a Could speak this with as free a soul as I do! 40 nissima Queen. 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, Wol. Noble lady, 60 You have too much, good lady: but to know How you stand minded in the weighty difference Gij Between Between the king and you; and to deliver, Cam. Most honour'd madam, 71 His service, and his counsel.Queen. To betray me. [ Aside. My lords, I thank you both for your good wills, Ye speak like honest men (pray God, ye prove so !) But how to make ye suddenly an answer, In such a point of weight, so near mine honour (More near my life, I fear) with my weak wit, And to such men of gravity and learning, In truth, I know not. I was set at work 80 Among my maids : full little, God knows, looking Either for such men, or such business. For her sake that I have been (for I feel The last fit of my greatness), good your graces, Let me have time, and counsel, for my cause ; Alas! I am a woman, friendless, hopeless. Wol. Madam, you wrong the king's love with these fears ; Your hopes and friends are infinite. Queen. In England, But little for my profit: Can you think, lords, 90 That any Englishman dare give me counsel? Or be a known friend, 'gainst his highness' pleasure (Though 1 (Though he be grown so desperate to be honest), Cam. I would, your grace counsel. 100 tection; Wol. He tells you rightly. Queen. Ye tell me what ye wish for both, my ruin : Cam. Your rage mistakes us. thought ye, fort ? my miseries ; Giij Take 110 120 Take heed, for heaven's sake, take heed, lest at once Wol. Madam, this is a mere distraction; Queen. Ye turn me into nothing : Woe upon ye, 130 Cam. Your fears are worse. Queen. Have I liv'd thus longlet me speak myself, 140 hiin? at. Wol. Madam, you wander from the good we aim 150 Queen. My lord, I dare not make myself so guilty, To give up willingly that noble title Your master wed me to : nothing but death Shall e'er divorce my dignities. Wol. Pray, hear me. Queen. '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 160 Alas! poor wenches, where are now your fortunes ? [ To her Women. Shipwreck'd upon a kingdom, where no pity, No friends, no hope; no kindred weep for me, Almost, no grave allow'd me :-Like the lily, That once was mistress of the field, and flourish'd, I'll hang my head, and perish. Wol. If your grace Could but be brought to know our ends are honest, You'd feel more comfort: why should we, good lady, Upon what cause, wrong you ? alas ! our places, 170 The way of our profession is against it; We are to cure such sorrows, not to sow 'em. For goodness' sake, consider what you do ; How you may hurt yourself, ay, utterly Grow from the king's acquaintance, by this carriage. The hearts of princes kiss obedience, So much they love it; but, 'to stubborn spirits, |