The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 6 of 9]

Anne. Not for that neither: here's the pang that pinches:
His highness having lived so long with her, and she [336]
So good a lady that no tongue could ever
Pronounce dishonour of her—by my life,
She never knew harm-doing—O, now, after 5
So many courses of the sun enthroned,
Still growing in a majesty and pomp, the which [337][338]
To leave a thousand-fold more bitter than[337]
'Tis sweet at first to acquire—after this process,[337]
To give her the avaunt! it is a pity 10
Would move a monster.

Old L. Hearts of most hard temper
Melt and lament for her.

Anne. O, God's will! much better [339]
She ne'er had known pomp: though 't be temporal,
Yet, if that quarrel, fortune, do divorce [340]
It from the bearer, 'tis a sufferance panging 15
As soul and body's severing.

Old L. Alas, poor lady![341]
She's a stranger now again.[342]

Anne. So much the more
Must pity drop upon her. Verily,
I swear, 'tis better to be lowly born
And range with humble livers in content 20
Than to be perk'd up in a glistering grief
And wear a golden sorrow.

Old L. Our content
Is our best having.

Anne. 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, 25
For all this spice of your hypocrisy:
You, that have so fair parts of woman on you,
Have too a woman's heart; which ever yet
Affected eminence, wealth, sovereignty;
Which, to say sooth, are blessings; and which gifts— 30
Saving your mincing—the capacity
Of your soft cheveril conscience would receive,[343]
If you might please to stretch it.

Anne. Nay, good troth.[344]

Old L. Yes, troth, and troth; you would not be a queen?

Anne. No, not for all the riches under heaven. 35

Old L. 'Tis strange: a three-pence bow'd would hire me,[345]
Old as I am, to queen it: but, I pray you,
What think you of a duchess? have you limbs
To bear that load of title?

Anne. No, in truth.

Old L. Then you are weakly made: pluck off a little;[346] 40
I would not be a young count in your way,
For more than blushing comes to: if your back
Cannot vouchsafe this burthen, 'tis too weak
Ever to get a boy.

Anne. How you do talk![347]
I swear again, I would not be a queen 45
For all the world.

Old L. In faith, for little England
You'ld venture an emballing: I myself [348]
Would for Carnarvonshire, although there 'long'd [349]
No more to the crown but that. Lo, who comes here?

Cham. Good morrow, ladies. What were't worth to know 50
The secret of your conference?

Anne. My good lord,
Not your demand; it values not your asking:
Our mistress' sorrows we were pitying.

Cham. It was a gentle business, and becoming
The action of good women: there is hope 55
All will be well.

Anne. Now, I pray God, amen!

Cham. You bear a gentle mind, and heavenly blessings
Follow such creatures. That you may, fair lady,
Perceive I speak sincerely, and high note's [350]
Ta'en of your many virtues, the king's majesty 60
Commends his good opinion of you, and [351]
Does purpose honour to you no less flowing
Than Marchioness of Pembroke; to which title
A thousand pound a year, annual support,[352]
Out of his grace he adds.

Anne. I do not know 65
What kind of my obedience I should tender;[353]
More than my all is nothing: nor my prayers [354]
Are not words duly hallow'd, nor my wishes
More worth than empty vanities; yet prayers and wishes [355]
Are all I can return. Beseech your lordship, 70
Vouchsafe to speak my thanks and my obedience,
As from a blushing handmaid, to his highness,
Whose health and royalty I pray for.

Cham. Lady,
I shall not fail to approve the fair conceit [356]
The king hath of you. [Aside] I have perused her well;[357] 75
Beauty and honour in her are so mingled[357]
That they have caught the king: and who knows yet[357]
But from this lady may proceed a gem[357]
To lighten all this isle?—I'll to the king,[357]
And say I spoke with you.[357]

Anne. My honour'd lord. 80

Old L. Why, this it is; see, see!
I have been begging sixteen years in court,
Am yet a courtier beggarly, nor could [359]
Come pat betwixt too early and too late
For any suit of pounds; and you, O fate! 85
A very fresh fish here—fie, fie, fie upon [360]
This compell'd fortune!—have your mouth fill'd up
Before you open it.

Anne. This is strange to me.

Old L. How tastes it? is it bitter? forty pence, no.[361]
There was a lady once, 'tis an old story,[362] 90
That would not be a queen, that would she not,
For all the mud in Egypt: have you heard it?

Anne. Come, you are pleasant.

Old L. With your theme, I could
O'ermount the lark. The Marchioness of Pembroke!
A thousand pounds a year for pure respect! 95
No other obligation! By my life,[363]
That promises moe thousands: honour's train [364]
Is longer than his foreskirt. By this time
I know your back will bear a duchess: say,
Are you not stronger than you were?

Anne. Good lady, 100
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,[365]
To think what follows.
The queen is comfortless, and we forgetful 105
In our long absence: pray, do not deliver
What here you've heard to her.

Old L. What do you think me?[366]

Scene IV. A hall in Black-Friars.

Wol. Whilst our commission from Rome is read,
Let silence be commanded.

King. What's the need?
It hath already publicly been read,
And on all sides the authority allow'd;
You may then spare that time.

Wol. Be't so. Proceed. 5

Scribe. Say, Henry King of England, come into the
court.

Crier. Henry King of England, &c.

King. Here.

Scribe. Say, Katharine Queen of England, come into [368] 10
the court.[368]

Crier. Katharine Queen of England, &c.

[The Queen makes no answer, rises out of her chair, goes about the court, comes to the King, and kneels at his feet; then speaks.

Q. Kath. Sir, I desire you do me right and justice,[369]
And to bestow your pity on me; for
I am a most poor woman and a stranger, 15
Born out of your dominions; having here
No judge indifferent, nor no more assurance [370]
Of equal friendship and proceeding. Alas, sir,
In what have I offended you? what cause
Hath my behaviour given to your displeasure, 20
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,[371]
At all times to your will conformable,
Ever in fear to kindle your dislike, 25
Yea, subject to your countenance, glad or sorry
As I saw it inclined: when was the hour [372]
I ever contradicted your desire,
Or made it not mine too? Or which of your friends [373]
Have I not strove to love, although I knew 30
He were mine enemy? what friend of mine [374]
That had to him derived your anger, did I
Continue in my liking? nay, gave notice [375]
He was from thence discharged? Sir, call to mind [376]
That I have been your wife, in this obedience, 35
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,[377][378] 40
Against your sacred person, in God's name,[378]
Turn me away, and let the foul'st contempt [379]
Shut door upon me, and so give me up
To the sharp'st kind of justice. Please you, sir,[380]
The king, your father, was reputed for 45
A prince most prudent, of an excellent [381]
And unmatch'd wit and judgement: 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 50
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 [382][383]
Beseech you, sir, to spare me, till I may[383]
Be by my friends in Spain advised, whose counsel 55
I will implore: if not, i' the name of God,
Your pleasure be fulfill'd!

Wol. 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 60
To plead your cause: it shall be therefore bootless
That longer you desire the court, as well [384]
For your own quiet, as to rectify
What is unsettled in the king.

Cam. His grace
Hath spoken well and justly: therefore, madam, 65
It's fit this royal session do proceed,
And that without delay their arguments
Be now produced and heard.

Q. Kath. Lord cardinal,[385]
To you I speak.[385]

Wol. Your pleasure, madam?

Q. Kath. Sir,[386][387]
I am about to weep; but, thinking that[386] 70
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.

Wol. Be patient yet.[388]

Q. Kath. I will, when you are humble; nay, before,
Or God will punish me. I do believe,[389] 75
Induced by potent circumstances, that
You are mine enemy, and make my challenge [390]
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, 80
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.

Wol. I do profess
You speak not like yourself; who ever yet 85
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:[391]
I have no spleen against you, nor injustice
For you or any: how far I have proceeded,[392] 90
Or how far further shall, is warranted [393]
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 [394] 95
That I gainsay my deed, how may he wound,[395]
And worthily, my falsehood! yea, as much
As you have done my truth. If he know [396]
That I am free of your report, he knows
I am not of your wrong. Therefore in him 100
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.[397]

Q. Kath. My lord, my lord, 105
I am a simple woman, much too weak
To oppose your cunning. You're meek and humble-mouth'd;[398]
You sign your place and calling, in full seeming,
With meekness and humility; but your heart
Is cramm'd with arrogancy, spleen, and pride.[399] 110
You have, by fortune and his highness' favours,[400]
Gone slightly o'er low steps and now are mounted [401]
Where powers are your retainers, and your words,[402]
Domestics to you, serve your will as't please
Yourself pronounce their office. I must tell you, 115
You tender more your person's honour than
Your high profession spiritual; that again
I do refuse you for my judge, and here,
Before you all, appeal unto the pope,
To bring my whole cause 'fore his holiness, 120
And to be judged by him.

Cam. The queen is obstinate,
Stubborn to justice, apt to accuse it and
Disdainful to be tried by't: 'tis not well.
She's going away.

King. Call her again. 125

Crier. Katharine Queen of England, come into the court.

Gent. Ush. Madam, you are call'd back.[403]

Q. Kath. What need you note it? pray you, keep your way:
When you are call'd, return. Now the Lord help![404]
They vex me past my patience. Pray you, pass on: 130
I will not tarry, no, nor ever more
Upon this business my appearance make
In any of their courts. [Exeunt Queen, and her Attendants.[405]

King. Go thy ways, Kate:
That man i' the world who shall report he has
A better wife, let him in nought be trusted,[406] 135
For speaking false in that: thou art, alone,
If thy rare qualities, sweet gentleness,
Thy meekness saint-like, wife-like government,
Obeying in commanding, and thy parts
Sovereign and pious else, could speak thee out,[407] 140
The queen of earthly queens. She's noble born,
And like her true nobility she has
Carried herself towards me.

Wol. Most gracious sir,
In humblest manner I require your highness,
That it shall please you to declare in hearing 145
Of all these ears—for where I am robb'd and bound,
There must I be unloosed, although not there [408]
At once and fully satisfied—whether ever I [409]
Did broach this business to your highness, or
Laid any scruple in your way which might 150
Induce you to the question on't? or ever
Have to you, but with thanks to God for such
A royal lady, spake one the least word that might [410]
Be to the prejudice of her present state [411]
Or touch of her good person?

King. My lord cardinal, 155
I do excuse you; yea, upon mine honour,
I free you from't. You are not to be taught
That you have many enemies that know not
Why they are so, but, like to village-curs,[412]
Bark when their fellows do: by some of these 160
The queen is put in anger. You're excused:[413]
But will you be more justified? you ever
Have wish'd the sleeping of this business, never desired [414]
It to be stirr'd, but oft have hinder'd, oft,[414]
The passages made toward it: on my honour,[415] 165
I speak my good lord cardinal to this point,[416]
And thus far clear him. Now, what moved me to't,[417]
I will be bold with time and your attention:
Then mark the inducement. Thus it came; give heed to't:
My conscience first received a tenderness, 170
Scruple, and prick, on certain speeches utter'd
By the Bishop of Bayonne, then French ambassador;[418]
Who had been hither sent on the debating
A marriage 'twixt the Duke of Orleans and [419]
Our daughter Mary: i' the progress of this business, 175
Ere a determinate resolution, he,
I mean the bishop, did require a respite,[420]
Wherein he might the king his lord advertise
Whether our daughter were legitimate,
Respecting this our marriage with the dowager, 180
Sometimes our brother's wife. This respite shook [421]
The bosom of my conscience, enter'd me,[422]
Yea, with a splitting power, and made to tremble [423]
The region of my breast; which forced such way
That many mazed considerings did throng 185
And press'd in with this caution. First, methought
I stood not in the smile of heaven, who had [424]
Commanded nature that my lady's womb,
If it conceived a male-child by me, should
Do no more offices of life to't than 190
The grave does to the dead; for her male issue
Or died where they were made, or shortly after
This world had air'd them: hence I took a thought,
This was a judgement on me, that my kingdom,
Well worthy the best heir o' the world, should not 195
Be gladded in't by me: then follows that [425]
I weigh'd the danger which my realms stood in [426]
By this my issue's fail; and that gave to me
Many a groaning throe. Thus hulling in [427]
The wild sea of my conscience, I did steer 200
Toward this remedy whereupon we are [428]
Now present here together; that's to say,
I meant to rectify my conscience, which
I then did feel full sick and yet not well,
By all the reverend fathers of the land 205
And doctors learn'd. First I began in private
With you, my Lord of Lincoln; you remember
How under my oppression I did reek,[429]
When I first moved you.

Lin. Very well, my liege.

King. I have spoke long: be pleased yourself to say 210
How far you satisfied me.

Lin. So please your highness,
The question did at first so stagger me,
Bearing a state of mighty moment in't
And consequence of dread, that I committed
The daring'st counsel which I had to doubt, 215
And did entreat your highness to this course [430]
Which you are running here.

King. I then moved you,
My Lord of Canterbury, and got your leave
To make this present summons: unsolicited [431]
I left no reverend person in this court; 220
But by particular consent proceeded
Under your hands and seals: therefore, go on;
For no dislike i' the world against the person
Of the good queen, but the sharp thorny points [432]
Of my alleged reasons, drive this forward:[433] 225
Prove but our marriage lawful, by my life
And kingly dignity, we are contented
To wear our mortal state to come with her,
Katharine our queen, before the primest creature
That's paragon'd o' the world.[434]

Cam. So please your highness, 230
The queen being absent, 'tis a needful fitness
That we adjourn this court till further day:[435]
Meanwhile must be an earnest motion
Made to the queen, to call back her appeal
She intends unto his holiness.

King. [Aside] I may perceive [436][437] 235
These cardinals trifle with me: I abhor[437]
This dilatory sloth and tricks of Rome.[437][438]
My learn'd and well-beloved servant, Cranmer,[437][439]
Prithee, return; with thy approach, I know,[437][440]
My comfort comes along.—Break up the court:[437] 240
I say, set on.

Scene III. An ante-chamber of the Queen's apartments.[335]

Scene IV. A hall in Black-Friars.