And give me signs of future accidents!
You speedy helpers, that are substitutes
Under the lordly monarch of the north,
Appear and aid me in this enterprize!
Enter Fiends.

This speedy quick appearance argues proof
Of your accustom'd diligence to me.
Now, ye familiar spirits, that are cull'd
Out of the powerful regions under earth,

[Thunder.

Help me this once, that France may get the field.

[They walk about, and speak not.

O, hold me not with silence over-long!

Where I was wont to feed you with my blood,
I'll lop a member off, and give it you,

In earnest of a further benefit;

do condescend to help me now.—

[They hang their heads.

No hope to have redress?-My body shall
Pay recompense, if you will grant my suit.

[They shake their heads.

Cannot my body, nor blood-sacrifice,
Entreat you to your wonted furtherance?
Then take my soul; my body, soul, and all,
Before that England give the French the foil.

[They depart.

See! they forsake me. Now the time is come,
That France must vail her lofty-plumed crest,
And let her head fall into England's lap.
My ancient incantations are too weak,
And hell too strong for me to buckle with:

Now, France, thy glory droopeth to the dust.

[Exit.

Alarums. Enter French and English, fighting. LA PUCELLE and YORK fight hand to hand. LA PUCELLE is taken. The French fly.

York. Damsel of France, I think I have you fast:

monarch of the north,] The north was always supposed to be the particular habitation of bad spirits. Milton, therefore, assembles the rebel angels in the north.-JOHNSON.

Where-] i. e. Whereas.

vail-] i. e. Lower.

Unchain your spirits now with spelling charms,
And try if they can gain your liberty.—

A goodly prize, fit for the devil's grace!
See, how the ugly witch doth bend her brows,
As if, with Circe, she would change my shape.
Puc. Chang'd to a worser shape thou canst not be.
York. O, Charles the Dauphin is a proper man;
No shape but his can please your dainty eye.

Puc. A plaguing mischief light on Charles, and thee! And may ye both be suddenly surpriz'd

By bloody hands, in sleeping on your beds!

York. Fell banning hag! enchantress, hold thy tongue.
Puc. I pr'ythee, give me leave to curse a while.
York. Curse, miscreant, when thou comest to the stake.

[Exeunt. Alarums. Enter SUFFOLK, leading in Lady MARGaret. Suf. Be what thou wilt, thou art my prisoner.

[Gazes on her.

O, fairest beauty, do not fear, nor fly;
For I will touch thee but with reverent hands,
And lay them gently on thy tender side.

I kiss these fingers [kissing her hand.] for eternal peace :
Who art thou? say, that I may honour thee.

Mar. Margaret is my name; and daughter to a king,

The king of Naples, whosoe'er thou art.

Suf. An earl I am, and Suffolk am I call'd.

Be not offended, nature's miracle,

Thou art allotted to be ta'en by me:

So doth the swan her downy cygnets save,
Keeping them prisoners underneath her wings.
Yet if this servile usage once offend,

Go, and be free again, as Suffolk's friend.

[She turns away as going.

O, stay!--I have no power to let her pass;
My hand would free her, but my heart says-no.
As plays the sun upon the glassy streams,

d

banning-] i. e. Cursing.

As plays the sun upon the glassy streams, &c.] This comparison, made between things which seem sufficiently unlike, is intended to express the softness and

Twinkling another counterfeited beam,
So seems this gorgeous beauty to mine eyes.
Fain would I woo her, yet I dare not speak :
I'll call for pen and ink, and write my mind:
Fye, De la Poole! disable not thyself;f

Hast not a tongue? is she not here thy prisoner?
Wilt thou be daunted at a 'woman's sight?
Ay; beauty's princely majesty is such,
Confounds the tongue, and makes the senses rough.
Mar. Say, earl of Suffolk,-if thy name be so,-
What ransome must I pay before I pass ?

For, I perceive, I am thy prisoner.

Suf. How canst thou tell, she will deny thy suit, Before thou make a trial of her love?

[Aside. Mar. Why speak'st thou not? what ransome must I pay? Suf. She's beautiful; and therefore to be woo'd: She is a woman; therefore to be won.

[Aside. Mar. Wilt thou accept of ransome, yea, o no? Suf. Fond man! remember, that thou hast a wife : Then how can Magaret be thy paramour?

[Aside.

Mar. I were best leave him, for he will not hear.
Suf. There all is marr'd; there lies a cooling card.
Mar. He talks at random; sure, the man is mad.
Suf. And yet a dispensation may be had.
Mar. And yet I would that you would answer me.
Suf. I'll win this lady Margaret. For whom?
Why, for my king: Tush: that's a wooden thing.h
Mar. He talks of wood: It is some carpenter.
Suf. Yet so my fancy' may be satisfied,
And peace established between these realms.
But there remains a scruple in that too:
For though her father be the king of Naples,

delicacy of lady Margaret's beauty, which delighted but did not dazzle; which was bright, but gave no pain by its lustre.-JOHNSON.

f_disable not thyself;] Do not represent thyself so weak. To disable the judgment of another was, in that age, the same as to destroy its credit or authority.-JOHNSON.

g and makes the senses rough.] The meaning of this word is not very obvious. Sir Thomas Hanmer reads-crouch.-MALONE.

h

a wooden thing.]i. e. An awkward business, an undertaking not likely to succeed.-STEEVENS. my fancy-] i. e. My love.

Duke of Anjou and Maine, yet is he poor,
And our nobility will scorn the match.

Mar. Hear ye, captain? Are you not at leisure?
Suf. It shall be so, disdain they ne'er so much :
Henry is youthful, and will quickly yield.—
Madam, I have a secret to reveal.

[Aside.

Mar. What though I be enthrall'd? he seems a knight,

And will not any way dishonour me.

[Aside.

Suf. Lady, vouchsafe to listen what I say.

Mar. Perhaps, I shall be rescu'd by the French;

And then I need not crave his courtesy.

[Aside.

Suf. Sweet madam, give me hearing in a cause—

Mar. Tush! women have been captivate ere now.

[Aside.

Suf. Lady, wherefore talk you so?

Mar. I cry you mercy, 'tis but quid for quo.

Suf. Say, gentle princess, would you not suppose

Your bondage happy, to be made a queen?
Mar. To be a queen in bondage, is more vile,
Than is a slave in base servility;

For princes should be free.

Suf.

And so shall you,

If happy England's royal king be free.

Mar. Why, what concerns his freedom unto me? Suf. I'll undertake to make thee Henry's queen ; To put a golden scepter in thy hand,

And set a precious crown upon thy head,

If thou will condescend to be my

Mar.

Suf. His love.

What?

Mar. I am unworthy to be Henry's wife.
Suf. No, gentle madam; I unworthy am

To woo so fair a dame to be his wife,
And have no portion in the choice myself.
How say you, madam; are you so content?
Mar. An if my father please, I am content.
Suf. Then call our captains, and our colours, forth:
And, madam, at your father's castle walls

We'll crave a parley, to confer with him.

[Troops come forward.