ACT I SCENE IV

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