Have earnestly implor'd a general peace Betwixt our nation and the afpiring French; And here at hand the Dauphin, and his train, Approacheth, to confer about fome matter. YORK. Is all our travail turn'd to this effect? After the flaughter of fo many peers, So many captains, gentlemen, and foldiers, O, Warwick, Warwick! I foresee with grief WAR. Be patient, York; if we conclude a peace, It fhall be with fuch ftrict and fevere covenants, As little fhall the Frenchmen gain thereby. Enter CHARLES, attended; ALENÇON, Baftard, REIGNIER, and Others. CHAR. Since, lords of England, it is thus agreed. That peaceful truce fhall be proclaim'd in France, We come to be informed by yourselves What the conditions of that league muft be. YORK. Speak, Winchester; for boiling choler chokes 1 The hollow paffage of my poifon'd voice, 4 4 poifon'd voice, Poifon'd voice agrees well enough with baneful enemies, or with baleful, if it can be used in the fame fenfe, The modern editors read prifon'd voice. JOHNSON. MALONE. Prifon'd was introduced by Mr. Pope. ace, 15, reed. ince, 10ler h with feale, WIN. Charles, and the reft, it is enacted thus: To cafe your country of diftressful war, 6 ALEN. Muft he be then as fhadow of himself? CHAR. 'Tis known, already that I am poffefs'd baleful enemies. ] imagine that, we should read Baleful is Jorrowful; I therefore rather baneful, hurtful, or mischievous. - JOHNSON, Baleful had anciently the fame meaning as baneful. It is an epithet very frequently beftowed on poisonous plants and reptiles. So, in Romeo and Juliet: "With baleful weeds, and precious-juiced flowers. ' " STEEVENS. with a coronet; ] Coronet is here used for a crown. JOHNSON. These are the words of Lear when he gives up his crown to Cornwall and Albany. STEEVENS. No, lord ambassador; I'll rather keep YORK. Infulting Charles! haft thou by fecret means Us'd interceffion to obtain a league; ALEN. To fay the truth, it is your policy, And therefore take this compact of a truce, CHAR. It fhall: Only referv'd, you claim no interest 7 upon comparison? Do you ftand to compare your present ftate, a ftate which you have neither right or power to maintain, with the terms which we offer? JOHNSON. 8 accept the title thou ufurpft, Of benefit Benefit is here a term of law. Be content to live as the beneficiary of our king. JOHNSON. YORK. Then fwear allegiance to his majesty; As thou art knight, never to difobey, Nor be rebellious to the crown of England, SCENE V. London. A Room in the Palace. [Exeunt. Enter King HENRY, in conference with SUFFOLK; GLOSTER and EXETER following. K. HEN. Your wond'rous rare description, noble earl, Of beauteous Margaret hath aftonish'd me: SUF. Tufh, my good lord! this fuperficial tale 9 So am I driven, ] This fimile is fomewhat obfcure; he seems to mean, that as a fhip is driven against the tide by the wind, fo he is driven by love againft the current of his intereft. JOHNSON. Would make a volume of enticing lines, . And, which is more, fhe is not fo divine, K. HEN. And otherwife will Henry ne'er pre- Therefore, my lord protector, give consent, GLO. So fhould I give confent to flatter fin. You know, my lord, your highness is betroth'd Unto another lady of esteem; How fhall we then difpenfe with that contract, SUF. As doth a ruler with unlawful oaths; A poor earl's daughter is unequal odds, that? Her father is no better than an earl, at a triumph-] That is, at the fports by which a riumph is celebrated. JOHNSON. A triumph, in the age of Shakspeare, fignified a public exhibition, fuch as a mask, a revel, &c. Thus, in King Richard II: "What news from Oxford? hold thofe jufts and triumphs? See A Midfummer Night's Dream, Vol. VII. p. 6, n. 5. STEEVENS. MALONE. |