1    The regent conquers, and the Frenchmen fly.
2    Now help, ye charming spells and periapts;
3    And ye choice spirits that admonish me
4    And give me signs of future accidents.
Thunder
5    You speedy helpers, that are substitutes
6    Under the lordly monarch of the north,
7    Appear and aid me in this enterprise.
Enter Fiends
8    This speedy and quick appearance argues proof
9    Of your accustom'd diligence to me.
10   Now, ye familiar spirits, that are cull'd
11   Out of the powerful regions under earth,
12   Help me this once, that France may get the field.
They walk, and speak not
13   O, hold me not with silence over-long!
14   Where I was wont to feed you with my blood,
15   I'll lop a member off and give it you
16   In earnest of further benefit,
17   So you do condescend to help me now.
They hang their heads
18   No hope to have redress? My body shall
19   Pay recompense, if you will grant my suit.
They shake their heads
20   Cannot my body nor blood-sacrifice
21   Entreat you to your wonted furtherance?
22   Then take my soul, my body, soul and all,
23   Before that England give the French the foil.
They depart
24   See, they forsake me! Now the time is come
25   That France must vail her lofty-plumed crest
26   And let her head fall into England's lap.
27   My ancient incantations are too weak,
28   And hell too strong for me to buckle with:
29   Now, France, thy glory droopeth to the dust.

30   Damsel of France, I think I have you fast:
31   Unchain your spirits now with spelling charms
32   And try if they can gain your liberty.
33   A goodly prize, fit for the devil's grace!
34   See, how the ugly wench doth bend her brows,
35   As if with Circe she would change my shape!

36   Changed to a worser shape thou canst not be.

37   O, Charles the Dauphin is a proper man;
38   No shape but his can please your dainty eye.

39   A plaguing mischief light on Charles and thee!
40   And may ye both be suddenly surprised
41   By bloody hands, in sleeping on your beds!

42   Fell banning hag, enchantress, hold thy tongue!

43   I prithee, give me leave to curse awhile.

44   Curse, miscreant, when thou comest to the stake.

45   Be what thou wilt, thou art my prisoner.
Gazes on her
46   O fairest beauty, do not fear nor fly!
47   For I will touch thee but with reverent hands;
48   I kiss these fingers for eternal peace,
49   And lay them gently on thy tender side.
50   Who art thou? say, that I may honour thee.

51   Margaret my name, and daughter to a king,
52   The King of Naples, whosoe'er thou art.

53   An earl I am, and Suffolk am I call'd.
54   Be not offended, nature's miracle,
55   Thou art allotted to be ta'en by me:
56   So doth the swan her downy cygnets save,
57   Keeping them prisoner underneath her wings.
58   Yet, if this servile usage once offend.
59   Go, and be free again, as Suffolk's friend.
She is going
60   O, stay! I have no power to let her pass;
61   My hand would free her, but my heart says no
62   As plays the sun upon the glassy streams,
63   Twinkling another counterfeited beam,
64   So seems this gorgeous beauty to mine eyes.
65   Fain would I woo her, yet I dare not speak:
66   I'll call for pen and ink, and write my mind.
67   Fie, de la Pole! disable not thyself;
68   Hast not a tongue? is she not here?
69   Wilt thou be daunted at a woman's sight?
70   Ay, beauty's princely majesty is such,
71   Confounds the tongue and makes the senses rough.

72   Say, Earl of Suffolk--if thy name be so--
73   What ransom must I pay before I pass?
74   For I perceive I am thy prisoner.

75   How canst thou tell she will deny thy suit,
76   Before thou make a trial of her love?

77   Why speak'st thou not? what ransom must I pay?

78   She's beautiful, and therefore to be woo'd;
79   She is a woman, therefore to be won.

80   Wilt thou accept of ransom? yea, or no.

81   Fond man, remember that thou hast a wife;
82   Then how can Margaret be thy paramour?

83   I were best to leave him, for he will not hear.

84   There all is marr'd; there lies a cooling card.

85   He talks at random; sure, the man is mad.

86   And yet a dispensation may be had.

87   And yet I would that you would answer me.

88   I'll win this Lady Margaret. For whom?
89   Why, for my king: tush, that's a wooden thing!

90   He talks of wood: it is some carpenter.

91   Yet so my fancy may be satisfied,
92   And peace established between these realms
93   But there remains a scruple in that too;
94   For though her father be the King of Naples,
95   Duke of Anjou and Maine, yet is he poor,
96   And our nobility will scorn the match.

97   Hear ye, captain, are you not at leisure?

98   It shall be so, disdain they ne'er so much.
99   Henry is youthful and will quickly yield.
100  Madam, I have a secret to reveal.

101  What though I be enthrall'd? he seems a knight,
102  And will not any way dishonour me.

103  Lady, vouchsafe to listen what I say.

104  Perhaps I shall be rescued by the French;
105  And then I need not crave his courtesy.

106  Sweet madam, give me a hearing in a cause--

107  Tush, women have been captivate ere now.

108  Lady, wherefore talk you so?

109  I cry you mercy, 'tis but Quid for Quo.

110  Say, gentle princess, would you not suppose
111  Your bondage happy, to be made a queen?

112  To be a queen in bondage is more vile
113  Than is a slave in base servility;
114  For princes should be free.

115  And so shall you,
116  If happy England's royal king be free.

117  Why, what concerns his freedom unto me?

118  I'll undertake to make thee Henry's queen,
119  To put a golden sceptre in thy hand
120  And set a precious crown upon thy head,
121  If thou wilt condescend to be my--

122  What?

123  His love.

124  I am unworthy to be Henry's wife.

125  No, gentle madam; I unworthy am
126  To woo so fair a dame to be his wife,
127  And have no portion in the choice myself.
128  How say you, madam, are ye so content?

129  An if my father please, I am content.

130  Then call our captains and our colours forth.
131  And, madam, at your father's castle walls
132  We'll crave a parley, to confer with him.
A parley sounded. Enter REIGNIER on the walls
133  See, Reignier, see, thy daughter prisoner!

134  To whom?

135  To me.

136  Suffolk, what remedy?
137  I am a soldier, and unapt to weep,
138  Or to exclaim on fortune's fickleness.

139  Yes, there is remedy enough, my lord:
140  Consent, and for thy honour give consent,
141  Thy daughter shall be wedded to my king;
142  Whom I with pain have woo'd and won thereto;
143  And this her easy-held imprisonment
144  Hath gained thy daughter princely liberty.

145  Speaks Suffolk as he thinks?

146  Fair Margaret knows
147  That Suffolk doth not flatter, face, or feign.

148  Upon thy princely warrant, I descend
149  To give thee answer of thy just demand.

150  And here I will expect thy coming.

151  Welcome, brave earl, into our territories:
152  Command in Anjou what your honour pleases.

153  Thanks, Reignier, happy for so sweet a child,
154  Fit to be made companion with a king:
155  What answer makes your grace unto my suit?

156  Since thou dost deign to woo her little worth
157  To be the princely bride of such a lord;
158  Upon condition I may quietly
159  Enjoy mine own, the country Maine and Anjou,
160  Free from oppression or the stroke of war,
161  My daughter shall be Henry's, if he please.

162  That is her ransom; I deliver her;
163  And those two counties I will undertake
164  Your grace shall well and quietly enjoy.

165  And I again, in Henry's royal name,
166  As deputy unto that gracious king,
167  Give thee her hand, for sign of plighted faith.

168  Reignier of France, I give thee kingly thanks,
169  Because this is in traffic of a king.
Aside
170  And yet, methinks, I could be well content
171  To be mine own attorney in this case.
172  I'll over then to England with this news,
173  And make this marriage to be solemnized.
174  So farewell, Reignier: set this diamond safe
175  In golden palaces, as it becomes.

176  I do embrace thee, as I would embrace
177  The Christian prince, King Henry, were he here.

178  Farewell, my lord: good wishes, praise and prayers
179  Shall Suffolk ever have of Margaret.

180  Farewell, sweet madam: but hark you, Margaret;
181  No princely commendations to my king?

182  Such commendations as becomes a maid,
183  A virgin and his servant, say to him.

184  Words sweetly placed and modestly directed.
185  But madam, I must trouble you again;
186  No loving token to his majesty?

187  Yes, my good lord, a pure unspotted heart,
188  Never yet taint with love, I send the king.

189  And this withal.

190  That for thyself: I will not so presume
191  To send such peevish tokens to a king.

192  O, wert thou for myself! But, Suffolk, stay;
193  Thou mayst not wander in that labyrinth;
194  There Minotaurs and ugly treasons lurk.
195  Solicit Henry with her wondrous praise:
196  Bethink thee on her virtues that surmount,
197  And natural graces that extinguish art;
198  Repeat their semblance often on the seas,
199  That, when thou comest to kneel at Henry's feet,
200  Thou mayst bereave him of his wits with wonder.