Henry VIII by William Shakespeare
Act 1 - Scene 4
A Hall in York Place.
Sir Henry Guildford : Ladies, a general welcome from his grace
[p]Salutes ye all; this night
he dedicates
[p]To fair content and you: none here, he hopes,
[p]In
all this noble bevy, has brought with her
[p]One care abroad; he would
have all as merry
[p]As, first, good company, good wine, good
welcome,
[p]Can make good people. O, my lord, you're tardy:
[p][Enter
Chamberlain, SANDS, and LOVELL]
[p]The very thought of this fair
company
[p]Clapp'd wings to me.
Lord Chamberlain : You are young, Sir Harry Guildford.
Lord Sands : Sir Thomas Lovell, had the cardinal
[p]But half my lay thoughts in
him, some of these
[p]Should find a running banquet ere they
rested,
[p]I think would better please 'em: by my life,
[p]They are a
sweet society of fair ones.
Sir Thomas Lovell : O, that your lordship were but now confessor
[p]To one or two of
these!
Lord Sands : I would I were;
[p]They should find easy penance.
Sir Thomas Lovell : Faith, how easy?
Lord Sands : As easy as a down-bed would afford it.
Lord Chamberlain : Sweet ladies, will it please you sit? Sir Harry,
[p]Place you that
side; I'll take the charge of this:
[p]His grace is entering. Nay, you
must not freeze;
[p]Two women placed together makes cold
weather:
[p]My Lord Sands, you are one will keep 'em waking;
[p]Pray,
sit between these ladies.
Lord Sands : By my faith,
[p]And thank your lordship. By your leave, sweet
ladies:
[p]If I chance to talk a little wild, forgive me;
[p]I had it
from my father.
Anne Bullen : Was he mad, sir?
Lord Sands : O, very mad, exceeding mad, in love too:
[p]But he would bite none;
just as I do now,
[p]He would kiss you twenty with a breath.
Lord Chamberlain : Well said, my lord.
[p]So, now you're fairly seated. Gentlemen,
[p]The
penance lies on you, if these fair ladies
[p]Pass away frowning.
Lord Sands : For my little cure,
[p]Let me alone.
Cardinal Wolsey : You're welcome, my fair guests: that noble lady,
[p]Or gentleman, that
is not freely merry,
[p]Is not my friend: this, to confirm my
welcome;
[p]And to you all, good health.
Lord Sands : Your grace is noble:
[p]Let me have such a bowl may hold my
thanks,
[p]And save me so much talking.
Cardinal Wolsey : My Lord Sands,
[p]I am beholding to you: cheer your
neighbours.
[p]Ladies, you are not merry: gentlemen,
[p]Whose fault is
this?
Lord Sands : The red wine first must rise
[p]In their fair cheeks, my lord; then we
shall have 'em
[p]Talk us to silence.
Anne Bullen : You are a merry gamester,
[p]My Lord Sands.
Lord Sands : Yes, if I make my play.
[p]Here's to your ladyship: and pledge it,
madam,
[p]For 'tis to such a thing,--
Anne Bullen : You cannot show me.
Lord Sands : I told your grace they would talk anon.
Cardinal Wolsey : What's that?
Lord Chamberlain : Look out there, some of ye.
Cardinal Wolsey : What warlike voice,
[p]And to what end is this? Nay, ladies, fear
not;
[p]By all the laws of war you're privileged.
Lord Chamberlain : How now! what is't?
Servant : A noble troop of strangers;
[p]For so they seem: they've left their
barge and landed;
[p]And hither make, as great ambassadors
[p]From
foreign princes.
Cardinal Wolsey : Good lord chamberlain,
[p]Go, give 'em welcome; you can speak the
French tongue;
[p]And, pray, receive 'em nobly, and conduct
'em
[p]Into our presence, where this heaven of beauty
[p]Shall shine
at full upon them. Some attend him.
[p][Exit Chamberlain, attended.
All rise, and tables removed]
[p]You have now a broken banquet; but
we'll mend it.
[p]A good digestion to you all: and once more
[p]I
shower a welcome on ye; welcome all.
[p][Hautboys. Enter KING HENRY
VIII and others, as]
[p]masquers, habited like shepherds, ushered by
the
[p]Chamberlain. They pass directly before CARDINAL
[p]WOLSEY, and
gracefully salute him]
[p]A noble company! what are their pleasures?
Lord Chamberlain : Because they speak no English, thus they pray'd
[p]To tell your grace,
that, having heard by fame
[p]Of this so noble and so fair
assembly
[p]This night to meet here, they could do no less
[p]Out of
the great respect they bear to beauty,
[p]But leave their flocks; and,
under your fair conduct,
[p]Crave leave to view these ladies and
entreat
[p]An hour of revels with 'em.
Cardinal Wolsey : Say, lord chamberlain,
[p]They have done my poor house grace; for
which I pay 'em
[p]A thousand thanks, and pray 'em take their
pleasures.
[p][They choose Ladies for the dance. KING HENRY
VIII]
[p]chooses ANNE]
Henry VIII : The fairest hand I ever touch'd! O beauty,
[p]Till now I never knew
thee!
Cardinal Wolsey : My lord!
Lord Chamberlain : Your grace?
Cardinal Wolsey : Pray, tell 'em thus much from me:
[p]There should be one amongst 'em,
by his person,
[p]More worthy this place than myself; to whom,
[p]If I
but knew him, with my love and duty
[p]I would surrender it.
Lord Chamberlain : I will, my lord.
Cardinal Wolsey : What say they?
Lord Chamberlain : Such a one, they all confess,
[p]There is indeed; which they would
have your grace
[p]Find out, and he will take it.
Cardinal Wolsey : Let me see, then.
[p]By all your good leaves, gentlemen; here I'll
make
[p]My royal choice.
Henry VIII : Ye have found him, cardinal:
[p][Unmasking]
[p]You hold a fair
assembly; you do well, lord:
[p]You are a churchman, or, I'll tell
you, cardinal,
[p]I should judge now unhappily.
Cardinal Wolsey : I am glad
[p]Your grace is grown so pleasant.
Henry VIII : My lord chamberlain,
[p]Prithee, come hither: what fair lady's that?
Lord Chamberlain : An't please your grace, Sir Thomas Bullen's daughter--
[p]The Viscount
Rochford,--one of her highness' women.
Henry VIII : By heaven, she is a dainty one. Sweetheart,
[p]I were unmannerly, to
take you out,
[p]And not to kiss you. A health, gentlemen!
[p]Let it
go round.
Cardinal Wolsey : Sir Thomas Lovell, is the banquet ready
[p]I' the privy chamber?
Sir Thomas Lovell : Yes, my lord.
Cardinal Wolsey : Your grace,
[p]I fear, with dancing is a little heated.
Henry VIII : I fear, too much.
Cardinal Wolsey : There's fresher air, my lord,
[p]In the next chamber.
Henry VIII : Lead in your ladies, every one: sweet partner,
[p]I must not yet
forsake you: let's be merry:
[p]Good my lord cardinal, I have half a
dozen healths
[p]To drink to these fair ladies, and a measure
[p]To
lead 'em once again; and then let's dream
[p]Who's best in favour. Let
the music knock it.
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Next: Act 2 - Scene 1
