Every thing that heard him play, Hung their heads, and then lay by. Fall asleep, or, hearing, die. Enter a Gentleman. Q. Kath. How now? Gent. An't please your grace, the two great car dinals Wait in the presence*. Q. Kath. Would they speak with me? Gent. They will'd me say so, madam. Q. Kath. Pray their graces To come near. [Exit Gent.] What can be their bu siness With me, a poor weak woman, fallen from favour? I do not like their coming, now I think on't. They shouldbe good men; their affairs are right eous: But all hoods make not monks. Wol. Enter Wolsey and Campeius. Peace to your highness! Q. Kath. Your graces find me here part of a housewife; I would be all, against the worst may happen. Into your private chamber, we shall give you Q. Kath. Presence-chamber. Speak it here; t Professions. There's nothing I have done yet, o' my conscience, Could speak this with as free a soul as I do! Were tried by every tongue, every eye saw them, I know my life so even: If your business Out with it boldly; Truth loves open dealing. Q. Kath. 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, sus picious; 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 cardi nal, The willing'st sin I ever yet committed, May be absolv'd in English. Wol. Noble lady, I am sorry, my integrity should breed So deep suspicion, where all faith was meant. To taint that honour every good tongue blesses; You have too much, good lady: but to know Cam. Most honour'd madam, My lord of York,-out of his noble nature, Offers, as I do, in a sigu of peace, His service and his counsel. Q. Kath. In such a point of weight, so near mine honour For her sake that I have been (for I feel Wol. Madam, you wrong the king's love with these fears; Your hopes and friends are infinite. Q. Kath. 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. I would, your grace Cam. How, sir? Cam. Put your main cause into the king's pro. tection; He's loying and most gracious; 'twill be much For, if the trial of the law o'ertake you, You'll part away disgrac'd. Wol. He tells you rightly. * Outweigh. Q. Kath. Ye tell me what ye wish for both, my ruin : Is this your Christian counsel? out upon ye! Cum. Your rage mistakes us. Q. Kath. The more shame for ye; holy men I thought ye, Upon my soul, two reverend cardinal virtues : fort? The cordial that ye bring a wretched lady? I have more charity: But say, I warn'd ye; Wol. Madam, this is a mere distraction; You turn the good we offer into envy. Q. Kath. Ye turn me into nothing: Woe upon ye, And all such false professsor! Would ye have me (If you have any justice, any pity; If ye be any thing but churchmen's habits), Cum. Your fears are worse. Q. Kath. Have I liv'd thus long-(let me speak myself, Since virtue finds no friends), a wife, a true one? A woman (I dare say, without vain-glory), Never yet branded with suspicion ? Have I with all my full affections Still met the king? lov'd him next heaven? obey'd him? Been, out of fondness, superstitious to him*? Wol Madam, you wander from the good we aim at. To give up willingly that noble title Your master wed me to: nothing but death Wol. 'Pray, hear me. Q. Kath. 'Would I had never trod this English earth, Or felt the flatteries that grow upon it! Ye have angels' faces, but heaven knows your hearts. What will become of me now, wretched lady? I am the most unhappy woman living. Alas! poor wenches, where are now your fortunes? Wol. If your grace Could but be brought to know, our ends are honest, We are to cure such sorrows, not to sow them. How you may hurt yourself, ay utterly Grow from the king's acquaintance, by this carriage. Served him with superstitious attention. |