SECOND PART OF KING HENRY VI. ACT I. SCENE I.-London. A Room of State in the Palace. Flourish of Trumpets: then Hautboys. Enter, on one side, King HENRY, Duke of GLOSTER, SALISBURY, WARWICK, and Cardinal BEAUFORT; on the other, Queen MARGARET, led in by SUFFOLK; YORK, SOMERSET, BUCKINGHAM, and others, following. Suffolk. I had in charge at my depart for France, To marry princess Margaret for your grace ; So, in the famous ancient city, Tours, In presence of the kings of France, and Sicil, The dukes of Orleans, Calaber, Bretaigne, and Alençon, Seven earls, twelve barons, twenty reverend bishops, I have perform'd my task, and was espous'd : And humbly now upon my bended knee, In sight of England and her lordly peers, Deliver up my title in the queen To your most gracious hands, that are the substance Of that great shadow I did represent; The happiest gift that ever marquess gave, The fairest queen that ever king receiv'd. K.Hen. Suffolk, arise.-Welcome, queen Margaret : I can express no kinder sign of love, Than this kind kiss.-O Lord, that lends me life, For thou hast given me, in this beauteous face, A world of earthly blessings to my soul, If sympathy of love unite our thoughts. Q.Mar. Great king of England, and my gracious lord; The mutual conference2 that my mind hath had— [1] Vide Hall's Chronicle, fol. 66, year 23. init. POPE. [2] I am the bolder to address you, having already familiarized you to my imagination. JOHNS. By day, by night; waking, and in my dreams ; K.Hen. Her sight did ravish: but her grace in speech, Her words y-clad with wisdom's majesty, Makes me, from wondering fall to weeping joys; Such is the fulness of my heart's content. Lords, with one cheerful voice welcome my love. Glo. [Reads.] Imprimis, It is agreed between the French king, Charles, and William de la Poole, marquess of Suffolk, ambassador for Henry king of England, that the said Henry shall espouse the lady Margaret, daughter unto Reignier king of Naples, Sicilia, and Jerusalem; and crown her queen of England, ere the thirtieth of May next ensuing.- -Item,-That the duchy of Anjou, and the county of Maine, shall be released and delivered to the king her fatherK.Hen. Uncle, how now? Glo. Pardon me, gracious lord; Some sudden qualm hath struck me at the heart, Win. Item,-It is further agreed between them,that the duchies of Anjou and Maine shall be released and delivered over to the king her father; and she sent over of the king of England's own proper cost and charges, without having dowry. K.Hen. They please us well.—Lord marquess, kneel down ; We here create thee the first duke of Suffolk, Cousin of York, we here discharge your grace [3] Alder-lievest is an old English word given to him to whom the speaker is supremely attached: liefest being the superlative of the comparative levar, rather, from lief. WARB. Alder-liefest is a corruption of the German word alder-liebste, beloved of all things, dearest of all. STEEV. From being regent in the parts of France, Somerset, Salisbury, and Warwick ; We thank you all for this great favour done, -Come, let us in; and with all speed provide [Exeunt King, Queen, and SUFFOLK. In winter's cold, and summer's parching heat, Early and late, debating to and fro How France and Frenchmen might be kept in awe ? Been crown'd in Paris, in despite of foes? And shall these labours, and these honours, die? Car. Nephew, what means this passionate discourse? This peroration with such circumstance ?4 For France, 'tis ours; and we will keep it still. [4] This speech crowded with so many instances of aggravation. JOHNS. But now it is impossible we should : Suffolk, the new-made duke that rules the roast, Sal. Now, by the death of him that died for all, York. For Suffolk's duke-may he be suffocate, She should have staid in France, and starv'd in France, Car. My lord of Gloster, now you grow too hot; It was the pleasure of my lord the king. Glo. My lord of Winchester, I know your mind ; 6 We shall begin our ancient bickerings."- Car. So, there goes our protector in a rage. 'Tis known to you, he is mine enemy: [Exit. [5] The indignation of Warwick is natural, and I wish it had been better expressed; there is a kind of jingle intended in wounds and words JOH. [6] To bicker is to skirmish. In the ancient metrical romance of Guy ear! of Warwick, bl 1. no date, the heroes consult whether they should bicker off the walls, or descend to battle on the plain. STEEV. Nay, more, an enemy unto you all; With-God preserve the good duke Humphrey ! Buck. Why should he then protect our sovereign, And all together-with the duke of Suffolk,- [Exit. Som. Cousin of Buckingham, though Humphrey's pride, And greatness of his place be grief to us, Than all the princes in the land beside; Buck. Or thou, or I, Somerset will be protector, [Exeunt BUCK. and SOM. Sal. Pride went before, ambition follows him. While these do labour for their own preferment, Behoves it us to labour for the realm. I never saw but Humphrey duke of Gloster Did bear him like a noble gentleman. Oft have I seen the haughty cardinalMore like a soldier, than a man o'the church, As stout, and proud, as he were lord of all,Swear like a ruffian, and demean himself Unlike the ruler of a common-weal.Warwick, my son, the comfort of my age! Thy deeds, thy plainness, and thy house-keeping, Hath won the greatest favour of the commons, |