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Full speech
If but to die, prove that you love me then; Death were more to welcome to confirm your love. Alas my Sister she: hath not the heart To look upon a rough To face: I am bold and con tant, and my courage great; As token of your love then point out me. Bless me Heaven! By all my joys I'll sooner die Then suffer it. Had you best loved my Sister, and less me, I had been Queen before her; but she ventured For her preferment, therefore it's her endue; Out of our fears and loves her honours grew. Nor do I cover greater Royalties Than to enjoy your presence, and your love, The best of these I prize above all Fortune's, Nor would I change them for my Sisters state. Rather, my Lord, your Royal life to free, All his stern fury let him shower on me. I find your Grace the same my noble Father Hath still reported you; royal in all, By whom the virtuous rise, that ignoble fallen. So early up, how did you Like your rest? You were up Both late and early. My Father called in question for his life? O let not me a sad spectator be Of such a dismal object. Executioner forbear. O Father hear me, for a Father crave. O make your mercy to this prisoner free. Your Sister and your Daughter great King hear. Nor let it seem offencive to your love, That we in your retirement should take pride, The King in this pursues our greater happiness, And quickens most where he would most destroy. And strive to eternise me.
Plot summary
Plot — The Royal King and the Loyal Subject
The King of England returns home from a crusade, where his life was saved in battle by the Marshal. He rewards the Marshal with eminence, which makes the other lords jealous. At a hunt, the King’s horse loses a shoe; the Marshal gives him the shoes off his own horse. He also magnanimously allows the Prince to beat him in a tournament. The envious lords try to persuade the King that the Marshal’s humility is a cloak for pride and ambition, and that he wishes to be greater than the King himself in his magnanimity. The King resolves to test the Marshal, and treats him badly at a public feast: he is dismissed from office and his job is handed over to his greatest enemy, Chester; then he is told to leave the court altogether. He retires to the country, but the King orders him to send his favourite daughter to court for some sexual purpose. The Marshal sends his elder daughter, Isabella, subject to the condition that the King should return her if he dislikes her; and gives her instructions that she should conceal any pregnancy and constantly tell the King that her sister is better looking. The King makes Isabella his Queen, and, unbidden, the Marshal sends a generous dowry. She becomes pregnant, but does as her father instructs; she also tells her husband of her sister Katherine’s superior beauty. Affronted, the King sends her home along with the dowry and orders the Marshal to send Katherine. The Marshal claims that Katherine is ill and unable to travel, but promises to send her when she is better. He does more than that: he sends back both daughters with the dowry doubled, continuing to outdo the King in magnanimity. The Prince is allowed to marry Katherine. The Marshal asks leave to return to court with a rich gift for the King, which turns out to be his new-born son by Isabella. The King tries to trump even this by giving the Marshal a new wife, the Princess. At the wedding, however, the Marshal seems discontented: he is worried that his fortunes depend on the pleasure of his new wife. He refuses a dowry, saying that the ===== PAGE 305 ===== 1606 Princess is treasure enough in herself. The envious Chester encourages the King to take offence, and the Marshal is summoned from his bed, tried, and sentenced to death. He accepts his fate with dignity, but his and the King’s children all plead for his life. The King declares that the Marshal’s loyalty has been thoroughly tested and proven. He is restored to office, and Chester disgraced. In the sub-plot, Captain…