Shall we at last conclude effeminate peace? War. Be patient, York: if we conclude a peace, It shall be with such strict and severe covenants, As little shall the Frenchmen gain thereby. Enter CHARLES, attended; ALENÇON, Bastard, REIGNIER, and Others. Char. Since, lords of England, it is thus agreed, That peaceful truce shall be proclaim'd in France, We come to be informed by yourselves What the conditions of that league must be. York. Speak, Winchester; for boiling choler chokes The hollow passage of my poison'd voice, By sight of these our baleful' enemies. Win. Charles, and the rest, it is enacted thus: That-in regard King Henry gives consent, Of mere compassion, and of lenity, To ease your country of distressful war, And suffer you to breathe in fruitful peace,You shall become true liegemen to his crown: And, Charles, upon condition thou wilt swear To pay him tribute, and submit thyself, Thou shalt be plac'd as viceroy under him, And still enjoy thy regal dignity. Alen. Must he be then as shadow of himself? 7 Baleful had anciently the same meaning as baneful. It is an epithet frequently bestowed on poisonous plants and reptiles. Thus in Romeo and Juliet : • With baleful weeds, and precious-juiced flowers,' Adorn his temples with a coronet 8; Char. "Tis known, already, that I am possess'd With more than half the Gallian territories, And therein reverenc'd for their lawful king: Shall I, for lucre of the rest unvanquish'd, Detract so much from that prerogative, As to be call'd but viceroy of the whole? No, lord ambassador; I'll rather keep That which I have, than coveting for more, Be cast from possibility of all. York. Insulting Charles! hast thou by secret means Used intercession to obtain a league; If once it be neglected, ten to one, Alen. To say the truth, it is your policy, 8 Coronet is here used for crown. his crown to Cornwall and Albany : : So Lear, when he gives up This coronet part between you.' 9 Be content to live as the beneficiary of our king.' Benefit is here a term of law. And therefore take this compact of a truce, Although you break it when your pleasure serves. [Aside to CHARLES. War. How say'st thou, Charles? shall our condition stand? Char. It shall: Only reserv'd, you claim no interest York. Then swear allegiance to his majesty; Nor be rebellious to the crown of England, [CHARLES, and the rest, give tokens of fealty. SCENE V. London. A Room in the Palace. [Exeunt. Enter KING HENRY, in conference with SUFFOLK; GLOSTER and EXETER following. K. Hen. Your wondrous rare description, noble earl, Of beauteous Margaret hath astonish'd me: Suf. Tush! my good lord! this superficial tale (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, K. Hen. And otherwise will Henry ne'er pre sume. Therefore, my lord protector, give consent, Glo. So should I give consent to flatter sin. How shall we then dispense with that contract, Suf. As doth a ruler with unlawful oaths; Glo. Why, what, I pray, is Margaret more than that? Her father is no better than an earl, Although in glorious titles he excel. Suf. Yes, my good lord, her father is a king, The king of Naples, and Jerusalem; And of such great authority in France, 1 A triumph then signified a publick exhibition; such as a tournament, mask, or revel. Thus Milton in L'Allegro : knights and barons bold, In weeds of peace, high triumphs hold.' See first note in A Midsummer Night's Dream. : As his alliance will confirm our peace, Glo. And so the earl of Armagnac may do, Exe. Beside, his wealth doth warrant liberal dower; That he should be so abject, base, and poor, And not to seek a queen to make him rich: Whom should we match with Henry, being a king, 2 By the intervention of another man's choice; or the discretional agency of another. The phrase occurs twice in King Richard III. :— Again 'Be the attorney of my love to her.' 'I, by attorney, bless thee from thy mother.' VOL. VI. M |