King Henry VIII

King Henry VIII

ACT II SCENE III	An ante-chamber of the QUEEN'S apartments.
	Enter ANNE and an Old Lady
ANNE	Not for that neither: here's the pang that pinches:
	His highness having lived so long with her, and she
	So good a lady that no tongue could ever
	Pronounce dishonour of her; by my life,	5
	She never knew harm-doing: O, now, after
	So many courses of the sun enthroned,
	Still growing in a majesty and pomp, the which
	To leave a thousand-fold more bitter than
	'Tis sweet at first to acquire,--after this process,	10
	To give her the avaunt! it is a pity
	Would move a monster.
Old Lady	Hearts of most hard temper
	Melt and lament for her.
ANNE	O, God's will! much better	15
	She ne'er had known pomp: though't be temporal,
	Yet, if that quarrel, fortune, do divorce
	It from the bearer, 'tis a sufferance panging
	As soul and body's severing.
Old Lady	Alas, poor lady!	20
	She's a stranger now again.
ANNE	So much the more
	Must pity drop upon her. Verily,
	I swear, 'tis better to be lowly born,
	And range with humble livers in content,	25
	Than to be perk'd up in a glistering grief,
	And wear a golden sorrow.
Old Lady	Our content
	Is our best having.
ANNE	By my troth and maidenhead,	30
	I would not be a queen.
Old Lady	Beshrew me, I would,
	And venture maidenhead for't; and so would you,
	For all this spice of your hypocrisy:
	You, that have so fair parts of woman on you,	35
	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 cheveril conscience would receive,	40
	If you might please to stretch it.
ANNE	Nay, good troth.
Old Lady	Yes, troth, and troth; you would not be a queen?
ANNE	No, not for all the riches under heaven.
Old Lady:	'Tis strange: a three-pence bow'd would hire me,	45
	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 Lady	Then you are weakly made: pluck off a little;	50
	I would not be a young count in your way,
	For more than blushing comes to: if your back
	Cannot vouchsafe this burthen,'tis too weak
	Ever to get a boy.
ANNE	How you do talk!	55
	I swear again, I would not be a queen
	For all the world.
Old Lady	In faith, for little England
	You'ld venture an emballing: I myself
	Would for Carnarvonshire, although there long'd	60
	No more to the crown but that. Lo, who comes here?
	Enter Chamberlain
Chamberlain	Good morrow, ladies. What were't worth to know
	The secret of your conference?
ANNE	My good lord,
	Not your demand; it values not your asking:	65
	Our mistress' sorrows we were pitying.
Chamberlain	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!	70
Chamberlain	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 of you, and	75
	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	80
	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,	85
	Vouchsafe to speak my thanks and my obedience,
	As from a blushing handmaid, to his highness;
	Whose health and royalty I pray for.
Chamberlain	Lady,
	I shall not fail to approve the fair conceit	90
	The king hath of you.
	Aside
	I have perused her well;
	Beauty and honour in her are so mingled
	That they have caught the king: and who knows yet
	But from this lady may proceed a gem	95
	To lighten all this isle? I'll to the king,
	And say I spoke with you.
	Exit Chamberlain
ANNE	My honour'd lord.
Old Lady	Why, this it is; see, see!
	I have been begging sixteen years in court,	100
	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, fie upon
	This compell'd fortune!--have your mouth fill'd up	105
	Before you open it.
ANNE	This is strange to me.
Old Lady	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,	110
	For all the mud in Egypt: have you heard it?
ANNE	Come, you are pleasant.
Old Lady	With your theme, I could
	O'ermount the lark. The Marchioness of Pembroke!
	A thousand pounds a year for pure respect!	115
	No other obligation! By my life,
	That promises moe 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?	120
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.	125
	The queen is comfortless, and we forgetful
	In our long absence: pray, do not deliver
	What here you've heard to her.
Old Lady	What do you think me?
	Exeunt