SCENE II.—The German Court, a Room in the Castle.
Enter the Queen and an Attendant.
Att. This way, Your Majesty.
Queen. You speak me, majesty. I am no Queen,
The lowest woman in this mighty realm,
Reigning in some humble herdsman’s heart,
Might top my queenship. O Henry, Henry,
What is there in my face, my form, my spirit,
That you should scorn me? Hath my essence changed,
Since by the holy altar facing Heaven
We plighted wedding troth; to less and less,
That you should hate me?
(Enter Bishop of Bamburg.) My Lord Bishop! (Kneels.)
Bam. (Lifting her.) Nay, humble not thy lonely majesty,
Thy stately womanliness, most noble Margaret,
By such poor acts.
Queen. O, Bamburg, be my angel, my good guide,
Leading me by roads to Henry’s favour.
Bring back his heart to its one-time allegiance,
And make earth’s springtime laugh for me once more.
Bam. Nought in all my bishopric hath grieved me
Like this strange act of Henry’s. I have spoke him
Happily in all save only this.
Patience, my Lady, patience, look to Heaven.
Perchance some day he’ll know thy noble heart.
Queen. O, Bamburg, as the queen of this great realm,
More sacred, as the mother of his child,
I beg you get me audience. Did I plead,
His heart might soften.
Bam. Madam, thy wishes are to me commands,
I fear me much the issue in his mood,
But be my head the penalty, I will bring
You to him.
[Exit both.
[Curtain.