Re-enter WOLSEY, with GARDINER. Wol. Give me your hand : much joy and favour to

you; You are the king's now. Gard.

But to be commanded For ever by your grace, whose hand has rais'd me. [Aside. K. Hen. Come hither, Gardiner.

[They converse apart. Cam. My lord of York, was not one doctor Pace In this man's place before him? Wol.

Yes, he was. Cam. Was he not held a learned man? Wol.

Yes, surely. Cam. Believe me, there 's an ill opinion spread then Even of yourself, lord cardinal. Wol.

How! of me? Cam. They will not stick to say you envied him ; And fearing he would rise, he was so virtuous, Kept him a foreign man still; which so griev'd him, That he ran mad, and died. Wol.

Heaven's peace

be with him! That ’s christian care enough : for living murmurers There's places of rebuke. He was a fool ; For he would needs be virtuous : That good fellow, If I command him, follows my appointment ; I will have none so near else. Learn this, brother, We live not to be grip'd by meaner persons. K. Hen. Deliver this with modesty to the queen.

[Exit GARDINER. The most convenient place that I can think of, For such receipt of learning, is Blackfriars ; There ye shall meet about this weighty business : My Wolsey, ee it furnish'd. O my lord, Would it not grieve an able man, to leave So sweet a bedfellow? But, conscience, conscience, 0, 't is a tender place, and I must leave her. [Exeunt. SCENE III.-An Antechamber in the Queen's

Apartments.
Enter Anne BULLEN and an old Lady.
Anne. Not for that neither :-Here's the

pang

that
pinches :
His highness having liv'd so long with her : and she
So good a lady, that no tongue could ever
Pronounce dishonour of her,—by my life,
She never knew harm-doing ;-0 now, after
So many courses of the sun enthron'd,
Still growing in a majesty and pomp,--the which
To leave a thousand-fold more bitter than
"T is sweet at first to acquire,-after this process,
To give her the avaunt! it is a pity
Would move a monster.
Old L.

Hearts of most hard temper
Melt and lament for her.
Anne.

0, God's will ! inuch better
She ne'er had known pomp: though it be temporal,
Yet, if that quarrel," fortune, do divorce
It from the bearer, 't is a sufferance, panging
As soul and body's severing.
Old L.

Alas, poor lady!
She 's a stranger now again.
Anne.

So much the more
Must pity drop upon her. Verily,
I swear, 't is better to be lowly born,
And range with humble livers in content,
Than to be perk'd up in a glistering grief,
And wear a golden sorrow.
Old L.

Our content
Is our best having.
Anne.

By my troth and maidenhead,
I would not be a queen.

Old L.

Beshrew me, I would,
And venture maidenhead for 't; and so would you,
For all this spice of your hypocrisy :
You, that have so fair parts of woman on you,
Have too a woman's heart : which ever yet
Affected eminence, wealth, sovereignty ;
Which, to say sooth, are blessings : and which gifts
(Saving your mincing) the capacity
Of your soft cheverila conscience would receive,
If you might please to stretch it.
Anne.

Nay, good troth, Old L. Yes, troth, and troth,-You would not be a

queen ?

hire me,

Anne. No, not for all the riches under heaven.

Old L. T is strange: a three-pence bowed would Old as I am, to queen it: But, I pray you, What think you of a duchess ? have

you

limbs To bear that load of title? Anne.

No, in truth.
Old L. Then you are weakly made : Pluck off a

little ; 6
I would not be a young count in your way,
For more than blushing comes to : if your back
Cannot vouchsafe this burden, 't is too weak
Ever to get a boy.

Anne. How you do talk !
I swear again, I would not be a queen
For all the world.

Old L. In faith, for little England
You 'd venture an emballing : I myself
Would for Carnarvonshire, although there 'long'd
No more to the crown but that. Lo, who comes here?

Enter the Lord Chamberlain. Cham. Good morrow, ladies. What wer't worth to

know The secret of your conference ? Anne.

My good lord,
Not your demand ; it values not your asking :
Our mistress' sorrows we were pitying.

Cham. It was a gentle business, and becoming
The action of good women : there is hope
All will be well.

Anne. Now I pray God, amen!
Cham. You hear a gentle mind, and heavenly bless-

ings
Follow such creatures. That you may, fair lady,
Perceive I speak sincerely, and high note 's
Ta'en of your many virtues, the king's majesty
Commends his good opinion of you to you, and
Does purpose honour to you no less flowing
Than marchioness of Pembroke; to which title
A thousand pound a-year, annual support,
Out of his grace he adds.
Anne.

I do not know
What kind of my obedience I should tender,
More than my all is nothing ; nor my prayers
Are not words duly hallow'd, nor my wishes
More worth than empty vanities; yet prayers, and

wishes,
Are all I can return. 'Beseech your lordship,
Vouchsafe to speak my thanks, and my obedience,
As from a blushing handmaid to his highness ;
Whose health and royalty I pray

for. Cham.

Lady, I shall not fail to improve the fair conceit The king hath you.---I have perus’d her well; [Aside. Beauty and honour in her are so mingled, That they have caught the king : and who knows yet, But from this lady may proceed a gem

And say,

To lighten all this isle!—I 'll to the king,

I spoke with you. Anne.

My honour'd lord.

[Exit Lord Chamberlain. Old L. Why, this it is ; see, see ! I have been begging sixteen years in court, (Am yet a courtier beggarly,) nor could Come pat betwixt too early and too late, For any suit of pounds : and you, (O fate!) A very fresh-fish here, (fie, fie, fie upon This compell’d fortune!) have your mouth fill'd up Before you open it. Anne.

This is strange to me.
Old L. How tastes it? is it bitter? forty pence, no.
There was a lady once, ('t is an old story,)
That would not be a queen, that would she not,
For all the mud in Egypt :-Have you heard it ?

Anne. Come, you are pleasant.
Old L.

With your theme, I could
O'ermount the lark. The marchioness of Pembroke !
A thousand pounds a-year! for pure respect ;
No other obligation: By my life,
That promises more thousands : Honour's train
Is longer than his foreskirt. By this time,
I know, your back will bear a duchess ;-Say,
Are you not stronger than you were ?
Anne.

Good lady,
Make yourself mirth with your particular fancy,
And leave me out on 't. 'Would I had no being
If this salute my blood a jot; it faints me
To think what follows.
The queen is comfortless, and we forgetful
In our long absence : Pray, do not deliver
What here you have heard, to her.
Old L.

What do you think me? [Exeunt.'