 | The History of Henry the Fifth |  |
39
THE FIFTH ACT.
Enter the King, the Duke of Exeter, the Duke of Bedford, and Tudor.King.
Our good successes come together still;
And, as the good concur, so do the ill.
I have observ'd it, Uncle, have not you?
Exet.
'Tis, Sir, as worthy notice as 'tis true.
King.
This seems, methinks, t'accuse their ignorance
Who attribute our great events to chance:
For though it may, when slowly one event
Follows another, look like accident;
Yet when together many swiftly joyn
It shews a power which rules us by design.
Whilst we succeed at Land, to Heav'n we owe
The Triumph of a Naval overthrow.
Brother, your tongue may claim the right alone
To tell what Heav'n by your brave hand has done.
Bedf.
But little fame, where many Conqu'rours were,
Could justly fall to any single share.
When we had sail'd your Fleet in sight of France,
From the Seins mouth the French did strait advance:
Their number pleas'd us whom it meant to fright;
We joy'd at any thing that made them fight.
But whilst to gain the Wind both Navies ply'd,
Both, to the Southward, a third Fleet descry'd.
Whose course, by bearing, to our Fleet was bent:
We thought to them, they fear'd to us, 'twas sent.
When drawing near us, 'twas perceiv'd by all,
Their Flags display'd the Arms of Portugal.
That prosp'rous King, your Kinsman, and your Friend
His Royal Navy to your aid did send,
Hearing the French had rigg'd a numerous Fleet.
King.
This shews his Friendship, like his virtue, great:
I am oblig'd, and more I could not be
Then by a Debt, great as your Victory.
Bedf.
The Valiant Bourbon, Admiral of France,
Shrunk not at this, but swiftli'er did advance.
That shout with which we did their Navy greet,
Th'affrighted shore did Eccho to their Fleet.
At the first shock, some ships we sunk and burn'd;
Our order soon was to a Chaos turn'd.
The Portugal's still like the English fought;
Envying our Valour, or else by it taught.
40
Though not, Sir, of your hands, yet of your sight.
But what the French perform'd, worthy your praise,
Serv'd but the more your Glory, Sir, to raise.
For your resistless Genius there did reign,
And made us gather Laurels on the Main:
As prosp'rous Stars, though absent to the sence,
Bless those they shine for by their influence.
Five hundred Ships were sunk or taken there
Whose Flags seem Wreaths for you, the Conquerour.
King.
This high success at Sea, which Heav'n has sent,
Has made me Master of that Element.
When Monarchs have at Land a Battel lost
It may, to raise new Troops, some Treasure cost.
But to repair lost Fleets is not so cheap;
Woods are a Crop which men but once can reap.
That Prince, whose Flags are bow'd to on the Seas,
Of all Kings shores keeps in his hand the Keys:
No King can him, he may all Kings invade;
And on his Will depends their Peace and Trade.
Trade, which does Kings and Subjects wealth increase;
Trade, which more necessary is then Peace.
Exet.
If the Worlds trade may to our hand be brought
Though purchas'd by a War 'tis cheaply bought.
Tudor.
He who an Island rules and not the Sea,
Is not a King, and may a Pris'ner be.
Bedf.
In this Victorious Fleet your Parliament
Have such supplies of Men and Treasure sent
That France will now in humble posture seek
The Treaty which her former Pride did break.
King.
Those Royal Limbs will not their head forsake;
My Glory they their own kind Int'rest make.
Their Love does with their Duty nobly strive;
And giving thus, unaskt, they doubly give.—
Oh Tudor! though my Sword at Land and Sea
Does conquer others, Love does conquer me.
Whilst under his resistless pow'r I groan
Fate cannot make me joyful with a Crown.
Tudor.
May still the greatness of your fame increase;
And, for your quiet, may your love grow less.
Enter Warwick.
Warw.
From the French Court Count Blamount, Sir, is sent
And newly is alighted at your Tent.
King.
Admit him, but he soon may hasten home
If from the false Burgundian he is come.
[Exit Warwick.
A Prince worthy of nothing but of hate;
Early in promise, in performance late.
41
And meanly thinks that I would sell a Crown.
In wronging his high Birth he injures me
And gives my Sword a right to Burgundy.
Enter Warwick, Blamount, Chareloys Disguis'd.
Blam.
If a surprizing wonder may be news,
Such as does joy and horrour too infuse
I bring it, Sir: for he, whose head and Sword
Made War and Peace the Creatures of his word;
The Great Burgundian who in France did reign,
Is by appointment of the Dauphin slain.
King.
Heaven's hand is sure, though it the stroke defer.
Blam.
The face of France does full of change appear.
King.
This Murder sudden was: but what late crime
Could urge the Dauphin thus to Murder him?
Blam.
The Duke (who said, Treaties would ne're advance
That Peace with you which was desir'd by France).
Did therefore for the Dauphin's Friendship sue.
Iyon appointed was for interview;
To which the Duke did instantly repair;
There to resolve how to contrive the War.
The Dauphin met at the appointed time;
But, whilst the Duke humbly saluted him,
De Chastel, unprovok'd by deed or word,
In the Dukes heart did sheath his guilty Sword.
And then the Dauphin publickly did own
That this strange act by his command was done;
And said it was a justice due to France
Because the Duke had Murder'd Orleance.
King.
Through what false Opticks do mens passions look?
In this wild justice he out-sin'd the Duke:
Blam.
De Chastel talk'd (though few did credit it)
Of Letters taken which the Duke had writ,
Th'express confest that they to you were meant,
In which he offer'd (if you would consent
To what he there, Sir, did propose to you,)
He would unthrone the King and Dauphin too.
King.
I by the Duke have been so coursly us'd
That what he had propos'd I had refus'd.
Will not the Son revenge the Fathers fall?
[Chareloys pulls off his Disguise.
Charl.
Yes, Sir, and does for your assistance call.
The blood of Sov'raign Princes basely spilt
Calls loud to Monarchs to revenge the Guilt.
My reason, not my passion, makes me flye
From a false Friend to a brave Enemy.
If you'l revenge high blood, ignobly shed,
The Crown of France I'le settle on your head.
42
The States shall then entail it on your Line.
Of those most are my Friends and my Allies;
And they are all so Noble and so Wise,
That with one voice they will aloud disdain
The proud injustice of a Murd'rers reign.
King.
Your Father's faults I'le cast into his Grave;
And will revenge that blood I could not save.
And since you are so generous and just,
That, without Treaty, you my honour trust,
You shall, Sir, on a Kings unblemish'd word,
Enjoy my Friendship, and engage my Sword.
Char.
Where faith is wanting this would satisfie;
On which, as on Truths Pillars, I rely.
King.
Th'example of your worth will make a Friend.
But what, Sir, does the Dauphin now intend?
Char.
This fatal Murder, Sir, he did design
Just when the Queen, the Princess Katherine,
My Sister Anne, and I, (t'avoid the heat
And noyse of Paris) did to Meaux retreat:
Some Troops to seize on us he thither sent:
One of their Leaders (as to Meaux they went,
Being my private Friend) did by a Post
Tell me, unless we fled, we all were lost:
And that we should not then tow'rds Paris flye,
For on that Road some other Troops did lye
To intercept us if we thither fled.
King.
This root of mischief soon will shoot and spread.
Charl.
At this I found the Queens amazement great:
For being now cut off from her retreat,
Her wisdom could not teach her what to do:
I then propos'd we all should flye to you,
As the securest way to scape his rage;
And so your Vertue by our trust engage;
Vertue so known as would her fears controul.
King.
Trust is the strongest Bond upon the Soul:
That sacred Tye has Vertue oft begot;
It binds where 'tis, and makes it where 'twas not.
Charl.
I said she might, to break her Son's design,
Give you for Bride the Princess Katherine:
And urge th'Estates t'entail the Crown on you:
This to your right, that to your love is due.
This done, what could resist your Arms and mine?
As she consider'd how she should incline
Clermount came in, disguis'd; in whose known care
Her Wealth and Jewels lay; who did declare
Her Treasure was surpriz'd, by some who said
That they the Dauphin in that act obey'd;
43
So as that France should have her peace assur'd.
King.
The Dauphin, in his rage or want, has done
What was below him as a Prince or Son.
Charl.
Though she this wrong and loss did calmly bear,
Yet the high Dictates of Revenge and Fear
Made her resolve immediately to do
What I with reason first advis'd her to.
And now at Troy, the Queen and Princess are;
To which the Dauphin will Transport the War.
A Garrison of mine secures that Town,
And since 'tis mine you know it is your own.
King.
'Tis chiefly to your favour I must owe
My being blest in Love and Conquest too.
Charl.
'Twere fit, Sir, that you sent some Troops of Horse
The Garrison of Troy to re-inforce.
King.
I'le lead them, Sir, my self: all that are mine
In France, are but the Guards of Katherine:
My Duty else she might in question bring.
Charl.
'Tis spoken like a Lover and a King.
Blamount I'le send before that she may know
What Honour to her you intend to do.
[Exit Blamount.
When you to Troy are come it shall appear
I will perform more then I promis'd here.
King.
You may augment my debt, as you think fit,
But nothing can encrease my sense of it,
Unless your favour, Sir, I could incline
To make my Brother's joys keep time with mine:
His Love to Princess Anne wants your consent.
Charl.
She made me in their Loves her confident:
And in your Brother I shall think her blest.
King.
This, Sir, unites our bloods and interest.
Bedf.
This grant (great Prince) my happiness secures.
King.
It makes my happiness as much as yours.
Now, Tudor, if our prosp'rous Stars design
That we shall both see beauteous Katherine,
I will perform all that I promis'd thee:
And when thy story she has heard from me
(In which by all her truth I'le do thee right)
We then our Supplications will unite,
That she (our Judge) will only him prefer
Whom she believes is least unworthy her:
Without regarding in the cause we bring
That thou my Subject art, or I thy King.
Tudor.
In Vertue, Sir, so much you me out-shine
That you all other Motives may decline.
King.
Brother, 'tis fit the Duke, with you and I,
Should on the Princess wait immediately.
44
And with the Army you must follow me.
[Exeunt.
Enter Queen, Princess Katherine, Princess Anne, Countess La Marr.
Queen.
Our sins make us defenceless, and we flye
For our protection to our Enemy.
Thy Laws, Oh Heav'n! have I offended so
That thou hast made my Son my greatest Foe?
Into the World I have the Monster brought;
And now no suff'rings can transcend that fault.
Prin. Kath.
Madam, you make, whilst thus you bear his crime,
Our grief more just for you then yours for him.
La Marr.
If he should hear you grieve in this excess,
The triumph of his malice would increase.
Prin. An.
My Duty has th'assault of grief withstood;
For since his fury shed my Fathers blood,
That wasted time which you employ to grieve
I, to design'd revenge, more justly give:
Let all your sorrow in such thoughts expire.
Queen.
Grief is the Fuel and Revenge the fire.
Prin. An.
Think then on all the Crimes which he has done,
And let those thoughts cancel the name of Son.
Queen.
Since faln so low from what is great or good
I hate his Crimes more then I love his blood.
Enter Blamount.
Blam.
Madam, my Duty has provok'd my speed.
The King and Duke most strictly are agreed;
And both this night will wait upon you here.
Queen.
This happy news suppresses all my fear,
And makes me hope, assisted by their Fate,
That I shall live to punish what I hate.
Blam.
Those Troops, now on their March, he does design
As Guards t'attend the Princess Katherine:
And therefore would not send, but leads them here,
That his respect and love may both appear.
Queen.
We were, when to this Monarch we did trust,
Kind to our selves and to his Vertue just.
Blamount, for his reception straight prepare
All that can joy and our respect declare.
Daughter, you must a while retire with me;
I have some Words which need your privacy.
[Exeunt.
45
Arras.
Our Ecclesiastick States are all agreed:
This day the Dauphin for his bloody deed
Will summon'd be to answer what was done.
Const.
I have the Peers to that conclusion won;
And those who represent the Commons too
Will now not slowly yield to what we do.
I'le lose my judgment if he dares appear.
Arras.
He loses his, and life, in coming here;
This murder has incens'd them to the heighth.
Const.
All hate a Prince who violates his Faith.
The peoples temper does occasion give
T'obey those orders we did now receive.
I find already that the most incline
The King should marry Princess Katherine;
And on their Issue would the Crown entail.
Arras.
The Dauphin's crime will make that King prevail.
Const.
Rather then bow beneath a Murd'rers pow'r
Let's to the Throne advance our Conquerour:
The Queen and Duke expect it at your hands.
Arras.
I never durst obey unjust commands.
Const.
Do you then think that those commands are such?
Arras.
If you think so, my Lord, you wrong me much.
My judgement by a better guide was led
When I our Annals and Records had read:
For then I doubted that since Charls the Fair
Our Kings insensibly Usurpers were.
The Crown (if truth did dictate what I read)
Belong'd to the Victorious Edward's head:
Which no prescription from his Line should take.
I'le therefore to this change no scruple make.
But if the Dauphin were the rightful Heir
You might of my obedience then despair;
For Reason's Maxim I must ever own;
No King can make a forfeit of his Crown.
Much less can I admit the States Decree
Has power to give away this Monarchie.
Const.
My justice shall, now I am taught by you,
Perform what I resolv'd revenge should do.
My Lord, let's go where all our Friends are met;
And jointly pay to Heav'n this double debt.
[Exeunt.
Enter King, Princess Katherine, Tudor.
King.
Madam, I have injurious been to him
As far as ignorance could make a crime:
46
But knew not then, that he ador'd you too:
But I declare (which some amends may be)
That he, at least, in all things equals me
Unless in Title; but 'tis greater far
A Crown to merit then a Crown to wear.
Can Title in that Ballance e're prevail
Where Love is Merit, and you hold the Scale?
I wave whatever may your favour move
Except the Title of the highest Love.
Speak for thy self if I have lessen'd thee.
Tudor.
Only my silence, Sir, should plead for me.
King.
Thy love, when I employ'd thee, was unknown:
I minded no mans sorrows but mine own;
Nor where so many shafts were shot in me
Could think, any before had wounded thee.
Tudor.
All, Sir, that in my cause is said by you
At once is for me, and against me too.
Howe're, I'le rather speak then quite despair;
Since she is just and you my Rival are:
Yet, Sir, this diff'rence to my case is due,
You speak for me, but I resign for you.
Prin. Kath.
He who resigns his Love, though for his King,
Does, as he is a Lover, a low thing:
But, as a Subject, a high Crime does do;
Being at once, Subject and Rebel too:
For, whilst to Regal pow'r he does submit,
He casts off Love, a greater pow'r then it.
Tudor.
I fear you now are glad of a pretence
To punish what you cannot recompence.
Else could you think Loves pow'r I do not know
Because my Love all others does out-go?
If I by that seem guilty in your Eye,
Oh happy guilt which raises Love so high!
For I but shew in what I now have done,
That I your Int'rest prize above my own.
Prin. Kath.
But justly I admire how you can prove
So true to Friendship, and so false to Love;
Since in effect they both are but the same,
Only the Sex gives them a diff'rent name.
Tudor.
You Friendship tax for being too sublime,
And make its duty, ev'n to Love a Crime.
Prin. Kath.
Your King does give you a brave Rivals leave;
But you seem loth that license to receive:
Of these, which for my wonder is more fit;
The leave he gave, or your not using it?
Tudor.
The Giver may such gifts as these esteem:
I can, but by refusing, merit them:
47
Can never pay what to us both is due,
Why will you call that act in me a crime
By which we both may justice do to him?
Nor blame me that my Friendship's debt I paid
By thus resigning what I never had.
Let me my death without reproaches crave.
Prin. Kath.
At once you my disdain, and pardon have.
Tudor.
But why should you disdain that which to you
Obedience shews, to him my Duty too?
Prin. Kath.
It is a Duty he will not receive.
Tudor.
But you, to love you, have deny'd me leave.
Prin. Kath.
He who makes love at a true Lovers height
Does ne're ask leave, but takes it as his right.
Tudor.
Have you design'd in what you'd have me do
To make me lose my King and Mistress too?
In losing of the last I'm so accurst
As you'l in pity let me keep the first.
Prin. Kath.
I'de have you, Sir, in that which I intend
Express that you did merit such a Friend:
I would have had you too, to let him see
That you were not unworthy to love me.
But, making such an ill Retreat, you seem
No more to merit bravely me, or him.
What greater thing or meaner could you do
Then dare at once to love and quit me too?
I would have had you like your self appear,
And not with Friendships name disguise your fear.
Nor tell him he to your respect does owe
That which alone my justice does bestow.
I would have had you nobly fall by it,
And not thus meanly, uncompell'd, submit.
Tudor.
Madam, with you no longer I'le contend;
Since in the way we differ, not the end.
Sir, though she thinks my condemnation fit;
Yet, without sighs, I to her doom submit:
For one joys loss another joy secures:
What loses me her favour, merits yours.
King.
Whilst, Tudor, you for me your claim deny
I gain the Field, and you the Victory:
Your's is the Nobler, mine the happier share,
I'm the oblig'd, but you th'obliger are.
Prin. Kath.
In leaving me, as worthy of your Friend,
You to the utmost rate my worth commend.
Whilst with that value I to him am brought
You shew a Friendship worthy to be fought.
Be but my Friend, as you to him have been,
Letting out Love to keep your Friendship in,
48
Then I'le your Friendship, Sir, like Love esteem.
Enter Queen, Chareloys, Duke of Bedford, and Princess Anne.
Queen.
I'm come to tell you, Sir, that we have sign'd
All that can France to your protection bind.
The States have judg'd to banishment my Son:
And, as we promis'd, have entayl'd the Crown.
Charl.
And, Sir, in all their names, one from each State
Attending both your Thrones, shall supplicate
That they in publick their Decree may give,
Which only from their justice you receive.
Queen.
That publick form, Sir, may a little wait
Till we our Nuptial Rites shall Celebrate;
My thoughts are fully to my Daughter known.
King.
But from her self would I might know her own.
Prin. Kath.
I of your Love shall too unworthy be
When I deny that it has conquer'd me.
King.
He who the glory has to conquer you
Does, without War, more then the World subdue.
Bedf.
Heav'n meant not you alone should happy be.
Behold, Sir, what it has reserv'd for me.
Confirm'd by her, and by her Brother too.
Charl.
The gift is perfect when allow'd by you.
King.
I can but adde the Ceremonial part;
You had the substance when you had the heart.
Prin. Ann.
I cannot adde to what I gave before,
Unless in saying I could give no more.
Queen.
Crowds of impatient Subjects wait within
To see the Nuptials of their King and Queen:
The Sacred Prelate in the Temple stays,
And longs to mingle Myrtle with your Bays.
It were offensive to admit delay.—
She, Sir, will follow when I lead the way.
[Exeunt.
Enter the Dauphin.
Dauph.
Revenge and pride my reason have betray'd;
And both have rul'd, what both should have obey'd.
This Duke did with his life his sins resign,
Which, in his blood, are written down for mine.
Revenge! of all thy Charms, Oh let me find
But one t'appease the Tempest of my mind.
Let none to the success of mischief trust;
I'le rather be unhappy then unjust.
49
De Chast.
You cannot your new Levies now employ
To storm or to besiege the Queen in Troyé.
Sir, to prevent our courage and her fear,
The King of England is in person there.
The Bride's prepar'd, the King and Duke agreed;
The trembling States have treach'rously decreed,
During your Fathers life the King shall be
Admitted to a boundless Regencie.
And, after his decease their Law declares
The Crown shall fall to Henry and his Heirs.
The Queen (to whom they vast Revenues give)
Will, quitting pow'r, rich and obscurely live.
Dauph.
Can her revenge alone incline her to
What right and nature could not make her do?
De Chast.
Spend not that time in blaming what she does
Which fortune for a fair retreat allows.
The Duke of Exeter with all his horse
Directly to your Camp now bends his course.
Th'Alarm of such a growing force so near
Gave your new Troops a good excuse for fear.
O'retake your time before it runs too far.
Sir, 'tis a granted principle in War
That Chiefs, not strong enough t'engage in fight,
Should still retire before the Foe's in sight.
Of all Wars tasks the hardest is Retreat,
Where fear does our worst Foe, Disorder, meet.
Retire, Sir, lest men say, we proudly stay'd
Too long for those of whom we were afraid.
Dauph.
Must the first Act which I design'd to do
Be foyl'd, and e're it is attempted too?
De Chast.
Let not one look of Fortune cast you down:
She were not fortune if she still did frown.
Such as do braveli'est bear her scorns a while
Are those on whom, at last, she most will smile.
Dauph.
Raise then the Camp! Fortune, that leads the way
Of Time's whole progress, can give us a day.
[Exeunt.
The Curtain Falls. Two Heraulds appear opposite to each other in the Balconies near the Stage.
1. Her.
Herauld! What summons have you to proclaim?
Whom would you summon now, and in whose name?
2.
All that are English, all that are French appear!
1.
I am to summon those Great Nations here.
2.
And I must summon them to come before
Henry the Fifth, both King and Conquerour.
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1.
Behold your King and Queen! behold! and hear!
You Prelates of the Church are summon'd all
And every Member Ecclesiastical.
2.
And every Noble too, and Commoner!
1.
He that is French, or English, and not here,
In person or in publique Deputie,
Shall, though alive, in Law not living be.
2.
Henry the Fifth is now to take the Crown
Of France, not as if giv'n him, but his own.
1.
That Crown shall still descend to all his Line
As Heirs, or not as Heirs, of Katherine.
2.
He that is French, or English, now attend!
1.
Or else he is no Leige-man, nor no Friend.
The Curtain is drawn up.
The Curtain being lifted up, there appear the King, Princess Katherine, Queen Mother, Princess Anne, Chareloys, and all the English, and the French Nobility and Officers of State; and others according to their places.
Burg.
The Deputies, sent by the three Estates,
Wait for admittance at your Palace Gates.
King.
My Lord with all the publick forms of care
Let all my Officers their way prepare.
[All the Officers design'd for that purpose, then orderly go out.
If ought this day my blessings could abate
'Tis that they are ill husbanded by Fate.
For, Madam, I am now too happy grown
By gaining in one day, you and a Throne.
The first felicity I found so vast
As takes away my rellish of the last.
Enter the Distinct Trains of the Deputies from the three Estates, the Kings Officers, and last of all the three Deputies, the Bishop of Arras for the Ecclesiasticks, the Constable for the Peers, and Monsieur Cole-more for the people.
Bish. of Ar.
Great King, th'Estates of France have sent us three
To pay their Duties in this just Decree:
Fixing the Crown on you, and on that Line,
Which Heav'n, in favour, shall to both design.
Who knows what wonders such a Line may do
As is from Beauties drawn and Conqu'rours too?
In which, Heav'n all those Princes will unite
Who to this Empire have, or claim a right.
We by the Dauphin's bloody deed did see
That he but falsly claim'd what he would be.
51
Could act his crime, and then that crime could owne.
But, searching our Records, we found at last
That a long errour as a truth has past:
For he who flyes, now justice does advance,
Is Charles of Valoys, not the Son of France.
From those Records the Learned clearly tell
Your Ancient Title by Queen Isabel;
By whom you to this Crown are lawful Heir:
New rights we grant not, but the old declare.
This just Decree, in which they pay that debt,
We humbly prostrate at your Royal Feet.
I from the Clergy come to whom is given
The lasting pow'r of Legates sent from Heav'n,
Their Pray'rs will make you conquer when you fight;
And, in their voice, Heav'n does allow you right.
Const.
I from the Nobles come, who still are born
To save their Monarchs, and their Courts adorn;
And still are certain of th'incessant care
Of Pallaces and dangers of the War.
They in their Sphear should still continue bright
Since they from Kings derive their borrow'd light.
Mouns. Cole.
I from the people come, who always are
The Hands, as Nobles are the heads of War.
And when the glorious toyls of War shall cease
Their hands are no less useful, Sir, in Peace.
B. of Ar.
And all the three do with one voice confess
They in their Duty find their happiness.
[They give the Parchment.
King.
Th'Estates I hope, my Lords, shall ne're repent
What I receive, and they have freely sent.
English and French now but one people are:
And both shall have my equal love and care.
But Charles of Valoys we shall soon destroy;
And, by his ruine, France shall Peace enjoy.
Since now 'gainst so much guilt we are to fight
We may depend on Conquest as our right.
Our Swords should only Miracles produce
Now we have joyn'd the Cross and Fleur de Luce.
'Twere sin the help of Fortune to implore
To Crown that head your hands have Crown'd before.
[Exeunt Omnes.
FINIS.
| The History of Henry the Fifth | |