Sands. I told your grace they would talk anon. [Drum and trumpets within. Chambers dis Wol. charged. Cham. Look out there, some of ye. Wol. What's that? [Exit a Servant. What warlike voice? And to what end is this?-Nay, ladies, fear not; Re-enter Servant. Cham. How now? what is't? Serv. A noble troop of strangers; For so they seem; they have left their barge, and landed; And hither make, as great ambassadors From foreign princes. Wol. Good lord chamberlain, Go, give them welcome, you can speak the And, pray, receive them nobly, and conduct them Into our presence, where this heaven of beauty Shall shine at full upon them. Some attend him. [Exit CHAMBERLAIN, attended. All rise, and tables removed. You have now a broken banquet; but we'll A good digestion to you all: and, once more, Hautboys. Enter the KING, and twelve others, as maskers, habited like shepherds, with sixteen torch-bearers; ushered by the LORD CHAMBERLAIN. They pass directly before the CARDINAL, and gracefully salute him. A noble company! what are their pleasures? 1 Cham. Because they speak no English, thus they pray'd 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 Wol. Say, lord chamberlain, They have done my poor house grace; for which I pay them A thousand thanks, and pray them take their pleasures. [Ladies chosen for the dance. The KING chooses ANNE BULLEN. K. Hen. The fairest hand I ever touch'd! O, Your grace? [Music. Dance. Wol. Pray, tell them thus much from me: There should be one amongst them, by his person, More worthy this place than myself; to whom, I would surrender it. Cham. will, my lord. [CHAMBERLAIN goes to the company, and returns. Wol. What say they? Cham. Such a one, they all confess, There is, indeed; which they would have your grace Find out, and he will take it. Wol. Let me see then. [Comes from his state. By all your good leaves, gentlemen ;-here I'll make My royal choice. K. Hen. You have found him, cardinal: [Unmasking. You hold a fair assembly; you do well, lord: You are a churchman, or I'll tell you, cardinal, I should judge now unhappily. Wol. I am glad Your grace has grown so pleasant. My lord chamberlain K. Hen. Pr'ythee, come hither: what fair lady's that? Cham. An't please your grace, sir Thomas Bullen's daughter, The viscount Rochford,- -one of her highness' women. K. Hen. By heaven she is a dainty one.Sweetheart, I were unmannerly to take you out, And not to kiss you.-A health, gentlemen, Wol. Sir Thomas Lovell, is the banquet ready i' the privy chamber? Lov. Wol. Yes, my lord. Your grace, I fear, with dancing is a little heated. K. Hen. I fear, too much. In the next chamber. There's fresher air, my lord, K. Hen. Lead in your ladies, every one Sweet partner, I must not forsake you :-let's be merry ; Good my lord cardinal, I have half a dozen healths To drink to these fair ladies, and a measure That labour, sir. All's now done, but the cere 1 Gent. Yes, truly he is, and condemn'd upon it. 2 Gent. I am sorry for't. I Gent. So are numbers more. 2 Gent. But, pray, how pass'd it? 1 Gent. I'll tell you in a little. The great duke Came to the bar; where to his accusations He pleaded still, not guilty, and alleged Urged on the examinations, proofs, confessions, At which appeared against him, his surveyor; 2 Gent. That fed him with his prophecies ? : That was he The same. I Gent. And so his peers, upon this evidence, Much 2 Gent. After all this, how did he bear himself? 1 Gent. When he was brought again to the bar, to hear His knell rung out, his judgment, he was stirr’d Sure, he does not. He never was so womanish; the cause |