I love him not, nor fear him; there's my creed: If the king please; his curses and his blessings Nor. Let's in ; And, with some other business, put the king From these sad thoughts, that work too much upon him: -My lord, you'll bear us company? Cham. Excuse me ; The king hath sent me other-where besides You'll find a most unfit time to disturb him: Health to your lordships. Nor. Thanks, my good lord chamberlain. [Exit Lord Chamberlain, NORFOLK opens a folding-door. The King is discovered sitting, and reading pensively. Suf. How sad he looks! sure, he is much afflicted. Nor. 'Pray God, he be not angry. K.Hen. Who's there, I say? How dare you thrust yourselves Into my private meditations? Who am I? ha? Nor. A gracious king, that pardons all offences Malice ne'er meant: Our breach of duty, this way, Is business of estate; in which, we come To know your royal pleasure. K.Hen. You are too bold; Go to; I'll make ye know your times of business : Enter WOLSEY and CAMPEIUS. Who's there? my good lord cardinal?-O my Wolsey, The quiet of my wounded conscience, Thou art a cure fit for a king.-You're welcome, [To CAMPEIUS. Most learned reverend sir, into our kingdom; Use us, and it :-My good lord, have great care I be not found a talker.9 [TO WOLSEY. Wol. Sir, you cannot. [9] I take the meaning to be, Let care be taken that my promise be performed, that my professions of welcome be not found empty talk. JOHNS. I would, your grace would give us but an hour Of private conference. K.Hen. We are busy; go. [To NORF. and SUF. Nor. This priest has no pride in him? I would not be so sick though, for his place :' But this cannot continue. Nor. If it do, I'll venture one heave at him. Suf. I another. Aside. [Exeunt NORF. and SUF. Wol. Your grace has given a precedent of wisdom Above all princes, in committing freely Your scruple to the voice of Christendom : Who can be angry now? what envy reach you? All the clerks, I mean, the learned ones, in christian kingdoms, One general tongue unto us, this good man, This just and learned priest, cardinal Campeius; K.Hen.And, once more, in mine arms I bid him welcome, And thank the holy conclave for their loves; They have sent me such a man I would have wish'd for. I tender my commission; by whose virtue,- K.Hen.Twoequal men. The queen shall be acquainted A woman of less place might ask by law, K.Hen. Ay,and the best, she shall have; and my favour To him that does best; God forbid else. Cardinal, Pr'ythee, call Gardiner to me, my new secretary; I find him a fit fellow. [1] That is, so sick as he is proud. JOHNS. [Exit WOLSEY. MAL.. Re-enter WOLSEY, with GARDINER. Wol. Give me your hand: much joy and favour to you; You are the king's now. Gard. But to be commanded Forever by your grace, whose hand has rais'd me. [Aside. Wol. Yes, he was. Cam. Was he not held a learned man? Wol. Yes, surely. Cam. Believe me, there's an ill opinion spread then Even of yourself, lord cardinal. Wol. How! of me? Cam. They will not stick to say, you envy'd him ; And, fearing he would rise, he was so virtuous, Kept him a foreign man still ;3 which so griev'd him, That he run mad, and dy'd. Wol. Heaven's peace be with him! That's Christian care enough: for living murmurers, For he would needs be virtuous: That good fellow, I will have none so near else. Learn this, brother, K.Hen. Deliver this with modesty to the queen. The most convenient place that I can think of, So sweet a bed-fellow? But, conscience, conscience,- SCENE III.. [Exeunt. An Ante-chamber in the Queen's Apartments. Enter ANNE BULLEN, and an old Lady. Anne. Not for that neither ;-Here's the pang that pinches : His highness having liv'd so long with her; and she Pronounce dishonour of her,-by my life, 3) Kept him out of the king's presence, employed in foreign embassies, 4* VOL. VI. JOHNS. She never knew harm-doing ;-O now, after Still growing in a majesty and pomp,-the which Would move a monster. Old L. Hearts of most hard temper Melt and lament for her. Anne. O, God's will! much better, She ne'er had known pomp: though it be temporal, It from the bearer, it is a sufferance, panging Old L. Alas, poor lady! Must pity drop upon her. Verily, I swear, 'tis better to be lowly born, Old L. Our content Is our best having.7 Anne. By my troth, and maidenhead, I would not be a queen. Old L. Beshrew me, I would, And venture maidenhead for't; and so would you, You, that have so fair parts of woman on you, Affected eminence, wealth, sovereignty; Which, to say sooth, are blessings: and which gifts (Saving your mincing) the capacity 8 Of your soft cheveril conscience would receive, 3 Anne. Nay, good troth, Old L. Yes,troth, and troth,-You would not be a queen? [4] To send her away contemptuously: to pronounce against her a sentence of ejection. JOHNS. [5] She calls Fortune a quarrel or arrow, from her striking so deep and suddenly. Quarrel was a large arrow so called. Thus Fairfax: -twang'd the string, out few the quarrel long." WARB. [6] Again an alien; not only no longer queen, but no longer an English woman. JOHNS. 17] That is, our best possession. In Spanish, hazienda, [8] Cheveril-is kid-skin, soft leather, JOHNS JOHNS. Anne. No, not for all the riches under heaven. Old L.'Tis strange; a three-pence bowed would hire me, Old as I am, to queen it: But, I pray you, What think you of a duchess? have you limbs To bear that load of title ? Anne. No, in truth. Old L. Then you are weakly made: Pluck off a little; I would not be a young count in your way, For more than blushing comes to: if your back Anne. How you do talk! I swear again, I would not be a queen Old L. In faith, for little England You'd venture an emballing: I myself Would for Carnarvonshire, although there 'long'd Cham.Good morrow, ladies. What wer't worth to know. The secret of your conference? Anne. My good lord, Not your demand; it values not your asking : Our mistress' sorrows we were pitying. Cham. It was a gentle business, and becoming The action of good women: there is hope, All will be well. Anne. Now I pray God, amen! Cham. You bear a gentle mind, and heavenly blessings Follow such creatures. That you may, fair lady, Perceive I speak sincerely, and high note's Ta'en of your many virtues, the king's majesty and Does purpose honour to you no less flowing Anne. I do not know, What kind of my obedience I should tender; More worth than empty vanities; yet prayers, and wishes, Are all I can return. 'Beseech your lordship, |