After the slaughter of so many peers, So many captains, gentlemen and soldiers, That in this quarrel have been overthrown And sold their bodies for their country's benefit, Shall we at last conclude effeminate peace?
Have we not lost most part of all the towns, By treason, falsehood and by treachery, Our great progenitors had conquered?
O Warwick, Warwick! I foresee with grief The utter loss of all the realm of France. WARWICK Be patient, York: if we conclude a peace, It shall be with such strict and severe covenants As little shall the Frenchmen gain thereby.
Enter CHARLES, ALENCON, BASTARD OF ORLEANS, REIGNIER, and others CHARLES Since, lords of England, it is thus agreed That peaceful truce shall be proclaim'd in France, We come to be informed by yourselves What the conditions of that league must be. YORK Speak, Winchester; for boiling choler chokes The hollow passage of my poison'd voice, By sight of these our baleful enemies.
CARDINAL OF WINCHESTER Charles, and the rest, it is enacted thus:
That, in regard King Henry gives consent, Of mere compassion and of lenity, To ease your country of distressful war, And suffer you to breathe in fruitful peace, You shall become true liegemen to his crown:
And Charles, upon condition thou wilt swear To pay him tribute, submit thyself, Thou shalt be placed as viceroy under him, And still enjoy thy regal dignity. ALENCON Must he be then as shadow of himself?
Adorn his temples with a coronet, And yet, in substance and authority, Retain but privilege of a private man?
This proffer is absurd and reasonless. CHARLES 'Tis known already that I am possess'd With more than half the Gallian territories, And therein reverenced for their lawful king:
Shall I, for lucre of the rest unvanquish'd, Detract so much from that prerogative, As to be call'd but viceroy of the whole?
No, lord ambassador, I'll rather keep That which I have than, coveting for more, Be cast from possibility of all. YORK Insulting Charles! hast thou by secret means Used intercession to obtain a league, And, now the matter grows to compromise, Stand'st thou aloof upon comparison?
Either accept the title thou usurp'st, Of benefit proceeding from our king And not of any challenge of desert, Or we will plague thee with incessant wars. REIGNIER My lord, you do not well in obstinacy To cavil in the course of this contract:
If once it be neglected, ten to one We shall not find like opportunity. ALENCON To say the truth, it is your policy To save your subjects from such massacre And ruthless slaughters as are daily seen By our proceeding in hostility;And therefore take this compact of a truce, Although you break it when your pleasure serves. WARWICK How say'st thou, Charles? shall our condition stand? CHARLES It shall;Only reserved, you claim no interest In any of our towns of garrison. YORK Then swear allegiance to his majesty, As thou art knight, never to disobey Nor be rebellious to the crown of England, Thou, nor thy nobles, to the crown of England.
So, now dismiss your army when ye please:
Hang up your ensign, let your drums be still, For here we entertain a solemn peace.
Exeunt SCENE V. London. The palace. Enter SUFFOLK in conference with KING HENRY VI, GLOUCESTERand EXETER KING HENRY VI Your wondrous rare description, noble earl, Of beauteous Margaret hath astonish'd me:
Her virtues graced with external gifts Do breed love's settled passions in my heart:
And like as rigor of tempestuous gusts Provokes the mightiest hulk against the tide, So am I driven by breath of her renown Either to suffer shipwreck or arrive Where I may have fruition of her love. SUFFOLK Tush, my good lord, this superficial tale Is but a preface of her worthy praise;The chief perfections of that lovely dame Had I sufficient skill to utter them, Would make a volume of enticing lines, Able to ravish any dull conceit:
