Page:Henry VI Part 1 (1918) Yale.djvu/112

100

And still enjoy thy regal dignity.

Alen. Must he be, then, as shadow of himself?

Adorn his temples with a coronet,

And yet, in substance and authority,

Retain but privilege of a private man?

This proffer is absurd and reasonless.

Char. 'Tis known already that I am possess'd

With more than half the Gallian territories,

And therein reverenc'd for their lawful king:

Shall I, for lucre of the rest unvanquish'd,

Detract so much from that prerogative

As to be call'd but viceroy of the whole?

No, lord ambassador; I'll rather keep

That which I have than, coveting for more,

Be cast from possibility of all.

York. Insulting Charles! hast thou by secret means

Us'd intercession to obtain a league,

And now the matter grows to compromise,

Stand'st thou aloof upon comparison?

Either accept the title thou usurp'st,

Of benefit proceeding from our king

And not of any challenge of desert,

Or we will plague thee with incessant wars.

Reig. My lord, you do not well in obstinacy

To cavil in the course of this contract:

If once it be neglected, ten to one,

We shall not find like opportunity.

Alen. [Aside to Charles.] To say the truth, it is your policy

To save your subjects from such massacre

And ruthless slaughters as are daily seen

By our proceeding in hostility;

 141 lucre: desire of gain

149 grows to: approaches

150 comparison: quibbling rhetoric

152 Of benefit: by way of bounty 