Ladies,

1.4.2667A general welcome from his grace

1.4.3668Salutes ye all. This night he dedicates

1.4.4669To fair content and you. None here he hopes,

1.4.5670In all this noble bevy, has brought with her

1.4.6671One care abroad; he would have all as merry

1.4.7672As first good company, good wine, good welcome

1.4.8673Can make good people.

1.4.9675O my lord, y'are tardy.

1.4.10676The very thought of this fair company

1.4.11677Clapped wings to me.

You are young, Sir Harry Guilford.

Sir Thomas Lovell, had the cardinal

1.4.14680But half my lay thoughts in him, some of these

1.4.15681Should find a running banquet ere they rested

1.4.16682I think would better please 'em. By my life,

1.4.17683They are a sweet society of fair ones!

O, that your lordship were but now confessor

1.4.19685To one or two of these.

I would I were:

1.4.21687They should find easy penance.

Faith, how easy?

As easy as a down bed would afford it.

Sweet ladies, will it please you sit? Sir Harry,

1.4.25691Place you that side; I'll take the charge of this.

1.4.26692His grace is ent'ring. Nay, you must not freeze;

1.4.27693Two women placed together makes cold weather.

1.4.28694My Lord Sandys, you are one will keep 'em waking;

1.4.29695Pray, sit between these ladies.

By my faith,

1.4.31697And thank your lordship! By your leave, sweet ladies,

1.4.32698If I chance to talk a little wild, forgive me:

1.4.33699I had it from my father.

Was he mad, sir?

O, very mad, exceeding mad in love, too.

1.4.36702But he would bite none, iust as I do now,

1.4.37703He would kiss you twenty with a breath.

Well said, my lord.

1.4.39705So now y'are fairly seated, gentlemen,

1.4.40706The penance lies on you if these fair ladies

1.4.41707Pass away frowning.

For my little cure

1.4.43709Let me alone.

Welcome, my fair guests! That noble lady

1.4.45712Or gentleman that is not freely merry

1.4.46713Is not my friend. This, to confirm my welcome

1.4.47714And to you all good health.

Your grace is noble.

1.4.49716Let me have such a bowl may hold my thanks

1.4.50717And save me so much talking.

My Lord Sandys,

1.4.52719I am beholden to you. Cheer your neighbours!

1.4.53720Ladies you are not merry! Gentlemen,

1.4.54721Whose fault is this?

The red wine first must rise

1.4.56723In their fair cheeks, my lord. Then we shall have 'em

1.4.57724Talk us to silence.

You are a merry gamester,

1.4.59726My lord Sandys.

Yes, if I make my play.

1.4.61728Here's to your ladyship - and pledge it, madam,

1.4.62729For 'tis to such a thing.

You cannot show me.

I told your grace they would talk anon.

What's that?

Look out there, some of ye!

What warlike voice,

1.4.68736And to what end is this? Nay, ladies, fear not;

1.4.69737By all the laws of war y'are privileged.

How now, what is't?

A noble troupe of strangers,

1.4.72741For so they seem. Th'have left their barge and landed,

1.4.73742And hither make as great ambassadors

1.4.74743From foreign princes.

Good lord Chamberlain,

1.4.76745Go, give 'em welcome. You can speak the French tongue;

1.4.77746And pray receive 'em nobly, and conduct 'em

1.4.78747Into our presence, where this heaven of beauty

1.4.79748Shall shine at full upon them. Some attend him.

1.4.80750You have now a broken banquet, but we'll mend it.

1.4.81751A good digestion to you all! And once more

1.4.82752I shower a welcome on ye! Welcome, all.

1.4.83757A noble company! What are their pleasures?

Because they speak no English, thus they prayed

1.4.85759To tell your grace that, having heard by fame

1.4.86760Of this so noble and so fair assembly,

1.4.87761This night to meet here they could do no less,

1.4.88762(Out of the great respect they bear to beauty),

1.4.89763But leave their flocks, and under your fair conduct

1.4.90764Craue leave to view these ladies, and entreat

1.4.91765An hour of revels with 'em.

Say, lord chamberlain,

1.4.93767They have done my poor house grace,

1.4.94768For which I pay 'em a thousand thanks,

1.4.95769And pray 'em take their pleasures.

The fairest hand I ever touched. O, Beauty,

1.4.97772Till now I never knew thee.

My lord.

Your grace.

Pray tell 'em thus much from me:

1.4.101777There should be one amongst 'em by his person

1.4.102778More worthy this place then my self, to whom

1.4.103779(If I but knew him), with my love and duty

780I would surrender it.

I will, my lord.

What say they?

Such a one, they all confess,

1.4.107784There is indeed; which they would have your grace

1.4.108785Find out, and he will take it.

Let me see then,

1.4.110787By all your good leaves, gentlemen, here I'll make

1.4.111788My royal choice.

Ye haue found him Cardinal!

1.4.113790You hold a fair assembly. You do well, lord.

1.4.114791You are a churchman, or I'll tell you, cardinal,

1.4.115792I should judge now unhappily.

I am glad

1.4.117794Your grace is grown so pleasant.

My lord chamberlain,

1.4.119796Prithee come hither. What fair lady's that?

An't please your grace,

1.4.121798Sir Thomas Bullen's daughter, the Viscount Rochford,

1.4.122799One of her highness' women.

By heaven she is a dainty one. Sweetheart,

1.4.124801I were unmannerly to take you out

1.4.125802And not to kiss you. A health, gentlemen!

1.4.126803Let it go 'round.

Sir Thomas Lovell, is the banquet ready

1.4.128805I'th'privy chamber?

Yes, my lord.

Your grace,

1.4.131808I fear, with dancing is a little heated.

I fear too much.

There's fresher air, my lord,

1.4.134811In the next chamber.

Lead in your ladies, ev'ry one. Sweet partner,

1.4.136813I must not yet forsake you. Let's be merry!

1.4.137814Good my lord cardinal, I have half a dozen healths

1.4.138815To drink to these fair ladies, and a measure

1.4.139816To lead 'em once again; and then let's dream

1.4.140817Who's best in favor. Let the music knock it!