Thou art no father, nor no friend, of mine. Shep. Out, out!-My lords, an please you, 'tis 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. Fye, Joan! that thou wilt be so obstacle!7 God knows, thou art a collop of my flesh; And for thy sake have I shed many a tear: Puc. Peasant, avaunt!-You have suborn'd this man, Of purpose to obscure my noble birth. Shep. 'Tis true, I gave a noble to the priest, Thy mother gave thee, when thou suck'dst her breast, 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 liv'd too long, To fill the world with vicious qualities. Puc. First, let me tell you whom you have condemn'd: 7 A corruption of obstinate. Not me begotten of a shepherd swain, 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: York. Now heaven forefend! the holy maid with child? 8 "No, ye misconceivers, ye who mistake me and my qualities." 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 deceiv'd; my child is none of his; It was Alençon, that enjoy'd my love. York. Alençon! that notorious Machiavel! It dies, an if it had a thousand lives. Puc. O, give me leave, I have deluded you; 'Twas neither Charles, nor yet the duke I nam'd, But Reignier, king of Naples, that prevail'd. 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 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 ! But darkness and the gloomy shade of death Drive you to break your necks, or hang yourselves! [Exit, guarded. York. Break thou in pieces, and consume to ashes, Thou foul accursed minister of hell! 9 Enter Cardinal BEAUFORT, attended. Betwixt our nation and the aspiring French ; York. Is all our travail turn'd to this effect? War. Be patient, York: if we conclude a peace, 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. 9 Compassion. 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: Alen. Must he be then as shadow of himself? Char. 'Tis known, already that I am possess'd 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, Stand'st thou aloof upon comparison? I Baneful. 2 Coronet is here used for crown. |