A thousand pound a year, annual support,
Out of his grace he adds.
You have a gentle mind, and heavenly blessings
come to such creatures. So that you, fair Lady,
may see that I speak sincerely, and that your many virtues
have been noticed by the highest, his Majesty the King
asks me to convey his good opinion of you, and
intends to honour you with no lesser title than
Marchioness of Pembroke: and from his kindness
he adds to the title a pension of a thousand pounds a year.
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 from a blushing handmaid, to his highness;
Whose health and royalty I pray for.
I do not know
how I should reply to this; everything I have is not enough: and my prayers
are not holy enough, and my wishes
are not worth more than empty trinkets; but prayers and wishes
are all I can give in return. I beg your Lordship,
be so kind as to give my thanks and my obedience,
as from a blushing handmaiden, to his Highness;
I pray for his health and his position.
Chamberlain
Lady,
I shall not fail to approve the fair conceit
The king hath of you.
Aside
I have perused her well;
Beauty and honour in her are so mingled
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,
And say I spoke with you.
Lady,
I won't fail to confirm the good opinion
the King has of you.
[Aside]
I have examined her well;
duty and honour are so mixed in her
that they have attracted the King: and who can tell
that this lady might not produce a gem
to brighten this whole island?
I'll go to the King,
and say I spoke with you.
Exit Chamberlain
ANNE
My honour'd lord.
My honoured Lord.
Old Lady
Why, this it is; see, see!
I have been begging sixteen years in court,
Am yet a courtier beggarly, nor could
Come pat betwixt too early and too late
For any suit of pounds; and you, O fate!
A very fresh-fish here--fie, fie, fie upon
This compell'd fortune!--have your mouth fill'd up
Before you open it.
Why this is it, see, see!
I have been begging in court for sixteen years,
and I'm still a begging courtier, and there's
nowhere at all that I could ever
get any sort of pension; and you, oh Fate!
An absolute greenhorn here–damnation to this
Fortune!–are given an absolute fortune
before you've even asked for it.
ANNE
This is strange to me.
This is strange to me.
Old Lady
How tastes it? is it bitter? forty pence, no.
There was a lady once, 'tis an old story,
That would not be a queen, that would she not,
For all the mud in Egypt: have you heard it?
How does it taste? Is it bitter? I'll bet forty pence it's not.
There was a lady once, it's an old story,
who said she wouldn't be Queen, that she wouldn't
for all the mud in Egypt: have you heard it?
ANNE
Come, you are pleasant.
Come, you are joking.
Old Lady
With your theme, I could
O'ermount the lark. The Marchioness of Pembroke!
A thousand pounds a year for pure respect!
No other obligation! By my life,
That promises moe thousands: honour's train
Is longer than his foreskirt. By this time
I know your back will bear a duchess: say,
Are you not stronger than you were?
If I had your reason to, I could
sing louder than the lark. The Marchioness of Pembroke!
A thousand pounds a year for nothing!
No job to do! I swear,
that promises more thousands: honour increases
as time goes on. I think this shows
that you could bear the title of Duchess: tell me,
aren't you stronger than you were before?
ANNE
Good lady,
Make yourself mirth with your particular fancy,
And leave me out on't. Would I had no being,
If this salute my blood a jot: it faints me,
To think what follows.
The queen is comfortless, and we forgetful
In our long absence: pray, do not deliver
What here you've heard to her.
Good lady,
amuse yourself with your strange fantasies,
and leave me out of it. I would wish myself dead
if this gave me any pleasure: it makes me faint,
to think of what will follow.
The Queen has no one to comfort her, and we are being forgetful
by being absent for so long: please, do not tell her
what you have heard here.
Old Lady
What do you think me?
Who do you think I am?
Exeunt
Trumpets, sennet, and cornets. Enter two Vergers, with short silver wands; next them, two Scribes, in the habit of doctors; after them, CANTERBURY alone; after him, LINCOLN, Ely, Rochester, and Saint Asaph; next them, with some small distance, follows a Gentleman bearing the purse, with the great seal, and a cardinal's hat; then two Priests, bearing each a silver cross; then a Gentleman-usher bare-headed, accompanied with a Sergeant-at-arms bearing a silver mace; then two Gentlemen bearing two great silver pillars; after them, side by side, CARDINAL WOLSEY and CARDINAL CAMPEIUS; two Noblemen with the sword and mace. KING HENRY VIII takes place under the cloth of state; CARDINAL WOLSEY and CARDINAL CAMPEIUS sit under him as judges. QUEEN KATHARINE takes place some distance from KING HENRY VIII. The Bishops place themselves on each side the court, in manner of a consistory; below them, the Scribes. The Lords sit next the Bishops. The rest of the Attendants stand in convenient order about the stage.
CARDINAL WOLSEY
Whilst our commission from Rome is read,
Let silence be commanded.
Let there be silence
while our orders from Rome are read.
KING HENRY VIII
What's the need?
It hath already publicly been read,
And on all sides the authority allow'd;
You may, then, spare that time.
What need is there?
They have already been read out publicly,
and everybody has agreed to their authority;
you can save that trouble.
CARDINAL WOLSEY
Be't so. Proceed.
So be it. Carry on.
Scribe
Say, Henry King of England, come into the court.
Henry King of England, come into the court.
Crier
Henry King of England, & c.
Henry King of England!
KING HENRY VIII
Here.
I am here.
Scribe
Say, Katharine Queen of England, come into the c
ourt.
Katherine, Queen of England, come in to the court!
Crier
Katharine Queen of England, & c.
Katherine Queen of England!
QUEEN KATHARINE makes no answer, rises out of her chair, goes about the court, comes to KING HENRY VIII, and kneels at his feet; then speaks
QUEEN KATHARINE
Sir, I desire you do me right and justice;
And to bestow your pity on me: for
I am a most poor woman, and a stranger,
Born out of your dominions; having here
No judge indifferent, nor no more assurance
Of equal friendship and proceeding. Alas, sir,
In what have I offended you? what cause
Hath my behavior given to your displeasure,
That thus you should proceed to put me off,
And take your good grace from me? Heaven witness,
I have been to you a true and humble wife,
At all times to your will conformable;
Ever in fear to kindle your dislike,
Yea, subject to your countenance, glad or sorry
As I saw it inclined: when was the hour
I ever contradicted your desire,
Or made it not mine too? Or which of your friends
Have I not strove to love, although I knew
He were mine enemy? what friend of mine
That had to him derived your anger, did I
Continue in my liking? nay, gave notice
He was from thence discharged. Sir, call to mind
That I have been your wife, in this obedience,
Upward of twenty years, and have been blest
With many children by you: if, in the course
And process of this time, you can report,
And prove it too, against mine honour aught,
My bond to wedlock, or my love and duty,
Against your sacred person, in God's name,
Turn me away; and let the foul'st contempt
Shut door upon me, and so give me up
To the sharp'st kind of justice. Please you sir,
The king, your father, was reputed for
A prince most prudent, of an excellent
And unmatch'd wit and judgment: Ferdinand,
My father, king of Spain, was reckon'd one
The wisest prince that there had reign'd by many
A year before: it is not to be question'd
That they had gather'd a wise council to them
Of every realm, that did debate this business,
Who deem'd our marriage lawful: wherefore I humbly
Beseech you, sir, to spare me, till I may
Be by my friends in Spain advised; whose counsel
I will implore: if not, i' the name of God,
Your pleasure be fulfill'd!
Sir, I ask you to give me my rights and justice, and to give me your pity; for
I am a very poor woman, and a foreigner,
born outside your kingdom: I do not have
an impartial judge here, nor any assurance
that I will be treated equally or with justice. Alas, Sir,
how have I offended you? What reason
has my behaviour given you to be displeased,
so that you take these steps to discard me
and take away your good grace from me? As heaven is my witness,
I have been a faithful and obedient wife to you,
always obeying your will,
always afraid to attract your dislike,
always following your moods, happy or sad
as I saw you. When did I ever
go against your wishes
or refuse to imitate you? Which of your friends
have I not tried to love, even if I knew
he was my enemy? What friend of mine
did I carry on liking if he had
annoyed you? When did I fail
to send him away? Sir, remember
that I have been your obedient wife
for more than twenty years, and have been blessed
with many children by you. If over
this period you can point to,
with proof, anything against my honour,
my marriage vows, or my love and duty
to your holy person; then in God’s name
turn me away, and let the foulest contempt
close the door upon me, and abandon me
to the harshest kind of justice. If you please, sir,
your father the King had a reputation as being
a very prudent prince, with excellent,
matchless intelligence and judgement: Ferdinand
my father, King of Spain, was thought to be
the wisest prince who had ruled there
for many years. It is beyond doubt
that they gathered a wise council around them
from every country, and they debated this business,
and agreed our marriage was lawful: and so I humbly
beg you sir to spare me until I may
be advised by my friends in Spain, whose advice
I will ask for. If not, may you to what you wish
in the name of God.
CARDINAL WOLSEY
You have here, lady,
And of your choice, these reverend fathers; men
Of singular integrity and learning,
Yea, the elect o' the land, who are assembled
To plead your cause: it shall be therefore bootless
That longer you desire the court; as well
For your own quiet, as to rectify
What is unsettled in the king.
You have here, Lady,
these respected priests of your choice; men
of unique integrity and learning,
the greatest in the land, who have gathered
to plead your cause: so it's pointless
to ask the court for more time; as much
for your own peace of mind, as to
settle the king's.
CARDINAL CAMPEIUS
His grace
Hath spoken well and justly: therefore, madam,
It's fit this royal session do proceed;
And that, without delay, their arguments
Be now produced and heard.
His Grace
has spoken well and fairly: therefore, madam,
it's right that this royal court should proceed;
and that, without delay, their arguments
should now be produced and heard.
QUEEN KATHARINE
Lord cardinal,
To you I speak.
Lord Cardinal,
I am addressing you.
CARDINAL WOLSEY
Your pleasure, madam?
What is it you wish, madam?
QUEEN KATHARINE
Sir,
I am about to weep; but, thinking that
We are a queen, or long have dream'd so, certain
The daughter of a king, my drops of tears
I'll turn to sparks of fire.
Sir,
I am about to weep; but, thinking that
I am a Queen, or I have certainly dreamt I am for a long time,
and certainly I am the daughter of the King, my teardrops
will turn into sparks of fire.
CARDINAL WOLSEY
Be patient yet.
Remain calm.
QUEEN KATHARINE
I will, when you are humble; nay, before,
Or God will punish me. I do believe,
Induced by potent circumstances, that
You are mine enemy, and make my challenge
You shall not be my judge: for it is you
Have blown this coal betwixt my lord and me;
Which God's dew quench! Therefore I say again,
I utterly abhor, yea, from my soul
Refuse you for my judge; whom, yet once more,
I hold my most malicious foe, and think not
At all a friend to truth.
I shall be, when you are humble; in fact before that,
or God will punish me. I believe,
due to strong evidence, that
you are my enemy, and I ask
that you should not be my judge: it is you
who has stirred up this storm between my lord and me;
may God's sweetness calm it! And so I say again,
I utterly refuse, from the depths of my soul,
to have you as my judge; someone whom, I say again,
I think is my most vicious enemy, and I do not think
a truthful one.
CARDINAL WOLSEY
I do profess
You speak not like yourself; who ever yet
Have stood to charity, and display'd the effects
Of disposition gentle, and of wisdom
O'ertopping woman's power. Madam, you do me wrong:
I have no spleen against you; nor injustice
For you or any: how far I have proceeded,
Or how far further shall, is warranted
By a commission from the consistory,
Yea, the whole consistory of Rome. You charge me
That I have blown this coal: I do deny it:
The king is present: if it be known to him
That I gainsay my deed, how may he wound,
And worthily, my falsehood! yea, as much
As you have done my truth. If he know
That I am free of your report, he knows
I am not of your wrong. Therefore in him
It lies to cure me: and the cure is, to
Remove these thoughts from you: the which before
His highness shall speak in, I do beseech
You, gracious madam, to unthink your speaking
And to say so no more.
I swear
that you are not yourself; you have always
been kind and shown the effects
of a gentle nature, and of wisdom
greater than most women. Madam, you wrong me:
I have no anger against you, and will be unjust
to nobody: what I have done,
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) Page 184
