5.7 Enter the Earl of Suffolk, in conference with King Henry, and the Dukes of Gloucester and Exeter

KING HENRY (to Suffolk)

Your wondrous rare description, noble Earl,

Of beauteous Margaret hath astonished me.

Her virtues gracèd with external gifts

Do breed love’s settled passions in my heart,

And like as rigour 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;

And, which is more, she is not so divine,

So full replete with choice of all delights,

But with as humble lowliness of mind

She is content to be at your command—

Command, I mean, of virtuous chaste intents,

To love and honour Henry as her lord.

KING HENRY

And otherwise will Henry ne‘er presume.

(To Gloucester) Therefore, my lord Protector, give

consent

That Marg’ret may be England’s royal queen.

GLOUCESTER

So should I give consent to flatter sin.

You know, my lord, your highness is betrothed

Unto another lady of esteem.

How shall we then dispense with that contract

And not deface your honour with reproach?

SUFFOLK

As doth a ruler with unlawful oaths,

Or one that, at a triumph having vowed

To try his strength, forsaketh yet the lists

By reason of his adversary’s odds.

A poor earl’s daughter is unequal odds,

And therefore may be broke without offence.

GLOUCESTER

Why, what, I pray, is Margaret more than that?

Her father is no better than an earl,

Although in glorious titles he excel.

SUFFOLK

Yes, my lord; her father is a king,

The King of Naples and Jerusalem,

And of such great authority in France

As his alliance will confirm our peace

And keep the Frenchmen in allegiance.

GLOUCESTER

And so the Earl of Armagnac may do,

Because he is near kinsman unto Charles.

EXETER

Beside, his wealth doth warrant a liberal dower,

Where René sooner will receive than give.

SUFFOLK

A dower, my lords? Disgrace not so your King

That he should be so abject, base, and poor

To choose for wealth and not for perfect love.

Henry is able to enrich his queen,

And not to seek a queen to make him rich.

So worthless peasants bargain for their wives,

As market men for oxen, sheep, or horse.

Marriage is a matter of more worth

Than to be dealt in by attorneyship.

Not whom we will but whom his grace affects

Must be companion of his nuptial bed.

And therefore, lords, since he affects her most,

That most of all these reasons bindeth us:

In our opinions she should be preferred.

For what is wedlock forced but a hell,

An age of discord and continual strife,

Whereas the contrary bringeth bliss,

And is a pattern of celestial peace.

Whom should we match with Henry, being a king,

But Margaret, that is daughter to a king?

Her peerless feature joined with her birth

Approves her fit for none but for a king.

Her valiant courage and undaunted spirit,

More than in women commonly is seen,

Will answer our hope in issue of a king.

For Henry, son unto a conqueror,

Is likely to beget more conquerors

If with a lady of so high resolve

As is fair Margaret he be linked in love.

Then yield, my lords, and here conclude with me:

That Margaret shall be queen, and none but she.

KING HENRY

Whether it be through force of your report,

My noble lord of Suffolk, or for that

My tender youth was never yet attaint

With any passion of inflaming love,

I cannot tell; but this I am assured:

I feel such sharp dissension in my breast,

Such fierce alarums both of hope and fear,

As I am sick with working of my thoughts.

Take therefore shipping; post, my lord, to France;

Agree to any covenants, and procure

That Lady Margaret do vouchsafe to come

To cross the seas to England and be crowned

King Henry’s faithful and anointed queen.

For your expenses and sufficient charge,

Among the people gather up a tenth.

Be gone, I say; for till you do return

I rest perplexed with a thousand cares.

(To Gloucester) And you, good uncle, banish all offence.

If you do censure me by what you were,

Not what you are, I know it will excuse

This sudden execution of my will.