When you are call'd, return. - Now the Lord help, They vex me past my patience!-pray you, pass on: I will not tarry: no, nor ever more,
Upon this business, my appearance make
In any of their courts.
[Exe. Queen, GRIFFITH, and her other Attendants. 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,)7 The queen of earthly queens :-She is noble born And, like her true nobility, she has Carried herself towards me.
In humblest manner I require your highness, That it shall please you to declare, in hearing Of all these ears, (for where I am robb'd and bound, There must I be unloos'd; although not there At once and fully satisfied,) whether ever I Did broach this business to your highness; or Laid any scruple in your way, which might Induce you to question on't? or ever
Have to you, but with thanks to God for such A royal lady, spake one the least word, might Be to the prejudice of her present state, Or touch of her good person?
K.Hen. 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 justify'd? you ever Have wish'd the sleeping of this business; never Desir'd it to be stirr'd; but oft have hinder'd; oft The passages made toward it :-on my honour,
[7] If thy several qualities had tongues to speak thy praise. JOHNS. [8] The sense, which is incumbered with words, is no more than this-I must be loosed, though when so loosed, I shall not be satisfied fully and at once; that is, I shall not be immediately satisfied. JOHNS.
I speak my good lord cardinal to this point, 9 And thus far clear him. Now, what mov'd me to't,- I will be bold with time, and your attention :-
Then mark the inducement. Thus it came;-give
My conscience first receiv'd a tenderness,
Scruple, and prick, on certain speeches utter'd By the bishop of Bayonne, then French ambassador; Who had been hither sent on the debating A marriage, 'twixt the duke of Orleans and
Our daughter Mary': I' the progress of this business,
Ere a determinate resolution,
(I mean, the bishop,) did require a respite; Wherein he might the king his lord advertise Whether our daughter were legitimate, Respecting this our marriage with the dowager, Sometime our brother's wife. This respite shook The bosom of my conscience, enter'd me, Yea, with a splitting power, and made to tremble The region of my breast; which forc'd such way, That many maz'd considerings did throng, And press'd in with this caution. First, methought, I stood not in the smile of heaven; who had Commanded nature, that my lady's womb, If not conceiv'd a male child by me, should Do no more offices of life to't, than The grave does to the dead: for her male issue Or died where they were made, or shortly after This world had air'd them: Hence I took a thought, This was a judgment on me; that my kingdom, Well worthy the best heir o'the world, should not Be gladded in't by me: Then follows, that I weigh'd the danger which my realms stood in By this my issue's fail; and that gave to me Many a groaning throe. Thus hulling in The wild sea of my conscience, 2 I did steer Toward this remedy, whereupon we are Now present here together; that's to say, I meant to rectify my conscience, which
[9] The king, having first addressed to 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 in that business. THEO.
[1] Prick of conscience was the term in confession. JOHNS.
[2] The phrase belongs to navigation. A ship is said to hull when she is dismasted, and only her hull, or hutk, is left at the direction and mercy of the waves. STÉEV.
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I then did feel full sick, and yet not well,-
By all the reverend fathers of the land,
And doctors learn'd.-First, I began in private With you, my lord of Lincoln ; you remember
How under my oppression I did reek,
When I first mov'd you.
Lin. Very well, my liege.
K.Hen. I have spoke long; be pleas'd yourself to say
How far you satisfied me.
Lin. So please your highness,
The question did at first so stagger me,- Bearing a state of mighty moment in't, And consequence nce of dread, -that I committed The daring'st counsel which I had, to doubt ; And did entreat your highness to this course, Which you are running here.
K.Hen. I then mov'd you,
My lord of Canterbury; and got your leave To make this present summons:- Unsolicited I left no reverend person in this court; But by particular consent proceeded, Under your hands and seals. Therefore, go on : For no dislike i'the world against the person Of the good queen, but the sharp thorny points Of my alleged 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, Katharine our queen, before the primest creature 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 till further day; Mean while must be an earnest motion
Made to the queen, to call back her appeal She intends unto his holiness.
K.Hen. I may perceive,
These cardinals trifle with me: abhor This dilatory sloth, and tricks of Rome. My learn'd and well-beloved servant, Cranmer, Pr'ythee, return! with thy approach, I know, My comfort comes along. Break up the court:
I say, set on. [Exeunt, in manner as they enter'd.
ACT III.
SCENE I-Palace at Bridewell. A Room in the Queen's Apartment. The Queen, and some of her Women, at work.
TAKE thy lute, wench: my soul grows sad with troubles; Sing, and disperse them, if thou canst: leave working.
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 been a lasting spring. Every thing that heard him play, Even the billows of the sea,
Hung their heads, and then lay by. In sweet music is such art; Killing care, and grief of heart, Fall asleep, or, hearing, die.
Enter a Gentleman.
Gen. An't please your grace, the two great cardinals
Wait in the presence.
Q. Kath. Would they speak with me ?
Gen. They will'd me say so, madam.
Q.Kath. Pray their graces
To come near. [Exit Gen.] What can be their business With me, a poor weak woman, fallen from favour?
I do not like their coming, now I think on't.
They should be good men; their affairs are righteous: 3 But all hoods make not monks.
Enter WOLSEY and CAMPEIUS.
Wol. Peace to your highness !
Q.Kath. Your graces find me here part of a housewife : I would be all, against the worst may happen. What are your pleasures with me, reverend lords? Wol. May it please you, noble madam, to withdraw Into your private chamber, we shall give you The full cause of our coming.
[3] Affairs means not their present errand, but the business of their calling. JOHNS.
There's nothing I have done yet, o' my conscience, 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 tried by every tongue, every eye saw them, Envy and base opinion set against them, 5 I know my life so even: If your business Seek me out, and that way I am wife in,6 Out with it boldly; Truth loves open dealing.
Wol. Tanta est erga te mentis integritas, regina se
Q.Kath. O, good my lord, no Latin;
I am not such a truant since my coming,
As not to know the language I have liv'd in :
A strange tongue makes my cause more strange, sus
Pray, speak in English: here are some will thank you, If you speak truth, for their poor mistress' sake; Believe me, she has had much wrong: Lord cardinal, The willing'st sin I ever yet committed, May be absolv'd in English.
I am sorry, my integrity should breed, (And service to his majesty and you,) So deep suspicion, where all faith was meant. We come not by the way of accusation, To taint that honour every good tongue blesses; Nor to betray you any way to sorrow; You have too much, good lady: but to know How you stand minded in the weighty difference Between the king and you; and to deliver, Like free and honest men, our just opinions, And comforts to your cause.
Cam. Most honour'd madam, My lord of York, -out of his noble nature, Zeal and obedience he still bore your grace; Forgetting, like a good man, your late censure Both of his truth and him, (which was too far,)-- Offers, as I do, in a sign of peace,
[5] I would be glad that my conduct were in some public trial confronted with mine enemies, that envy and corrupt judgment might try their utmost power against me.
JOHN'S. [6] That is, if you come to examine the title by which I am the king's wife; or if you come to know how I have behaved as a wife, JOHNS.
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