TPTT The Third Part of Henry the Sixth: ACT III
Introduction
ACT I
ACT II
ACT III
SCENE I. A forest in the north of England.
SCENE II. London. The palace.
SCENE III. France. KING LEWIS XI's palace.
ACT IV
ACT V
About the Play
Feedback
  Search:   
for:

Amazon Honor System Click Here to Pay Learn More
SCENE III. France. KING LEWIS XI's palace.
Flourish. Enter KING LEWIS XI, his sister BONA, his Admiral, called BOURBON, PRINCE EDWARD, QUEEN MARGARET, and OXFORD. KING LEWIS XI sits, and riseth up again
KING LEWIS XI
      Fair Queen of England, worthy Margaret,
      Sit down with us: it ill befits thy state
      And birth, that thou shouldst stand while Lewis doth sit.
QUEEN MARGARET
      No, mighty King of France: now Margaret
5     Must strike her sail and learn awhile to serve
      Where kings command. I was, I must confess,
      Great Albion's queen in former golden days:
      But now mischance hath trod my title down,
      And with dishonour laid me on the ground;
10    Where I must take like seat unto my fortune,
      And to my humble seat conform myself.
KING LEWIS XI
      Why, say, fair queen, whence springs this deep despair?
QUEEN MARGARET
      From such a cause as fills mine eyes with tears
      And stops my tongue, while heart is drown'd in cares.
KING LEWIS XI
15    Whate'er it be, be thou still like thyself,
      And sit thee by our side:

Seats her by him

      Yield not thy neck
      To fortune's yoke, but let thy dauntless mind
      Still ride in triumph over all mischance.
20    Be plain, Queen Margaret, and tell thy grief;
      It shall be eased, if France can yield relief.
QUEEN MARGARET
      Those gracious words revive my drooping thoughts
      And give my tongue-tied sorrows leave to speak.
      Now, therefore, be it known to noble Lewis,
25    That Henry, sole possessor of my love,
      Is of a king become a banish'd man,
      And forced to live in Scotland a forlorn;
      While proud ambitious Edward Duke of York
      Usurps the regal title and the seat
30    Of England's true-anointed lawful king.
      This is the cause that I, poor Margaret,
      With this my son, Prince Edward, Henry's heir,
      Am come to crave thy just and lawful aid;
      And if thou fail us, all our hope is done:
35    Scotland hath will to help, but cannot help;
      Our people and our peers are both misled,
      Our treasures seized, our soldiers put to flight,
      And, as thou seest, ourselves in heavy plight.
KING LEWIS XI
      Renowned queen, with patience calm the storm,
40    While we bethink a means to break it off.
QUEEN MARGARET
      The more we stay, the stronger grows our foe.
KING LEWIS XI
      The more I stay, the more I'll succor thee.
QUEEN MARGARET
      O, but impatience waiteth on true sorrow.
      And see where comes the breeder of my sorrow!
Enter WARWICK
KING LEWIS XI
45    What's he approacheth boldly to our presence?
QUEEN MARGARET
      Our Earl of Warwick, Edward's greatest friend.
KING LEWIS XI
      Welcome, brave Warwick! What brings thee to France?
He descends. She ariseth
QUEEN MARGARET
      Ay, now begins a second storm to rise;
      For this is he that moves both wind and tide.
WARWICK
50    From worthy Edward, King of Albion,
      My lord and sovereign, and thy vowed friend,
      I come, in kindness and unfeigned love,
      First, to do greetings to thy royal person;
      And then to crave a league of amity;
55    And lastly, to confirm that amity
      With a nuptial knot, if thou vouchsafe to grant
      That virtuous Lady Bona, thy fair sister,
      To England's king in lawful marriage.
QUEEN MARGARET
      (Aside) If that go forward, Henry's hope is done.
WARWICK
60    (To BONA) And, gracious madam, in our king's behalf,
      I am commanded, with your leave and favour,
      Humbly to kiss your hand, and with my tongue
      To tell the passion of my sovereign's heart;
      Where fame, late entering at his heedful ears,
65    Hath placed thy beauty's image and thy virtue.
QUEEN MARGARET
      King Lewis and Lady Bona, hear me speak,
      Before you answer Warwick. His demand
      Springs not from Edward's well-meant honest love,
      But from deceit bred by necessity;
70    For how can tyrants safely govern home,
      Unless abroad they purchase great alliance?
      To prove him tyrant this reason may suffice,
      That Henry liveth still: but were he dead,
      Yet here Prince Edward stands, King Henry's son.
75    Look, therefore, Lewis, that by this league and marriage
      Thou draw not on thy danger and dishonour;
      For though usurpers sway the rule awhile,
      Yet heavens are just, and time suppresseth wrongs.
WARWICK
      Injurious Margaret!
PRINCE EDWARD
80    And why not queen?
WARWICK
      Because thy father Henry did usurp;
      And thou no more are prince than she is queen.
OXFORD
      Then Warwick disannuls great John of Gaunt,
      Which did subdue the greatest part of Spain;
85    And, after John of Gaunt, Henry the Fourth,
      Whose wisdom was a mirror to the wisest;
      And, after that wise prince, Henry the Fifth,
      Who by his prowess conquered all France:
      From these our Henry lineally descends.
WARWICK
90    Oxford, how haps it, in this smooth discourse,
      You told not how Henry the Sixth hath lost
      All that which Henry Fifth had gotten?
      Methinks these peers of France should smile at that.
      But for the rest, you tell a pedigree
95    Of threescore and two years; a silly time
      To make prescription for a kingdom's worth.
OXFORD
      Why, Warwick, canst thou speak against thy liege,
      Whom thou obeyed'st thirty and six years,
      And not bewray thy treason with a blush?
WARWICK
100   Can Oxford, that did ever fence the right,
      Now buckler falsehood with a pedigree?
      For shame! leave Henry, and call Edward king.
OXFORD
      Call him my king by whose injurious doom
      My elder brother, the Lord Aubrey Vere,
105   Was done to death? and more than so, my father,
      Even in the downfall of his mellow'd years,
      When nature brought him to the door of death?
      No, Warwick, no; while life upholds this arm,
      This arm upholds the house of Lancaster.
WARWICK
110   And I the house of York.
KING LEWIS XI
      Queen Margaret, Prince Edward, and Oxford,
      Vouchsafe, at our request, to stand aside,
      While I use further conference with Warwick.
They stand aloof
QUEEN MARGARET
      Heavens grant that Warwick's words bewitch him not!
KING LEWIS XI
115   Now Warwick, tell me, even upon thy conscience,
      Is Edward your true king? for I were loath
      To link with him that were not lawful chosen.
WARWICK
      Thereon I pawn my credit and mine honour.
KING LEWIS XI
      But is he gracious in the people's eye?
WARWICK
120   The more that Henry was unfortunate.
KING LEWIS XI
      Then further, all dissembling set aside,
      Tell me for truth the measure of his love
      Unto our sister Bona.
WARWICK
      Such it seems
125   As may beseem a monarch like himself.
      Myself have often heard him say and swear
      That this his love was an eternal plant,
      Whereof the root was fix'd in virtue's ground,
      The leaves and fruit maintain'd with beauty's sun,
130   Exempt from envy, but not from disdain,
      Unless the Lady Bona quit his pain.
KING LEWIS XI
      Now, sister, let us hear your firm resolve.
BONA
      Your grant, or your denial, shall be mine:

To WARWICK

      Yet I confess that often ere this day,
135   When I have heard your king's desert recounted,
      Mine ear hath tempted judgment to desire.
KING LEWIS XI
      Then, Warwick, thus: our sister shall be Edward's;
      And now forthwith shall articles be drawn
      Touching the jointure that your king must make,
140   Which with her dowry shall be counterpoised.
      Draw near, Queen Margaret, and be a witness
      That Bona shall be wife to the English king.
PRINCE EDWARD
      To Edward, but not to the English king.
QUEEN MARGARET
      Deceitful Warwick! it was thy device
145   By this alliance to make void my suit:
      Before thy coming Lewis was Henry's friend.
KING LEWIS XI
      And still is friend to him and Margaret:
      But if your title to the crown be weak,
      As may appear by Edward's good success,
150   Then 'tis but reason that I be released
      From giving aid which late I promised.
      Yet shall you have all kindness at my hand
      That your estate requires and mine can yield.
WARWICK
      Henry now lives in Scotland at his ease,
155   Where having nothing, nothing can he lose.
      And as for you yourself, our quondam queen,
      You have a father able to maintain you;
      And better 'twere you troubled him than France.
QUEEN MARGARET
      Peace, impudent and shameless Warwick, peace,
160   Proud setter up and puller down of kings!
      I will not hence, till, with my talk and tears,
      Both full of truth, I make King Lewis behold
      Thy sly conveyance and thy lord's false love;
      For both of you are birds of selfsame feather.
Post blows a horn within
KING LEWIS XI
165   Warwick, this is some post to us or thee.
Enter a Post
Post
      (To WARWICK) My lord ambassador, these letters are for you,
      Sent from your brother, Marquess Montague:

To KING LEWIS XI

      These from our king unto your majesty:

To QUEEN MARGARET

      And, madam, these for you; from whom I know not.
They all read their letters
OXFORD
170   I like it well that our fair queen and mistress
      Smiles at her news, while Warwick frowns at his.
PRINCE EDWARD
      Nay, mark how Lewis stamps, as he were nettled:
      I hope all's for the best.
KING LEWIS XI
      Warwick, what are thy news? and yours, fair queen?
QUEEN MARGARET
175   Mine, such as fill my heart with unhoped joys.
WARWICK
      Mine, full of sorrow and heart's discontent.
KING LEWIS XI
      What! has your king married the Lady Grey!
      And now, to soothe your forgery and his,
      Sends me a paper to persuade me patience?
180   Is this the alliance that he seeks with France?
      Dare he presume to scorn us in this manner?
QUEEN MARGARET
      I told your majesty as much before:
      This proveth Edward's love and Warwick's honesty.
WARWICK
      King Lewis, I here protest, in sight of heaven,
185   And by the hope I have of heavenly bliss,
      That I am clear from this misdeed of Edward's,
      No more my king, for he dishonours me,
      But most himself, if he could see his shame.
      Did I forget that by the house of York
190   My father came untimely to his death?
      Did I let pass the abuse done to my niece?
      Did I impale him with the regal crown?
      Did I put Henry from his native right?
      And am I guerdon'd at the last with shame?
195   Shame on himself! for my desert is honour:
      And to repair my honour lost for him,
      I here renounce him and return to Henry.
      My noble queen, let former grudges pass,
      And henceforth I am thy true servitor:
200   I will revenge his wrong to Lady Bona,
      And replant Henry in his former state.
QUEEN MARGARET
      Warwick, these words have turn'd my hate to love;
      And I forgive and quite forget old faults,
      And joy that thou becomest King Henry's friend.
WARWICK
205   So much his friend, ay, his unfeigned friend,
      That, if King Lewis vouchsafe to furnish us
      With some few bands of chosen soldiers,
      I'll undertake to land them on our coast
      And force the tyrant from his seat by war.
210   'Tis not his new-made bride shall succor him:
      And as for Clarence, as my letters tell me,
      He's very likely now to fall from him,
      For matching more for wanton lust than honour,
      Or than for strength and safety of our country.
BONA
215   Dear brother, how shall Bona be revenged
      But by thy help to this distressed queen?
QUEEN MARGARET
      Renowned prince, how shall poor Henry live,
      Unless thou rescue him from foul despair?
BONA
      My quarrel and this English queen's are one.
WARWICK
220   And mine, fair lady Bona, joins with yours.
KING LEWIS XI
      And mine with hers, and thine, and Margaret's.
      Therefore at last I firmly am resolved
      You shall have aid.
QUEEN MARGARET
      Let me give humble thanks for all at once.
KING LEWIS XI
225   Then, England's messenger, return in post,
      And tell false Edward, thy supposed king,
      That Lewis of France is sending over masquers
      To revel it with him and his new bride:
      Thou seest what's past, go fear thy king withal.
BONA
230   Tell him, in hope he'll prove a widower shortly,
      I'll wear the willow garland for his sake.
QUEEN MARGARET
      Tell him, my mourning weeds are laid aside,
      And I am ready to put armour on.
WARWICK
      Tell him from me that he hath done me wrong,
235   And therefore I'll uncrown him ere't be long.
      There's thy reward: be gone.
Exit Post
KING LEWIS XI
      But, Warwick,
      Thou and Oxford, with five thousand men,
      Shall cross the seas, and bid false Edward battle;
240   And, as occasion serves, this noble queen
      And prince shall follow with a fresh supply.
      Yet, ere thou go, but answer me one doubt,
      What pledge have we of thy firm loyalty?
WARWICK
      This shall assure my constant loyalty,
245   That if our queen and this young prince agree,
      I'll join mine eldest daughter and my joy
      To him forthwith in holy wedlock bands.
QUEEN MARGARET
      Yes, I agree, and thank you for your motion.
      Son Edward, she is fair and virtuous,
250   Therefore delay not, give thy hand to Warwick;
      And, with thy hand, thy faith irrevocable,
      That only Warwick's daughter shall be thine.
PRINCE EDWARD
      Yes, I accept her, for she well deserves it;
      And here, to pledge my vow, I give my hand.
He gives his hand to WARWICK
KING LEWIS XI
255   Why stay we now? These soldiers shall be levied,
      And thou, Lord Bourbon, our high admiral,
      Shalt waft them over with our royal fleet.
      I long till Edward fall by war's mischance,
      For mocking marriage with a dame of France.
Exeunt all but WARWICK
WARWICK
260   I came from Edward as ambassador,
      But I return his sworn and mortal foe:
      Matter of marriage was the charge he gave me,
      But dreadful war shall answer his demand.
      Had he none else to make a stale but me?
265   Then none but I shall turn his jest to sorrow.
      I was the chief that raised him to the crown,
      And I'll be chief to bring him down again:
      Not that I pity Henry's misery,
      But seek revenge on Edward's mockery.

Exit

270   3 KING HENRY VI
Return to top of page ... or ... Go to next scene