24

  That France must vail her lofty-plumèd crest

  25

  And let her head fall into England’s lap.

  26

  My ancient incantations are too weak,

  27

  And hell too strong for me to buckle with.

  28

  Now, France, thy glory droopeth to the dust.

  29

 

  Excursions. Burgundy and York fight hand to hand.

  French fly
  soldiers capture Joan la Pucelle.>

  YORK

  Damsel of France, I think I have you fast.

  30

  Unchain your spirits now with spelling charms,

  31

  And try if they can gain your liberty.

  32

  A goodly prize, fit for the devil’s grace!

  33

  See how the ugly witch doth bend her brows

  34

  As if with Circe she would change my shape.

  35

  PUCELLE

  Changed to a worser shape thou canst not be.

  36

  YORK

  O, Charles the Dauphin is a proper man;

  37

  No shape but his can please your dainty eye.

  38

  PUCELLE

  A plaguing mischief light on Charles and thee,

  39

  And may you both be suddenly surprised

  40

  By bloody hands in sleeping on your beds!

  41

  YORK

  Fell banning hag! Enchantress, hold thy tongue.

  42

  PUCELLE

  I prithee give me leave to curse awhile.

  43

  YORK

  Curse, miscreant, when thou com’st to the stake.

  44

  They exit.

  Alarum. Enter Suffolk with Margaret in his hand.

  SUFFOLK

  Be what thou wilt, thou art my prisoner.

  45

  Gazes on her.

  O fairest beauty, do not fear nor fly,

  46

  For I will touch thee but with reverent hands.

  47

  I kiss these fingers for eternal peace

  48

  And lay them gently on thy tender side.

  49

  Who art thou? Say, that I may honor thee.

  50

  MARGARET

  Margaret my name, and daughter to a king,

  51

  The King of Naples, whosoe’er thou art.

  52

  SUFFOLK

  An earl I am, and Suffolk am I called.

  53

  Be not offended, nature’s miracle;

  54

  Thou art allotted to be ta’en by me.

  55

  So doth the swan her downy cygnets save,

  56

  Keeping them prisoner underneath wings.

  57

  Yet if this servile usage once offend,

  58

  Go and be free again as Suffolk’s friend.

  59

  She is going.

  O, stay! () I have no power to let her pass.

  60

  My hand would free her, but my heart says no.

  61

  As plays the sun upon the glassy streams,

  62

  Twinkling another counterfeited beam,

  63

  So seems this gorgeous beauty to mine eyes.

  64

  Fain would I woo her, yet I dare not speak.

  65

  I’ll call for pen and ink and write my mind.

  66

  Fie, de la Pole, disable not thyself!

  67

  Hast not a tongue? Is she not here?

  68

  Wilt thou be daunted at a woman’s sight?

  69

  Ay. Beauty’s princely majesty is such

  70

  Confounds the tongue and makes the senses rough.

  71

  MARGARET

  Say, Earl of Suffolk, if thy name be so,

  72

  What ransom must I pay before I pass?

  73

  For I perceive I am thy prisoner.

  74

  SUFFOLK,