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Home > King Henry VIII > ACT V - SCENE V. The palace.

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ACT V - SCENE V. The palace.
Garter
1    Heaven, from thy endless goodness, send prosperous
2    life, long, and ever happy, to the high and mighty
3    princess of England, Elizabeth!
Flourish. Enter KING HENRY VIII and Guard

CRANMER
Kneeling
4     And to your royal grace, and the good queen,
5    My noble partners, and myself, thus pray:
6    All comfort, joy, in this most gracious lady,
7    Heaven ever laid up to make parents happy,
8    May hourly fall upon ye!
KING HENRY VIII
9    Thank you, good lord archbishop:
10   What is her name?
CRANMER
11   Elizabeth.
KING HENRY VIII
12   Stand up, lord.
KING HENRY VIII kisses the child
13   With this kiss take my blessing: God protect thee!
14   Into whose hand I give thy life.
CRANMER
15   Amen.
KING HENRY VIII
16   My noble gossips, ye have been too prodigal:
17   I thank ye heartily; so shall this lady,
18   When she has so much English.
CRANMER
19   Let me speak, sir,
20   For heaven now bids me; and the words I utter
21   Let none think flattery, for they'll find 'em truth.
22   This royal infant--heaven still move about her!--
23   Though in her cradle, yet now promises
24   Upon this land a thousand thousand blessings,
25   Which time shall bring to ripeness: she shall be--
26   But few now living can behold that goodness--
27   A pattern to all princes living with her,
28   And all that shall succeed: Saba was never
29   More covetous of wisdom and fair virtue
30   Than this pure soul shall be: all princely graces,
31   That mould up such a mighty piece as this is,
32   With all the virtues that attend the good,
33   Shall still be doubled on her: truth shall nurse her,
34   Holy and heavenly thoughts still counsel her:
35   She shall be loved and fear'd: her own shall bless her;
36   Her foes shake like a field of beaten corn,
37   And hang their heads with sorrow: good grows with her:
38   In her days every man shall eat in safety,
39   Under his own vine, what he plants; and sing
40   The merry songs of peace to all his neighbours:
41   God shall be truly known; and those about her
42   From her shall read the perfect ways of honour,
43   And by those claim their greatness, not by blood.
44   Nor shall this peace sleep with her: but as when
45   The bird of wonder dies, the maiden phoenix,
46   Her ashes new create another heir,
47   As great in admiration as herself;
48   So shall she leave her blessedness to one,
49   When heaven shall call her from this cloud of darkness,
50   Who from the sacred ashes of her honour
51   Shall star-like rise, as great in fame as she was,
52   And so stand fix'd: peace, plenty, love, truth, terror,
53   That were the servants to this chosen infant,
54   Shall then be his, and like a vine grow to him:
55   Wherever the bright sun of heaven shall shine,
56   His honour and the greatness of his name
57   Shall be, and make new nations: he shall flourish,
58   And, like a mountain cedar, reach his branches
59   To all the plains about him: our children's children
60   Shall see this, and bless heaven.
KING HENRY VIII
61   Thou speakest wonders.
CRANMER
62   She shall be, to the happiness of England,
63   An aged princess; many days shall see her,
64   And yet no day without a deed to crown it.
65   Would I had known no more! but she must die,
66   She must, the saints must have her; yet a virgin,
67   A most unspotted lily shall she pass
68   To the ground, and all the world shall mourn her.
KING HENRY VIII
69   O lord archbishop,
70   Thou hast made me now a man! never, before
71   This happy child, did I get any thing:
72   This oracle of comfort has so pleased me,
73   That when I am in heaven I shall desire
74   To see what this child does, and praise my Maker.
75   I thank ye all. To you, my good lord mayor,
76   And your good brethren, I am much beholding;
77   I have received much honour by your presence,
78   And ye shall find me thankful. Lead the way, lords:
79   Ye must all see the queen, and she must thank ye,
80   She will be sick else. This day, no man think
81   Has business at his house; for all shall stay:
82   This little one shall make it holiday.
Exeunt

< (Previous) ACT V, SCENE IVACT V, EPILOGUE (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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