Puc. Decrepit miser!1 base, ignoble wretch! I am descended of a gentler blood; Thou art no father, nor no friend of mine. Shep. Out, out!-My lords, an please you, it is not so; I did beget her, all the parish knows. She was the first fruit of my bachelorship. War. Graceless! wilt thou deny thy parentage? York. This argues what her kind of life hath been; Wicked and vile; and so her death concludes. Shep. Fie, Joan! that thou wilt be so obstacle!? God knows, thou art a collop of my flesh; And for thy sake have I shed many a tear. Deny me not, I pr'ythee, gentle Joan. Puc. Peasant, avaunt!-You have suborned this man, Of purpose to obscure my noble birth. Shep. 'Tis true, I gave a noble to the priest, The morn that I was wedded to her mother.Kneel down and take my blessing, good my girl. Wilt thou not stoop? Now cursed be the time Of thy nativity! I would the milk Thy mother gave thee, when thou suck'dst her breast, Had been a little ratsbane for thy sake! Or else, when thou didst keep my lambs a-field, I wish some ravenous wolf had eaten thee! Dost thou deny thy father, cursed drab? O, burn her, burn her; hanging is too good. [Exit. York. Take her away, for she hath lived too long, To fill the world with vicious qualities. Puc. First, let me tell you whom you have condemned. Not one begotten of a shepherd swain, grace, 1 Miser, in this passage, simply means a miserable creature. 2 This vulgar corruption of obstinate has oddly lasted till now, says Johnson. To work exceeding miracles on earth. Chaste and immaculate in very thought; That so her torture may be shortened. Puc. Will nothing turn your unrelenting hearts ?— Then, Joan, discover thine infirmity; That warranteth by law to be thy privilege. I am with child, ye bloody homicides; Murder not then the fruit within my womb, Although ye hale me to a violent death. York. Now Heaven forefend! the holy maid with child! War. The greatest miracle that e'er ye wrought. Is all your strict preciseness come to this? York. She and the dauphin have been juggling; I did imagine what would be her refuge. War. Well, go to; we will have no bastards live; Especially, since Charles must father it. Puc. You are deceived; my child is none of his. It was Alençon, that enjoyed my love. York. Alençon! that notorious Machiavel!2 It dies, an if it had a thousand lives. 1 No, ye misconceivers, ye who mistake me and my qualities. 2 The character of Machiavel seems to have made so very deep an impression on the dramatic writers of this age, that he is many times introduced without regard to anachronism. Puc. O, give me leave, I have deluded you. 'Twas neither Charles, nor yet the duke I named, But Reignier, king of Naples, that prevailed. War. A married man! that's most intolerable. York. Why, here's a girl! I think she knows not well, There were so many, whom she may accuse. War. It's a sign, she hath been liberal and free. York. And, yet, forsooth, she is a virgin pure.— Strumpet, thy words condemn thy brat, and thee; Use no entreaty, for it is in vain. Puc. Then lead me hence; with whom I leave my curse : May never glorious sun reflex his beams Upon the country where you make abode ! Drive you to break your necks, or hang yourselves! Enter CARDINAL BEAUFORT, attended. 1 Car. Lord regent, I do greet your excellence York. Is all our travail turned to this effect? Have we not lost most part of all the towns, War. Be patient, York; if we conclude a peace, It shall be with such strict and severe covenants, As little shall the Frenchman gain thereby. Enter CHARLES, attended; ALENÇON, Bastard, REIGNIER, and others. Char. Since, lords of England, it is thus agreed, That peaceful truce shall be proclaimed 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 poisoned voice, By sight of these our baleful enemies. Win. Charles, and the rest, it is enacted thus: Alen. Must he be then as shadow of himself? Adorn his temples with a coronet; And yet, in substance and authority, Retain but privilege of a private man? This proffer is absurd and reasonless. Char. 'Tis known, already, that I am possessed 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; And, now the matter grows to compromise, Alen. To say the truth, it is your policy, 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 reserved, you claim no interest In any of our towns of garrison. York. Then swear allegiance to his majesty ; As thou art knight, never to disobey, Nor be rebellious to the crown of England, Thou, nor thy nobles, to the crown of England. [CHARLES, and the rest, give tokens of fealty. So, now dismiss your army when ye please; Hang up your ensigns; let your drums be still; [Exeunt. 1 "Be content to live as the beneficiary of our king." Benefit is here a term of law. |