And the late marriage made of none effect: 2 Gent. Alas, good lady! [Trumpets. The trumpets sound: stand close, the queen is coming. THE ORDER OF THE PROCESSION. A lively flourish of Trumpets; then, enter 1. Two Judges. 2. Lord Chancellor, with the purse and mace before him. 3. Choristers singing. [Musick. 4. Mayor of London bearing the mace. Then Garter, in his coat of arms, and on his head, a gilt copper crown. 5. Marquis Dorset, bearing a sceptre of gold, on his head a demi-coronal of gold. With him, the Earl of Eurrey, bearing the rod of silver with the dove, crowned with an earl's coronet. Collars of SS. 6. Duke of Suffolk, in his robe of estate, his coronet on his head, bearing a long white wand, as high-steward. With him, the Duke of Norfolk, with the rod of marshalship, a coronet on his head. Collars of SS. 7. A canopy borne by four of the Cinque-ports; under it, the Queen in her robe; in her hair richly adorned with pearl, crowned. On each side of her, the Bishops of London and Winchester. 8. The old Duchess of Norfolk, in a coronal of gold, wrought with flowers, bearing the Queen's train. 9. Certain Ladies or Countesses, with plain circlets of gold without flowers. 2 Gent. A royal train, believe me.-These I know ;Who's that, that bears the sceptre? 6 the late marriage-] i. e. the marriage lately considered as a valid one. Steevens. 7 in his coat of arms,] i. e. in his coat of office, emblazoned with the royal arms. Steevens 8 — coronal · circlets-] I do not recollect that these two words occur in any other of our author's works; a circumstance that may serve to strengthen Dr. Farmer's opinion-that the directions for the court pageantry throughout the present drama, were drawn up by another hand. Steevens. 1 Gent. Marquis Dorset: And that the earl of Surrey, with the rod. 2 Gent. A bold brave gentleman: And that should be The duke of Suffolk. 1 Gent. 'Tis the same; high-steward. 2 Gent. And that my lord of Norfolk? 1 Gent. 2 Gent. Yes. Heaven bless thee! [Looking on the Queen. Thou hast the sweetest face I ever look'd on.— Sir, as I have a soul, she is an angel; Our king has all the Indies in his arms, And more, and richer, when he strains that lady :9 1 Gent. They, that bear The cloth of honour over her, are four barons Of the Cinque-ports. 2. Gent. Those men are happy; and so are all, are near her. I take it, she that carries up the train, Is that old noble lady, duchess of Norfolk. 1 Gent. It is; and all the rest are countesses. 2 Gent. Their coronets say so. These are stars, indeed; And, sometimes, falling ones. 1 Gent. No more of that. [Exit Procession, with a great flourish of Trumpets. Enter a third Gentleman. God save you, sir! Where have you been broiling? 3 Gent. Among the croud i' the abbey; where a finger Could not be wedg'd in more; and I am stifled1 9 when he strains that lady:] I do not recollect that our author, in any other of his works, has used the verb-strain in its present sense, which is that of the Latin comprimere. Thus Livy, I 4: "Compressa vestalis, quum geminum partum edidisset," &c. Again, in Chapman's version of the 21st Iliad: Bright Peribæa, whom the flood, &c. I have pointed out this circumstance, because Ben Jonson is suspected of having made some additions to the play before us, and, perhaps, in this very scene which is descriptive of the personages who compose the antecedent procession. See Dr. Farmer's note on the Epilogue to this play. Steevens. 1 and I am stifled-] And was introduced by Sir T. Han mer, to complete the measure. Steevens. 3 Gent. As well as I am able. The rich stream2 A distance from her; while her grace sat down 2 66 The rich stream &c.] ingentem foribus domus alta superbis Virg. Georg. II, 461. Malone. Again, in the second Thebaid of Statius, v. 223: foribus cum immissa superbis 66 "Unda fremit vulgi." So, in Timon of Athens, Act I, sc. i: this confluence, this great flood of visitors." See Dr. Johnson's note on this passage. Steevens. 3 wards: 66 to go,] i. e. to continue in their pregnancy. So, after the fruit she goes with "I pray for heartily" Steevens. like rams-] That is, like battering rams. Johnson. So, in Virgil, Eneid II: 66 labat ariete crebro Janua -," Steevens. So strangely in one piece. 2 Gent. But, 'pray, what follow'd?" 3 Gent. At length her grace rose, and with modest paces Came to the altar; where she kneel'd, and, saint like, She had all the royal makings of a queen; As holy oil, Edward Confessor's crown, The rod, and bird of peace, and all such emblems 1 Gent. Sir, you Must no more call it York-place, that is past: 3 Gent. But 'tis so lately alter'd, that the old name 2 Gent. I know it; What two reverend bishops Were those that went on each side of the queen? 3 Gent. Stokesly and Gardiner; the one, of Winches ter, (Newly preferr'd from the king's secretary) The other, London. 2 Gent. He of Winchester Is held no great lover of the archbishop's, 3 Gent. All the land knows that: However, yet there's no great breach; when it comes, Cranmer will find a friend will not shrink from him. 2 Gent. Who may that be, I pray you? 3 Gent. Thomas Cromwell; A man in much esteem with the king, and truly A worthy friend.-The king Has made him master o' the jewel-house, 5 But, 'pray, what follow'd?] The word-'pray was added, for he sake of the measure, by Sir Thomas Hanmer. Steevens. And one, already, of the privy-council. 2 Gent. He will deserve more. Yes, without all doubt. You may command us, sir. [Exeunt. SCENE II.6 Kimbolton. Enter KATHARINE, Dowager, sick; led between Grif. How does your grace? O, Griffith, sick to death: Kath. Didst thou not tell me, Griffith, as thou led'st me, Grif. Yes, madam; but, I think, your grace, Out of the pain you suffer'd, gave no ear to 't. Kath. Pr'ythee, good Griffith, tell me how he died: If well, he stepp'd before me, happily, For my example.9 6 Scene II.] This scene is above any other part of Shakspeare's tragedies, and perhaps above any scene of any other poet, tender and pathetick, without gods, or furies, or poisons, or precipices, without the help of romantick circumstances, without improbable sallies of poetical lamentation, and without any throes of tumultuous misery. Johnson. 71 8 child of honour,] So, in King Henry IV, Part I: “That this same child of honour and renown —. " Steevens. I think,] Old copy-I thank. Corrected in the second folio. Malone. 9 •he stepp'd before me, happily, For my example.] Happily seems to mean on this occasion peradventure, haply. I have been more than once of this opinion, when I have met with the same word thus spelt in other pas sages. Steevens. Mr. M. Mason is of opinion that happily here means fortunately. |