| 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, |
| She never knew harm-doing: O, now, after | 5 |
| 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, |
| To give her the avaunt! it is a pity | 10 |
| Would move a monster. |
| Old Lady | Hearts of most hard temper |
| Melt and lament for her. |
| ANNE | O, God's will! much better |
| She ne'er had known pomp: though't be temporal, | 15 |
| 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! |
| She's a stranger now again. | 20 |
| 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, |
| Than to be perk'd up in a glistering grief, | 25 |
| And wear a golden sorrow. |
| Old Lady | Our content |
| Is our best having. |
| ANNE | By my troth and maidenhead, |
| I would not be a queen. | 30 |
| 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, |
| Have too a woman's heart; which ever yet | 35 |
| 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, |
| If you might please to stretch it. | 40 |
| 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, |
| Old as I am, to queen it: but, I pray you, | 45 |
| 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; |
| I would not be a young count in your way, | 50 |
| 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! |
| I swear again, I would not be a queen | 55 |
| 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 |
| No more to the crown but that. Lo, who comes here? | 60 |
| [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: |
| Our mistress' sorrows we were pitying. | 65 |
| 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! |
| Chamberlain | You bear a gentle mind, and heavenly blessings | 70 |
| 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 |
| Does purpose honour to you no less flowing | 75 |
| 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; | 80 |
| 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, | 85 |
| 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 |
| The king hath of you. | 90 |
[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 |
| To lighten all this isle? I'll to the king, | 95 |
| 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, |
| Am yet a courtier beggarly, nor could | 100 |
| 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 |
| Before you open it. | 105 |
| 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, |
| For all the mud in Egypt: have you heard it? | 110 |
| 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! |
| No other obligation! By my life, | 115 |
| 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? |
| ANNE | Good lady, | 120 |
| 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 | 125 |
| In our long absence: pray, do not deliver |
| What here you've heard to her. |
| Old Lady | What do you think me? |
| [Exeunt] |
The Essential Student History Quiz (with answers and illustrations)