loving token to his majesty?
MARGARET
Yes, my good lord : a pure unspotted heart,
Never yet taint with love, I send the King.
Never yet taint with love, I send the King.
SUFFOLK And this withal.
He kisses her
MARGARET
That for thyself; I will not so presume
To send such peevish tokens to a king.
To send such peevish tokens to a king.
⌈
Exeunt René and Margaret
⌉
SUFFOLK ⌈
aside
⌉
aside
⌉
O, wert thou for myself!—but Suffolk, stay.
Thou mayst not wander in that labyrinth.
There Minotaurs and ugly treasons lurk.
Solicit Henry with her wondrous praise.
Bethink thee on her virtues that surmount,
Mad natural graces that extinguish art.
Repeat their semblance often on the seas,
That when thou com’st to kneel at Henry’s feet
Thou mayst bereave him of his wits with wonder.
Thou mayst not wander in that labyrinth.
There Minotaurs and ugly treasons lurk.
Solicit Henry with her wondrous praise.
Bethink thee on her virtues that surmount,
Mad natural graces that extinguish art.
Repeat their semblance often on the seas,
That when thou com’st to kneel at Henry’s feet
Thou mayst bereave him of his wits with wonder.
⌈
Exeunt
⌉
5.6Exeunt
⌉
Enter Richard Duke of York, the Earl of Warwick, and a Shepherd
RICHARD DUKE OF YORK
Bring forth that sorceress condemned to burn.
⌈
Enter Joan la Pucelle guarded
⌉
SHEPHERD
Ah, Joan, this kills thy father’s heart outright.
Have I sought every country far and near,
And now it is my chance to find thee out
Must I behold thy timeless cruel death?
Ah Joan, sweet daughter Joan, I’ll die with thee.
Have I sought every country far and near,
And now it is my chance to find thee out
Must I behold thy timeless cruel death?
Ah Joan, sweet daughter Joan, I’ll die with thee.
JOAN
Decrepit miser, base ignoble wretch,
I am descended of a gentler blood.
Thou art no father nor no friend of mine.
I am descended of a gentler blood.
Thou art no father nor no friend of mine.
SHEPHERD
Out, out!—My lords, an’t please you, ‘tis not so.
I did beget her, all the parish knows.
Her mother liveth yet, can testify
She was the first fruit of my bach’lorship.
I did beget her, all the parish knows.
Her mother liveth yet, can testify
She was the first fruit of my bach’lorship.
WARWICK (
to Joan
)
to Joan
)
Graceless, wilt thou deny thy parentage?
RICHARD DUKE OF YORK
This argues what her kind of life hath been—
Wicked and vile; and so her death concludes.
Wicked and vile; and so her death concludes.
SHEPHERD
Fie, Joan, that thou wilt be so obstacle.
God knows thou art a collop of my flesh,
And for thy sake have I shed many a tear.
Deny me not, I prithee, gentle Joan.
God knows thou art a collop of my flesh,
And for thy sake have I shed many a tear.
Deny me not, I prithee, gentle Joan.
JOAN
Peasant, avaunt! (
To the English
) You have suborned
this man
Of purpose to obscure my noble birth.
To the English
) You have suborned
this man
Of purpose to obscure my noble birth.
SHEPHERD (
to the English
)
to the English
)
‘Tis true I gave a noble to the priest
The morn that I was wedded to her mother.
(To Joan) Kneel down, and take my blessing, good my
girl.
Wilt thou not stoop? Now cursed be the time
Of thy nativity. I would the milk
Thy mother gave thee when thou sucked’st her breast
Had been a little ratsbane for thy sake.
Or else, when thou didst keep my lambs afield,
I wish some ravenous wolf had eaten thee.
Dost thou deny thy father, cursed drab?
(To the English) O burn her, burn her! Hanging is too
good. Exit
The morn that I was wedded to her mother.
(To Joan) Kneel down, and take my blessing, good my
girl.
Wilt thou not stoop? Now cursed be the time
Of thy nativity. I would the milk
Thy mother gave thee when thou sucked’st her breast
Had been a little ratsbane for thy sake.
Or else, when thou didst keep my lambs afield,
I wish some ravenous wolf had eaten thee.
Dost thou deny thy father, cursed drab?
(To the English) O burn her, burn her! Hanging is too
good. Exit
RICHARD DUKE OF YORK (to guards)
Take her away, for she hath lived too long,
To fill the world with vicious qualities.
To fill the world with vicious qualities.
JOAN
First let me tell you whom you have condemned:
Not one begotten of a shepherd swain,
But issued from the progeny of kings;
Virtuous and holy, chosen from above
By inspiration of celestial grace
To work exceeding miracles on earth.
I never had to do with wicked spirits;
But you that are polluted with your lusts,
Stained with the guiltless blood of innocents,
Corrupt and tainted with a thousand vices—
Because you want the grace that others have,
You judge it straight a thing impossible
To compass wonders but by help of devils.
No, misconceived Joan of Arc hath been
A virgin from her tender infancy,
Chaste and immaculate in very thought,
Whose maiden-blood thus rigorously effused
Will cry for vengeance at the gates of heaven.
Not one begotten of a shepherd swain,
But issued from the progeny of kings;
Virtuous and holy, chosen from above
By inspiration of celestial grace
To work exceeding miracles on earth.
I never had to do with wicked spirits;
But you that are polluted with your lusts,
Stained with the guiltless blood of innocents,
Corrupt and tainted with a thousand vices—
Because you want the grace that others have,
You judge it straight a thing impossible
To compass wonders but by help of devils.
No, misconceived Joan of Arc hath been
A virgin from her tender infancy,
Chaste and immaculate in very thought,
Whose maiden-blood thus rigorously effused
Will cry for vengeance at the gates of heaven.
RICHARD DUKE OF YORK
Ay, ay, (
to guards
) away with her to execution.
to guards
) away with her to execution.
WARWICK (
to guards
)
to guards
)
And hark ye, sirs: because she is a maid,
Spare for no faggots. Let there be enough.
Place barrels of pitch upon the fatal stake,
That so her torture may be shortened.
Spare for no faggots. Let there be enough.
Place barrels of pitch upon the fatal stake,
That so her torture may be shortened.
JOAN
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.
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.
RICHARD DUKE OF YORK
Now heaven forfend—the holy maid with child?
WARWICK (
to Joan
)
to Joan
)
The greatest miracle that e’er ye wrought.
Is all your strict preciseness come to this?
Is all your strict preciseness come to this?
RICHARD DUKE OF YORK
She and the Dauphin have been ingling.
I did imagine what would be her refuge.
I did imagine what would be her refuge.
WARWICK
Well, go to, we will have no bastards live,
Especially since Charles must father it.
Especially since Charles must father it.
JOAN
You are deceived. My child is none of his.
It was Alençon that enjoyed my love.
It was Alençon that enjoyed my love.
RICHARD DUKE OF YORK
Alençon, that notorious Machiavel?
It dies an if it had a thousand lives.
It dies an if it had a thousand lives.
JOAN
O give me leave, I have deluded you.
‘Twas neither Charles nor yet the Duke I named,
But René King of Naples that prevailed.
‘Twas neither Charles nor yet the Duke I named,
But René King of Naples that prevailed.
WARWICK
A married man?—That’s most intolerable.
RICHARD DUKE OF YORK
Why, here’s a girl; I think she knows not well—
There were so many—whom she may accuse.
There were so many—whom she may accuse.
WARWICK
It’s sign she hath been liberal and free.
RICHARD DUKE OF YORK
And yet forsooth she is a virgin pure!
(
To joan
) Strumpet, thy words condemn thy brat and
thee.
Use no entreaty, for it is in vain.
(
To joan
) Strumpet, thy words condemn thy brat and
thee.
Use no entreaty, for it is in vain.
JOAN
Then lead me hence; with whom I leave my curse.
May never glorious sun reflex his beams
Upon the country where you make abode,
But darkness and the gloomy shade of death
Environ you till mischief and despair
Drive you to break your necks or hang yourselves.
May never glorious sun reflex his beams
Upon the country where you make abode,
But darkness and the gloomy shade of death
Environ you till mischief and despair
Drive you to break your necks or hang yourselves.
Other books
William S. and the Great Escape by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
Paris Summer by April Lynn Kihlstrom
Dressed To Kill (A Kate O'Donnell Mystery) by Hall, Patricia
The Moneyless Man by Boyle, Mark
Dream Dancer by Janet Morris
Operation Cowboy Daddy by Carla Cassidy
What You Remember I Did by Janet Berliner, Janet & Tem Berliner
In Love With My Best Friend by Binkley, Sheena
Jax (Cocky Cage Fighter Series) by Hart, Lane
Islands in the Fog by Jerry Autieri