SCENE II.-Troyes in Champagne. An apart- To swearing, and stern looks, diffus'da attire, ment in the French King's palace. Enter, at And every thing that seems unnatural. one door, King Henry, Bedford, Gloster, Exeter, Which to reduce into our former favour,' Warwick, Westmoreland, and other lords; al You are assembled: and my speech entreats, another, the French king, queen Isabel, the prin- That I may know the let, why gentle peace tess Katharine, lords, ladies, &c. the duke of Should not expel these inconveniences, Burgundy, and his train. And bless us with her former qualities.

K. Hen. Peace to this meeting, wherefore we
are met!

Unto our brother France,-and to our sister,
Health and fair time of day :-joy and good wishes
To our most fair and princely cousin Katharine;
And (as a branch and member of this royalty,
By whom this great assembly is contriv'd,)
We do salute you, duke of Burgundy ;-
And, princes French, and peers, health to you all!
Fr. King. Right joyous are we to behold your
face,

Most worthy brother England; fairly met:-
So are you princes English, every one.

Q. Isa. So happy be the issue, brother England,
Of this good day, and of this gracious meeting,
As we are now glad to behold your eyes;
Your eyes, which hitherto have borne in them
Against the French, that met them in their bent,
The fatal balls of murdering basilisks:
The venom of such looks we fairly hope,
Have lost their quality; and that this day
Shall change all griefs, and quarrels, into love.
K. Hen. To cry amen to that, thus we appear.
Q. Isa. You English princes all, I do salute you.
Bur. My duty to you both, on equal love,
Great kings of France and England! That I have
labour'd

With all my wits, my pains, and strong endeavours,
To bring your most imperial majesties
Unto this bar' and royal interview,

Your mightiness on both parts best can witness.
Since then my office hath so far prevail'd,
That, face to face, and royal eye to eye,
You have congreeted; let it not disgrace me,
If I demand, before this royal view,
What rub, or what impediment, there is,
Why that the naked, poor, and mangled peace,
Dear nurse of arts, plenties, and joyful births,
Should not, in this best garden of the world,
Our fertile France, put up her lovely visage?
Alas! she hath from France too long been chas'd;
And all her husbandry doth lie on heaps,
Corrupting in its own fertility.

Her vine, the merry cheerer of the heart,
Unpruned dies: her hedges even-pleached,-
Like prisoners wildly over-grown with hair,
Put forth disorder'd twigs: her fallow leas
The darnel, hemlock, and rank fumitory,
Doth root upon; while that the coulter rusts,
That should deracinate3 such savagery:
The even mead, that erst brought sweetly forth
The freckled cowslip, burnet, and green clover,
Wanting the scythe, all uncorrected, rank,
Conceives by idleness: and nothing teems,
But hateful docks, rough thistles, kecksies, burs,
Losing both beauty and utility.

And as our vineyards, fallows, meads, and hedges,
Defective in their natures, grow to wildness:
Even so our houses, and ourselves, and children,
Have lost, or do not learn, for want of time,
The sciences that should become our country;
But grow, like savages,—as soldiers will,
That nothing do but meditate on blood,-
(2) Plowshare.

(1) Barrier.

(3) To deracinate is to force up the roots.

K. Hen. If, duke of Burgundy, you would the

peace,

Whose want gives growth to the imperfections
Which you have cited, you must buy that peace
With full accord to all our just demands;
Whose tenors and particular effects
You have, enschedul'd briefly, in your hands.
Bur. The king hath heard them; to the which,
as yet,
There is no answer made.

K. Hen.

Well then, the peace,
Which you before so urg'd, lies in his answer.
Fr. King. I have but with a cursorary eye
O'er-glanc'd the articles: pleaseth your grace
To appoint some of your council presently
To sit with us once more, with better heed
To re-survey them, we will, suddenly,
Pass our accept, and peremptory answer.

K. Hen. Brother, we shall.-Go, uncle Exeter,-
And brother Clarence-and you, brother Gloster,-
Warwick-and Huntingdon,-go with the king:
And take with you free power, to ratify,
Augment, or alter, as your wisdoms best
Shall see advantageable for our dignity,
Any thing in, or out of, our demands;
And we'll consign thereto.-Will you, fair sister,
Go with the princes, or stay here with us?

Q. Isa. Our gracious brother, I will go with
them;

Haply, a woman's voice may do some good,
When articles, too nicely urg'd, be stood on.
K. Hen. Yet leave our cousin Katharine here
with us;

She is our capital demand, compris'd
Within the fore-rank of our articles.

Q. Isa. She hath good leave. [Exeunt all but
Henry, Katharine, and her gentlewoman.
K. Hen.
Fair Katharine, and most fair,
Will you vouchsafe to teach a soldier terms
Such as will enter at a lady's ear,
And plead his love-suit to her gentle heart?.
Kath. Your majesty shall mock at me; I cannot
speak your England.

K. Hen. O fair Katharine, if you will love me soundly with your French heart, I will be glad to hear you confess it brokenly with your English tongue. Do you like me, Kate?

Kath. Pardonnez moy, I cannot tell vat is-like

me.

K. Hen. An angel is like you, Kate; and you are like an angel.

Kath. Que dit-il? que je suis semblable à les anges?

Alice. Ouy, vrayment (sauf vostre grace) ainsi dit il.

K. Hen. I said so, dear Katharine; and I must not blush to affirm it.

Kath. O bon Dieu! les langues des hommes sont pleines des tromperies.

K. Hen. What says she, fair one? that the tongues of men are full of deceits?

Alice. Ouy; dat de tongues of de mans is be full of deceits: dat is de princess.

K. Hen. The princess is the better English

(4) Extravagant.
Hinderance,

(5) Appearance,

464

KING HENRY V.

woman. I'faith, Kate, my wooing is fit for thy un- shall never move thee in French, unless it be to derstanding: I am glad, thou canst speak no bet- laugh at me.

ter English; for, if thou couldst, thou wouldst find Kath. Sauf vostre honneur, le François que vous me such a plain king, that thou wouldst think, I partez, est meilleur, que l'Anglois lequel je parle. I know no K. Ílen. No, 'faith, 'tis not, Kate; but thy speakthine, most truly falsely, had sold my farm to buy my crown. ways to mince it in love, but directly to say-I love ing of my tongue, and you: then, if you urge me further than to say-must needs be granted to be much at one. But, Do you in faith? I wear out my suit. Give me Kate, dost thou understand thus much English? your answer; i'faith, do; and so clap hands and a Canst thou love me? bargain: How say you, lady?

Kath. Sauf vostre honneur, me understand well.

Kath. I cannot tell.

K. Hen. Can any of your neighbours tell, Kate?

Kath. I do not know dat.

K. Hen. Marry, if you would put me to verses, I'll ask them. Come, I know, thou lovest me: and or to dance for your sake, Kate, why you undid me: at night when you come into your closet, you'll for the one, I have neither words nor measure; and question this gentlewoman about me; and I know, for the other, I have no strength in measure, yet a Kate, you will, to her, dispraise those parts in me, reasonable measure in strength. If I could win a that you love with your heart: but, good Kate, mock lady at leap-frog, or by vaulting into my saddle the mercifully; the rather, gentle princess, because with my armour on my back, under the correction I love thee cruelly. If ever thou be'st mine, Kate, of bragging be it spoken, I should quickly leap into (as I have a saving faith within me, tells me,-thou a wife. Or, if I might buffet for my love, or bound shalt,) I get thee with scambling, and thou must my horse for her favours, I could lay on like a therefore needs prove a good soldier-breeder: Shall butcher, and sit like a jack-an-apes, never off: but, not thou and I, between Saint Dennis and Saint before God, I cannot look greenly, nor gasp out George, compound a boy, half French, half English, my eloquence, nor I have no cunning in protesta- that shall go to Constantinople, and take the Turk tion; only downright oaths, which I never use till by the beard? shall we not? what sayest thou, urged, nor never break for urging. If thou canst flower-de-luce? love a fellow of this temper, Kate, whose face is not K. Hen. No; 'tis hereafter to know, but now to worth sun-burning, that never looks in his glass for love of any thing he sees there, let thine eye be thy promise: do but now promise, Kate, you will endeacook. I speak to thee plain soldier: If thou canst your for your French part of such a boy; and, for love me for this, take me: if not, to say to thee-that my English moiety, take the word of a king, and a I shall die, is true; but-for thy love, by the Lord, bachelor. How answer you, la plus belle Kathano; yet I love thee too. And while thou livest, dear rine du monde, mon tres chere et divine deesse? Kath. Your majesté 'ave fausse French enough Kate, take a fellow of plain and uncoined constancy; for he perforce must do thee right, because to deceive the most sage demoiselle dat is en France. he hath not the gift to woo in other places; for these K. Hen. Now, fie upon my false French! By mine fellows of infinite tongue, that can rhyme themselves honour, in true English, I love thee, Kate: by into ladies' favours,-they do always reason them- which honour I dare not swear, thou lovest me; yet selves out again. What! a speaker is but a prater; my blood begins to flatter me that thou dost, nota rhyme is but a ballad. A good leg will fall; a withstanding the poor and untempering effect of my straight back will stoop; a black beard will turn visage. Now beshrew my father's ambition! he white; a curled pate will grow bald; a fair face was thinking of civil wars when he got me; therewill wither; a full eye will wax hollow; but a good fore was I created with a stubborn outside, with an heart, Kate, is the sun and moon; or, rather, the aspect of iron, that, when I come to woo ladies, I sun, and not the moon; for it shines bright, and fright them. But, in faith, Kate, the elder I wax, never changes, but keeps his course truly. If thou the better I shall appear: my comfort is, that old would have such a one, take me: And take me, age, that ill-layer up of beauty, can do no more take a soldier; take a soldier, take a king: And spoil upon my face: thou hast me, if thou hast me, what savest thou then to my love? speak, my fair, at the worst; and thou shalt wear me, if thou wear me, better and better; And therefore tell me, most and fairly, I pray thee. Kath. Is it possible dat I should love de enemy fair Katharine, will you have me? Put off your maiden blushes; arouch the thoughts of your heart of France?

K. Hen. No; it is not possible, you should love with the looks of an empress; take me by the hand, the enemy of France, Kate: but, in loving me, you and say-Harry of England, I am thine: which should love the friend of France; for I love France word thou shalt no sooner bless mine ear, withal, so well, that I will not part with a village of it; but I will tell thee aloud-England is thine, Irewill have it all mine: and, Kate, when France is land is thine, France is thine, and Henry Plantagemine, and I am yours, then yours is France, and net is thine; who, though I speak it before his face, you are mine.

Kath. I cannot tell vat is dat,

K. Hen. No, Kate? I will tell thee in French; which, I am sure, will hang upon my tongue like a new-married wife about her husband's neck, hardly to be shook off. Quand j'ay la possession de France, et quand vous avez la possession def moi, (let me see, what then? Saint Dennis be my speed!)-donc vostre est France, et vous estes mienne. It is as easy for me, Kate, to conquer the kingdom, as to speak so much more French: I

if he be not fellow with the best king, thou shalt find the best king of good fellows. Come, your answer in broken music; for thy voice is music, and thy English broken: therefore, queen of all, Katharine, break thy mind to me in broken English, Wilt thou have me?

Kath. Dat is, as it shall please de roy mon pere. K. Hen. Nay, it will please him well, Kate; shall please him, Kate.

Kath. Den it shall also content me.

K. Hen. Upon that I will kiss your hand, and I call you-my queen.

Rath. Laissez, mon seigneur, Laissez, laissez:(a fair French city, for one fair French maid that ma foy, je ne veux point que vous abbaissez vostre stands in my way.

grandeur, en baisant la main d'une vostre indigne Fr. King. Yes, my lord, you see them perspec serviteure; excusez moy, je vous supplie, mon tres tively, the cities turned into a maid; for they are puissant seigneur, all girdled with maiden walls, that war hath never entered.

K. Hen. Then I will kiss your lips, Kate. Kath. Les dames, et damoiselles, pour estre baisées devant leur nopces, il n'est past le coutume de France.

K. Hen. Shall Kate be my wife?

Fr. King. So please you.

K. Hen. I am content; so the maiden cities you K. Hen. Madam, my interpreter, what says she? talk of, may wait on her so the maid, that stood Alice. Dat it is not be de fashion pour les ladies in the way of my wish, shall show me the way to of France,-I cannot tell what is baiser, en English. my_will. K. Hen. To kiss.

Alice. Your majesty entendre bettre que moy.

K. Hen. It is not the fashion for the maids in France to kiss before they are married, would she say?

Alice. Ouy, vrayment.

Fr. King. We have consented to all terms of

reason.

K. Hen. Is't so, my lords of England? West. The king hath granted every article: His daughter, first; and then, in sequel, all, According to their firm proposed natures. K. Hen. O, Kate, uice customs curt'sy to great Exe. Only, he hath not yet subscribed this:kings. Dear Kate, you and I cannot be confined Where your majesty demands-That the king of within the weak list of a country's fashion: we are France, having any occasion to write for matter of the makers of manners, Kate; and the liberty that grant, shall name your highness in this form, and follows our places, stops the mouths of all find-with this addition, in French,-Notre tres cher faults; as I will do yours, for upholding the nice filz Henry, roy d'Angleterre, heretier de France; fashion of your country, in denying me a kiss: and thus in Latin,-Præclarissimus filius noster therefore, patiently, and yielding. Kissing her.] Henricus, rex Angliæ, et hæres Francia. You have witchcraft in your lips, Kate: there is more eloquence in a sugar touch of them, than in the tongues of the French council; and they should sooner persuade Harry of England, than a general petition of monarchs. Here comes your father. Enter the French King and Queen, Burgundy, Bedford, Gloster, Exeter, Westmoreland, and other French and English Lords.

Bur. God save your majesty! my royal cousin, teach you our princess English?

K. Hen. I would have her learn, my fair cousin, now perfectly I love her; and that is good English. Bur. Is she not apt?

K. Hen. Our tongue is rough, coz; and my condition is not smooth: so that, having neither the voice nor the heart of flattery about me, I cannot so conjure up the spirit of love in her, that he will appear in his true likeness.

Fr. King. Nor this I have not, brother, so denied
But your request shall make me let it pass.
K. Hen. I pray you then, in love and dear
alliance,

Let that one article rank with the rest:
And, thereupon, give me your daughter.

Fr. King. Take her, fair son; and from her
blood raise up

Issue to me: that the contending kingdoms
Of France and England, whose very shores look
pale

With envy of each other's happiness,
May cease their hatred; and this dear conjunction
Plant neighbourhood and christian-like accord
In their sweet bosoms, that never war advance
His bleeding sword 'twixt England and fair France.
All. Amen!

K. Hen. Now welcome, Kate:-and bear me
witness all,

That here I kiss her as my sovereign queen.

Bur. Pardon the frankness of my mirth, if I answer you for that. If you would conjure in her, [Flourish. you must make a circle: if conjure up love in her, Q. Isa. God, the best maker of all marriages, in his true likeness, he must appear naked, and Combine your hearts in one, your realms in one! blind: Can you blame her then, being a maid yet As man and wife, being two, are one in love, rosed over with the virgin crimson of modesty, if So be there 'twixt your kingdoms such a spousal, she deny the appearance of a naked blind boy in That never may ill office, or fell jealousy, her naked seeing self? It were, my lord, a hard condition for a maid to consign to.

K. Hen. Yet they do wink, and yield; as love is blind, and enforces.

Bur. They are then excused, my lord, when they see not what they do.

K. Hen. Then, good my lord, teach your cousin to consent to winking.

Which troubles oft the bed of blessed marriage,
Thrust in between the paction of these kingdoms,
To make divorce of their incorporate league;
That English may as French, French Englishmen,
Receive each other!-God speak this Amen!
All. Amen!

K. Hen. Prepare we for our marriage:-on
which day,

Bur. I will wink on her to consent, my lord, if My lord of Burgundy, we'll take your oath, you will teach her to know my meaning: for maids, And all the peers', for surety of our leagues.well summered and warm kept, are like flies at Bar-Then shall I swear to Kate, and you to me; tholomew-tide, blind, though they have their eyes; And may our oaths well kept and prosp'rous be! and then they will endure handling, which before would not abide looking on.

K. Hen. This moral ties me over to time, and a hot summer; and so I will catch the fly, your cousin, in the latter end, and she must be blind too. Bur. As love is, my lord, before it loves. K. Hen. It is so: and you may, some of you, nk love for my blindness; who cannot see many (2) Temper,

(1) Slight barrier,

Enter Chorus.

[Exeunt.

Thus far, with rough, and all unable pen,
Our bending auther hath pursu'd the story;
In little room confining mighty men,
Mangling by starts the full course of their glory.
(3) Application.

(4) i, e. Unequal to the weight of the subject.
&N