William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition (569 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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KING HENRY
A giant traitor!
CARDINAL WOLSEY
(to the Queen)
(to the Queen)
Now, madam, may his highness live in freedom,
And this man out of prison?
And this man out of prison?
QUEEN KATHERINE
God mend all.
KING HENRY
(to the Surveyor)
(to the Surveyor)
There’s something more would out of thee—what
sayst?
sayst?
BUCKINGHAM’S SURVEYOR
After ‘the Duke his father’, with ‘the knife’,
He stretched him, and with one hand on his dagger,
Another spread on’s breast, mounting his eyes,
He did discharge a horrible oath whose tenor
Was, were he evil used, he would outgo
His father by as much as a performance
Does an irresolute purpose.
He stretched him, and with one hand on his dagger,
Another spread on’s breast, mounting his eyes,
He did discharge a horrible oath whose tenor
Was, were he evil used, he would outgo
His father by as much as a performance
Does an irresolute purpose.
KING HENRY
There’s his period—
To sheathe his knife in us. He is attached.
Call him to present trial. If he may
Find mercy in the law, ’tis his; if none,
Let him not seek’t of us. By day and night,
He’s traitor to th’ height.
Call him to present trial. If he may
Find mercy in the law, ’tis his; if none,
Let him not seek’t of us. By day and night,
He’s traitor to th’ height.
Flourish
.
Exeunt
1.3.
Exeunt
Enter the Lord Chamberlain and Lord Sands
LORD CHAMBERLAIN
Is’t possible the spells of France should juggle
Men into such strange mysteries?
Men into such strange mysteries?
SANDS
New customs,
Though they be never so ridiculous—
Nay, let ’em be unmanly—yet are followed.
Nay, let ’em be unmanly—yet are followed.
LORD CHAMBERLAIN
As far as I see, all the good our English
Have got by the late voyage is but merely
A fit or two o’th’ face. But they are shrewd ones,
For when they hold ’em you would swear directly
Their very noses had been counsellors
To Pepin or Clotharius, they keep state so.
Have got by the late voyage is but merely
A fit or two o’th’ face. But they are shrewd ones,
For when they hold ’em you would swear directly
Their very noses had been counsellors
To Pepin or Clotharius, they keep state so.
SANDS
They have all new legs, and lame ones; one would
take it,
That never see ’em pace before, the spavin
Or spring-halt reigned among ’em.
take it,
That never see ’em pace before, the spavin
Or spring-halt reigned among ’em.
LORD CHAMBERLAIN
Death, my lord,
Their clothes are after such a pagan cut to’t
That sure they’ve worn out Christendom.
That sure they’ve worn out Christendom.
Enter Sir Thomas Lovell
How now—
What news, Sir Thomas Lovell?
LOVELL
Faith, my lord,
I hear of none but the new proclamation
That’s clapped upon the court gate.
That’s clapped upon the court gate.
LORD CHAMBERLAIN
What is’t for?
LOVELL
The reformation of our travelled gallants
That fill the court with quarrels, talk, and tailors.
That fill the court with quarrels, talk, and tailors.
LORD CHAMBERLAIN
I’m glad ’tis there. Now I would pray our
’messieurs’
To think an English courtier may be wise
And never see the Louvre.
’messieurs’
To think an English courtier may be wise
And never see the Louvre.
LOVELL
They must either,
For so run the conditions, leave those remnants
Of fool and feather that they got in France,
With all their honourable points of ignorance
Pertaining thereunto—as fights and fireworks,
Abusing better men than they can be
Out of a foreign wisdom, renouncing clean
The faith they have in tennis and tall stockings,
Short blistered breeches, and those types of travel—
And understand again like honest men,
Or pack to their old playfellows. There, I take it,
They may,
cum privilegio,
‘oui’ away
The lag end of their lewdness and be laughed at.
Of fool and feather that they got in France,
With all their honourable points of ignorance
Pertaining thereunto—as fights and fireworks,
Abusing better men than they can be
Out of a foreign wisdom, renouncing clean
The faith they have in tennis and tall stockings,
Short blistered breeches, and those types of travel—
And understand again like honest men,
Or pack to their old playfellows. There, I take it,
They may,
cum privilegio,
‘oui’ away
The lag end of their lewdness and be laughed at.
SANDS
‘Tis time to give ’em physic, their diseases
Are grown so catching.
Are grown so catching.
LORD CHAMBERLAIN
What a loss our ladies
Will have of these trim vanities!
LOVELL
Ay, marry,
There will be woe indeed, lords. The sly whoresons
Have got a speeding trick to lay down ladies.
A French song and a fiddle has no fellow.
Have got a speeding trick to lay down ladies.
A French song and a fiddle has no fellow.
SANDS
The devil fiddle ’em! I am glad they are going,
For sure there’s no converting of ’em. Now
An honest country lord, as I am, beaten
A long time out of play, may bring his plainsong
And have an hour of hearing, and, by’r Lady,
Held current music, too.
For sure there’s no converting of ’em. Now
An honest country lord, as I am, beaten
A long time out of play, may bring his plainsong
And have an hour of hearing, and, by’r Lady,
Held current music, too.
LORD CHAMBERLAIN
Well said, Lord Sands.
Your colt’s tooth is not cast yet?
SANDS
No, my lord,
Nor shall not while I have a stump.
LORD CHAMBERLAIN (
to Lovell
)
to Lovell
)
Sir Thomas,
Whither were you a-going?
LOVELL
To the Cardinal’s.
Your lordship is a guest too.
LORD CHAMBERLAIN
O, ’tis true.
This night he makes a supper, and a great one,
To many lords and ladies. There will be
The beauty of this kingdom, I’ll assure you.
To many lords and ladies. There will be
The beauty of this kingdom, I’ll assure you.
LOVELL
That churchman bears a bounteous mind indeed,
A hand as fruitful as the land that feeds us.
His dews fall everywhere.
A hand as fruitful as the land that feeds us.
His dews fall everywhere.
LORD CHAMBERLAIN
No doubt he’s noble.
He had a black mouth that said other of him.
SANDS
He may, my lord; he’s wherewithal. In him
Sparing would show a worse sin than ill doctrine.
Men of his way should be most liberal.
They are set here for examples.
Sparing would show a worse sin than ill doctrine.
Men of his way should be most liberal.
They are set here for examples.
LORD CHAMBERLAIN
True, they are so,
But few now give so great ones. My barge stays.
Your lordship shall along. (
To Lovell
) Come, good Sir
Thomas,
We shall be late else, which I would not be,
For I was spoke to, with Sir Henry Guildford,
This night to be comptrollers.
Your lordship shall along. (
To Lovell
) Come, good Sir
Thomas,
We shall be late else, which I would not be,
For I was spoke to, with Sir Henry Guildford,
This night to be comptrollers.
SANDS
I am your lordship’s.
Exeunt
1.4Hautboys.
⌈
Enter servants with
⌉
a small table for Cardinal Wolsey
⌈
Which they place
⌉
under the cloth of state, and a longer table for the guests. Then enter at one door Anne Boleyn and divers other ladies and gentlemen as guests, and at another door enter Sir Henry Guildford
GUlLDFORD
Ladies, a general welcome from his grace
Salutes ye all. This night he dedicates
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 feast, good company, good wine, good welcome
Can make good people.
Salutes ye all. This night he dedicates
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 feast, good company, good wine, good welcome
Can make good people.
Enter the Lord Chamberlain, Lord Sands, and Sir Thomas Lovell
(To the Lord Chamberlain)
O, my lord, you’re tardy.
The very thought of this fair company
Clapped wings to me.
O, my lord, you’re tardy.
The very thought of this fair company
Clapped wings to me.
LORD CHAMBERLAIN You are young, Sir Harry Guildford.
SANDS
Sir Thomas Lovell, had the Cardinal
But half my lay thoughts in him, some of these
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.
But half my lay thoughts in him, some of these
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.
LOVELL
O, that your lordship were but now confessor
To one or two of these.
To one or two of these.
SANDS
I would I were.
They should find easy penance.
LOVELL
Faith, how easy?
SANDS
As easy as a down bed would afford it.
LORD CHAMBERLAIN
Sweet ladies, will it please you sit?
(
To Guildford
)
(
To Guildford
)
Sir Harry,
Place you that side, I’ll take the charge of this.
They sit about the longer table. A noise within
His grace is ent‘ring. Nay, you must not freeze—
Two women placed together makes cold weather.
My lord Sands, you are one will keep ’em waking.
Pray sit between these ladies.
Two women placed together makes cold weather.
My lord Sands, you are one will keep ’em waking.
Pray sit between these ladies.
SANDS
By my faith,
And thank your lordship.
He sits between Anne and another
By your leave, sweet ladies.
If I chance to talk a little wild, forgive me.
I had it from my father.
If I chance to talk a little wild, forgive me.
I had it from my father.
ANNE
Was he mad, sir?
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.
But he would bite none. Just as I do now,
He would kiss you twenty with a breath.
He kisses her
LORD CHAMBERLAIN
Well said, my lord.
So now you’re fairly seated. Gentlemen,
The penance lies on you if these fair ladies
Pass away frowning.
The penance lies on you if these fair ladies
Pass away frowning.
SANDS For my little cure,
Let me alone.
Hautboys. Enter Cardinal Wolsey who takes his seat at the small table under the state
CARDINAL WOLSEY
You’re welcome, my fair guests. That noble lady
Or gentleman that is not freely merry
Is not my friend. This, to confirm my welcome,
And to you all, good health!
He drinks
Or gentleman that is not freely merry
Is not my friend. This, to confirm my welcome,
And to you all, good health!
He drinks
SANDS
Your grace is noble.
Let me have such a bowl may hold my thanks,
And save me so much talking.
And save me so much talking.
CARDINAL WOLSEY
My lord Sands,
I am beholden to you. Cheer your neighbours.
Ladies, you are not merry! Gentlemen,
Whose fault is this?
Ladies, you are not merry! Gentlemen,
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.
Talk us to silence.
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,
For ’tis to such a thing—
For ’tis to such a thing—
ANNE
You cannot show me.
SANDS (
to Wolsey
)
to Wolsey
)
I told your grace they would talk anon.
Drum and trumpet. Chambers discharged
CARDINAL WOLSEY
What’s that?
LORD CHAMBERLAIN
(to the servants)
(to the servants)
Look out there, some of ye.
Exit a servant
CARDINAL WOLSEY
What warlike voice,
And to what end is this? Nay, ladies, fear not.
By all the laws of war you’re privileged.
By all the laws of war you’re privileged.
Enter the servant
LORD CHAMBERLAIN
How now—what is’t?
SERVANT
A noble troop of strangers,
For so they seem. They’ve left their barge and landed,
And hither make as great ambassadors
From foreign princes.
And hither make as great ambassadors
From foreign princes.
CARDINAL WOLSEY
Good Lord Chamberlain,
Go give ’em welcome—you can speak the French
tongue.
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.
tongue.
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 Chamberlain, attended
All rise, and some servants remove the tables
You have now a broken banquet, but we’ll mend it.
A good digestion to you all, and once more
I shower a welcome on ye—welcome all.
A good digestion to you all, and once more
I shower a welcome on ye—welcome all.
Hautboys. Enter, ushered by the Lord Chamberlain, King Henry and others as masquers habited like shepherds. They pass directly before Cardinal Wolsey and gracefully salute him
A noble company. What are their pleasures?
LORD CHAMBERLAIN
Because they speak no English, thus they prayed
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,
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.
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,
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.
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