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Home > King Henry VIII > ACT I - SCENE IV. A Hall in York Place.

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ACT I - SCENE IV. A Hall in York Place.
GUILDFORD
1    Ladies, a general welcome from his grace
2    Salutes ye all; this night he dedicates
3    To fair content and you: none here, he hopes,
4    In all this noble bevy, has brought with her
5    One care abroad; he would have all as merry
6    As, first, good company, good wine, good welcome,
7    Can make good people. O, my lord, you're tardy:
Enter Chamberlain, SANDS, and LOVELL
8    The very thought of this fair company
9    Clapp'd wings to me.
Chamberlain
10   You are young, Sir Harry Guildford.
SANDS
11   Sir Thomas Lovell, had the cardinal
12   But half my lay thoughts in him, some of these
13   Should find a running banquet ere they rested,
14   I think would better please 'em: by my life,
15   They are a sweet society of fair ones.
LOVELL
16   O, that your lordship were but now confessor
17   To one or two of these!
SANDS
18   I would I were;
19   They should find easy penance.
LOVELL
20   Faith, how easy?
SANDS
21   As easy as a down-bed would afford it.
Chamberlain
22   Sweet ladies, will it please you sit? Sir Harry,
23   Place you that side; I'll take the charge of this:
24   His grace is entering. Nay, you must not freeze;
25   Two women placed together makes cold weather:
26   My Lord Sands, you are one will keep 'em waking;
27   Pray, sit between these ladies.
SANDS
28   By my faith,
29   And thank your lordship. By your leave, sweet ladies:
30   If I chance to talk a little wild, forgive me;
31   I had it from my father.
ANNE
32   Was he mad, sir?
SANDS
33   O, very mad, exceeding mad, in love too:
34   But he would bite none; just as I do now,
35   He would kiss you twenty with a breath.
Kisses her

Chamberlain
36   Well said, my lord.
37   So, now you're fairly seated. Gentlemen,
38   The penance lies on you, if these fair ladies
39   Pass away frowning.
SANDS
40   For my little cure,
41   Let me alone.
Hautboys. Enter CARDINAL WOLSEY, and takes his state

CARDINAL WOLSEY
42   You're welcome, my fair guests: that noble lady,
43   Or gentleman, that is not freely merry,
44   Is not my friend: this, to confirm my welcome;
45   And to you all, good health.
Drinks

SANDS
46   Your grace is noble:
47   Let me have such a bowl may hold my thanks,
48   And save me so much talking.
CARDINAL WOLSEY
49   My Lord Sands,
50   I am beholding to you: cheer your neighbours.
51   Ladies, you are not merry: gentlemen,
52   Whose fault is this?
SANDS
53   The red wine first must rise
54   In their fair cheeks, my lord; then we shall have 'em
55   Talk us to silence.
ANNE
56   You are a merry gamester,
57   My Lord Sands.
SANDS
58   Yes, if I make my play.
59   Here's to your ladyship: and pledge it, madam,
60   For 'tis to such a thing,--
ANNE
61   You cannot show me.
SANDS
62   I told your grace they would talk anon.
Drum and trumpet, chambers discharged

CARDINAL WOLSEY
63   What's that?
Chamberlain
64   Look out there, some of ye.
Exit Servant

CARDINAL WOLSEY
65   What warlike voice,
66   And to what end is this? Nay, ladies, fear not;
67   By all the laws of war you're privileged.
Re-enter Servant

Chamberlain
68   How now! what is't?
Servant
69   A noble troop of strangers;
70   For so they seem: they've left their barge and landed;
71   And hither make, as great ambassadors
72   From foreign princes.
CARDINAL WOLSEY
73   Good lord chamberlain,
74   Go, give 'em welcome; you can speak the French tongue;
75   And, pray, receive 'em nobly, and conduct 'em
76   Into our presence, where this heaven of beauty
77   Shall shine at full upon them. Some attend him.
Exit Chamberlain, attended. All rise, and tables removed
78   You have now a broken banquet; but we'll mend it.
79   A good digestion to you all: and once more
80   I shower a welcome on ye; welcome all.
81   A noble company! what are their pleasures?
Chamberlain
82   Because they speak no English, thus they pray'd
83   To tell your grace, that, having heard by fame
84   Of this so noble and so fair assembly
85   This night to meet here, they could do no less
86   Out of the great respect they bear to beauty,
87   But leave their flocks; and, under your fair conduct,
88   Crave leave to view these ladies and entreat
89   An hour of revels with 'em.
CARDINAL WOLSEY
90   Say, lord chamberlain,
91   They have done my poor house grace; for which I pay 'em
92   A thousand thanks, and pray 'em take their pleasures.
KING HENRY VIII
93   The fairest hand I ever touch'd! O beauty,
94   Till now I never knew thee!
Music. Dance

CARDINAL WOLSEY
95   My lord!
Chamberlain
96   Your grace?
CARDINAL WOLSEY
97   Pray, tell 'em thus much from me:
98   There should be one amongst 'em, by his person,
99   More worthy this place than myself; to whom,
100  If I but knew him, with my love and duty
101  I would surrender it.
Chamberlain
102  I will, my lord.
Whispers the Masquers

CARDINAL WOLSEY
103  What say they?
Chamberlain
104  Such a one, they all confess,
105  There is indeed; which they would have your grace
106  Find out, and he will take it.
CARDINAL WOLSEY
107  Let me see, then.
108  By all your good leaves, gentlemen; here I'll make
109  My royal choice.
KING HENRY VIII
110  Ye have found him, cardinal:
Unmasking
111  You hold a fair assembly; you do well, lord:
112  You are a churchman, or, I'll tell you, cardinal,
113  I should judge now unhappily.
CARDINAL WOLSEY
114  I am glad
115  Your grace is grown so pleasant.
KING HENRY VIII
116  My lord chamberlain,
117  Prithee, come hither: what fair lady's that?
Chamberlain
118  An't please your grace, Sir Thomas Bullen's daughter--
119  The Viscount Rochford,--one of her highness' women.
KING HENRY VIII
120  By heaven, she is a dainty one. Sweetheart,
121  I were unmannerly, to take you out,
122  And not to kiss you. A health, gentlemen!
123  Let it go round.
CARDINAL WOLSEY
124  Sir Thomas Lovell, is the banquet ready
125  I' the privy chamber?
LOVELL
126  Yes, my lord.
CARDINAL WOLSEY
127  Your grace,
128  I fear, with dancing is a little heated.
KING HENRY VIII
129  I fear, too much.
CARDINAL WOLSEY
130  There's fresher air, my lord,
131  In the next chamber.
KING HENRY VIII
132  Lead in your ladies, every one: sweet partner,
133  I must not yet forsake you: let's be merry:
134  Good my lord cardinal, I have half a dozen healths
135  To drink to these fair ladies, and a measure
136  To lead 'em once again; and then let's dream
137  Who's best in favour. Let the music knock it.
Exeunt with trumpets

< (Previous) ACT I, SCENE IIIACT II, I (Next) >
Scene Index
  • PROLOGUE


  • ACT I
  • SCENE I
  • SCENE II
  • SCENE III
  • SCENE IV


  • ACT II
  • SCENE I
  • SCENE II
  • SCENE III
  • SCENE IV


  • ACT III
  • SCENE I
  • SCENE II


  • ACT IV
  • SCENE I
  • SCENE II


  • ACT V
  • SCENE I
  • SCENE II
  • SCENE III
  • SCENE IV
  • SCENE V
  • EPILOGUE

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