King.
Well, my good lords, what is the news o' th' day?
Hear we yet nothing from our brother Charles,
Concerning those same dukedoms we've requir'd,
O'er which he lords it in our realm of France?

York.
As yet, my liege, we've naught but vague reports.
These say, indeed, the haughty French affect
To treat your highness' claim with proud disdain:
That Charles refer'd your envoys to the dauphin;
Whose messengers, already on the way,
May hourly be expected.

King.
To the dauphin! I sent them to the king.

York.
Most true my liege,
But going hence before your coronation,
'Tis said, weak Charles has taken thence occasion
To cast affront upon your royalty.

King.
'Tis well. The dauphin's answer shall suffice.
Would it were come: I long, methinks, to hear
The message Charles himself disdain'd to send.
I would not, for his sake, it should give cause
To make him blush for his young heir's discretion.
Our cousin's wit, we're told, is passing shrewd,
Tho' oft ill-tim'd; and hurtful to his friends.
Let him beware—mine was no idle errand:
And well deserv'd a king's most serious answer.

Exeter.
The son's discretion yet may match the sire's;
Who, with such unadvised affectation,
Presumes to treat your majesty so lightly.

Scroop.
Affect contempt! a skipping, meagre tribe!
And shall the ape unpunish'd mock the lion?
By heav'n, my liege, I would so well chastise them—

King.
My lords, our judgment hold we in suspense
Until these French ambassadors arrive.
For heav'n defend we should, in pride or wantonness,
Awake the fury of grim-visag'd war,

To wave her bloody banner o'er a kingdom,
And reap, with th' sword, the harvest of destruction.
Yet, to say truth, I cannot flatter me
So fierce and formidable a pow'r as France,
At once, will yield to part with her possessions,
In pure regard to justice and our right,
Restoring quietly, upon demand,
Those fertile dukedoms, seignories, and towns,
That add the greatest lustre to the crown,
And constitute the strength of half the kingdom.

York.
On that most politick and just suspicion,
Wisely your highness doth augment your forces;
Levying new pow'rs, to keep in awe the Scots,
And in your absence curb domestick broils;
While, taking meet advantage of the time,
You may by force acquire what force detains.

King.
Uncle, this is most needful—see we, therefore,
Our warlike preparations do not flag.
Be we prepar'd, that, as occasion serve,
We may transport our powers across the main,
And on the spot our rightful cause maintain. [Exeunt.

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