Alarum. Excursions. Enter Joan ⌜la⌝ Pucelle.PUCELLE The Regent conquers and the Frenchmen fly. Now help, you charming spells and periapts, And you choice spirits that admonish me,
197
Henry VI, Part 1
ACT 5. SC. 3
And give me signs of future accidents.Thunder.5 You speedy helpers, that are substitutes Under the lordly monarch of the north, Appear, and aid me in this enterprise.Enter Fiends. This ⌜speed⌝ and quick appearance argues proof Of your accustomed diligence to me.10 Now, you familiar spirits that are culled Out of the powerful regions under earth, Help me this once, that France may get the field.They walk, and speak not. O, hold me not with silence overlong! Where I was wont to feed you with my blood,15 I’ll lop a member off and give it you In earnest of a further benefit, So you do condescend to help me now.They hang their heads. No hope to have redress? My body shall Pay recompense if you will grant my suit.They shake their heads.20 Cannot my body nor blood-sacrifice Entreat you to your wonted furtherance? Then take my soul—my body, soul, and all— Before that England give the French the foil.They depart. See, they forsake me. Now the time is come25 That France must vail her lofty-plumèd 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 dust.⌜She exits.⌝
199
Henry VI, Part 1
ACT 5. SC. 3
Excursions. Burgundy and York fight hand to hand.
⌜Burgundy and the⌝ French fly ⌜as York and English
soldiers capture Joan la Pucelle.⌝YORK 30 Damsel of France, I think I have you fast. Unchain your spirits 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 brows35 As if with Circe she would change my shape.PUCELLE Changed to a worser shape thou canst not be.YORK O, Charles the Dauphin is a proper man; No shape but his can please your dainty eye.PUCELLE A plaguing mischief light on Charles and thee,40 And may you both be suddenly surprised By bloody hands in sleeping on your beds!YORK Fell banning hag! Enchantress, hold thy tongue.PUCELLE I prithee give me leave to curse awhile.YORK Curse, miscreant, when thou com’st to the stake.They exit.Alarum. Enter Suffolk with Margaret in his hand.SUFFOLK 45 Be what thou wilt, thou art my prisoner.Gazes on her. O fairest beauty, do not fear nor fly, For I will touch thee but with reverent hands. I kiss these fingers for eternal peace
201
Henry VI, Part 1
ACT 5. SC. 3
And lay them gently on thy tender side.50 Who art thou? Say, that I may honor thee.MARGARET Margaret my name, and daughter to a king, The King of Naples, whosoe’er thou art.SUFFOLK An earl I am, and Suffolk am I called. Be not offended, nature’s miracle;55 Thou art allotted to be ta’en by me. So doth the swan her downy cygnets save, Keeping them prisoner underneath ⌜her⌝ wings. Yet if this servile usage once offend, Go and be free again as Suffolk’s friend.She is going.60 O, stay! (⌜Aside.⌝) I have no power to let her pass. 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.65 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? Wilt thou be daunted at a woman’s sight?70 Ay. Beauty’s princely majesty is such Confounds the tongue and makes the senses rough.MARGARET Say, Earl of Suffolk, if thy name be so, What ransom must I pay before I pass? For I perceive I am thy prisoner.SUFFOLK, ⌜aside⌝ 75 How canst thou tell she will deny thy suit Before thou make a trial of her love?MARGARET Why speak’st thou not? What ransom must I pay?
203
Henry VI, Part 1
ACT 5. SC. 3
SUFFOLK, ⌜aside⌝ She’s beautiful, and therefore to be wooed; She is a woman, therefore to be won.MARGARET 80 Wilt thou accept of ransom, yea or no?SUFFOLK, ⌜aside⌝ Fond man, remember that thou hast a wife; Then how can Margaret be thy paramour?MARGARET, ⌜aside⌝ I were best to leave him, for he will not hear.SUFFOLK, ⌜aside⌝ There all is marred; there lies a cooling card.MARGARET, ⌜aside⌝ 85 He talks at random; sure the man is mad.SUFFOLK, ⌜aside⌝ And yet a dispensation may be had.MARGARET And yet I would that you would answer me.SUFFOLK, ⌜aside⌝ I’ll win this Lady Margaret. For whom? Why, for my king. Tush, that’s a wooden thing!MARGARET, ⌜aside⌝ 90 He talks of wood. It is some carpenter.SUFFOLK, ⌜aside⌝ Yet so my fancy may be satisfied, And peace establishèd between these realms. But there remains a scruple in that, too; For though her father be the King of Naples,95 Duke of Anjou and Maine, yet is he poor, And our nobility will scorn the match.MARGARET Hear you, captain? Are you not at leisure?SUFFOLK, ⌜aside⌝ It shall be so, disdain they ne’er so much. Henry is youthful, and will quickly yield.—100 Madam, I have a secret to reveal.
205
Henry VI, Part 1
ACT 5. SC. 3
MARGARET, ⌜aside⌝ What though I be enthralled, he seems a knight, And will not any way dishonor me.SUFFOLK Lady, vouchsafe to listen what I say.MARGARET, ⌜aside⌝ Perhaps I shall be rescued by the French,105 And then I need not crave his courtesy.SUFFOLK Sweet madam, give me hearing in a cause.MARGARET, ⌜aside⌝ Tush, women have been captivate ere now.SUFFOLK Lady, wherefore talk you so?MARGARET I cry you mercy, ’tis but quid for quo.SUFFOLK 110 Say, gentle princess, would you not suppose 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.SUFFOLK 115 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 scepter in thy hand120 And set a precious crown upon thy head, If thou wilt condescend to be my—MARGARET What?SUFFOLK His love.
207
Henry VI, Part 1
ACT 5. SC. 3
MARGARET I am unworthy to be Henry’s wife.SUFFOLK 125 No, gentle madam, I unworthy am To woo so fair a dame to be his wife, And have no portion in the choice myself. How say you, madam? Are you so content?MARGARET An if my father please, I am content.SUFFOLK 130 Then call our captains and our colors forth!⌜A Soldier exits.⌝ And, madam, at your father’s castle walls We’ll crave a parley to confer with him.⌜Enter Captains and Trumpets.⌝ Sound ⌜a parley.⌝Enter Reignier on the walls. See, Reignier, see thy daughter prisoner!REIGNIER To whom?SUFFOLK 135 To me.REIGNIER Suffolk, what remedy? I am a soldier and unapt to weep Or to exclaim on Fortune’s fickleness.SUFFOLK Yes, there is remedy enough, my lord:140 Consent, and, for thy Honor 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.REIGNIER 145 Speaks Suffolk as he thinks?SUFFOLK Fair Margaret knows That Suffolk doth not flatter, face, or feign.
209
Henry VI, Part 1
ACT 5. SC. 3
REIGNIER Upon thy princely warrant, I descend To give thee answer of thy just demand.⌜He exits from the walls.⌝SUFFOLK 150 And here I will expect thy coming.Trumpets sound. Enter Reignier, ⌜below.⌝REIGNIER Welcome, brave earl, into our territories. Command in Anjou what your Honor pleases.SUFFOLK Thanks, Reignier, happy for so sweet a child, Fit to be made companion with a king.155 What answer makes your Grace unto my suit?REIGNIER 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 country Maine and Anjou,160 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.REIGNIER 165 And I, again in Henry’s royal name As deputy unto that gracious king, Give thee her hand for sign of plighted faith.SUFFOLK Reignier of France, I give thee kingly thanks Because this is in traffic of a king.170 ⌜Aside.⌝ And yet methinks I could be well content To be mine own attorney in this case.—
211
Henry VI, Part 1
ACT 5. SC. 3
I’ll over then to England with this news, And make this marriage to be solemnized. So farewell, Reignier; set this diamond safe175 In golden palaces, as it becomes.REIGNIER, ⌜embracing Suffolk⌝ I do embrace thee, as I would embrace The Christian prince King Henry, were he here.MARGARET, ⌜to Suffolk⌝ Farewell, my lord; good wishes, praise, and prayers Shall Suffolk ever have of Margaret.She is going, ⌜as Reignier exits.⌝SUFFOLK 180 Farewell, sweet madam. But, hark you, Margaret, No princely commendations to my king?MARGARET Such commendations as becomes a maid, A virgin, and his servant, say to him.SUFFOLK Words sweetly placed and ⌜modestly⌝ directed.185 But, madam, I must trouble you again: No loving token to his Majesty?MARGARET Yes, my good lord: a pure unspotted heart, Never yet taint with love, I send the King.SUFFOLK And this withal.Kiss her.MARGARET 190 That for thyself. I will not so presume To send such peevish tokens to a king.⌜She exits.⌝SUFFOLK O, wert thou for myself! But, Suffolk, stay. Thou mayst not wander in that labyrinth. There Minotaurs and ugly treasons lurk.195 Solicit Henry with her wondrous praise; Bethink thee on her virtues that surmount
213
Henry VI, Part 1
ACT 5. SC. 4
⌜And⌝ natural graces that extinguish art; Repeat their semblance often on the seas, That, when thou com’st to kneel at Henry’s feet,200 Thou mayst bereave him of his wits with wonder.He exits.
Henry VI, Part 1: 
