Suf.
Be what thou wilt, thou art my prisoner. [Gazes on her.
Oh fairest beauty, do not fear nor fly,
For I will touch thee but with reverend hands:
I kiss these fingers for eternal peace,
And lay them gently on thy tender side.
Who art thou? say; that I may honour thee.

Mar.
Margaret my name, and daughter to a King,
The King of Naples, whosoe'er thou art.

Suf.
An Earl I am, and Suffolk and I call'd.
Be not offended, nature's miracle,
Thou art allotted to be ta'en by me:
So doth the Swan her downy cignets save,
Keeping them pris'ners underneath her wings.
Yet if this servile usage once offend,
Go and be free again, as Suffolk's friend. [She is going.
Oh stay! I have no pow'r to let her pass,
My hand would free her, but my heart says no.
As plays the sun upon the glassy streams,
Twinkling another counterfeited beam,
So seems this gorgeous beauty to mine eyes.
Fain would I woe her, yet I dare not speak:
I'll call for pen and ink, and write my mind.
Fie, De la Pole, disable not thy self:
Hast not a tongue? is she not here thy pris'ner?
Wilt thou be daunted at a woman's sight?
Oh, 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 ransom 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 tryal of her love? [Aside.

Mar.
Why speak'st thou not? what ransom must I pay?

Suf.
She's beautiful; and therefore to be wooed:
She is a woman; therefore to be won. [Aside.

Mar.
Wilt thou accept of ransom, yea or no?

Suf.
Fond man, remember that thou hast a wife,
Then how can Margaret be thy paramour? [Aside.

Mar.
'Twere best to 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:* ^note



Yet so my fancy may be satisfy'd,
And peace established between these realms.
But there remains a scruple in that too:
For though her father be the King of Naples,
Duke of Anjou and Main, yet he is poor,
And our nobility will scorn the match. [Aside.

Mar.
Hear ye me, captain? are ye 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.

Mar.
What tho' I be inthrall'd, he seems a Knight,
And will not any way dishonour me.

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 courtesie.

Suf.
Sweet madam give me hearing in a cause.

Mar.
Tush, women have been captivate ere now.* ^note

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 wilt condescend to be my—

Mar.
What?

Suf.
His love.

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 my self.
How say you, madam, are you so content?

Mar.
And 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.

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