Page 1620 - Shakespeare - Vol. 2

The Dauphin’s meaning and our embassy?

KING HENRY
We are no tyrant, but a Christian king;
Unto whose grace our passion is as subject
As is our wretches fetter’d in our prisons:
Therefore with frank and with uncurbèd plainness [245]

Tell us the Dauphin’s mind.

AMBASSADOR
Thus then, in few.
Your highness, lately sending into France,
Did claim some certain dukedoms, in the right

Of your great predecessor, King Edward the Third.
In answer of which claim, the prince our master [250]
Says that you savour too much of your youth,
And bids you be advis’d: there’s nought in France

That can be with a nimble galliard won;
You cannot revel into dukedoms there.
He therefore sends you, meeter for your spirit, [255]
This tun of treasure; and, in lieu of this,

Desires you let the dukedoms that you claim
Hear no more of you. This the Dauphin speaks.

KING HENRY
What treasure, uncle?

EXETER
Tennis-balls, my liege.

KING HENRY
We are glad the Dauphin is so pleasant with us; [260]
His present and your pains we thank you for:

When we have match’d our rackets to these balls,
We will in France, by God’s grace, play a set
Shall strike his father’s crown into the hazard.

Tell him he hath made a match with such a wrangler [265]