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