The willing'st sin I ever yet committed, Wol. Noble lady, You have too much, good lady; but to know Cam. His service and his counsel. Q. Kath. To betray me. [Aside. My lords, I thank you both for your good wills. Ye speak like honest men, (pray God, ye prove so!) But how to make you suddenly an answer, In such a point of weight, so near mine honor, (More near my life I fear,) with my weak wit, And to such men of gravity and learning, In truth, I know not. I was set at work Among my maids, full little, God knows, looking Either for such men, or such business. For her sake that I have been, (for I feel The last fit of my greatness,) good your graces, Let me have time, and counsel, for my cause. Alas! I am a woman, friendless, hopeless. 1 This line stands so awkwardly, and out of its place, that Mr. Edwards proposes to transpose it thus: "I am sorry my integrity should breed VOL. V. So deep suspicion, where all faith was meant, And service to his majesty and you." 24 Wol. Madam, you wrong the king's love with these fears; Your hopes and friends are infinite. Q. Kath. Or be a known friend, 'gainst his highness' pleasure, I would your grace Cam. How, sir? Cam. Put your main cause into the king's protection; He's loving, and most gracious; 'twill be much Both for your honor better, and your cause; For if the trial of the law o'ertake you, You'll part away disgraced. He tells you rightly. Q. Kath. Ye tell me what ye Is this your Christian counsel? wish for both, my ruin. Heaven is above all yet; there sits a Judge, Cam. Your rage mistakes us. Q. Kath. The more shame for ye; holy men I thought ye, Upon my soul, two reverend cardinal virtues; But cardinal sins, and hollow hearts, I fear ye. Mend them for shame, my lords. Is this your comfort? The cordial that ye bring a wretched lady? A woman lost among ye, laughed at, scorned? I will not wish ye half my miseries; I have more charity. But say, I warned ye; Take heed, for Heaven's sake, take heed, lest at once The burden of my sorrows fall upon ye. 1 Massinger uses the phrase weigh up, for raise; and Mason proposes to substitute it for weigh out here. Perhaps it is equivalent to outweigh. Wol. Madam, this is a mere distraction; You turn the good we offer into envy. Q. Kath. Ye turn me into nothing. Woe upon ye, And all such false professors! Would Would ye have me (If you have any justice, any pity, If ye be any thing but churchmen's habits) His love too long ago. I am old, my lords, And all the fellowship I hold now with him, Is only my obedience. What can happen To me, above this wretchedness? All your studies Make me a curse like this. Cam. Your fears are worse. Q. Kath. Have I lived thus long-(let me speak myself, Since virtue finds no friends)-a wife, a true one? Have I with all my full affections Still met the king? loved him next Heaven? obeyed him? Wol. Madam, you wander from the good we aim at. Q. Kath. My lord, I dare not make myself so guilty, To give up willingly that noble title Your master wed me to: nothing but death Shall e'er divorce my dignities. Wol. 'Pray, hear me. Q. Kath. 'Would I had never trod this English earth, Or felt the flatteries that grow upon it! Ye have angels' faces, but Heaven knows your hearts. What will become of me now, wretched lady? 1 Served him with superstitious attention. I am the most unhappy woman living.- Wol. We are to cure such sorrows, not to sow them. How you may hurt yourself, ay, utterly Grow from the king's acquaintance, by this carriage. So much they love it; but to stubborn spirits, A soul as even as a calm. Pray, think us Those we profess, peace-makers, friends, and servants. Cam. Madam, you'll find it so. virtues You wrong your With these weak women's fears. A noble spirit, As yours was put into you, ever casts Such doubts, as false coin, from it. The king loves you; Beware you lose it not. For us, if you please To trust us in your business, we are ready To use our utmost studies in your service. Q. Kath. Do what ye will, my lords. And, pray, forgive me, If I have used1 myself unmannerly; You know I am a woman, lacking wit To make a seemly answer to such persons. Pray, do my service to his majesty. He has my heart yet; and shall have my prayers, 1 Behaved. While I shall have my life. Come, reverend fathers, [Exeunt. SCENE II. Antechamber to the King's Apartment. Enter the DUKE of NORFOLK, the DUKE of Suffolk, the EARL of SURREY, and the Lord Chamberlain. Nor. If you will now unite in your complaints, Sur. Which of the peers Suf. Out of himself? Cham. My lord, you speak your pleasures. What he deserves of you and me, I know; What we can do to him, (though now the time Gives way to us,) I much fear. If you cannot Bar his access to the king, never attempt Any thing on him; for he hath a witchcraft Over the king in his tongue. O, fear him not; Nor. The honey of his language. No, he's settled, Sur. Sir, |