[To Suffolk.] Your wondrous rare description, noble Earl,

5.5.22823Of beauteous Margaret hath astonished me.

5.5.32824Her virtues gracèd with external gifts

5.5.42825Do breed love's settled passions in my heart,

5.5.52826And like as rigor of tempestuous gusts

5.5.62827Provokes the mightiest hulk against the tide,

5.5.72828So am I driven by breath of her renown

5.5.82829Either to suffer shipwreck or arrive

5.5.92830Where I may have fruition of her love.

Tush, my good lord, this superficial tale

5.5.112832Is but a preface of her worthy praise.

5.5.122833The chief perfections of that lovely dame,

5.5.132834Had I sufficient skill to utter them,

5.5.142835Would make a volume of enticing lines

5.5.152836Able to ravish any dull conceit.

5.5.162837And which is more, she is not so divine,

5.5.172838So full replete with choice of all delights,

5.5.182839But with as humble lowliness of mind

5.5.192840She is content to be at your command;

5.5.202841Command, I mean, of virtuous chaste intents,

5.5.212842To love and honor Henry as her lord.

And otherwise will Henry ne'er presume.

5.5.232844[To Gloucester.] Therefore my Lord Protector, give consent,

5.5.242845That Marg'ret may be England's royal queen.

So should I give consent to flatter sin.

5.5.262847You know, my lord, your highness is betrothed

5.5.272848Unto another lady of esteem.

5.5.282849How shall we then dispense with that contract

5.5.292850And not deface your honor with reproach?

As doth a ruler with unlawful oaths,

5.5.312852Or one that, at a triumph, having vowed

5.5.322853To try his strength, forsaketh yet the lists

5.5.332854By reason of his adversary's odds.

5.5.342855A poor earl's daughter is unequal odds,

5.5.352856And therefore may be broke without offense.

Why, what, I pray, is Margaret more 2858than that?

5.5.372859Her father is no better than an earl,

5.5.382860Although in glorious titles he excel.

Yes, my lord, her father is a king.

5.5.402862The King of Naples and Jerusalem,

5.5.412863And of such great authority in France

5.5.422864As his alliance will confirm our peace

5.5.432865And keep the Frenchmen in allegiance.

And so the Earl of Armagnac may do,

5.5.452867Because he is near kinsman unto Charles.

Beside, his wealth doth warrant a liberal dower,

5.5.472869Where Reignier sooner will receive than give.

A dower my lords? Disgrace not so your King

5.5.492871That he should be so abject, base, and poor

5.5.502872To choose for wealth and not for perfect love.

5.5.512873Henry is able to enrich his queen,

5.5.522874And not to seek a queen to make him rich.

5.5.532875So worthless peasants bargain for their wives,

5.5.542876As market men for oxen, sheep, or horse.

5.5.552877Marriage is a matter of more worth

5.5.562878Than to be dealt in by attorneyship.

5.5.572879Not whom we will but whom his grace affects

5.5.582880Must be companion of his nuptial bed.

5.5.592881And therefore, lords, since he affects her most,

5.5.602882Most of all these reasons bindeth us:

5.5.612883In our opinions she should be preferred.

5.5.622884For what is wedlock forcèd but a hell,

5.5.632885An age of discord and continual strife,

5.5.642886Whereas the contrary bringeth bliss,

5.5.652887And is a pattern of celestial peace?

5.5.662888Whom should we match with Henry, being a king,

5.5.672889But Margaret, that is daughter to a king?

5.5.682890Her peerless feature joinèd with her birth

5.5.692891Approves her fit for none but for a king.

5.5.702892Her valiant courage and undaunted spirit,

5.5.712893More then in women commonly is seen,

5.5.722894Will answer our hope in issue of a king.

5.5.732895For Henry, son unto a conqueror,

5.5.742896Is likely to beget more conquerors

5.5.752897If with a lady of so high resolve,

5.5.762898As is fair Margaret, he be linked in love.

5.5.772899Then yield, my lords, and here conclude with me:

5.5.782900That Margaret shall be queen, and none but she.

Whether it be through force of your report,

5.5.802902My noble Lord of Suffolk, or for that

5.5.812903My tender youth was never yet attaint

5.5.822904With any passion of inflaming love,

5.5.832905I cannot tell; but this I am assured:

5.5.842906I feel such sharp dissension in my breast,

5.5.852907Such fierce alarums both of hope and fear,

5.5.862908As I am sick with working of my thoughts.

5.5.872909Take therefore shipping; post, my lord, to France;

5.5.882910Agree to any covenants, and procure

5.5.892911That Lady Margaret do vouchsafe to come

5.5.902912To cross the seas to England and be crowned

5.5.912913King Henry's faithful and anointed queen.

5.5.922914For your expenses and sufficient charge,

5.5.932915Among the people gather up a tenth.

5.5.942916Be gone, I say, for till you do return

5.5.952917I rest perplexèd with a thousand cares.

5.5.962918And you, good Uncle, banish all offense.

5.5.972919If you do censure me by what you were,

5.5.982920Not what you are, I know it will excuse

5.5.992921This sudden execution of my will.

5.5.1002922And so conduct me where from company

5.5.1012923I may revolve and ruminate my grief.

Aye, grief, I fear me, both at first and last.

Thus Suffolk hath prevailed, and thus he goes

5.5.1042927As did the youthful Paris once to Greece,

5.5.1052928With hope to find the like event in love,

5.5.1062929But prosper better than the Trojan did.

5.5.1072930Margaret shall now be queen and rule the King;

5.5.1082931But I will rule both her, the King, and realm.