You'd venture an emballing': I myself Enter the Lord Chamberlain, 5 Old L. How tastes it? is it bitter? forty pence, Cham. Good morrow, ladies. What were't There was a lady once, ('tis an old story) worth, to know The secret of your conference? Anne. My good lord, Not your demand; it values not your asking; 10 Anne. Now I pray God, Amen! [blessings 15 Anne. I do not know, What kind of my obedience I should tender; and wishes, Are all I can return. 'Beseech your lordship, Cham. Lady, I shall not fail to approve the fair conceit yet, But from this lady may proceed a gem, And say, I spoke with you, Anne. My honour'd ford. [Exit Lord Chamber- I have been begging sixteen years in court, (Am yet a courtier beggarly) nor could Come pat betwixt too early and too late, For any suit of pounds; and you, (O, fate!) 20 That would not be a queen, that would she not, Old L. With your theme, I could broke! A thousand pounds a year! for pure respect; That promises more thousands: honour's train Make yourself mirth with your particular fancy, The queen is comfortless, and we forgetful 30 35 40 [lain. 45 SCENE IV. [Exeunt. A Hall in Black-Fryars. Trumpets, Sennet, und Cornets. Enter two Vergers, with short Silver Wands; next them, two Scribes, in the hahits of Doctors; after them, the Archbishop of Canterbury alone; after him, the Bishops of Lincoln, Ely, Rochester, and 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 bareheaded, accompanied with a Serjeant at Arms, bearing a Silver Mace; then two Gentlemen, bearing two great Silver Pillars; after them, side by side, the two Cardinals; two Noblemen with the Sword and Mace. The King takes place under the Cloth of State; the two Cardinals sit under him, as Judges. The Queen takes place some distance from the King. The Bishops place themselves on each side the Court, in manner of a Consistory; beloty them, the Scribes. The Lords sit next the 1 The meaning, according to Dr. Johnson, is, "You would venture to be distinguished by the ball, the ensign of royalty." Mr. Tollet, however, says, "Dr. Johnson's explanation cannot be right, because a queen-consort, such as Anne Bullen was, is not distinguished by the ball, the ensign 2 From this and many other of royalty, nor has the poet expressed that she was so distinguished." artful strokes of address, the poet has thrown in upon queen Elizabeth and her mother, it should seem, that this play was written and performed in his royal mistress's time: if so, some lines were added 3 Mr. Steevens on this by him in the last scene, after the accession of her successor, king James. 4 passage remarks, "Forty pence was in those days the proverbial expression of a small wager, or a small sum. Money was then reckoned by pounds, marks, and nobles. Forty pence is half a noble, or the sixth part of a pound. Forty pence, or three and four pence, still remains in many offices the legal and established fee." Dr. Burney in his General Hist ry of Music conjectures, that sennet may mean a flourish for the purpose of assembling chiefs, or apprizing the people of their approach. Mr. Steevens 5 Pillars adds, that he has been informed that seneste is the name of an antiquated French tune. were some of the ensigns of dignity carried before cardinals. Wolsey had two great silver pillars usually borne before him by two of the tallest priests that he could get within the realm. This remarkable piece of pageantry did not escape the notice of Shakspeare. Bishops. Bishops. The rest of Attendants stand in convenient order about the Stage. Wol. Whilst our commission from Rome is read, Let silence be commanded. King. What's the need? It hath already publicly been read, And on all sides the authority allow'd; You may then spare that time. Wol. Be't so:-Proceed. 5 Beseech you, sir, to spare me, 'till I may Wol. You have here, lady, (And of your choice) these reverend fathers; men Yea, the elect of the land, who are assembled Scribe. Say, Henry king of England, come into 10 That longer you defer the court; as well the court. Crier. Katharine, 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.] For your own quiet, as to rectify Cam. His grace Hath spoken well, and justly: Therefore, madam, 15 It's fit this royal session do proceed; And that, without delay, their arguments Wol. Your pleasure, madam? am about to weep; but, thinking that We are a queen, (or long have dream'd so) certain, The daughter of a king, my drops of tears 25 I'll turn to sparks of fire. Queen. Sir, I desire you, do me right and justice; 20 Yea, subject to your countenance; glad, or sorry, 35 Wol. Be patient yet. [fore, Queen. I will, when you are humble; nay, he- Wol. I do profess, You speak not like yourself; who ever yet 40 Have stood to charity, and display'd the effects Of disposition gentle, and of wisdom [wrong: O'er-topping woman's power. Madam, you do me I have no spleen against you; nor injustice For you, or any: how far I have proceeded, 45 Or how far further shall, is warranted Or made it not mine too? Or which of your friends By a commission from the consistory, 2 Yea, the whole consistory of Rome. You charge Queen. My lord, my lord, I am a simple woman, much too weak Challenge is here a verbum juris, a law term, The criminal, when he refuses a juryman, says, I challenge him. 2 i, e. deny. Te To oppose your cunning. You are meek, and humble-mouth'd; You sign' your place and calling, in full seeming, [She curt'sies to the King, and offers to depart. King. Call her again. [the court. Crier. Katharine, queen of England, "come into Usher. Madam, you are call'd back. Queen. What need you note it? pray you, keep your way: When you are call'd, return.-Now the Lord help, [Exeunt Queen and her Attendants. King. Go thy ways, Kate: That man i' the world, who shall report he has Wol. Most gracious sir, 5 Or touch of her good person? King. My lord cardinal, I do excuse you; yea, upon mine honour, I free you from 't. You are not to be taught That you have many enemies, that know not Why they are so, but, like to village curs, Bark when their fellows do: by some of these The queen is put in anger. You are excus'd : But will you be more justified? you ever 10 Have wish'd the sleeping of this business; never Desir'd it to be stirr'd: but oft have hindred, oft The passages made toward it: on my honour, I speak my good lord cardinal to this point, And thus far clear him. Now, what mov'd me 15 to 't, I will be bold with time, and your attention: Then mark the inducement. Thus it came ;give heed to 't: My conscience first receiv'd a tenderness, 20 Scruple, and prick', on certain speeches utter'd By the bishop of Bayonne, then French ambassaWho had been hither sent on the debating [dor; A marriage, 'twixt the duke of Orleans and Our daughter Mary: I' the progress of this business, Ere a determinate resolution, he 25 (I mean the bishop) did require a respite; 40 The grave does to the dead: for her male-issue In humblest manner I require your highness, 1i. e. you shew or denote. 2 That is, Having now got power, you do not regard your word. 'i. e. if thy several qualities could speak thy praise. 4 The sense is, "I owe so much to my own innocence, as to clear up my character, though I do not expect my wrongers will do me justice." The king, having first addressed Wolsey, breaks off; and declares upon his honour to the whole court, that he speaks the cardinal's sentiments upon the point in question; and clears him from any attempt, or wish, to stir that business. i. e. prick of conscience, which was the term in con fession. 7 A ship is said to hull, when she is dismasted, and only her hull, or hulk, is left at the direction and mercy of the waves. How [Of my alledged reasons, drive this forward: Prove but our marriage lawful, by my life, And kingly dignity, we are contented To wear our mortal state to come, with her, 5 Katharine our queen, before the primest creatúre That's paragon'd o' the world. Cam. So please your highness, The queen being absent, 'tis a needful fitness That we adjourn this court to further day: 10Mean while must be an earnest motion Made to the queen, to call back her appeal She intends unto his holiness. [They rise to depart. King. I may perceive, These cardinals trifle with me: I abhor 15This dilatory sloth, and tricks of Rome. My lord of Canterbury; and got your leave My learn'd and well-beloved servant, Cranmer, Priythee, return! with thy approach, I know, My comfort comes along. Break up the court; I say, set on. [Exeunt in manner as they entered. Orpheus with his lute made trees, There had made a lasting spring. Hung their heads, and then lay by. Queen. How now? [dinals I Enter Wolsey and Campeius. Wol. Peace to your highness! [wife: Queen. Your graces find me here part of a housewould be all, against the worst may happen. What are your pleasures with me, reverend fords? Wol. May it please you, noble madam, to withdraw Into your private chamber, we shall give you The full cause of our coming. Queen. Speak it here; There's nothing I have done yet,o' my conscience, 40 Deserves a corner: Would, all other women Could speak this with as free a soul as I do! My lords, I care not, (so much I am happy Above a number) if my actions Were try'd by every tongue, every eye saw 'em, 45 Envy and base opinion set against 'em, 50 155 160 i. e. in the presence-chamber. I know my life so even: If your business Queen. O, good my lord, no Latin; I am not such a truant since my coming, Pray, speak in English: here are some will thank (And service to his majesty and you) Cam. Most honour'd madam, Upon my soul, two reverend cardinal virtues; 5 The cordial that ye bring a wretched lady? 10 My lord of York,-out of his noble nature, Queen. To betray me. [Aside. 25 My lords, I thank you both for your good wills, Your hopes and friends are infinite. Queen. In England, But little for my profit: Can you think, lords, sure, I have more charity: But say, I warn'd ye; once The burdens of my sorrows fall upon ye. Wol. Madam, this is a mere distraction; Queen. Yeturn me into nothing: Woe upon ye, And all such false professors! Would ye have ine (If you have any justice, any pity; If you be any thing but churchnien's habits) Cam. Your fears are worse. 30 Have I with all my full affections [him? (Though he be grown so desp'rate to be honest) 40| Cam. I would, your grace [tection; 45 Cam. Put your main cause into the king's pro- You'll part away disgrac'd. Wol. He tells you rightly. [ruin: aim at. Queen. My lord, I dare not make myself so Wol. Pray, hear me, [earth, Queen. 'Would I had never trod this English Or felt the flatteries that grow upon it! Ye have angels' faces, but heaven knows your hearts. 4 Queen. Ye tell me what ye wish for both, my 55 No friends, no hope; no kindred weep for me; 1i. e. for the sake of that royalty I have formerly possessed. To weigh out here implies the same as to outweigh. 3i. e. served him with superstitious attention. * A quibble, said to have been originally the quibble of a saint.-" England, a little island, where, as Saint Augustin saith, there be people with angels' faces, so the inhabitants have the courage and hearts of lyons." You'd |