They have sent me such a man I would have wish'd for. Cam. Your grace must needs deserve all strangers' loves, You are so noble: To your highness' hand I tender my commission; by whose virtue, K. Hen. Two equal men. The queen shall be acquainted Forthwith, for what you come:-Where's Gardiner? 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, 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 For ever by your grace, whose hand has rais'd me. K. Hen. Come hither, Gardiner. [Aside. [They converse apart. Cam. My lord of York, was not one doctor Pace In this man's place before him? 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 envied him ; And fearing he would rise, he was so virtuous, Kept him a foreign man* still; which so griev'd him, That he ran mad, and died. Wol. Heaven's peace be with him! That's christian care enough: for living murmurers, There's places of rebuke. He was a fool; For he would needs be virtuous: That good fellow, If I command him, follows my appointment; I will have none so near else. Learn this, brother, We live not to be grip'd by meaner persons. K. Hen. Deliver this with modesty to the queen. [Exit Gardiner. The most convenient place that I can think of, So sweet a bed fellow? But, conscience, conscience,- [Exeunt. SCENE III. An ante-chamber in the Queen's apartments. Enter Aune 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 Out of the king's presence. Still growing in a majesty and pomp,-the which Would move a monster. Old L. Melt and lament for her. Hearts of most hard temper O, God's will! much better, Anne. She ne'er had known pomp: though it be temporal, Yet, if that quarrelt, fortune, do divorce It from the bearer, 'tis a sufferance, panging As soul and body's severing. Old L. She's a stranger now again. Anne. Alas, poor lady! So much the more Must pity drop upon her. Verily, Old L. Is our best having §. Anne. Our content 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, Which, to say sooth ||, are blessings and which gifts (Saving your mincing) the capacity Of your soft cheveril conscience would receive, If you might please to stretch it. Anne. * A sentence of ejection. + Quarreller. § Possession. Old L. Yes, troth, aud troth-You would not be a queen? Anne. No, not for all the riches under heaven. Old L. 'Tis strange; a three-pence bow'd would hire me, Old as I am, to queen it: But, I pray you, 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, 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 No more to the crown but that. Lo, who comes here? Enter the Lord Chamberlain. 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: Cham. It was a gentle business, and becoming All will be well. Anne. Now I pray God, amen! Cham. You bear a gentle mind, and heavenly blessings • Crook'd. Follow such creatures. That you may, fair lady, Anne. I do not know, What kind of my obedience I should tender; More than my all, is nothing: nor my prayers Are not words duly hallow'd, nor my wishes More worth than empty vanities; yet prayers, and wishes, Are all I can return. 'Beseech your lordship, Vouchsafe to speak my thanks, and my obedience, As froma blushing handmaid, to his highness; Whose health, and royalty, I pray for. Cham. Lady, Beauty and honour in her are so mingled, [Aside. That they have caught the king: and who knows yet, But from this lady may proceed a gem, To lighten all this isle?-I'll to the king, Anne. My honour'd lord. [Exit Lord Chamberlain. Old L. Why, this it is; see, see! I have been begging sixteen years in court, This compell'd fortune!) have your mouth fill'd up, • Opinion. |