Spaces:
Runtime error
Runtime error
| <html> | |
| <head> | |
| <title>SCENE V. London. The palace. | |
| </title> | |
| <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> | |
| <LINK rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="screen" | |
| href="/shake.css"> | |
| </HEAD> | |
| <body bgcolor="#ffffff" text="#000000"> | |
| <table width="100%" bgcolor="#CCF6F6"> | |
| <tr><td class="play" align="center">The First part of King Henry the Sixth | |
| <tr><td class="nav" align="center"> | |
| <a href="/Shakespeare">Shakespeare homepage</A> | |
| | <A href="/Shakespeare/1henryvi/">Henry VI, part 1</A> | |
| | Act 5, Scene 5 | |
| <br> | |
| <a href="1henryvi.5.4.html">Previous scene</A> | |
| </table> | |
| <H3>SCENE V. London. The palace.</H3> | |
| <p><blockquote> | |
| <i>Enter SUFFOLK in conference with KING HENRY VI, GLOUCESTER and EXETER</i> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech1><b>KING HENRY VI</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=1>Your wondrous rare description, noble earl,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=2>Of beauteous Margaret hath astonish'd me:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=3>Her virtues graced with external gifts</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=4>Do breed love's settled passions in my heart:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=5>And like as rigor of tempestuous gusts</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=6>Provokes the mightiest hulk against the tide,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=7>So am I driven by breath of her renown</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=8>Either to suffer shipwreck or arrive</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=9>Where I may have fruition of her love.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech2><b>SUFFOLK</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=10>Tush, my good lord, this superficial tale</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=11>Is but a preface of her worthy praise;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=12>The chief perfections of that lovely dame</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=13>Had I sufficient skill to utter them,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=14>Would make a volume of enticing lines,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=15>Able to ravish any dull conceit:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=16>And, which is more, she is not so divine,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=17>So full-replete with choice of all delights,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=18>But with as humble lowliness of mind</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=19>She is content to be at your command;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=20>Command, I mean, of virtuous chaste intents,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=21>To love and honour Henry as her lord.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech3><b>KING HENRY VI</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=22>And otherwise will Henry ne'er presume.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=23>Therefore, my lord protector, give consent</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=24>That Margaret may be England's royal queen.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech4><b>GLOUCESTER</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=25>So should I give consent to flatter sin.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=26>You know, my lord, your highness is betroth'd</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=27>Unto another lady of esteem:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=28>How shall we then dispense with that contract,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=29>And not deface your honour with reproach?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech5><b>SUFFOLK</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=30>As doth a ruler with unlawful oaths;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=31>Or one that, at a triumph having vow'd</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=32>To try his strength, forsaketh yet the lists</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=33>By reason of his adversary's odds:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=34>A poor earl's daughter is unequal odds,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=35>And therefore may be broke without offence.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech6><b>GLOUCESTER</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=36>Why, what, I pray, is Margaret more than that?</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=37>Her father is no better than an earl,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=38>Although in glorious titles he excel.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech7><b>SUFFOLK</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=39>Yes, lord, her father is a king,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=40>The King of Naples and Jerusalem;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=41>And of such great authority in France</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=42>As his alliance will confirm our peace</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=43>And keep the Frenchmen in allegiance.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech8><b>GLOUCESTER</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=44>And so the Earl of Armagnac may do,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=45>Because he is near kinsman unto Charles.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech9><b>EXETER</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=46>Beside, his wealth doth warrant a liberal dower,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=47>Where Reignier sooner will receive than give.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech10><b>SUFFOLK</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=48>A dower, my lords! disgrace not so your king,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=49>That he should be so abject, base and poor,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=50>To choose for wealth and not for perfect love.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=51>Henry is able to enrich his queen</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=52>And not seek a queen to make him rich:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=53>So worthless peasants bargain for their wives,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=54>As market-men for oxen, sheep, or horse.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=55>Marriage is a matter of more worth</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=56>Than to be dealt in by attorneyship;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=57>Not whom we will, but whom his grace affects,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=58>Must be companion of his nuptial bed:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=59>And therefore, lords, since he affects her most,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=60>It most of all these reasons bindeth us,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=61>In our opinions she should be preferr'd.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=62>For what is wedlock forced but a hell,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=63>An age of discord and continual strife?</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=64>Whereas the contrary bringeth bliss,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=65>And is a pattern of celestial peace.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=66>Whom should we match with Henry, being a king,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=67>But Margaret, that is daughter to a king?</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=68>Her peerless feature, joined with her birth,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=69>Approves her fit for none but for a king:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=70>Her valiant courage and undaunted spirit,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=71>More than in women commonly is seen,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=72>Will answer our hope in issue of a king;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=73>For Henry, son unto a conqueror,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=74>Is likely to beget more conquerors,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=75>If with a lady of so high resolve</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=76>As is fair Margaret he be link'd in love.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=77>Then yield, my lords; and here conclude with me</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=78>That Margaret shall be queen, and none but she.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech11><b>KING HENRY VI</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=79>Whether it be through force of your report,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=80>My noble Lord of Suffolk, or for that</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=81>My tender youth was never yet attaint</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=82>With any passion of inflaming love,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=83>I cannot tell; but this I am assured,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=84>I feel such sharp dissension in my breast,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=85>Such fierce alarums both of hope and fear,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=86>As I am sick with working of my thoughts.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=87>Take, therefore, shipping; post, my lord, to France;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=88>Agree to any covenants, and procure</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=89>That Lady Margaret do vouchsafe to come</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=90>To cross the seas to England and be crown'd</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=91>King Henry's faithful and anointed queen:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=92>For your expenses and sufficient charge,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=93>Among the people gather up a tenth.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=94>Be gone, I say; for, till you do return,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=95>I rest perplexed with a thousand cares.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=96>And you, good uncle, banish all offence:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=97>If you do censure me by what you were,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=98>Not what you are, I know it will excuse</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=99>This sudden execution of my will.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=100>And so, conduct me where, from company,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=101>I may revolve and ruminate my grief.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Exit</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech12><b>GLOUCESTER</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=102>Ay, grief, I fear me, both at first and last.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Exeunt GLOUCESTER and EXETER</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech13><b>SUFFOLK</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=103>Thus Suffolk hath prevail'd; and thus he goes,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=104>As did the youthful Paris once to Greece,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=105>With hope to find the like event in love,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=106>But prosper better than the Trojan did.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=107>Margaret shall now be queen, and rule the king;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=108>But I will rule both her, the king and realm.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Exit</i></p> | |