Wol. And for me, I have no further gone in this, than by To cope malicious censures; which ever, For our best act. If we shall stand still, In fear our motion will be mock'd or carp'd at, We should take root here where we sit, or sit State statues only. K. Hen. Things done well, And with a care, exempt themselves from fear; Things done without example, in their issue Are to be fear'd. Have you a precedent Of this commission? I believe not any. We must not rend our subjects from our laws, And stick them in our will. Sixth part of each? A trembling contribution! Why, we take From every tree, lop, bark, and part o' the timber; And, though we leave it with a root, thus hack'd, The air will drink the sap. To every county, Where this is question'd, send our letters, with Free pardon to each man that has denied The force of this commission: Pray, look to't; I put it to your care. Wol. A word with you. [To the Secretary. Let there be letters writ to every shire, Of the king's grace and pardon. The griev'd commons Hardly conceive of me; let it be nois'd, Hautboys. A small table under a state for the Enter Lord Chamberlain, Lord Sands, and Sir The very thought of this fair company Cham. You are young, Sir Harry Guildford. A good digestion to you all: and, once more, I shower a welcome on you;-Welcome all. Hautboys. Enter the KING, and twelve others, as maskers, habited like shepherds, with sixteen torchbearers; ushered by the Lord Chamberlain. They pass directly before the CARDINAL, and gracefully salute him. A noble company! what are their pleasures? Cham. Because they speak no English, thus they pray'd To tell your grace;-That, having heard by fame This night to meet here, they could do no less, Crave leave to view these ladies, and entreat Wol. pay them A thousand thanks, and pray them take their pleasures. [Ladies chosen for the dance. The KING chooses ANNE BULLEN. Wol. There's fresher air, my lord, In the next chamber. ACT II. •SCENE.-Antechamber in King HENRY's Palace. | Between us and the emperor, the queen's great nephew, He dives into the king's soul; and there scatters He counsels a divorce: a loss of her These news are everywhere; every tongue speaks them, And every true heart weeps for't: All that dare This bold bad man. And free us from his slavery. him: My lord, you'll bear us company? Cham. SCENE.-A Hall in Blackfriars. As I saw it inclin'd. When was the hour, Or made it not mine too? Sir, call to mind That I have been your wife, in this obedience, Upwards of twenty years: If, in the course And process of this time, you can report, And prove it too, against mine honour aught, My bond to wedlock, or my love and duty Against your sacred person, in God's name, Turn me away; and let the foul'st contempt Shut door upon me, and so give me up To the sharpest kind of justice. Please you, sir, The king, your father, was reputed for A prince most prudent, of an excellent And unmatch'd wit and judgment: Ferdinand, Trumpets, sennet, and cornets. Enter two Vergers, The wisest prince, that there had reign'd by many My father, King of Spain, was reckon❜d one with short silver wands; next them, two Scribes, A year before: It is not to be question'd in the habits of doctors; after them, the Arch-That they had gather'd a wise council to them bishop of CANTERBURY alone; after him, the Of every realm, that did debate this business, Bishops of LINCOLN, ELY, ROCHESTER, and Who deem'd our marriage lawful: Wherefore I SAINT ASAPH; next them, with some small distance, follows a Gentleman bearing the purse, with the great seal, and a cardinal's hat; then two Priests, bearing each a silver cross; then a Gentleman-Usher bare-headed, accompanied with a Sergeant-at-Arms, bearing a silver mace; then two Gentlemen, bearing two great silver pillars; after them, side by side, the two Cardinals WOLSEY and CAMPEIUS; two Noblemen with the sword and mace. [Then enter the KING and QUEEN, and their Trains. The KING takes place under the cloth of state; the two CARDINALS sit under him as judges. The QUEEN takes place at some distance from the KING. Scribe. Say, Henry king of England, come into Crier. Henry king of England, &c. Scribe. Say, Katherine queen of England, come Crier. Katherine queen of England, &c. [The QUEEN makes no answer, rises out of her chair, goes about the court, comes to the KING, and kneels at his feet; then speaks. Q. Kath. Sir, I desire you, do me right and And to bestow your pity on me: for witness, I have been to you a true and humble wife, Ever in fear to kindle your dislike, Yea, subject to your countenance; glad, or sorry, Wol. humbly Beseech you, sir, to spare me, till I may Cam. His grace Hath spoken well and justly: Therefore, madam, Q. Kath. To you I speak. Wol. Q. Kath. Lord cardinal, Your pleasure, madam ? Sir, I am about to weep; but, thinking that Wol. Be patient yet. Or God will punish me. I do believe, Wol. I do profess Where powers are your retainers; and your words, [She curtsies to the KING, and offers to depart. K. Hen. Call her again. Grif. Madam, you are call'd back. Q. Kath. What need you note it? pray you, keep your way: When you are call'd, return.-Now the Lord help. [Exeunt QUEEN, GRIFFITH, and her other K. Hen. Go thy ways, Kate: That man i' the world who shall report he has A better wife, let him in nought be trusted, For speaking false in that: Thou art, alone (If thy rare qualities, sweet gentleness, Thy meekness saint-like, wife-like government,Obeying in commanding, and thy parts Sovereign and pious else, could speak thee out), The queen of earthly queens:-She is noble born; And, like her true nobility, she has Carried herself towards me. ACT III. SCENE.-Palace at Bridewell. A Room in the Were tried by every tongue, every eye saw them, Queen's Apartment. The QUEEN and some of her Women, at work. Q. Kath. Take thy lute, wench; my soul grows sad with troubles: Sing, and disperse them if thou canst: leave working. SONG. Orpheus with his lute made trees, And the mountain tops that freeze, Bow themselves, when he did sing: To his music, plants and flowers Ever sprung; as sun and showers There had made a lasting spring. Everything that heard him play, Even the billows of the sea, Hung their heads, and then lay. In sweet musie is such art: Killing care and grief of heart Fall asleep, or, hearing, die. Wol. Enter WOLSEY and CAMPEIUS. Peace to your highness! Q. Kath. Your graces find me here part of a housewife; I would be all against the worst may happen. Into your private chamber, we shall give you Q. Kath. Envy and base opinion set against them, My lord of York,-out of his noble nature, His service and his counsel. To betray me. [Aside. Q. Kath. My lords, I thank you both for your good wills; Ye speak like honest men; pray God, ye prove so! But how to make ye suddenly an answer, In such a point of weight, so near mine honour (More near my life, I fear), with my weak wit, And to such men of gravity and learning, In truth, I know not. Good your graces, Let me have time, and counsel, for my cause; Alas! I am a woman, friendless, hopeless. Wol. Madam, you wrong the king's love with these fears; Your hopes and friends are infinite. Q. Kath. In England But little for my profit: can you think, lords, That any Englishman dare give me counsel ? Cam. Put your main cause into the king's pro tection; He's loving, and most gracious: 'twill be much Wol. Is this your christian counsel ? out upon ye! The cordial that ye bring a wretched lady? Still met the king? lov'd him next heaven? obey'd him? Been, out of fondness, superstitious to him? Q. Kath. My lord, I dare not make myself so guilty To give up willingly that noble title Your master wed me to nothing but death Wol. Pray, hear me. Q. Kath. Would I had never trod this English earth, Or felt the flatteries that grow upon it! Wol. your If your grace Upon what cause, wrong you? alas! our places, Cam. Madam, you'll find it so. You wrong your virtues With these weak women's fears. A noble spirit, As yours was put into you, ever casts Such doubts, as false coin, from it. The king loves you; Beware you lose it not; For us, if you please To trust us in your business, we are ready To use our utmost studies in your service. SCENE.-Antechamber to the King's Apartment. Enter the Duke of NORFOLK, the Duke of SUFFOLK, the Earl of SURREY, and the Lord Chamberlain. Sur. Nor. If you will now unite in your complaints, And force them with a constancy, the cardinal Cannot stand under them: if you omit The offer of this time, I cannot promise But that you shall sustain more new disgraces, With these you bear already. I am joyful To meet the least occasion, that may give me Remembrance of my father-in-law, the duke, To be reveng'd on him. Suf. Which of the peers Have uncontemn'd gone by him, or at least Strangely neglected? when did he regard The stamp of nobleness in any person, Out of himself? Cham. My lords, you speak your pleasures: What he deserves of you and me I know; What we can do to him (though now the time Gives way to us), I much fear. If you cannot Bar his access to the king, never attempt Anything on him: for he hath a witchcraft Over the king in his tongue. Nor. O, fear him not; His spell in that is out: the king hath found Sur. Sir, I should be glad to hear such news as this Nor. How came And hedges, his own way. But in this point Q. Kath. Do what ye will, my lords: And, pray, All his tricks founder, and he brings his physic forgive me, If I have us'd myself unmannerly; You know, I am a woman, lacking wit To make a seemly answer to such persons. He has my heart yet; and shall have my prayers, While I shall have my life. Come, reverend fathers, Bestow your counsels on me; she now begs, [Exeunt. |