King Henry VIII
ACT I SCENE IV | A Hall in York Place. | |
[ Hautboys. A small table under a state for CARDINAL WOLSEY, a longer table for the guests. Then enter ANNE and divers other Ladies and Gentlemen as guests, at one door; at another door, enter GUILDFORD ] | ||
GUILDFORD | Ladies, a general welcome from his grace | |
Salutes ye all; this night he dedicates | ||
To fair content and you: none here, he hopes, | ||
In all this noble bevy, has brought with her | ||
One care abroad; he would have all as merry | 5 | |
As, first, good company, good wine, good welcome, | ||
Can make good people. O, my lord, you’re tardy: | ||
[Enter Chamberlain, SANDS, and LOVELL] | ||
The very thought of this fair company | ||
Clapp’d wings to me. | ||
Chamberlain | You are young, Sir Harry Guildford. | 10 |
SANDS | Sir Thomas Lovell, had the cardinal | |
But half my lay thoughts in him, some of these | ||
Should find a running banquet ere they rested, | ||
I think would better please ’em: by my life, | ||
They are a sweet society of fair ones. | 15 | |
LOVELL | O, that your lordship were but now confessor | |
To one or two of these! | ||
SANDS | I would I were; | |
They should find easy penance. | ||
LOVELL | Faith, how easy? | 20 |
SANDS | As easy as a down-bed would afford it. | |
Chamberlain | Sweet ladies, will it please you sit? Sir Harry, | |
Place you that side; I’ll take the charge of this: | ||
His grace is entering. Nay, you must not freeze; | ||
Two women placed together makes cold weather: | 25 | |
My Lord Sands, you are one will keep ’em waking; | ||
Pray, sit between these ladies. | ||
SANDS | By my faith, | |
And thank your lordship. By your leave, sweet ladies: | ||
If I chance to talk a little wild, forgive me; | 30 | |
I had it from my father. | ||
ANNE | Was he mad, sir? | |
SANDS | O, very mad, exceeding mad, in love too: | |
But he would bite none; just as I do now, | ||
He would kiss you twenty with a breath. | 35 | |
[Kisses her] | ||
Chamberlain | Well said, my lord. | |
So, now you’re fairly seated. Gentlemen, | ||
The penance lies on you, if these fair ladies | ||
Pass away frowning. | ||
SANDS | For my little cure, | 40 |
Let me alone. | ||
[Hautboys. Enter CARDINAL WOLSEY, and takes his state] | ||
CARDINAL WOLSEY | You’re welcome, my fair guests: that noble lady, | |
Or gentleman, that is not freely merry, | ||
Is not my friend: this, to confirm my welcome; | ||
And to you all, good health. | 45 | |
[Drinks] | ||
SANDS | Your grace is noble: | |
Let me have such a bowl may hold my thanks, | ||
And save me so much talking. | ||
CARDINAL WOLSEY | My Lord Sands, | |
I am beholding to you: cheer your neighbours. | 50 | |
Ladies, you are not merry: gentlemen, | ||
Whose fault is this? | ||
SANDS | The red wine first must rise | |
In their fair cheeks, my lord; then we shall have ’em | ||
Talk us to silence. | 55 | |
ANNE | You are a merry gamester, | |
My Lord Sands. | ||
SANDS | Yes, if I make my play. | |
Here’s to your ladyship: and pledge it, madam, | ||
For ’tis to such a thing,– | 60 | |
ANNE | You cannot show me. | |
SANDS | I told your grace they would talk anon. | |
[Drum and trumpet, chambers discharged] | ||
CARDINAL WOLSEY | What’s that? | |
Chamberlain | Look out there, some of ye. | |
[Exit Servant] | ||
CARDINAL WOLSEY | What warlike voice, | 65 |
And to what end is this? Nay, ladies, fear not; | ||
By all the laws of war you’re privileged. | ||
[Re-enter Servant] | ||
Chamberlain | How now! what is’t? | |
Servant | A noble troop of strangers; | |
For so they seem: they’ve left their barge and landed; | 70 | |
And hither make, as great ambassadors | ||
From foreign princes. | ||
CARDINAL WOLSEY | Good lord chamberlain, | |
Go, give ’em welcome; you can speak the French tongue; | ||
And, pray, receive ’em nobly, and conduct ’em | 75 | |
Into our presence, where this heaven of beauty | ||
Shall shine at full upon them. Some attend him. | ||
[Exit Chamberlain, attended. All rise, and tables removed] | ||
You have now a broken banquet; but we’ll mend it. | ||
A good digestion to you all: and once more | ||
I shower a welcome on ye; welcome all. | 80 | |
[ Hautboys. Enter KING HENRY VIII and others, as masquers, habited like shepherds, ushered by the Chamberlain. They pass directly before CARDINAL WOLSEY, and gracefully salute him ] | ||
A noble company! what are their pleasures? | ||
Chamberlain | Because they speak no English, thus they pray’d | |
To tell your grace, that, having heard by fame | ||
Of this so noble and so fair assembly | ||
This night to meet here, they could do no less | 85 | |
Out of the great respect they bear to beauty, | ||
But leave their flocks; and, under your fair conduct, | ||
Crave leave to view these ladies and entreat | ||
An hour of revels with ’em. | ||
CARDINAL WOLSEY | Say, lord chamberlain, | 90 |
They have done my poor house grace; for which I pay ’em | ||
A thousand thanks, and pray ’em take their pleasures. | ||
[ They choose Ladies for the dance. KING HENRY VIII chooses ANNE ] | ||
KING HENRY VIII | The fairest hand I ever touch’d! O beauty, | |
Till now I never knew thee! | ||
[Music. Dance] | ||
CARDINAL WOLSEY | My lord! | 95 |
Chamberlain | Your grace? | |
CARDINAL WOLSEY | Pray, tell ’em thus much from me: | |
There should be one amongst ’em, by his person, | ||
More worthy this place than myself; to whom, | ||
If I but knew him, with my love and duty | 100 | |
I would surrender it. | ||
Chamberlain | I will, my lord. | |
[Whispers the Masquers] | ||
CARDINAL WOLSEY | What say they? | |
Chamberlain | Such a one, they all confess, | |
There is indeed; which they would have your grace | 105 | |
Find out, and he will take it. | ||
CARDINAL WOLSEY | Let me see, then. | |
By all your good leaves, gentlemen; here I’ll make | ||
My royal choice. | ||
KING HENRY VIII | Ye have found him, cardinal: | 110 |
[Unmasking] | ||
You hold a fair assembly; you do well, lord: | ||
You are a churchman, or, I’ll tell you, cardinal, | ||
I should judge now unhappily. | ||
CARDINAL WOLSEY | I am glad | |
Your grace is grown so pleasant. | 115 | |
KING HENRY VIII | My lord chamberlain, | |
Prithee, come hither: what fair lady’s that? | ||
Chamberlain | An’t please your grace, Sir Thomas Bullen’s daughter– | |
The Viscount Rochford,–one of her highness’ women. | ||
KING HENRY VIII | By heaven, she is a dainty one. Sweetheart, | 120 |
I were unmannerly, to take you out, | ||
And not to kiss you. A health, gentlemen! | ||
Let it go round. | ||
CARDINAL WOLSEY | Sir Thomas Lovell, is the banquet ready | |
I’ the privy chamber? | 125 | |
LOVELL | Yes, my lord. | |
CARDINAL WOLSEY | Your grace, | |
I fear, with dancing is a little heated. | ||
KING HENRY VIII | I fear, too much. | |
CARDINAL WOLSEY | There’s fresher air, my lord, | 130 |
In the next chamber. | ||
KING HENRY VIII | Lead in your ladies, every one: sweet partner, | |
I must not yet forsake you: let’s be merry: | ||
Good my lord cardinal, I have half a dozen healths | ||
To drink to these fair ladies, and a measure | 135 | |
To lead ’em once again; and then let’s dream | ||
Who’s best in favour. Let the music knock it. | ||
[Exeunt with trumpets] |
Continue to Henry VIII, Act 2, Scene 1