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
Environ you, till mischief and despair

Drive you to break your necks or hang yourselves! [Exit, guarded. York. Break thou in pieces and consume to

ashes,

Thou foul accurséd minister of hell!

Enter Cardinal BEAUFORT, Bishop of Winchester, attended.

Car. Lord Regent, I do greet your excellence With letters of commission from the king. For know, my lords, the states of Christendom, Moved with remorse of these outrageous broils, Have earnestly implored a general peace Betwixt our nation and the aspiring French; And here at hand the Dauphin and his train Approacheth, to confer about some matter.

York. Is all our travail turned to this effect? After the slaughter of so many peers, So many captains, gentlemen, and soldiers, That in this quarrel have been overthrown And sold their bodies for their country's benefit, Shall we at last conclude effeminate peace? Have we not lost most part of all the towns, By treason, falsehood, and by treachery, Our great progenitors had conqueréd ?— O, Warwick, Warwick! I foresee with grief The utter loss of all the realm of France.

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, 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 prisoned voice,
By sight of these our baleful enemies.

Car. 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 placed as viceroy under him,
And still enjoy thy regal dignity.

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. 'T is known already that I am possessed With more than half the Gallian territories, And therein reverenced for their lawful king; Shall I, for lucre of the rest unvanquished, Detract so much from that prerogative, As to be called 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,

And, now the matter grows to compromise,
Stand'st thou aloof upon comparison?
Either accept the title thou usurp'st,
Of benefit proceeding from our king
And not of any challenge of desert,

Or we will plague thee with incessant wars.

Reig. [Aside to CHARLES] My lord, you do not well in obstinacy

To cavil in the course of this contract:

If once it be neglected, ten to one

We shall not find like opportunity.

Alen. [Aside to CHARLES] To say the truth, it is your policy

To save your subjects from such massacre
And ruthless slaughters as are daily seen
By our proceeding in hostility;

And therefore take this compact of a truce,

Although you break it when your pleasure serves. 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,
For here we entertain a solemn peace.

[Exeunt.

Enter SUFFOLK in conference with the KING, GLOSTER and EXETER following.

King. Your wondrous rare description, noble

earl,

Of beauteous Margaret hath astonished me.
Her virtues graced 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.

Suf. 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,