Act II
Scene I
Westminster. A street.
Enter two Gentlemen, meeting. | |
First Gentleman | Whither away so fast? |
Second Gentleman |
O, God save ye!
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First Gentleman |
I’ll save you
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Second Gentleman | Were you there? |
First Gentleman | Yes, indeed, was I. |
Second Gentleman | Pray, speak what has happen’d. |
First Gentleman | You may guess quickly what. |
Second Gentleman | Is he found guilty? |
First Gentleman | Yes, truly is he, and condemn’d upon’t. |
Second Gentleman | I am sorry for’t. |
First Gentleman | So are a number more. |
Second Gentleman | But, pray, how pass’d it? |
First Gentleman |
I’ll tell you in a little. The great duke
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Second Gentleman |
That was he
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First Gentleman |
The same.
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Second Gentleman | After all this, how did he bear himself? |
First Gentleman |
When he was brought again to the bar, to hear
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Second Gentleman | I do not think he fears death. |
First Gentleman |
Sure, he does not:
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Second Gentleman |
Certainly
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First Gentleman |
’Tis likely,
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Second Gentleman |
That trick of state
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First Gentleman |
At his return
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Second Gentleman |
All the commons
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First Gentleman |
Stay there, sir,
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Enter Buckingham from his arraignment; tip-staves before him; the axe with the edge towards him; halberds on each side: accompanied with Sir Thomas Lovell, Sir Nicholas Vaux, Sir William Sands, and common people. | |
Second Gentleman | Let’s stand close, and behold him. |
Buckingham |
All good people,
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Lovell |
I do beseech your grace, for charity,
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Buckingham |
Sir Thomas Lovell, I as free forgive you
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Lovell |
To the water side I must conduct your grace;
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Vaux |
Prepare there,
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Buckingham |
Nay, Sir Nicholas,
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First Gentleman |
O, this is full of pity! Sir, it calls,
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Second Gentleman |
If the duke be guiltless,
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First Gentleman |
Good angels keep it from us!
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Second Gentleman |
This secret is so weighty, ’twill require
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First Gentleman |
Let me have it;
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Second Gentleman |
I am confident;
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First Gentleman |
Yes, but it held not:
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Second Gentleman |
But that slander, sir,
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First Gentleman |
’Tis the cardinal;
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Second Gentleman |
I think you have hit the mark: but is’t not cruel
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First Gentleman |
’Tis woeful.
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Scene II
An ante-chamber in the palace.
Enter the Lord Chamberlain, reading a letter. | |
Chamberlain |
I fear he will indeed: well, let him have them:
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Enter, to the Lord Chamberlain, the Dukes of Norfolk and Suffolk. | |
Norfolk | Well met, my lord chamberlain. |
Chamberlain | Good day to both your graces. |
Suffolk | How is the king employ’d? |
Chamberlain |
I left him private,
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Norfolk | What’s the cause? |
Chamberlain |
It seems the marriage with his brother’s wife
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Suffolk |
No, his conscience
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Norfolk |
’Tis so:
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Suffolk | Pray God he do! he’ll never know himself else. |
Norfolk |
How holily he works in all his business!
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Chamberlain |
Heaven keep me from such counsel! ’Tis most true
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Suffolk | And free us from his slavery. |
Norfolk |
We had need pray,
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Suffolk |
For me, my lords,
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Norfolk |
Let’s in;
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Chamberlain |
Excuse me;
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Norfolk | Thanks, my good lord chamberlain. Exit Lord Chamberlain; and the King draws the curtain, and sits reading pensively. |
Suffolk | How sad he looks! sure, he is much afflicted. |
King | Who’s there, ha? |
Norfolk | Pray God he be not angry. |
King |
Who’s there, I say? How dare you thrust yourselves
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Norfolk |
A gracious king that pardons all offences
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King |
Ye are too bold:
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Enter Wolsey and Campeius, with a commission. | |
Who’s there? my good lord cardinal? O my Wolsey,
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Wolsey |
Sir, you cannot.
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King | To Norfolk and Suffolk. We are busy; go. |
Norfolk | Aside to Suffolk. This priest has no pride in him? |
Suffolk |
Aside to Norfolk. Not to speak of:
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Norfolk |
Aside to Suffolk. If it do,
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Suffolk | Aside to Norfolk. I another. Exeunt Norfolk and Suffolk. |
Wolsey |
Your grace has given a precedent of wisdom
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King |
And once more in mine arms I bid him welcome,
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Campeius |
Your grace must needs deserve all strangers’ loves,
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King |
Two equal men. The queen shall be acquainted
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Wolsey |
I know your majesty has always loved her
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King |
Ay, and the best she shall have; and my favour
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Re-enter Wolsey, with Gardiner. | |
Wolsey |
Aside to Gardiner. Give me your hand: much joy and favour to you;
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Gardiner |
Aside to Wolsey. But to be commanded
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King | Come hither, Gardiner. Walks and whispers. |
Campeius |
My Lord of York, was not one Doctor Pace
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Wolsey | Yes, he was. |
Campeius | Was he not held a learned man? |
Wolsey | Yes, surely. |
Campeius |
Believe me, there’s an ill opinion spread then
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Wolsey | How! of me? |
Campeius |
They will not stick to say you envied him,
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Wolsey |
Heaven’s peace be with him!
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King |
Deliver this with modesty to the queen. Exit Gardiner.
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Scene III
An ante-chamber of the Queen’s apartments.
Enter Anne Bullen and an Old Lady. | |
Anne |
Not for that neither: here’s the pang that pinches:
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Old Lady |
Hearts of most hard temper
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Anne |
O, God’s will! much better
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Old Lady |
Alas, poor lady!
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Anne |
So much the more
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Old Lady |
Our content
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Anne |
By my troth and maidenhead,
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Old Lady |
Beshrew me, I would,
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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,
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Anne | No, in truth. |
Old Lady |
Then you are weakly made: pluck off a little;
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Anne |
How you do talk!
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Old Lady |
In faith, for little England
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Enter the Lord Chamberlain. | |
Chamberlain |
Good morrow, ladies. What were’t worth to know
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Anne |
My good lord,
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Chamberlain |
It was a gentle business, and becoming
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Anne | Now, I pray God, amen! |
Chamberlain |
You bear a gentle mind, and heavenly blessings
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Anne |
I do not know
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Chamberlain |
Lady,
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Anne | My honour’d lord. |
Old Lady |
Why, this it is; see, see!
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Anne | This is strange to me. |
Old Lady |
How tastes it? is it bitter? forty pence, no.
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Anne | Come, you are pleasant. |
Old Lady |
With your theme, I could
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Anne |
Good lady,
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Old Lady | 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 habit of doctors; after them, Archbishop of Canterbury alone; after him, 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 Sergeant-at-arms bearing a silver mace; then two Gentlemen bearing two great silver pillars; after them, side by side, the two Cardinals; two Noblemen with the sword and mace. The King takes place under the cloth of state; the two Cardinals sit under him as judges. The Queen takes place some distance from the King. The Bishops place themselves on each side the court, in manner of a consistory; below them, the Scribes. The Lords sit next the Bishops. The rest of the Attendants stand in convenient order about the stage. | |
Wolsey |
Whilst our commission from Rome is read,
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King |
What’s the need?
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Wolsey | Be’t so. Proceed. |
Scribe | Say, Henry King of England, come into the court. |
Crier | Henry King of England, etc. |
King | Here. |
Scribe | Say, Katharine Queen of England, come into the court. |
Crier | Katharine Queen of England, etc. The Queen makes no answer, rises out of her chair, goes about the court, comes to the King, and kneels at his feet; then speaks. |
Queen Katherine |
Sir, I desire you do me right and justice;
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Wolsey |
You have here, lady,
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Campeius |
His grace
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Queen Katherine |
Lord cardinal,
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Wolsey | Your pleasure, madam? |
Queen Katherine |
Sir,
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Wolsey | Be patient yet. |
Queen Katherine |
I will, when you are humble; nay, before,
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Wolsey |
I do profess
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Queen Katherine |
My lord, my lord,
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Campeius |
The queen is obstinate,
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King | Call her again. |
Crier | Katharine Queen of England, come into the court. |
Griffith | Madam, you are call’d back. |
Queen Katherine |
What need you note it? pray you, keep your way:
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King |
Go thy ways, Kate:
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Wolsey |
Most gracious sir,
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King |
My lord cardinal,
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Lincoln | Very well, my liege. |
King |
I have spoke long: be pleased yourself to say
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Lincoln |
So please your highness,
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King |
I then moved you,
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Campeius |
So please your highness,
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King |
Aside. I may perceive
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