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- ALL IS TRUE (HENRY VIII)
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- Act 1 Scene 4
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- (Hautboys. Enter servants with a small table for Cardinal Wolsey which
- they place under the cloth of state, and a longer table for the guests. Then
- enter at one door Anne Boleyn and divers other ladies and gentlemen as
- guests, and at another door enter Sir Henry Guildford)
- l1l Guildford Ladies, a general welcome from his grace
- l2l Salutes ye all. This night he dedicates
- l3l To fair content and you. None here, he hopes,
- l4l In all this noble bevy, has brought with her
- l5l One care abroad. He would have all as merry
- l6l As feast, good company, good wine, good welcome
- l7l Can make good people.
- (Enter the Lord Chamberlain, Lord Sands, and Sir
- Thomas Lovell)
- (To the Lord Chamberlain) O, my lord, youÆre tardy.
- l8l The very thought of this fair company
- l9l Clapped wings to me.
- Lord Chamberlain You are young, Sir Harry Guildford.
- l10l Sands Sir Thomas Lovell, had the Cardinal
- l11l But half my lay thoughts in him, some of these
- l12l Should find a running banquet, ere they rested,
- l13l I think would better please Æem. By my life,
- l14l They are a sweet society of fair ones.
- l15l Lovell O, that your lordship were but now confessor
- l16l To one or two of these.
- Sands I would I were.
- l17l They should find easy penance.
- Lovell Faith, how easy?
- l18l Sands As easy as a down bed would afford it.
- l19l Lord Chamberlain Sweet ladies, will it please you sit?
- (To Guildford) Sir Harry,
- l20l Place you that side, IÆll take the charge of this.
- (They sit about the longer table. A noise within)
- l21l His grace is entÆring. Nay, you must not freezeù
- l22l Two women placed together makes cold weather.
- l23l My lord Sands, you are one will keep Æem waking.
- l24l Pray sit between these ladies.
- Sands By my faith,
- l25l And thank your lordship.
- (He sits between Anne and another)
- By your leave, sweet ladies.
- l26l If I chance to talk a little wild, forgive me.
- l27l I had it from my father.
- Anne Was he mad, sir?
- l28l Sands O, very mad# exceeding madùin love, too.
- l29l But he would bite none. Just as I do now,
- l30l He would kiss you twenty with a breath.
- (He kisses her)
- Lord Chamberlain Well said, my lord.
- l31l So now youÆre fairly seated. Gentlemen,
- l32l The penance lies on you if these fair ladies
- l33l Pass away frowning.
- l34l Sands For my little cure,
- l35l Let me alone.
- (Hautboys. Enter Cardinal Wolsey who takes his seat at
- the small table under the state)
- l36l Cardinal Wolsey YouÆre welcome, my fair guests. That noble lady
- l37l Or gentleman that is not freely merry
- l38l Is not my friend. This, to confirm my welcome,
- l39l And to you all, good health!
- (He drinks)
- Sands Your grace is noble.
- l40l Let me have such a bowl may hold my thanks,
- l41l And save me so much talking.
- Cardinal Wolsey My lord Sands,
- l42l I am beholden to you. Cheer your neighbours.
- l43l Ladies, you are not merry! Gentlemen,
- l44l Whose fault is this?
- Sands The red wine first must rise
- l45l In their fair cheeks, my lord, then we shall have Æem
- l46l Talk us to silence.
- Anne You are a merry gamester,
- l47l My lord Sands.
- Sands Yes, if I make my play.
- l48l HereÆs to your ladyship# and pledge it, madam,
- l49l For Ætis to such a thingù
- Anne You cannot show me.
- l50l Sands (to Wolsey) I told your grace they would talk anon.
- (Drum and trumpet. Chambers discharged)
- Cardinal Wolsey WhatÆs that?
- l51l Lord Chamberlain (to the servants) Look out there, some of ye.
- (Exit a servant)
- Cardinal Wolsey What warlike
- voice,
- l52l And to what end is this? Nay, ladies, fear not.
- l53l By all the laws of war youÆre privileged.
- (Enter the servant)
- l54l Lord Chamberlain How nowùwhat is Æt?
- Servant A noble troop of strangers,
- l55l For so they seem. TheyÆve left their barge and landed,
- l56l And hither make as great ambassadors
- l57l From foreign princes.
- Cardinal Wolsey Good Lord Chamberlain,
- l58l Go give Æem welcomeùyou can speak the French tongue.
- l59l And pray receive Æem nobly, and conduct Æem
- l60l Into our presence where this heaven of beauty
- l61l Shall shine at full upon them. Some attend him.
- (Exit Chamberlain, attended)
- l62l (All rise, and some servants remove the tables)
- You have now a broken banquet, but weÆll mend it.
- l63l A good digestion to you all, and once more
- l64l I shower a welcome on yeùwelcome all.
- (Hautboys. Enter, ushered by the Lord Chamberlain, King
- Henry and others as masquers habited like shepherds.
- They pass directly before Cardinal Wolsey and gracefully
- salute him)
- l65l A noble company. What are their pleasures?
- l66l Lord Chamberlain Because they speak no English, thus they prayed
- l67l To tell your grace, that, having heard by fame
- l68l Of this so noble and so fair assembly
- l69l This night to meet here, they could do no less,
- l70l Out of the great respect they bear to beauty,
- l71l But leave their flocks, and, under your fair conduct,
- l72l Crave leave to view these ladies, and entreat
- l73l An hour of revels with Æem.
- Cardinal Wolsey Say, Lord Chamberlain,
- l74l They have done my poor house grace, for which I pay Æem
- l75l A thousand thanks, and pray Æem take their pleasures.
- (The masquers choose ladies. The King chooses Anne
- Boleyn)
- l76l King Henry (to Anne) The fairest hand I ever touched. O beauty,
- l77l Till now I never knew thee.
- (Music. They dance)
- l78l Cardinal Wolsey (to the Lord Chamberlain) My lord.
- l79l Lord Chamberlain Your grace.
- l80l Cardinal Wolsey Pray tell Æem thus much from me.
- l81l There should be one amongst Æem by his person
- l82l More worthy this place than myself, to whom,
- l83l If I but knew him, with my love and duty
- l84l I would surrender it.
- Lord Chamberlain I will, my lord.
- (He whispers with the masquers)
- l85l Cardinal Wolsey What say they?
- Lord Chamberlain Such a one they all confess
- l86l There is indeed, which they would have your grace
- l87l Find out, and he will take it.
- Cardinal Wolsey (Standing) Let me see then.
- l88l By all your good leaves, gentlemen, here IÆll make
- l89l My royal choice.
- (He bows before the King)
- King Henry (unmasking) Ye have found him, Cardinal.
- l90l You hold a fair assembly. You do well, lord.
- l91l You are a churchman, or IÆll tell you, Cardinal,
- l92l I should judge now unhappily.
- Cardinal Wolsey I am glad
- l93l Your grace is grown so pleasant.
- King Henry My Lord Chamberlain,
- l94l Prithee come hither.
- (Gesturing towards Anne) What fair ladyÆs that?
- l95l Lord Chamberlain An Æt please your grace, Sir Thomas BoleynÆs
- daughterù
- l96l The Viscount Rochfordùone of her highnessÆ women.
- l97l King Henry By heaven, she is a dainty one.
- (To Anne) Sweetheart,
- l98l I were unmannerly to take you out
- l99l And not to kiss you
- (kisses her) A health, gentlemen#
- (He drinks)
- l100l Let it go round.
- l101l Cardinal Wolsey Sir Thomas Lovell, is the banquet ready
- l102l IÆ thÆ privy chamber?
- Lovell Yes, my lord.
- Cardinal Wolsey (to the King) Your grace
- l103l I fear with dancing is a little heated.
- l104l King Henry I fear too much.
- l105l Cardinal Wolsey ThereÆs fresher air, my lord,
- l106l In the next chamber.
- l107l King Henry Lead in your ladies, every one.
- (To Anne) Sweet partner,
- l108l I must not yet forsake you.
- (To Wolsey) LetÆs be merry,
- l109l Good my lord Cardinal. I have half a dozen healths
- l110l To drink to these fair ladies, and a measure
- l111l To lead Æem once again, and then letÆs dream
- l112l WhoÆs best in favour. Let the music knock it.
- (Exeunt with trumpets)
-