Then take my soul; my body, soul, and all, [They depart. [Exit. Alarums. Enter French and English, fighting. LA PUCELLE and YORK fight hand to hand. LA PUCELLE is taken. The French fly. York. Damsel of France, I think, I have you fast: A goodly prize, fit for the devil's grace! See, how the ugly witch doth bend her brows, Puc. Changed to a worser shape thou canst not be. Puc. A plaguing mischief light on Charles, and thee! And may you both be suddenly surprised By bloody hands, in sleeping on your beds! York. Fell, banning+ hag! enchantress, hold thy tongue. [Exeunt. Alarums. Enter SUFFOLK, leading in LADY MARGARET. Suff. 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, And lay them gently on thy tender side. I kiss these fingers [Kissing her hand] for eternal peace: Who art thou? say, that I may honour thee. Mar. Margaret my name; and daughter to a king, The king of Naples, whosoe'er thou art. Suff. An earl I am, and Suffolk am I call'd. Be not offended, nature's miracle, Thou art allotted to be ta'en by me: So doth the swan her downy cygnets save, [She turns away as going. O, stay!-I have no power to let her pass; Twinkling another counterfeited beam, Hast not a tongue? is she not here thy prisoner? Confounds the tongue, and makes the senses rough. What ransom must I pay before I pass? For, I perceive, I am thy prisoner. Suff. How canst thou tell, she will deny thy suit, Before thou make a trial of her love? [Aside. Mar. Why speak'st thou not? what ransom must I pay? Suff. She's beautiful; and therefore to be woo'd: She is a woman; therefore to be won. [Aside. Mar. Wilt thou accept of ransom, yea, or no? Suff. Fond man! remember, that thou hast a wife; Then how can Margaret be thy paramour? [Aside. Mar. I were best leave him, for he will not hear. [Aside. Mar. Hear ye, captain? Are you not at leisure? Suff. It shall be so, disdain they ne'er so much: Henry is youthful, and will quickly yield.— Madam, I have a secret to reveal. Mar. What though I be enthrall'd? he seems a knight, And will not any way dishonour me. [Aside. Suff. Lady, vouchsafe to listen what I say. Mar. Perhaps, I shall be rescued by the French; And then I need not crave his courtesy. [Aside. Suff. Sweet madam, give me hearing in a cause Mar. Tush! women have been captivate ere now. [Aside. Suff. Lady, wherefore talk you so? Mar. I cry you mercy, 'tis but quid for quo. Suff. Say, gentle princess, would you not suppose Your bondage happy, to be made a queen? Mar. To be a queen in bondage, is more vile Than is a slave in base servility; For princes should be free. Suff. And so shall you, If happy England's royal king be free. Mar. Why, what concerns his freedom unto me? Mar. I am unworthy to be Henry's wife. Mar. An if my father please, I am content. Suff. Then call our captains, and our colours forth: And, madam, at your father's castle walls We'll crave a parley, to confer with him. [Troops come forward. A Parley sounded. Enter REIGNIER, on the walls. Suff. See, Reignier, see, thy daughter prisoner. Reig. To whom? Suff. To me. Reig. Suffolk, what remedy? I am a soldier; and unapt to weep, Or to exclaim on fortune's fickleness. Suff. Yes, there is remedy enough, my lord: That Suffolk doth not flatter, face, or feign. [Exit, from the walls. Trumpets sounded. Enter REIGNIER, below. What answer makes your grace unto my suit? Reig. 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 county Maine, and Anjou, *Play the hypocrite. Free from oppression, or the stroke of war, Give thee her hand, for sign of plighted faith. Suff. Reignier of France, I give thee kingly thanks, Because this is in traffic of a king: And yet, methinks, I could be well content To be mine own attorney in this case. [Aside. I'll over then to England with this news, And make this marriage to be solemnized; So, farewell, Reignier! Set this diamond safe Reig. I do embrace thee, as I would embrace Suff. Farewell, sweet madam! But hark you, Margaret; The Christian prince, king Henry, were he here. Mar. Farewell, my lord! Good wishes, praise, and prayers, Shall Suffolk ever have of Margaret. No princely commendations to my king? [Going. Mar. Such commendations as become a maid, A virgin, and his servant, say to him. Suff. Words sweetly placed and modestly directed. But, madam, I must trouble you again, No loving token to his majesty? Mar. Yes, my good lord; a pure unspotted heart, Never yet taint with love, I send the king. Suff. And this withal. Mar. That for thyself;-I will not so presume, To send such peevish* tokens to a king. [Kisses her. [Exeunt REIGNIER and MARGARET. Suff. O, wert thou for myself!-But, Suffolk, stay; SCENE IV.-Camp of the Duke of YORK, in Anjou. Enter YORK, WARWICK, and others. York. Bring forth that sorceress, condemn'd to burn. Enter LA PUCELLE, guarded, and a SHEPHERD. Shep. Ah, Joan! this kills thy father's heart outright! Have I sought every country far and near, [Exit. And, now it is my chance to find thee out, I am descended of a gentler blood; Thou art no father, nor no friend, of mine. Shep. Out, out!-My lords; an 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 bachelorship. War. Graceless! wilt thou deny thy parentage? York. This argues what her kind of life hath been; Wicked and vile; and so her death concludes. Shep. 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 pr'ythee, gentle Joan. Puc. Peasant, avaunt!-You have suborn'd this man, Of purpose to obscure my noble birth. Shep. "Tis true, I gave a noble to the priest, The morn that I was wedded to her mother.- Thy mother gave thee, when thou suck'dst her breast, Or else when thou didst keep my lambs a-field, I wish some ravenous wolf had eaten thee! Dost thou deny thy father, cursed drab? O, burn her, burn her; hanging is too good. York. Take her away; for she hath lived too long, To fill the world with vicious qualities. Puc. First, let me tell you whom you have condemn'd: Chaste and immaculate in every thought; * Untimely. + Miserable creature. § Misconceivers. [Exit. |