And to you all, good health!
He drinks
SANDS
Your grace is noble.
Let me have such a bowl may hold my thanks,
And save me so much talking.
CARDINAL WOLSEY
My lord Sands,
I am beholden to you. Cheer your neighbours.
Ladies, you are not merry! Gentlemen,
Whose fault is this?
SANDS
The red wine first must rise
In their fair cheeks, my lord, then we shall have ’em
Talk us to silence.
ANNE
You are a merry gamester,
My lord Sands.
SANDS
Yes, if I make my play.
Here’s to your ladyship; and pledge it, madam,
For ’tis to such a thing—
ANNE
You cannot show me.
SANDS (to Wolsey)
I told your grace they would talk anon.
Drum and trumpet. Chambers discharged
CARDINAL WOLSEY
What’s that?
LORD CHAMBERLAIN (to the servants)
Look out there, some of ye.
Exit a servant
CARDINAL WOLSEY
What warlike voice,
And to what end is this? Nay, ladies, fear not.
By all the laws of war you’re privileged.
Enter the servant
LORD CHAMBERLAIN
How now—what is’t?
SERVANT
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.
CARDINAL WOLSEY
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. Some attend him.
Exit Chamberlain, attended
All rise, and some servants remove the tables
You have now a broken banquet, but we’ll mend it.
A good digestion to you all, and once more
I shower a welcome on ye—welcome all.
Hautboys. Enter, ushered by the Lord Chamberlain, King Henry and others as masquers habited like shepherds. They pass directly before Cardinal Wolsey and gracefully salute him
A noble company. What are their pleasures?
LORD CHAMBERLAIN
Because they speak no English, thus they prayed
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 conduct,
Crave leave to view these ladies, and entreat
An hour of revels with ’em.
CARDINAL WOLSEY
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 masquers choose ladies. The King chooses Anne Boleyn
KING HENRY (to Anne)
The fairest hand I ever touched. O beauty,
Till now I never knew thee.
Music. They dance
CARDINAL WOLSEY (to the Lord Chamberlain) My lord.
LORD CHAMBERLAIN Your grace.
CARDINAL WOLSEY 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.
LORD CHAMBERLAIN I will, my lord.
He whispers with the masquers
CARDINAL WOLSEY
What say they?
LORD CHAMBERLAIN Such a one they all confess
There is indeed, which they would have your grace
Find out, and he will take it.
CARDINAL WOLSEY
Let me see then.
By all your good leaves, gentlemen, here I’ll make
My royal choice.
He bows before the King
KING HENRY
You hold a fair assembly. You do well, lord.
You are a churchman, or I’ll tell you, Cardinal,
I should judge now unhappily.
CARDINAL WOLSEY
I am glad
Your grace is grown so pleasant.
KING HENRY
My Lord Chamberlain,
Prithee come hither.
(Gesturing towards Anne) What fair lady’s that?
LORD CHAMBERLAIN
An’t please your grace, Sir Thomas Boleyn’s daughter—
The Viscount Rochford—one of her highness’ women.
KING HENRY
By heaven, she is a dainty one. (To Anne) Sweetheart,
I were unmannerly to take you out
And not to kiss you ⌈kisses her⌉. A health, gentlemen;
Let it go round.
CARDINAL WOLSEY
Sir Thomas Lovell, is the banquet ready
I’th’ privy chamber?
LOVELL
Yes, my lord.
CARDINAL WOLSEY (to the King)
Your grace
I fear with dancing is a little heated.
KING HENRY I fear too much.
CARDINAL WOLSEY There’s fresher air, my lord,
In the next chamber.
KING HENRY
Lead in your ladies, every one. (To Anne) Sweet partner,
I must not yet forsake you. (To Wolsey) 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
2.1 Enter two Gentlemen, at several doors
FIRST GENTLEMAN
Whither away so fast?
SECOND GENTLEMAN
O, God save ye.
Ev’n to the hall to hear what shall become
Of the great Duke of Buckingham.
FIRST GENTLEMAN
I’ll save you
That labour, sir. All’s now done but the ceremony
Of bringing back the prisoner.
SECOND GENTLEMAN
Were you there?
FIRST GENTLEMAN
Yes, indeed was I.
SECOND GENTLEMAN
Pray speak what has happened.
FIRST GENTLEMAN
You may guess quickly what.
SECOND GENTLEMAN