The Oxford Shakespeare: The Complete Works

by William Shakespeare

  QUEEN KATHERINE

  If I know you well,

  You were the Duke’s surveyor, and lost your office

  On the complaint o’th’ tenants. Take good heed

  You charge not in your spleen a noble person

  And spoil your nobler soul. I say, take heed;

  Yes, heartily beseech you.

  KING HENRY

  Let him on.

  (To the Surveyor) Go forward.

  BUCKINGHAM’S SURVEYOR On my soul I’ll speak but truth.

  I told my lord the Duke, by th’ devil’s illusions

  The monk might be deceived, and that ‘twas

  dangerous

  To ruminate on this so far until

  It forged him some design which, being believed,

  It was much like to do. He answered, ’Tush,

  It can do me no damage’, adding further

  That had the King in his last sickness failed,

  The Cardinal’s and Sir Thomas Lovell’s heads

  Should have gone off.

  KING HENRY

  Ha? What, so rank? Ah, ha!

  There’s mischief in this man. Canst thou say further?

  BUCKINGHAM’S SURVEYOR

  I can, my liege.

  KING HENRY

  Proceed.

  BIJCKINGHAM’S SURVEYOR Being at Greenwich,

  After your highness had reproved the Duke

  About Sir William Bulmer—

  KING HENRY

  I remember

  Such a time, being my sworn servant,

  The Duke retained him his. But on—what hence?

  RIICKINGHAM’S SURVEYOR

  ‘If’, quoth he, ‘I for this had been committed’—

  As to the Tower, I thought—‘I would have played

  The part my father meant to act upon

  Th’usurper Richard who, being at Salisbury,

  Made suit to come in’s presence; which if granted,

  As he made semblance of his duty, would

  Have put his knife into him.’

  KING HENRY

  A giant traitor!

  CARDINAL WOLSEY (to the Queen)

  Now, madam, may his highness live in freedom,

  And this man out of prison?

  QUEEN KATHERINE

  God mend all.

  KING HENRY (to the Surveyor)

  There’s something more would out of thee—what

  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.

  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.

  Flourish. Exeunt

  1.3 Enter the Lord Chamberlain and Lord Sands

  LORD CHAMBERLAIN

  Is’t possible the spells of France should juggle

  Men into such strange mysteries?

  SANDS

  New customs,

  Though they be never so ridiculous—

  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.

  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.

  LORD CHAMBERLAIN

  Death, my lord,

  Their clothes are after such a pagan cut to’t

  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.

  LORD CHAMBERLAIN

  What is’t for?

  LOVELL

  The reformation of our travelled gallants

  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.

  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.

  SANDS

  ‘Tis time to give ’em physic, their diseases

  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.

  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.

  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)

  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.

  LOVELL

  That churchman bears a bounteous mind indeed,

  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.

  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.

  SANDS

  I am your lordship’s.

  Exeunt

  1.4 Hautboys. ⌈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.

  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.

  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.

  LOVELL

  O, that your lordship were but now confessor

  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)

  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.

  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.

  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.

  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.

  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

  SANDS

  Your grace is noble.

  Let me have such a bowl may hold my thanks,

  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?

  SANDS

  The red wine first must rise

  In their fair cheeks, my lord, then we shall have ’em

  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—

  ANNE

  You cannot show me.

  SANDS (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)

  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.

  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.

  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.

  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.

  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.

  CARDINAL WOLSEY

  Say, Lord Chamberlain,

  They have done my poor house grace, for which I pay

  ’em

  A thousand thanks, and pray ’em take their pleasures.

  The masquers choose ladies. The King chooses Anne Boleyn

  KING HENRY (to Anne)

  The fairest hand I ever touched. O beauty,

  Till now I never knew thee.

  Music. They dance

  CARDINAL WOLSEY (to the Lord Chamberlain) My lord.

  LORD CHAMBERLAIN Your grace.

  CARDINAL WOLSEY Pray tell ’em thus much from me. 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.

  LORD CHAMBERLAIN I will, my lord.

  He whispers with the masquers

  CARDINAL WOLSEY

  What say they?

  LORD CHAMBERLAIN Such a one they all confess

  There is indeed, which they would have your grace

  Find out, and he will take it.

  CARDINAL WOLSEY standing

  Let me see then.

  By all your good leaves, gentlemen, here I’ll make

  My royal choice.

  He bows before the King

  KING HENRY unmasking Ye 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
.

  CARDINAL WOLSEY

  I am glad

  Your grace is grown so pleasant.

  KING HENRY

  My Lord Chamberlain,

  Prithee come hither.

  (Gesturing towards Anne) What fair lady’s that?

  LORD CHAMBERLAIN

  An’t please your grace, Sir Thomas Boleyn’s daughter—

  The Viscount Rochford—one of her highness’ women.

  KING HENRY

  By heaven, she is a dainty one. (To Anne) Sweetheart,

  I were unmannerly to take you out

  And not to kiss you ⌈kisses her⌉. A health, gentlemen;

  He drinks

  Let it go round.

  CARDINAL WOLSEY

  Sir Thomas Lovell, is the banquet ready

  I’th’ privy chamber?

  LOVELL

  Yes, my lord.

  CARDINAL WOLSEY (to the King)

  Your grace

  I fear with dancing is a little heated.

  KING HENRY I fear too much.

  CARDINAL WOLSEY There’s fresher air, my lord,

  In the next chamber.

  KING HENRY

  Lead in your ladies, every one. (To Anne) Sweet partner,

  I must not yet forsake you. (To Wolsey) Let’s be merry,

  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

  2.1 Enter two Gentlemen, at several doors

  FIRST GENTLEMAN

  Whither away so fast?

  SECOND GENTLEMAN

  O, God save ye.

  Ev’n to the hall to hear what shall become

  Of the great Duke of Buckingham.

  FIRST GENTLEMAN

  I’ll save you

  That labour, sir. All’s now done but the ceremony

  Of bringing back the prisoner.

  SECOND GENTLEMAN

  Were you there?

  FIRST GENTLEMAN

  Yes, indeed was I.

  SECOND GENTLEMAN

  Pray speak what has happened.

  FIRST GENTLEMAN

  You may guess quickly what.

  SECOND GENTLEMAN

  Is he found guilty?

  FIRST GENTLEMAN

  Yes, truly is he, and condemned upon’t.

  SECOND GENTLEMAN I am sorry for’t.

  FIRST GENTLEMAN So are a number more.