Speeches (Lines) for Queen Margaret
in "Henry VI, Part I"
Total: 22

1

V,3,2510

Earl of Suffolk. 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;
I kiss these fingers for eternal peace,
And lay them gently on thy tender side.
Who art thou? say, that I may honour thee.

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

2

V,3,2532

Earl of Suffolk. 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 prisoner underneath her wings.
Yet, if this servile usage once offend.
Go, and be free again, as Suffolk's friend.
[She is 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,
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.
Fie, de la Pole! disable not thyself;
Hast not a tongue? is she not here?
Wilt thou be daunted at a woman's sight?
Ay, beauty's princely majesty is such,
Confounds the tongue and makes the senses rough.

Queen Margaret. Say, Earl of Suffolk—if thy name be so—
What ransom must I pay before I pass?
For I perceive I am thy prisoner.

3

V,3,2537

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

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

4

V,3,2540

Earl of Suffolk. She's beautiful, and therefore to be woo'd;
She is a woman, therefore to be won.

Queen Margaret. Wilt thou accept of ransom? yea, or no.

5

V,3,2543

Earl of Suffolk. Fond man, remember that thou hast a wife;
Then how can Margaret be thy paramour?

Queen Margaret. I were best to leave him, for he will not hear.

6

V,3,2545

Earl of Suffolk. There all is marr'd; there lies a cooling card.

Queen Margaret. He talks at random; sure, the man is mad.

7

V,3,2547

Earl of Suffolk. And yet a dispensation may be had.

Queen Margaret. And yet I would that you would answer me.

8

V,3,2550

Earl of Suffolk. I'll win this Lady Margaret. For whom?
Why, for my king: tush, that's a wooden thing!

Queen Margaret. He talks of wood: it is some carpenter.

9

V,3,2557

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

Queen Margaret. Hear ye, captain, are you not at leisure?

10

V,3,2561

Earl of Suffolk. It shall be so, disdain they ne'er so much.
Henry is youthful and will quickly yield.
Madam, I have a secret to reveal.

Queen Margaret. What though I be enthrall'd? he seems a knight,
And will not any way dishonour me.

11

V,3,2564

Earl of Suffolk. Lady, vouchsafe to listen what I say.

Queen Margaret. Perhaps I shall be rescued by the French;
And then I need not crave his courtesy.

12

V,3,2567

Earl of Suffolk. Sweet madam, give me a hearing in a cause—

Queen Margaret. Tush, women have been captivate ere now.

13

V,3,2569

Earl of Suffolk. Lady, wherefore talk you so?

Queen Margaret. I cry you mercy, 'tis but Quid for Quo.

14

V,3,2572

Earl of Suffolk. Say, gentle princess, would you not suppose
Your bondage happy, to be made a queen?

Queen Margaret. To be a queen in bondage is more vile
Than is a slave in base servility;
For princes should be free.

15

V,3,2577

Earl of Suffolk. And so shall you,
If happy England's royal king be free.

Queen Margaret. Why, what concerns his freedom unto me?

16

V,3,2582

Earl of Suffolk. I'll undertake to make thee Henry's queen,
To put a golden sceptre in thy hand
And set a precious crown upon thy head,
If thou wilt condescend to be my—

Queen Margaret. What?

17

V,3,2584

Earl of Suffolk. His love.

Queen Margaret. I am unworthy to be Henry's wife.

18

V,3,2589

Earl of Suffolk. 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 ye so content?

Queen Margaret. An if my father please, I am content.

19

V,3,2642

Reignier. I do embrace thee, as I would embrace
The Christian prince, King Henry, were he here.

Queen Margaret. Farewell, my lord: good wishes, praise and prayers
Shall Suffolk ever have of Margaret.

20

V,3,2647

Earl of Suffolk. Farewell, sweet madam: but hark you, Margaret;
No princely commendations to my king?

Queen Margaret. Such commendations as becomes a maid,
A virgin and his servant, say to him.

21

V,3,2652

Earl of Suffolk. Words sweetly placed and modestly directed.
But madam, I must trouble you again;
No loving token to his majesty?

Queen Margaret. Yes, my good lord, a pure unspotted heart,
Never yet taint with love, I send the king.

22

V,3,2656

(stage directions). [Kisses her]

Queen Margaret. That for thyself: I will not so presume
To send such peevish tokens to a king.