William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition (577 page)
Read William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition Online
Authors: William Shakespeare
Tags: #Drama, #Literary Criticism, #Shakespeare
BOOK: William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition
10.19Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
CROMWELL ⌈
weeping
⌉
weeping
⌉
O, my lord,
Must I then leave you? Must I needs forgo
So good, so noble, and so true a master?
Bear witness, all that have not hearts of iron,
With what a sorrow Cromwell leaves his lord.
The King shall have my service, but my prayers
For ever and for ever shall be yours.
So good, so noble, and so true a master?
Bear witness, all that have not hearts of iron,
With what a sorrow Cromwell leaves his lord.
The King shall have my service, but my prayers
For ever and for ever shall be yours.
CARDINAL WOLSEY (
weeping
)
weeping
)
Cromwell, I did not think to shed a tear
In all my miseries, but thou hast forced me,
Out of thy honest truth, to play the woman.
Let’s dry our eyes, and thus far hear me, Cromwell,
And when I am forgotten, as I shall be,
And sleep in dull cold marble, where no mention
Of me more must be heard of, say I taught thee—
Say Wolsey, that once trod the ways of glory,
And sounded all the depths and shoals of honour,
Found thee a way, out of his wreck, to rise in,
A sure and safe one, though thy master missed it.
Mark but my fall, and that that ruined me.
Cromwell, I charge thee, fling away ambition.
By that sin fell the angels. How can man, then,
The image of his maker, hope to win by it?
Love thyself last. Cherish those hearts that hate thee.
Corruption wins not more than honesty.
Still in thy right hand carry gentle peace
To silence envious tongues. Be just, and fear not.
Let all the ends thou aim’st at be thy country’s,
Thy God’s, and truth’s. Then if thou fall’st, O
Cromwell,
Thou fall‘st a blessed martyr.
Serve the King. And prithee, lead me in—
There take an inventory of all I have:
To the last penny ’tis the King’s. My robe,
And my integrity to heaven, is all
I dare now call mine own. O Cromwell, Cromwell,
Had I but served my God with half the zeal
I served my King, He would not in mine age
Have left me naked to mine enemies.
In all my miseries, but thou hast forced me,
Out of thy honest truth, to play the woman.
Let’s dry our eyes, and thus far hear me, Cromwell,
And when I am forgotten, as I shall be,
And sleep in dull cold marble, where no mention
Of me more must be heard of, say I taught thee—
Say Wolsey, that once trod the ways of glory,
And sounded all the depths and shoals of honour,
Found thee a way, out of his wreck, to rise in,
A sure and safe one, though thy master missed it.
Mark but my fall, and that that ruined me.
Cromwell, I charge thee, fling away ambition.
By that sin fell the angels. How can man, then,
The image of his maker, hope to win by it?
Love thyself last. Cherish those hearts that hate thee.
Corruption wins not more than honesty.
Still in thy right hand carry gentle peace
To silence envious tongues. Be just, and fear not.
Let all the ends thou aim’st at be thy country’s,
Thy God’s, and truth’s. Then if thou fall’st, O
Cromwell,
Thou fall‘st a blessed martyr.
Serve the King. And prithee, lead me in—
There take an inventory of all I have:
To the last penny ’tis the King’s. My robe,
And my integrity to heaven, is all
I dare now call mine own. O Cromwell, Cromwell,
Had I but served my God with half the zeal
I served my King, He would not in mine age
Have left me naked to mine enemies.
CROMWELL
Good sir, have patience.
CARDINAL WOLSEY So I have. Farewell
The hopes of court; my hopes in heaven do dwell.
Exeunt
Enter the two Gentlemen meeting one another. The first holds a paper
FIRST GENTLEMAN
You’re well met once again.
SECOND GENTLEMAN
So are you.
FIRST GENTLEMAN
You come to take your stand here and behold
The Lady Anne pass from her coronation?
The Lady Anne pass from her coronation?
SECOND GENTLEMAN
’Tis all my business. At our last encounter
The Duke of Buckingham came from his trial.
The Duke of Buckingham came from his trial.
FIRST GENTLEMAN
’Tis very true. But that time offered sorrow,
This, general joy.
This, general joy.
SECOND GENTLEMAN ’Tis well. The citizens,
I am sure, have shown at full their royal minds—
As, let ’em have their rights, they are ever forward—
In celebration of this day with shows,
Pageants, and sights of honour.
As, let ’em have their rights, they are ever forward—
In celebration of this day with shows,
Pageants, and sights of honour.
FIRST GENTLEMAN
Never greater,
Nor, I’ll assure you, better taken, sir.
SECOND GENTLEMAN
May I be bold to ask what that contains,
That paper in your hand?
That paper in your hand?
FIRST GENTLEMAN
Yes, ’tis the list
Of those that claim their offices this day
By custom of the coronation.
The Duke of Suffolk is the first, and claims
To be High Steward; next, the Duke of Norfolk,
He to be Earl Marshal. You may read the rest.
By custom of the coronation.
The Duke of Suffolk is the first, and claims
To be High Steward; next, the Duke of Norfolk,
He to be Earl Marshal. You may read the rest.
He gives him the paper
SECOND GENTLEMAN
I thank you, sir. Had I not known those customs,
I should have been beholden to your paper.
But I beseech you, what’s become of Katherine,
The Princess Dowager? How goes her business?
I should have been beholden to your paper.
But I beseech you, what’s become of Katherine,
The Princess Dowager? How goes her business?
FIRST GENTLEMAN
That I can tell you too. The Archbishop
Of Canterbury, accompanied with other
Learned and reverend fathers of his order,
Held a late court at Dunstable, six miles off
From Ampthill, where the Princess lay; to which
She was often cited by them, but appeared not.
And, to be short, for not appearance, and
The King’s late scruple, by the main assent
Of all these learned men, she was divorced,
And the late marriage made of none effect,
Since which she was removed to Kimbolton,
Where she remains now sick.
Of Canterbury, accompanied with other
Learned and reverend fathers of his order,
Held a late court at Dunstable, six miles off
From Ampthill, where the Princess lay; to which
She was often cited by them, but appeared not.
And, to be short, for not appearance, and
The King’s late scruple, by the main assent
Of all these learned men, she was divorced,
And the late marriage made of none effect,
Since which she was removed to Kimbolton,
Where she remains now sick.
SECOND GENTLEMAN
Alas, good lady!
Flourish of trumpets within
The trumpets sound. Stand close. The Queen is coming.
Enter the coronation procession, which passes over the stage in order and state. Hautboys, within,
⌈
play during the procession
⌉THE ORDER OF THE CORONATION1.
First
, ⌈
enter
⌉
trumpeters
,
who play a lively flourish
.2.
Then, enter two judges
.3.
Then, enter the Lord Chancellor, with both the purse containing the great seal and the mace borne before him
.4.
Then, enter choristers singing
; ⌈
with them
,
musicians playing
.⌉5.
Then, enter the Lord Mayor of London bearing the mace, followed by Garter King-of-Arms wearing his coat of arms and a gilt copper crown
.6.
Then, enter Marquis Dorset bearing a sceptre of gold, and wearing, on his head, a demi-coronal of gold and, about his neck, a collar of esses. With him enter the Earl of Surrey bearing the rod of silver with the dove, crowned with an earl’s coronet, and also wearing a collar of esses
.7.
Next, enter the Duke of Suffolk as High Steward, in his robe of estate, with his coronet on his head, and bearing a long white wand. With him, enter the Duke of Norfolk with the rod of marshalship and a coronet on his head. Each wears a collar of esses.8.
Then, under a canopy borne by four barons of the Cinque Ports, enter Anne, the new Queen, in her robe. Her hair, which hangs loose, is richly adorned with pearl. She wears a crown. Accompanying her on either side are the Bishops of London and Winchester
.9.
Next, enter the old Duchess of Norfolk, in a coronal of gold wrought with flowers, bearing the Queen’s train
.10.
Finally, enter certain ladies or countesses, with plain circlets of gold without flowers. The two Gentlemen comment on the procession as it passes over the stage
SECOND GENTLEMAN
A royal train, believe me. These I know.
Who’s that that bears the sceptre?
Who’s that that bears the sceptre?
FIRST GENTLEMAN
Marquis Dorset.
And that, the Earl of Surrey with the rod.
SECOND GENTLEMAN
A bold brave gentleman. That should be
The Duke of Suffolk?
The Duke of Suffolk?
FIRST GENTLEMAN
’Tis the same: High Steward.
SECOND GENTLEMAN
And that, my lord of Norfolk?
FIRST GENTLEMAN
Yes.
SECOND GENTLEMAN (
seeing Anne
) Heaven bless thee!
seeing Anne
) Heaven bless thee!
Thou hast the sweetest face ever looked on.
Sir, as I have a soul, she is an angel.
Our King has all the Indies in his arms,
And more, and richer, when he strains that lady.
I cannot blame his conscience.
Sir, as I have a soul, she is an angel.
Our King has all the Indies in his arms,
And more, and richer, when he strains that lady.
I cannot blame his conscience.
FIRST GENTLEMAN
They that bear The cloth of honour over her are four barons
Of the Cinque Ports.
Of the Cinque Ports.
SECOND GENTLEMAN
Those men are happy, And so are all are near her.
I take it she that carries up the train
Is that old noble lady, Duchess of Norfolk.
I take it she that carries up the train
Is that old noble lady, Duchess of Norfolk.
FIRST GENTLEMAN
It is. And all the rest are countesses.
SECOND GENTLEMAN
Their coronets say so. These are stars indeed—
⌈FIRST GENTLEMAN⌉
And sometimes falling ones.
SECOND GENTLEMAN
No more of that.
Exit the last of the procession, and then
a great flourish of trumpets within
a great flourish of trumpets within
Enter a third Gentleman
⌈
in a sweat
⌉
⌈
in a sweat
⌉
FIRST GENTLEMAN
God save you, sir. Where have you been broiling?
THIRD GENTLEMAN
Among the crowd i’th’ Abbey, where a finger
Could not be wedged in more. I am stifled
With the mere rankness of their joy.
Could not be wedged in more. I am stifled
With the mere rankness of their joy.
SECOND GENTLEMAN
You saw the ceremony?
THIRD GENTLEMAN
That I did.
FIRST GENTLEMAN How Was it?
THIRD GENTLEMAN
Well worth the seeing.
SECOND GENTLEMAN
Good sir, speak it to us.
THIRD GENTLEMAN
As well as I am able. The rich stream
Of lords and ladies, having brought the Queen
To a prepared place in the choir, fell off
A distance from her, while her grace sat down
To rest a while—some half an hour or so—
In a rich chair of state, opposing freely
The beauty of her person to the people.
Believe me, sir, she is the goodliest woman
That ever lay by man; which when the people
Had the full view of, such a noise arose
As the shrouds make at sea in a stiff tempest,
As loud and to as many tunes. Hats, cloaks—
Doublets, I think—flew up, and had their faces
Been loose, this day they had been lost. Such joy
I never saw before. Great-bellied women,
That had not half a week to go, like rams
In the old time of war, would shake the press,
And make ’em reel before ’em. No man living
Could say ‘This is my wife’ there, all were woven
So strangely in one piece.
Of lords and ladies, having brought the Queen
To a prepared place in the choir, fell off
A distance from her, while her grace sat down
To rest a while—some half an hour or so—
In a rich chair of state, opposing freely
The beauty of her person to the people.
Believe me, sir, she is the goodliest woman
That ever lay by man; which when the people
Had the full view of, such a noise arose
As the shrouds make at sea in a stiff tempest,
As loud and to as many tunes. Hats, cloaks—
Doublets, I think—flew up, and had their faces
Been loose, this day they had been lost. Such joy
I never saw before. Great-bellied women,
That had not half a week to go, like rams
In the old time of war, would shake the press,
And make ’em reel before ’em. No man living
Could say ‘This is my wife’ there, all were woven
So strangely in one piece.
SECOND GENTLEMAN
But what followed?
THIRD GENTLEMAN
At length her grace rose, and with modest paces
Came to the altar, where she kneeled, and saint-like
Cast her fair eyes to heaven, and prayed devoutly, 86
Then rose again, and bowed her to the people,
When by the Archbishop of Canterbury
She had all the royal makings of a queen,
As holy oil, Edward Confessor’s crown,
The rod and bird of peace, and all such emblems
Laid nobly on her. Which performed, the choir,
With all the choicest music of the kingdom,
Together sung
Te Deum.
So she parted,
And with the same full state paced back again
To York Place, where the feast is held.
Came to the altar, where she kneeled, and saint-like
Cast her fair eyes to heaven, and prayed devoutly, 86
Then rose again, and bowed her to the people,
When by the Archbishop of Canterbury
She had all the royal makings of a queen,
As holy oil, Edward Confessor’s crown,
The rod and bird of peace, and all such emblems
Laid nobly on her. Which performed, the choir,
With all the choicest music of the kingdom,
Together sung
Te Deum.
So she parted,
And with the same full state paced back again
To York Place, where the feast is held.
FIRST GENTLEMAN
Sir, You must no more call it York Place—that’s past,
For since the Cardinal fell, that title’s lost.
‘Tis now the King’s, and called Whitehall.
For since the Cardinal fell, that title’s lost.
‘Tis now the King’s, and called Whitehall.
THIRD GENTLEMAN
I know it, But ’tis so lately altered that the old name
Is fresh about me.
Is fresh about me.
SECOND GENTLEMAN What two reverend bishops
Were those that went on each side of the Queen?
THIRD GENTLEMAN
Stokesley and Gardiner, the one of Winchester—
Newly preferred from the King’s secretary—
The other London.
Newly preferred from the King’s secretary—
The other London.
SECOND GENTLEMAN
He of Winchester
Is held no great good lover of the Archbishop’s,
The virtuous Cranmer.
The virtuous Cranmer.
THIRD GENTLEMAN
All the land knows that.
However, yet there is no great breach. When it
comes,
Cranmer will find a friend will not shrink from him.
comes,
Cranmer will find a friend will not shrink from him.
SECOND GENTLEMAN
Who may that be, I pray you?
Other books
Summer in the South by Cathy Holton
Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb
Days of Ignorance by Laila Aljohani
Make Mine A Monster: Monsterotica: Book 2 by Madison Sevier
The Jury by Gerald Bullet
Hereafter by Tara Hudson
Hollow Crown by David Roberts
A Spoonful of Poison by M. C. Beaton
Scarred by C. M. Steele
Double Booked by Anaya, CJ