The First Part Of Henry The Sixth

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