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Would it not grieve an able man, to leave So sweet a bedfellow? But, conscience, conscience,

O, 'tis a tender place, and I must leave her. [Exe. SCENE III-An ante-chamber in the Queen's apartments. Enter Anne Bullen, and an old Lady.

Anne. Not for that neither;-Here's the pang that pinches :

His highness having liv'd so long with her: and she
So good a lady, that no tongue could ever
Pronounce dishonour of her,-by my life,
She never knew harm-doing;- -0 now, after
So many courses of the sun enthron'd,

Still growing in a majesty and pomp,-the which
To leave is a thousand-fold more bitter, than
'Tis sweet at first to acquire,-after this process,
To give her the avaunt!! it is a pity

Would move a monster.

Old L.

Hearts of most hard temper

Melt and lament for her.

Anne.

O, God's will! much better,

She ne'er had known pomp: though it be temporal,
Yet, if that quarrel,2 fortune, do divorce

It from the bearer, 'tis a sufferance, panging
As soul and body's severing.

Old L.

Alas, poor lady!

So much the more

She's a stranger now again.3
Anne.
Must pity drop upon her. Verily,
swear, 'tis better to be lowly born,

And range with humble livers in content,
Than to be perk'd up in a glistering grief,

And wear a golden sorrow.

Old L.

Is our best having.4

Our content

(1) A sentence of ejection.

(2) Quarreller.

(3) No longer an Englishwoman. (4) Possession.

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you,

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

(Saving your mincing) the capacity

Of your soft cheveril2 conscience would receive,
If you might please to stretch it.

Anne.
Nay, good troth,--
Old L. Yes, troth, and troth,-You would not be

a queen?

Anne. No, not for all the riches under heaven. Old L. 'Tis strange; a three-pence bow'da would hire me,

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;

I would not be a young count in your way,
For more than blushing comes to: if your back
Cannot vouchsafe this burden, 'tis too weak
Ever to get a boy.

Anne.

How you do talk! I swear again, I would not be a queen

For all the world.

Old L.

In faith for little England You'd venture an emballing: I myself

Would for Carnarvonshire, although there 'long'd No more to the crown but that. Lo, who comes here?

(1) Truth.

(2) Kid-skin. (3) Crook'd.

Enter the Lord Chamberlain.

Cham. Good-morrow, ladies. What were't worth to know

The secret of your conference?

Anne.

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

Not your

Cham. It was a gentle business, and becoming The action of good women: there is hope,

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
Ta'en of your many virtues, the king's majesty
Commends his good opinion to you, and
Does purpose honour to you no less flowing
Than marchioness of Pembroke; to which title
A thousand pound a year, annual support,
Out of his grace he adds.

Anne.
I do not know,
What kind of my obedience I should tender;
More than my all, is nothing: nor my prayers
Are not words duly hallow'd, nor my wishes
More worth than empty vanities; yet prayers, and
wishes,

Are all I can return. 'Beseech your lordship, 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,1 The king hath of you.-I have perus'd her well;

Beauty and honour in her are so mingled,

[Aside.

(1) Opinion.

That they have caught the king: and who knows

yet,

But from this lady may proceed a gem,
To lighten all this isle?-I'll to the king,
And say, I spoke with you.

Anne.

My honour'd lord. [Exit Lord Chamberlain.

Old L. Why, this it is; see, see!

I have been begging sixteen years in court,
(Am yet a courtier beggarly,) nor could
Come pat betwixt too early and too late,
For any suit of pounds: and you, (O fate!)
A very fresh-fish here, (fie, fie upon

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. There was a lady once ('tis an old story,) 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;
No other obligation: By my life,

That promises more thousands: Honour's train
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,
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,
To think what follows.

The queen is comfortless, and we forgetful
In our long absence: Pray, do not deliver
What here you have heard, to her.

Old L.

What do you think me? [Exeunt.

SCENE IV-A Hall in Black-Friars. Trumpets, sennet, and cornets. Enter two Vergers, with short silver wands; next them, two Scribes, in the habits of doctors; after them, the Archbishop of Canterbury alone; after him, the Bishops of Lincoln, Ely, Rochester, and Saint Asaph; next them, with some small distance, follows a gentleman bearing the purse, with the great seal, and a cardinal's hat; then two Priests, bearing each a silver cross; then a Gentleman Usher bare-headed, accompanied with a Serjeant at Arms, bearing a silver mace; then two Gentlemen, bearing two great silver pillars; after them, side by side, the two Cardinals, Wolsey and Campeius; two Noblemen with the sword and mace. Then enter the King and Queen, and their trains. The King takes place under the cloth of state; the two Cardinals sit under him as judges. The Queen takes place at some distance from the King. The Bishops place themselves on each side the court, in manner of a consistory; between them, the Scribes. The Lords sit next the Bishops. The Crier and the rest of the Attendants stand in convenient order about the stage.

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

K. Hen.

What's the need?

It hath already publicly been read,

And on all sides the authority allow'd: may then

You

Wol.

spare that time.

Be't so:-Proceed.

Scribe. Say, Henry, king of England, come into

the court.

Crier. Henry, king of England, &c.

K. Hen. Here.

(1) Flourish on cornets.

(2) Ensigns of dignity carried before cardinals.

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