按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
past my patience。 Pray you pass on。 I will not tarry； no； nor ever more
Upon this business my appearance make In any of their courts。 Exeunt
QUEEN and her attendants KING。 Go thy ways； Kate。 That man i' th'
world who shall report he has A better wife； let him in nought be trusted
For speaking false in that。 Thou art； alone If thy rare qualities； sweet
gentleness； Thy meekness saint…like； wife…like government； Obeying in
commanding； and thy parts Sovereign and pious else； could speak thee
out The queen of earthly queens。 She's noble born； And like her true
nobility she has Carried herself towards me。 WOLSEY。 Most gracious sir；
In humblest manner I require your Highness That it shall please you to
declare in hearing Of all these earsfor where I am robb'd and bound；
There must I be unloos'd； although not there At once and fully satisfied
whether ever I Did broach this business to your Highness； or Laid any
scruple in your way which might Induce you to the question on't； or ever
Have to you； but with thanks to God for such A royal lady； spake one the
least word that might Be to the prejudice of her present state； Or touch of
her good person？ KING。 My Lord Cardinal； I do excuse you； yea； upon
mine honour； I free you from't。 You are not to be taught That you have
many enemies that know not Why they are so； but； like to village curs；
Bark when their fellows do。 By some of these The Queen is put in anger。
Y'are excus'd。 But will you be more justified？ You ever Have wish'd the
sleeping of this business； never desir'd It to be stirr'd； but oft have hind'red；
oft； The passages made toward it。 On my honour； I speak my good Lord
Cardinal to this point； And thus far clear him。 Now； what mov'd me to't； I
will be bold with time and your attention。 Then mark th' inducement。 Thus
it camegive heed to't： My conscience first receiv'd a tenderness； Scruple；
and prick； on certain speeches utter'd By th' Bishop of Bayonne； then
French ambassador； Who had been hither sent on the debating A marriage
'twixt the Duke of Orleans and Our daughter Mary。 I' th' progress of this
business； Ere a determinate resolution； he I mean the Bishop…did require
a respite Wherein he might the King his lord advertise Whether our
daughter were legitimate； Respecting this our marriage with the dowager；
Sometimes our brother's wife。 This respite shook The bosom of my
conscience； enter'd me； Yea； with a splitting power； and made to tremble
36
… Page 37…
KING HENRY THE EIGHTH
The region of my breast； which forc'd such way That many maz'd
considerings did throng And press'd in with this caution。 First； methought I
stood not in the smile of heaven； who had Commanded nature that my
lady's womb； If it conceiv'd a male child by me； should Do no more
offices of life to't than The grave does to the dead； for her male issue Or
died where they were made； or shortly after This world had air'd them。
Hence I took a thought This was a judgment on me； that my kingdom；
Well worthy the best heir o' th' world； should not Be gladded in't by me。
Then follows that I weigh'd the danger which my realms stood in By this
my issue's fail； and that gave to me Many a groaning throe。 Thus hulling in
The wild sea of my conscience； I did steer Toward this remedy； whereupon
we are Now present here together； that's to say I meant to rectify my
conscience； which I then did feel full sick； and yet not well； By all the
reverend fathers of the land And doctors learn'd。 First； I began in private
With you； my Lord of Lincoln； you remember How under my oppression I
did reek； When I first mov'd you。 LINCOLN。 Very well； my liege。 KING。 I
have spoke long； be pleas'd yourself to say How far you satisfied me。
LINCOLN。 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。 I
then mov'd 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' th' world against the person Of the good Queen； but
the sharp thorny points Of my alleged reasons； drives this forward。 Prove
but our marriage lawful； by my life And kingly dignity； we are contented
To wear our moral state to come with her； Katharine our queen； before the
primest creature That's paragon'd o' th' world。 CAMPEIUS。 So please your
Highness； The Queen being absent； 'tis a needful fitness 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；
37
… Page 38…
KING HENRY THE EIGHTH
Cranmer； Prithee return。 With thy approach I know My comfort comes
along。Break up the court； I say； set on。 Exuent in manner as they entered
38
… Page 39…
KING HENRY THE EIGHTH
ACT III。
39
… Page 40…
KING HENRY THE EIGHTH
ACT III。 SCENE 1。