KING HENRY VI. ACT I. SCENE I.-London. A room of State in the palace. Flourish of Trumpets: then hautboys. Enter, on one side, King HENRY, Duke of GLOSTER, SALISBURY, WARWICK, and Cardinal BEAUFORT; on the other, Queen MARGARET, led in by SUFFOLK; YORK, SOMERSET, BUCKINGHAM, and others, following. Suffolk. As by your high' imperial majesty I had in charge at my depart for France, To marry princess Margaret for your grace; So, in the famous ancient city, Tours, In presence of the kings of France, and Sicil, The dukes of Orleans, Calaber, Bretaigne, and Alençon, Seven earls, twelve barons, twenty reverend Bishops,I have perform'd my task, and was espous'd: And humbly now upon my bended knee, In sight of England and her lordly peers, Deliver up my title in the queen To your most gracious hands, that are the substance The happiest gift that ever marquess gave, The fairest queen that ever king receiv'd. K. Hen. Suffolk, arise.-Welcome, queen Margaret: I can express no kinder sign of love, Than this kind kiss.-O Lord, that lends me life, For thou hast given me, in this beauteous face, If sympathy of love unite our thoughts. Q. Mar. Great king of England, and my gracious lord The mutual conference that my mind hath had— By day, by night; waking. and in my dreams; [1] Vide Hall's Chronicle, for of year 23. init POPE [2] I am the bolder to address you, having already familiarized you to my imag nation. JOHNSON. In courtly company, or at my beads,— K. Hen. Her sight did ravish: but her grace in speech, Her words y-clad with wisdom's majesty, Makes me, from wondering fall to weeping joys; Glo. [Reads.] Imprimis, It is agreed between the French king, Charles, and William de la Poole, marquess of Suffolk, ambassador for Henry king of England, that the said Henry shall espouse the lady Margaret, daughter unto Reignier king of Naples, Sicilia, and Jerusalem; and crown her queen of England, ere the thirtieth of May next ensuing.— Ítem,-That the duchy of Anjou and the county of Maine, shall be released and delivered to the king her fatherK. Hen. Uncle, how now? Glo. Pardon me, gracious lord; Some suduen qualm hath struck me at the heart, Win. Item,—It is further agreed between them,—that the Juchies of Anjou and Maine shall be released and delivered ver to the king her father; and she sent over of the king of England's own proper cost and charges, without having dowry. K. Hen. They please us well.-Lord marquess, kneel down; We here create thee the first duke of Suffolk, Cousin of York, we here discharge your grace Till term of eighteen months be full expir'd. 13 Alder-lievest is an old English word given to him to whom the speaker is supremely attached liefest being the superlative of the comparative levar, rather, from lief WARBURTON.Alder-liefest is a corruption of the German word alder-licbste, beloved of all things, dearest of all. STEEVENS. Thanks, uncle Winchester, Gloster, York, and Buckingham, We thank you all for this great favour done, [Exeunt King, Queen, and SUFFolk. In winter's cold, and summer's parching heat, How France and Frenchmen might be kept in awe ? Been crown'd in Paris, in despite of foes? And shall these labours, and these honours, die? peers of England, shameful is this league! Fatal this marriage, cancelling your fame : Blotting your names from books of memory: Razing the characters of your renown; Defacing monuments of conquer'd France; Undoing all, as all had never been! Car. Nephew, what means this passionate discourse? This peroration with such circumstance?* For France, 'tis ours; and we will keep it still. Glo. Ay, uncle, we will keep it, if we can ; But now it is impossible we should: Suffolk, the new-made duke that rules the roast, [4] This speech crowded with so many instances of aggravation. JOHNSON. Hath given the duchies of Anjou and Maine Sal. Now, by the death of him that died for all, York. For Suffolk's duke-may he be suffocate, She should have staid in France, and starv'd in France, Car. My lord of Gloster, now you grow too hot; Glo. My lord of Winchester, I know your mind; [Exit. [5] The indignation of Warwick is natural, and I wish it had been better expressed; there is a kind of jingle intended in wounds and words. JOHNSON. [6] To bicker is to skirmish. In the ancient metrical romance of Guy earl of Warwick, bl. 1. no date, the heroes consult whether they should bicker on the walls, or descend to battle on the plain. STEEVENS. |