William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition (570 page)

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Authors: William Shakespeare

Tags: #Drama, #Literary Criticism, #Shakespeare

BOOK: William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition
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CARDINAL WOLSEY
Say, Lord Chamberlain,
They have done my poor house grace, for which I pay
’em
A thousand thanks, and pray ’em take their pleasures.
The masquers choose ladies. The King chooses Anne Boleyn
 
KING HENRY (
to Anne
)
The fairest hand I ever touched. O beauty,
Till now I never knew thee.
Music. They dance
 
CARDINAL WOLSEY
(to the Lord Chamberlain)
My lord.
LORD 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 I would surrender it.
LORD CHAMBERLAIN I will, my lord.
He whispers with the masquers
 
CARDINAL WOLSEY
What say they?
LORD CHAMBERLAIN Such a one they all confess
There is indeed, which they would have your grace
Find out, and he will take it.
CARDINAL WOLSEY
standing
Let me see then.
By all your good leaves, gentlemen, here I’ll make
My royal choice.
He bows before the King
 
KING HENRY
unmasking
Ye have found him, Cardinal.
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.
KING HENRY
My Lord Chamberlain,
Prithee come hither.
(
Gesturing towards Anne)
What fair lady’s that?
LORD CHAMBERLAIN
An’t please your grace, Sir Thomas Boleyn’s daughter—
The Viscount Rochford—one of her highness’ women.
KING HENRY
By heaven, she is a dainty one. (To Anne) Sweetheart,
I were unmannerly to take you out
And not to kiss you ⌈
kisses her
⌉. A health, gentlemen;
He drinks
 
Let it go round.
CARDINAL WOLSEY
Sir Thomas Lovell, is the banquet ready
I’th’ privy chamber?
LOVELL
Yes, my lord.
CARDINAL WOLSEY
(to the King)
Your grace
I fear with dancing is a little heated.
KING HENRY I fear too much.
CARDINAL WOLSEY There’s fresher air, my lord,
In the next chamber.
KING HENRY
 
Lead in your ladies, every one.
(To Anne)
Sweet partner,
I must not yet forsake you. (
To Wolsey
) Let’s be merry,
Good my lord Cardinal. I have half a dozen healths
To drink to these fair ladies, and a measure
To lead ’em once again, and then let’s dream
Who’s best in favour. Let the music knock it.
Exeunt with trumpets
 
2.1
Enter two Gentlemen, at several doors
 
FIRST GENTLEMAN
Whither away so fast?
SECOND GENTLEMAN
O, God save ye.
Ev’n to the hall to hear what shall become
Of the great Duke of Buckingham.
FIRST GENTLEMAN
I’ll save you
That labour, sir. All’s now done but the ceremony
Of bringing back the prisoner.
SECOND GENTLEMAN
Were you there?
FIRST GENTLEMAN
Yes, indeed was I.
SECOND GENTLEMAN
Pray speak what has happened.
FIRST GENTLEMAN
You may guess quickly what.
SECOND GENTLEMAN
Is he found guilty?
FIRST GENTLEMAN
Yes, truly is he, and condemned upon’t.
SECOND GENTLEMAN I am sorry for’t.
FIRST GENTLEMAN So are a number more.
SECOND GENTLEMAN But pray, how passed it?
FIRST GENTLEMAN
I’ll tell you in a little. The great Duke
Came to the bar, where to his accusations
He pleaded still not guilty, and allegèd
Many sharp reasons to defeat the law.
The King’s attorney, on the contrary,
Urged on the examinations, proofs, confessions,
Of divers witnesses, which the Duke desired
To him brought
viva voce
to his face—
At which appeared against him his surveyor,
Sir Gilbert Perk his chancellor, and John Car,
Confessor to him, with that devil-monk,
Hopkins, that made this mischief.
SECOND GENTLEMAN
That was he
That fed him with his prophecies.
FIRST GENTLEMAN
The same.
All these accused him strongly, which he fain
Would have flung from him, but indeed he could not.
And so his peers, upon this evidence,
Have found him guilty of high treason. Much
He spoke, and learnedly, for life, but all
Was either pitied in him or forgotten.

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