Use us, and it:-My good lord, have great care I be not found a talker 17. Wol. [To Wolsey. Sir, you cannot. I would, your grace would give us but an hour Of private conference. K. Hen. Nor. This priest has no pride in him? Suf. We are busy; go. [To Norfolk and Suffolk. Not to speak of; Aside. I would not be so sick though, for his place: Nor. If it do, I another. I'll venture one heave at him. Suf. [Exeunt Norfolk and Suffolk. Wol. Your grace has given a precedent of wisdom Above all princes, in committing freely Your scruple to the voice of Christendom: Who can be angry now? what envy reach you? I mean, the learned ones, in christian kingdoms, Have their free voices; Rome, the nurse of judgement, Invited by your noble self, hath sent One general tongue unto us, this good man, K. Hen. And, once more, in mine arms I bid him welcome, And thank the holy conclave for their loves; They have sent me such a man I would have wish'd for. Cam. Your grace must needs deserve all strangers' loves, You are so noble: To your highness' hand I tender my commission; by whose virtue, K. Hen. Two equal men. The queen shall be ac quainted Forthwith, for what you come: -Where's Gardiner? Wol. I know, your majesty has always lov'd her So dear in heart, not to deny her that A woman of less place might ask by law, Scholars, allow'd freely to argue for her. K. Hen. Ay, and the best, she shall have; and my favour To him that does best; God forbid else. Cardinal, Re-enter WOLSEY, with GARDINER. Wol. Give me your hand: much joy and favour to you; You are the king's now. Gard. But to be commanded For ever by your grace, whose hand has rais'd me. [Aside. [They converse apart. K. Hen. Come hither, Gardiner. Cam. My lord of York, was not one doctor Pace In this man's place before him? Wol. Cam. Was he not held a learned man? Wol. Yes, he was. Yes, surely. Cam. Believe me, there's an ill opinion spread then Even of yourself, lord cardinal. Wol. How! of me? Cam. They will not stick to say, you envy'd him; And, fearing he would rise, he was so virtuous, Kept him a foreign man still: which so griev'd him, That he ran mad, and died. Wol. For he would needs be virtuous: That good fellow, · K. Hen. Deliver this with modesty to the queen. The most convenient place that I can think of, Would it not grieve an able man, to leave So sweet a bedfellow? But, conscience, conscience,O, 'tis a tender place, and I must leave her. [Exeunt. SCENE III. An Antechamber in the Queen's Apartments. Enter ANNE BULLEN, and an old Lady. Anne. Not for that neither ;-Here's the pinches : pang that His highness having liv'd so long with her; and she Still growing in a majesty and pomp,-the which Would move a monster. Old L. Melt and lament for her. Anne. Hearts of most hard temper O, God's will! much better, She ne'er had known pomp: though it be temporal, Yet, if that quarrel, fortune, do divorce It from the bearer, 'tis a sufferance, panging As soul and body's severing. Old L. She's a stranger now again. Alas, poor lady! Anne. Must pity drop upon her. So much the more Verily, I swear, 'tis better to be lowly born, And wear a golden sorrow. And venture maidenhead for't; and so would you, You, that have so fair parts of woman on you, Have too a woman's heart; which ever yet Affected eminence, wealth, sovereignty; Which, to say sooth, are blessings: and which gifts (Saving your mincing) the capacity Of your soft cheveril 19 conscience would receive, If you might please to stretch it. Anne. Nay, good troth,— Old L. Yes, troth, and troth,-You would not be a queen? Anne. No, not for all the riches under heaven. hire me, Old as I am, to queen it: But, I pray you, What think you of a duchess? have you limbs To bear that load of title? Anne. VOL. IX. No, in truth. R |