Fie, de la Pole, disable not thyself!

Hast not a tongue? Is she not here to hear?

Wilt thou be daunted at a woman’s sight?

Ay, beauty’s princely majesty is such

Confounds the tongue, and makes the senses rough.

MARGARET

Say, Earl of Suffolk—if thy name be so—

What ransom must I pay before I pass?

For I perceive I am thy prisoner.

SUFFOLK (aside)

How canst thou tell she will deny thy suit

Before thou make a trial of her love?

MARGARET

Why speak’st thou not? What ransom must I pay?

SUFFOLK (aside)

She’s beautiful, and therefore to be wooed;

She is a woman, therefore to be won.

MARGARET

Wilt thou accept of ransom, yea or no?

SUFFOLK (aside)

Fond man, remember that thou hast a wife;

Then how can Margaret be thy paramour?

MARGARET (aside)

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

SUFFOLK (aside)

There all is marred; there lies a cooling card.

MARGARET (aside)

He talks at random; sure the man is mad.

SUFFOLK (aside)

And yet a dispensation may be had.

MARGARET

And yet I would that you would answer me.

SUFFOLK (aside)

I’ll win this Lady Margaret. For whom?

Why, for my king—tush, that’s a wooden thing.

MARGARET (aside)

He talks of wood. It is some carpenter.

SUFFOLK (aside)

Yet so my fancy may be satisfied,

And peace established between these realms.

But there remains a scruple in that too,

For though her father be the King of Naples,

Duke of Anjou and Maine, yet is he poor,

And our nobility will scorn the match.

MARGARET

Hear ye, captain? Are you not at leisure?

SUFFOLK (aside)

It shall be so, disdain they ne’er so much.

Henry is youthful, and will quickly yield.

(To Margaret) Madam, I have a secret to reveal.

MARGARET (aside)

What though I be enthralled, he seems a knight

And will not any way dishonour me.

SUFFOLK

Lady, vouchsafe to listen what I say.

MARGARET (aside)

Perhaps I shall be rescued by the French,

And then I need not crave his courtesy.

SUFFOLK

Sweet madam, give me hearing in a cause.

MARGARET (aside)

Tush, women have been captivate ere now.

SUFFOLK Lady, wherefore talk you so?

MARGARET

I cry you mercy, ’tis but quid for quo.

SUFFOLK

Say, gentle Princess, would you not suppose

Your bondage happy to be made a queen?

MARGARET

To be a queen in bondage is more vile

Than is a slave in base servility,

For princes should be free.

SUFFOLK

And so shall you,

If happy England’s royal king be free.

MARGARET

Why, what concerns his freedom unto me?

SUFFOLK

I’ll undertake to make thee Henry’s queen,

To put a golden sceptre in thy hand,

And set a precious crown upon thy head,

If thou wilt condescend to be my—

MARGARET What?

SUFFOLK His love.

MARGARET

I am unworthy to be Henry’s wife.

SUFFOLK

No, gentle madam, I unworthy am

To woo so fair a dame to be his wife

(Aside) And have no portion in the choice myself.—

How say you, madam; are ye so content?

MARGARET

An if my father please, I am content.

SUFFOLK

Then call our captains and our colours forth,

⌈Enter captains, colours, and trumpeters⌉

And, madam, at your father’s castle walls

We’ll crave a parley to confer with him.

Sound a parley. Enter René Duke of Anjou on the walls

See, Rene, see thy daughter prisoner.

RENÉ

To whom ?

SUFFOLK To me.

RENÉ Suffolk, what remedy?

I am a soldier, and unapt to weep

Or to exclaim on fortune’s fickleness.

SUFFOLK

Yes, there is remedy enough, my lord.

Assent, and for thy honour give consent

Thy daughter shall be wedded to my king,

Whom I with pain have wooed and won thereto;

And this her easy-held imprisonment

Hath gained thy daughter princely liberty.

RENÉ

Speaks Suffolk as he thinks?

SUFFOLK Fair Margaret knows

That Suffolk doth not flatter, face or feign.

RENÉ

Upon thy princely warrant I descend

To give thee answer of thy just demand.

SUFFOLK

And here I will expect thy coming. ⌈Exit Rene above⌉

Trumpets sound. Enter René

RENE

Welcome, brave Earl, into our territories.

Command in Anjou what your honour pleases.

SUFFOLK

Thanks, René, happy for so sweet a child,

Fit to be made companion with a king.

What answer makes your grace unto my suit?

RENÉ

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 countries Maine and Anjou,

Free from oppression or the stroke of war,

My daughter shall be Henry’s, if he please.

SUFFOLK

That is her ransom. I deliver her,

And those two counties I will undertake

Your grace shall well and quietly enjoy.

RENÉ

And I again in Henry’s royal name,

As deputy unto that gracious king,

Give thee her hand for sign of plighted faith.

SUFFOLK

René of France, I give thee kingly thanks,

Because this is in traffic of a king.

(Aside) And yet methinks I could be well content

To be mine own attorney in this case.

(To René) I’ll over then to England with this news,

And make this marriage to be solemnized.

So farewell, René; set this diamond safe

In golden palaces, as it becomes.

RENÉ

I do embrace thee as I would embrace

The Christian prince King Henry, were he here.

MARGARET (to Suffolk)

Farewell, my lord. Good wishes, praise, and prayers