Crave leave to view these ladies, and entreat Wol. Say, Lord Chamberlain, They have done my poor house grace; for which I pay 'em A thousand thanks, and pray 'em take their pleasures. [Ladies chosen. The KING takes ANNE BULLEN. K. Hen. The fairest hand I ever touched: Beauty, Till now I never knew thee! [Music. Dance. Wol. My lord! Cham. Your grace? Wol. Pray, tell them thus much from me: There should be one amongst them by his person, More worthy this place than myself; to whom, If I but knew him, with my love and duty 1 would surrender it. Cham. I will, my lord. [Goes to the Masquers, and returns. Wol. What say they? Cham. Such a one, they all confess, There is, indeed; which they would have your grace Find out, and he will take it. Wol. Let me so By all your good leaves, gentlemen; here I'll make My royal choice. K. Hen. [Unmasking.] Ye have found him, Cardinal. You hold a fair assembly; you do well, lord: You are a churchman, or, I'll tell you, Cardinal, I should judge now unhappily. Wol. Your grace is grown so pleasant. K. Hen. I am glad, My Lord Chamberlain, Pr'ythee, come hither. What fair lady's that? Cham. An 't please your grace, Sir Thomas Bullen's daughter, The Viscount Rochford; one of her highness' women. K. Hen. By Heaven, she is a dainty one.Sweetheart, I were unmannerly to take you out, And not to kiss you.-A health, gentlemen! Wol. Sir Thomas Lovell, is the banquet ready I' the privy chamber? Lov. Wol. Yes, my lord. Your grace, I fear, with dancing is a little heated. K. Hen. I fear, too much. Wol. In the next chamber. There's fresher air, my lord, K. Hen. Lead in your ladies, every one.-Sweet partner, I must not yet forsake you.-Let's be merry, Good my Lord Cardinal: I have half a dozen healths To drink to these fair ladies, and a measure E'en to the hall, to hear what shall become Of the great Duke of Buckingham. 1 Gent. I'll save you That labour, sir. All's now done, but the ceremony Of bringing back the prisoner 2 Gent. Were you there? 1 Gent. Yes, indeed, was I. 2 Gent. Pray, speak what has happened. 1 Gent. You may guess quickly what. 2 Gent. Is he found guilty? 1 Gent. Yes, truly is he, and condemned upon 't. 2 Gent. I am sorry for 't. 1 Gent. So are a number more. 2 Gent. But, pray, how passed it? 1 Gent. I'll tell you in a little. The great duke Came to the bar; where to his accusations He pleaded still not guilty, and alleged Many sharp reasons to defeat the law. Hopkins, that made this mischief. 2 Gent. That fed him with his prophecies ? 1 Gent. That was he The same. All these accused him strongly; which he fain Would have flung from him, but, indeed, he could not: And so his peers, upon this evidence, Much 2 Gent. After all this, how did he bear himself? 1 Gent. When he was brought again to the bar, to hear His knell rung out, his judgment,—he was stirred And something spoke in choler, ill, and hasty : Sure, he does not; He never was so womanish: the cause "T is likely, By all conjectures: first, Kildare's attainder, Earl Surrey was sent thither, and in haste too Lest he should help his father. 2 Gent. That trick of state At his return. |