SCENE 1.London.The QUEEN'S apartments
Enter the QUEEN and her women,as at work
QUEEN KATHARINE.Take thy lute,wench.My soul grows sad with troubles;Sing and disperse 'em,if thou canst.Leave working.
SONG
Orpheus with his lute made trees,And the mountain tops that freeze,Bow themselves when he did sing;To his music plants and flowers Ever sprung,as sun and showers There had made a lasting spring.
Every thing that heard him play,Even the billows of the sea,Hung their heads and then lay by.In sweet music is such art,Killing care and grief of heart Fall asleep or hearing die.
Enter a GENTLEMAN
QUEEN KATHARINE.How now?GENTLEMAN.An't please your Grace,the two great Cardinals Wait in the presence.QUEEN KATHARINE.Would they speak with me?GENTLEMAN.They will'd me say so,madam.QUEEN KATHARINE.Pray their Graces To come near.[Exit GENTLEMAN]What can be their business With me,a poor weak woman,fall'n from favour?I do not like their coming.Now I think on't,They should be good men,their affairs as righteous;But all hoods make not monks.
Enter the two CARDINALS,WOLSEY and CAMPEIUS WOLSEY.
Peace to your Highness!QUEEN KATHARINE.Your Graces find me here part of housewife;I would be all,against the worst may happen.What are your pleasures with me,reverend lords?WOLSEY.May it please you,noble madam,to withdraw Into your private chamber,we shall give you The full cause of our coming.QUEEN KATHARINE.Speak it here;There's nothing I have done yet,o'my conscience,Deserves a corner.Would all other women Could speak this with as free a soul as I do!My lords,I care not--so much I am happy Above a number--if my actions Were tried by ev'ry tongue,ev'ry eye saw 'em,Envy and base opinion set against 'em,I know my life so even.If your business Seek me out,and that way I am wife in,Out with it boldly;truth loves open dealing.WOLSEY.
Tanta est erga te mentis integritas,regina serenissima--QUEEN KATHARINE.O,good my lord,no Latin!I am not such a truant since my coming,As not to know the language I have liv'd in;A strange tongue makes my cause more strange,suspicious;Pray speak in English.Here are some will thank you,If you speak truth,for their poor mistress'sake:Believe me,she has had much wrong.Lord Cardinal,The willing'st sin I ever yet committed May be absolv'd in English.WOLSEY.Noble lady,I am sorry my integrity should breed,And service to his Majesty and you,So deep suspicion,where all faith was meant We come not by the way of accusation To taint that honour every good tongue blesses,Nor to betray you any way to sorrow--You have too much,good lady;but to know How you stand minded in the weighty difference Between the King and you,and to deliver,Like free and honest men,our just opinions And comforts to your cause.CAMPEIUS.Most honour'd madam,My Lord of York,out of his noble nature,Zeal and obedience he still bore your Grace,Forgetting,like a good man,your late censure Both of his truth and him--which was too far--Offers,as I do,in a sign of peace,His service and his counsel.QUEEN KATHARINE.[Aside]To betray me.--My lords,I thank you both for your good wins;Ye speak like honest men--pray God ye prove so!But how to make ye suddenly an answer,In such a point of weight,so near mine honour,More near my life,I fear,with my weak wit,And to such men of gravity and learning,In truth I know not.I was set at work Among my maids,full little,God knows,looking Either for such men or such business.For her sake that I have been--for I feel The last fit of my greatness--good your Graces,Let me have time and counsel for my cause.Alas,I am a woman,friendless,hopeless!WOLSEY.Madam,you wrong the King's love with these fears;Your hopes and friends are infinite.QUEEN KATHARINE.In England But little for my profit;can you think,lords,That any Englishman dare give me counsel?Or be a known friend,'gainst his Highness'pleasure--Though he be grown so desperate to be honest--And live a subject?Nay,forsooth,my friends,They that must weigh out my afflictions,They that my trust must grow to,live not here;They are,as all my other comforts,far hence,In mine own country,lords.CAMPEIUS.I would your Grace Would leave your griefs,and take mycounsel.