Yes, if I make my play.

My Lord Sands.

Sands.

Here's to your ladyship: and pledge it, madam,
For 'tis to such a thing,—

Anne.

You cannot show me.

Sands. I told your grace they would talk anon. [Drum and trumpet, chambers discharged.

Wol.

Cham. Look out there, some of ye.

Wol.

What's that?

And to what end, is this? Nay, ladies, fear not;
By all the laws of war you 're privileged.

Re-enter Servant.

Cham. How now! what is 't?

Serv.

A noble troop of strangers;

For so they seem: they've left their barge and

landed;

And hither make, as great ambassadors

From foreign princes.

Wol.

Good lord chamberlain,

Go, give 'em welcome; you can speak the French

tongue;

And, pray, receive 'em nobly, and conduct 'em
Into our presence, where this heaven of beauty
Shall shine at full upon them.

[Exit Chamberlain,

Some attend him.

attended.

All rise,

and tables removed.

You have now a broken banquet; but we 'll mend it.

A good digestion to you all:
I shower a welcome on ye;

46. make my play, win my game.

49. chambers discharged. It

and once more welcome all.

60

was this discharge of cannon that caused the destruction of the first Globe Theatre. Cf. Introduction.

Hautboys. Enter the KING and others; as
masquers, habited like shepherds, ushered by
the LORD CHAMBERLAIN. They pass directly
before the CARDINAL, and gracefully salute him.
A noble company! what are their pleasures?
Cham. Because they speak no English, thus
they pray'd

To tell your grace, that, having heard by fame
Of this so noble and so fair assembly

This night to meet here, they could do no less,
Out of the great respect they bear to beauty,

But leave their flocks; and, under your fair con-
duct,

Crave leave to view these ladies and entreat

An hour of revels with 'em.

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.

The

[They choose Ladies for the dance.
King chooses Anne Bullen.

King. The fairest hand I ever touch'd! O

beauty,

Till now I never knew thee!

Wol. My lord !

Cham. Your grace?

Wol.

[Music. Dance.

Pray, tell 'em thus much from me:
There should be one amongst 'em, by his person,
More worthy this place than myself; to whom,
If I but knew him, with my love and duty
I would surrender it.

Cham.

I will, my lord.

[Whispers the Masquers.

79. this place, i. e. the seat of honour.

70

80

By all your good leaves, gentlemen; here I'll

make

My royal choice.

King.

Ye have found him, cardinal:

[Unmasking.
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.

King.

I am glad

My lord chamberlain, 90

Prithee, 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.

King. By heaven, she is a dainty one. Sweetheart,

I were unmannerly, to take you out,

And not to kiss you.

Let it go round.

A health, gentlemen!

Wol. Sir Thomas Lovell, is the banquet ready I' the privy chamber?

Your grace,

100

I fear, with dancing is a little heated.

King. I fear, too much.

Wol.

In the next chamber.

There's fresher air, my lord,

89. unhappily, mischievously.

King. 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
To lead 'em once again; and then let's dream
Who's best in favour. Let the music knock it.
[Exeunt with trumpets.

ACT II

SCENE I. Westminster. A street.

Enter two Gentlemen, meeting.

First Gent. Whither away so fast?

Sec. Gent.

Even to the hall, to hear what shall become

O, God save ye!

I'll save you

Of the great Duke of Buckingham.

First Gent.

That labour, sir. All's now done, but the cere

First Gent. Yes, truly is he, and condemn'd upon 't.

Sec. Gent. I am sorry for 't.

108. knock it, beat time.

Sc. 1. By FLETCHER (Sp.).

2. the hall, Westminster Hall.

First Gent.

So are a number more.

Sec. Gent. But, pray, how pass'd it?

First 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.
The king's attorney on the contrary

Urged on the examinations, proofs, confessions
Of divers witnesses; which the duke desired
To have brought vivâ voce to his face :

At which appear'd against him his surveyor;
Sir Gilbert Peck his chancellor; and John Car
Confessor to him; with that devil-monk,
Hopkins, that made this mischief.

Sec. Gent.

That fed him with his prophecies ?

First 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,
Have found him guilty of high treason.
He spoke, and learnedly, for life; but all
Was either pitied in him or forgotten.

Much

Sec. Gent. After all this, how did he bear himself?

ΤΟ

20

30

First Gent. When he was brought again to the bar, to hear

His knell rung out, his judgement, he was stirr'd
With such an agony, he sweat extremely,

And something spoke in choler, ill, and hasty :

II. in a little, in brief, 'in few.'

17. which, i. e. the witnesses. 28. learnedly, with the techni

cal learning of the lawyer.

29. pitied or forgotten, aroused merely ineffectual pity or passed altogether unheeded.