SCENE IV.-The Palace. Enter Trumpets, sounding; then two Aldermen, Lord Mayor, Garter, CRANMER, Duke of NORFOLK, with his Marshal's staff, Duke of SUFFOLK, two Noblemen bearing great standing-bowls for the christening gifts; then four Noblemen bearing a canopy, under which the Duchess of NORFOLK, godmother, bearing the child richly habited in a mantle, &c. Train borne by a Lady: then follows the Marchioness of DORSET, the other godmother, and Ladies. The Troop pass once about the stage, and Garter speaks. Gart. Heaven, from thy endless goodness, send prosperous life, long, and ever happy, to the high and mighty princess of England, Elizabeth! Flourish. Enter King, and Train. Cran. [Kneeling.] And to your royal grace, and the good queen, My noble partners, and myself, thus pray ;- K. Hen. Thank you, good lord archbishop; Cran. Elizabeth. K. Hen. Stand up, lord.-[The King kisses the Child. With this kiss take my blessing: God protect thee! Into whose hands I give thy life. Cran, Amen. K. Hen. My noble gossips, ye have been too prodigal: I thank ye heartily; so shall this lady, When she has so much English. Cran. Let me speak, sir, For Heaven now bids me; and the words I utter Upon this land a thousand thousand blessings, Shall still be doubled on her; truth shall nurse her, She shall be lov'd, and fear'd: Her own shall bless her: Her foes shake like a field of beaten corn, And hang their heads with sorrow: Good grows with her: In her days, every man shall eat in safety, Under his own vine, what he plants; and sing As great in admiration as herself; So shall she leave her blessedness to one, (When heaven shall call her from this cloud of dark ness,) Who, from the sacred ashes of her honour, Shall star-like rise, as great in fame as she was, K. Hen. Thou speakest wonders. Cran. She shall be, to the happiness of England, To the ground, and all the world shall mourn her. Thou hast made me now a man; never, before This oracle of comfort has so pleas'd me, That, when I am in heaven, I shall desire To see what this child does, and praise my Maker.- 2 ye, And ye shall find me thankful. Lead the way, lords;- [Exeunt. EPILOGUE. 'Tis ten to one, this play can never please All that are here: Some come to take their ease, And sleep an act or two; but those, we fear, We have frighted with our trumpets; so, 'tis clear, They'll say, 'tis naught: others, to hear the city Abus'd extremely, and to cry, that's witty! Which we have not done neither: that, I fear, All the expected good we are like to hear For this play at this time, is only in The merciful construction of good women ; For such a one we show'd them; if they smile, And say, 'twill do, I know, within a while All the best men are ours; for 'tis ill hap, If they hold, when their ladies bid them clap. |