The Presence-chamber in York-Place. | |
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Hautboys. A small table under a state for CARDINAL WOLSEY, a longer table for the guests. Enter, at one door, ANNE BULLEN, and divers Lords, Ladies, and Gentlewomen, as guests; at another door, enter SIR HENRY GUILDFORD. | |
| Guild. Ladies, a general welcome from his Grace | |
| Salutes ye all; this night he dedicates | 4 |
| To fair content and you. None here, he hopes, | |
| In all this noble bevy, has brought with her | |
| One care abroad; he would have all as merry | |
| As, first, good company, good wine, good welcome | 8 |
| Can make good people. | |
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Enter Lord Chamberlain, LORD SANDS, and SIR THOMAS LOVELL. | |
| O, my lord! you’re tardy: | |
| The very thought of this fair company | 12 |
| Clapp’d wings to me. | |
| Cham. You are young, Sir Harry Guildford. | |
| Sands. Sir Thomas Lovell, had the cardinal | |
| But half my lay-thoughts in him, some of these | 16 |
| Should find a running banquet ere they rested, | |
| I think would better please ’em: by my life, | |
| They are a sweet society of fair ones. | |
| Lov. O! that your lordship were but now confessor | 20 |
| To one or two of these! | |
| Sands. I would I were; | |
| They should find easy penance. | |
| Lov. Faith, how easy? | 24 |
| Sands. As easy as a down-bed would afford it. | |
| Cham. Sweet ladies, will it please you sit? Sir Harry, | |
| Place you that side, I’ll take the charge of this; | |
| His Grace is ent’ring. Nay you must not freeze; | 28 |
| Two women plac’d together makes cold weather: | |
| My Lord Sands, you are one will keep ’em waking; | |
| Pray, sit between these ladies. | |
| Sands. By my faith, | 32 |
| And thank your lordship. By your leave, sweet ladies: [Seats himself between ANNE BULLEN and another Lady. | |
| If I chance to talk a little wild, forgive me; | |
| I had it from my father. | |
| Anne. Was he mad, sir? | 36 |
| Sands. O! very mad, exceeding mad; in love too: | |
| But he would bite none; just as I do now, | |
| He would kiss you twenty with a breath. [Kisses her. | |
| Cham. Well said, my lord. | 40 |
| So, now you’re fairly seated. Gentlemen, | |
| The penance lies on you, if these fair ladies | |
| Pass away frowning. | |
| Sands. For my little cure, | 44 |
| Let me alone. | |
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Hautboys. Enter CARDINAL WOLSEY, attended, and takes his state. | |
| Wol. You’re welcome, my fair guests: that noble lady, | |
| Or gentleman, that is not freely merry, | 48 |
| Is not my friend: this, to confirm my welcome; | |
| And to you all, good health. [Drinks. | |
| Sands. Your Grace is noble: | |
| Let me have such a bowl may hold my thanks, | 52 |
| And save me so much talking. | |
| Wol. My Lord Sands, | |
| I am beholding to you: cheer your neighbours. | |
| Ladies, you are not merry: gentlemen, | 56 |
| Whose fault is this? | |
| Sands. The red wine first must rise | |
| In their fair cheeks, my lord; then, we shall have ’em | |
| Talk us to silence. | 60 |
| Anne. You are a merry gamester, | |
| My Lord Sands. | |
| Sands. Yes, if I make my play. | |
| Here’s to your ladyship; and pledge it, madam, | 64 |
| For ’tis to such a thing,— | |
| Anne. You cannot show me. | |
| Sands. I told your Grace they would talk anon. [Drum and trumpets within; chambers discharged. | |
| Wol. What’s that? | 68 |
| Cham. Look out there, some of ye. [Exit a Servant. | |
| Wol. What war-like voice, | |
| And to what end, is this? Nay, ladies, fear not; | |
| By all the laws of war you’re privileg’d. | 72 |
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Re-enter Servant. | |
| Cham. How now, what is’t? | |
| Serv. A noble troop of strangers; | |
| For so they seem: they’ve left their barge and landed; | 76 |
| And hither make, as great ambassadors | |
| From foreign princes. | |
| Wol. Good Lord Chamberlain, | |
| Go, give ’em welcome; you can speak the French tongue; | 80 |
| And, pray, receive ’em nobly, and conduct ’em | |
| Into our presence, where this heaven of beauty | |
| Shall shine at full upon them. Some attend him. [Exit the Lord Chamberlain, attended. All arise, and tables removed. | |
| You have now a broken banquet; but we’ll mend it. | 84 |
| A good digestion to you all; and once more | |
| I shower a welcome on ye; welcome all. | |
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Hautboys. Enter the KING, and Others, as masquers, habited like shepherds, ushered by the Lord Chamberlain. They pass directly before the CARDINAL, and gracefully salute him. | |
| A noble company! what are their pleasures? | 88 |
| Cham. Because they speak no English, thus they pray’d | |
| To tell your Grace: that, having heard by fame | |
| Of this so noble and so fair assembly | |
| This night to meet here, they could do no less, | 92 |
| Out of the great respect they bear to beauty, | |
| But leave their flocks; and, under your fair conduct, | |
| Crave leave to view these ladies, and entreat | |
| An hour of revels with ’em. | 96 |
| Wol. Say, Lord Chamberlain, | |
| They have done my poor house grace; for which I pay ’em | |
| A thousand thanks, and pray ’em take their pleasures. [They choose Ladies for the dance. The KING chooses ANNE BULLEN. | |
| K. Hen. The fairest hand I ever touch’d! O beauty, | 100 |
| Till now I never knew thee! [Music. Dance. | |
| Wol. My lord. | |
| Cham. Your Grace? | |
| Wol. Pray tell them thus much from me: | 104 |
| 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. | 108 |
| Cham. I will, my lord. [Whispers the Masquers. | |
| Wol. What say they? | |
| Cham. Such a one, they all confess, | |
| There is, indeed; which they would have your Grace | 112 |
| Find out, and he will take it. | |
| Wol. Let me see then. [Comes from his state. | |
| By all your good leaves, gentlemen, here I’ll make | |
| My royal choice. | 116 |
| K. Hen. [Unmasking.] You 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. | 120 |
| Wol. I am glad | |
| Your Grace is grown so pleasant. | |
| K. Hen. My Lord Chamberlain, | |
| Prithee, come hither. What fair lady’s that? | 124 |
| Cham. An’t please your Grace, Sir Thomas Bullen’s daughter, | |
| The Viscount Rochford, one of her highness’ women. | |
| K. Hen. By heaven, she is a dainty one. Sweetheart, | |
| I were unmannerly to take you out, | 128 |
| And not to kiss you. A health, gentlemen! | |
| Let it go round. | |
| Wol. Sir Thomas Lovell, is the banquet ready | |
| I’ the privy chamber? | 132 |
| Lov. Yes, my lord. | |
| Wol. Your Grace, | |
| I fear, with dancing is a little heated. | |
| K. Hen. I fear, too much. | 136 |
| Wol. There’s fresher air, my lord, | |
| In the next chamber. | |
| K. Hen. Lead in your ladies, every one. Sweet partner, | |
| I must not yet forsake you. Let’s be merry: | 140 |
| 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. | 144 |
