Lin.

When I first moved you.

Very well, my liege.

King. I have spoke long: be pleased yourself to

Lin.

say

How far you satisfied me.

210

So please your highness,
The question did at first so stagger me,
Bearing a state of mighty moment in 't
And consequence of dread, that I committed
The daring'st counsel which I had to doubt,
And did entreat your highness to this course
Which you are running here.

King.

220

I then moved you,
My Lord of Canterbury, and got your leave
To make this present summons: unsolicited
I left no reverend person in this court;
But by particular consent proceeded
Under your hands and seals: therefore, go on;
For no dislike i' the world against the person
Of the good queen, but the sharp thorny points
Of my alleged reasons, drive this forward:
Prove but our marriage lawful, by my life
And kingly dignity, we are contented
To wear our mortal state to come with her,

213. "Bearing a state of mighty moment in't," etc.; involving momentous issues and formidable consequences.-C. H. H.

214. "committed the daring'st counsel which I had to doubt," etc.; instead of directly advising on the queen's case, Lincoln only advised further counsel. This is more clearly put by Holinshed, where the king says, addressing him: "for so much as then you yourself were in some doubt, you moved me to ask the counsel of all these my lords" (iii. 907).-C. H. H.

225. "drive"; Pope's emendation of Ff., "drives.”—I. G.

Katharine our queen, before the primest crea

ture

That's paragon'd o' the world.

Cam.

So please your highness,
The queen being absent, 'tis a needful fitness 231
That we adjourn this court till further day:
Meanwhile must be an earnest motion

Made to the queen, to call back her appeal
She intends unto his holiness.

King.

[Aside] I may perceive
These cardinals trifle with me: I abhor

This dilatory sloth and tricks of Rome.
My learn'd and well-beloved servant, Cranmer,
Prithee, return; with thy approach, I know,
My comfort comes along.-Break up the court:
I say,
say, set on.

241

[Exeunt in manner as they entered.

239. "Prithee, return"; the king, be it observed, is here merely thinking aloud. Cranmer was at that time absent on a foreign embassy.-H. N. H.

ACT THIRD

SCENE I

London. The Queen's apartments.

The Queen and her Women, as at work.

Q. Kath. Take thy lute, wench: my soul grows sad with troubles;

Sing, and disperse 'em, if thou canst: leave working.

SONG.

Orpheus with his lute made trees,
And the mountain tops that freeze,
Bow themselves when he did sing:
To his music plants and flowers
Ever sprung, as sun and showers
There had made a lasting spring.

Every thing that heard him play,
Even the billows of the sea,

Hung their heads, and then lay by.
In sweet music is such art,

10

8. "had made a lasting spring"; so in all the old copies. In modern editions generally, been has strangely crept into the place of made, to the great marring, well nigh to the utter spoiling, in fact, of both sense and poetry. Doubtless the change occurred by mistake; it is too bad to have come otherwise.-In the preceding line, as is of course used for as if, or as though.-H. N. H,

Killing care and grief of heart
Fall asleep, or hearing die.

Enter a Gentleman.

Q. Kath. How now!

Gent. An 't please your grace, the two great cardinals

Wait in the presence.

Q. Kath.

Would they speak with me?

Gent. They will'd me say so, madam.

Q. Kath.

Pray their graces To come near. [Exit Gent.] What can be their business

With me, a poor weak woman, fall'n from favor?

20

I do not like their coming. Now I think on 't,
They should be good men, their affairs as right-

eous:

But all hoods make not monks.

Wol.

Enter the two Cardinals, Wolsey and Campeius. Peace to your highness! Q. Kath. Your graces find me here part of a housewife;

I would be all, against the worst may happen.

23. "hoods make not monks"; being churchmen they should be virtuous, and every business they undertake as righteous as their sacred office: but all hoods make not monks. In allusion to the Latin proverb-Cucullus non facit monachum, to which Chaucer also al

ludes:

"Habite ne maketh monke ne frere;

But a clene life and devotion,

Maketh gode men of religion.”—H. N. H.

What are your pleasures with me, reverend lords?

Wol. May it please you, noble madam, to withdraw Into your private chamber, we shall give you The full cause of our coming.

Q. Kath.

Speak it here;

There's nothing I have done yet, o' my conscience,

Deserves a corner: would all other women

Could speak this with as free a soul as I do!
My lords, I care not, so much I am happy
Above a number, if my actions

30

Were tried by every tongue, every eye saw 'em, Envy and base opinion set against 'em, I know my life so even. If your business Seek me out, and that way I am wife in, Out with it boldly: truth loves open dealing. Wol. Tanta est erga te mentis integritas, regina 40 serenissima,

Q. Kath. O, good my lord, no Latin;

I am not such a truant since my coming,

As not to know the language I have lived in: A strange tongue makes my cause more strange, suspicious;

Pray speak in English: here are some will thank

you,

If you speak truth, for their poor mistress' sake;

31. "Deserves a corner"; i. e. to be told secretly.-C. H. H.

38. "and that way I am wife in"; i. e. “concerning my conduct as a wife." (Rowe proposed "wise" for "wife.")—I. G.

40. "Tanta est erga te mentis integritas regina serenissima"; "So great is our integrity of purpose towards thee, most serene princess." -I. G.