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  • Title: Henry The Eighth (Modern)
  • Editor: Diane Jakacki

  • Copyright Diane Jakacki. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Editor: Diane Jakacki
    Not Peer Reviewed

    Henry The Eighth (Modern)

    1615Enter Queen and her Women as at work.
    Katharine
    Take thy lute, wench:
    My soul grows sad with troubles.
    Sing, and disperse 'em if thou canst; leave working.
    Orpheus, with his lute, made trees,
    And the mountain tops that freeze
    Bow themselves when he did sing.
    To his music, plants and flowers,
    Ever sprung; as sun and showers
    1625There had made a lasting spring.
    Every thing that heard him play,
    Even the billows of the sea,
    Hung their heads and then lay by.
    In sweet music is such art,
    1630Killing care and grief of heart,
    Fall asleep, or hearing die.
    Enter a Gentleman.
    Katharine
    How now?
    Gentlewoman
    And't please your grace, the two great cardinals
    1635Wait in the presence.
    Katharine
    Would they speak with me?
    Gentlewoman
    They willed me say so, Madam.
    Katharine
    Pray their graces
    To come near. What can be their business
    1640With me, a poor weak woman, fall'n from favor?
    I do not like their coming; now I think on't
    They should be good men, their affairs as righteous.
    But all hoods make not monks.
    Enter the two Cardinals, Wolsey and Campieus.
    1645Wolsey
    Peace to your highness.
    Katharine
    Your graces find me here part of a housewife,
    (I would be all), against the worst may happen.
    What are your pleasures with me, reverent lords?
    Wolsey
    May it please you, noble madam to withdraw
    1650Into your private chamber. We shall give you
    The full cause of our coming.
    Katharine
    Speak it here.
    There's nothing I have done yet o' my conscience
    Deserves a corner. Would all other Women
    1655Could speak this with as free a soul as I do.
    My lords, I care not (so much I am happy
    Above a number), if my actions
    Were tried by ev'ry tongue, ev'ry eye saw 'em,
    Envy and base opinion set against 'em;
    1660I know my life so even. If your business
    Seek me out, and that way I am wife in.
    Out with it boldly; truth loves open dealing.
    Wolsey
    Tanta est erga te mentis integritas Regina serenissima.
    Katharine
    O, good my lord, no Latin.
    1665I am not such a truant since my coming,
    As not to know the language I have lived in.
    A strange tongue makes my cause more strange, suspicious.
    Pray, speak in English; here are some will thank you
    If you speak truth, for their poor mistress's sake.
    1670Believe me, she has had much wrong. Lord cardinal,
    The willingest sin I ever yet committed,
    May be absolved in English.
    Wolsey
    Noble lady,
    I am sorry my integrity should breed,
    1675(And service to his majesty and you)
    So deep suspicion, where all faith was meant.
    We come not by the way of accusation,
    To taint that honor every good tongue blesses,
    Nor to betray you any way to sorrow.
    1680You have too much good, lady; but to know
    How you stand minded in the weighty difference
    Between the king and you, and to deliver
    (Like free and honest men), our just opinions
    And comforts to our cause.
    1685Campeius
    Most honoured madam,
    My lord of York, out of his noble nature,
    Zeal and obedience, he still bore your grace,
    Forgetting (like a good man) your late censure
    Both of his truth and him (which was too far),
    1690Offers, as I do, in a sign of peace,
    His service and his counsel.
    Katharine
    To betray me.
    My lords, I thank you both for your good wills.
    YYe speak like honest men, (pray God ye prove so),
    1695But how to make ye suddenly an answer
    In such a point of weight, so need mine honor,
    (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,
    1700Among 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.
    1705Alas, I am a woman friendless, hopeless.
    Wolsey
    Madam,
    You wrong the king's love with these fears,
    Your hopes and friends are infinite.
    Katharine
    In England,
    1710But little for my profit can you think, lords,
    That any English man dare give me counsel?
    Or be a known friend 'gainst his highness's pleasure,
    (Though he be grown so desperate to be honest)
    And live a subject? Nay, forsooth my friends,
    1715They 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.
    Campeius
    I would your grace
    1720Would leave your griefs and take my counsel.
    Katharine
    How, sir?
    Campeius
    Put your main cause into the king's protection;
    He's loving and most gracious. 'Twill be much
    Both for your honor better and your cause;
    1725For if the trial of the law o'ertake ye,
    You'll part away disgraced.
    He tels you rightly.
    Katharine
    Ye tell me what ye wish for both: my ruin.
    Is this your Christian counsel? Out upon ye!
    1730Heaven is above all yet; there sits a judge
    That no king can corrupt.
    Campeius
    Your rage mistakes us.
    Katharine
    The more shame for ye; holy men I thought ye,
    Upon my soul, two reverend cardinal virtues.
    1735But cardinal sins and hollow hearts I fear ye;
    Mend 'em for shame my Lords: Is this your comfort?
    The cordial that ye bring a wretched lady?
    A woman lost among ye, laughed at, scorned?
    I will not wish ye half my miseries;
    1740I have more charity. But say I warn'd ye;
    Take heed, for heaven's sake take heed, least at once
    The burden of my sorrows fall upon ye.
    Madam, this is a mere distraction;
    You turn the good we offer into envy.
    1745Katharine
    Ye turn me into nothing. Woe upon ye
    And all such false professors. Would you have me
    (If you have any justice, any pity;
    If ye be any thing but churhmens' habits);
    Put my sick cause into his hands that hates me?
    1750Alas, he's banished me his bed already,
    His love, too, long ago. I am old, my lords,
    And all the fellowship I hold now with him
    Is only my obedience. What can happen
    To me above this wretchedness? All your studies
    1755Make me a curse like this.
    Campeius
    Your fears are worse.
    Katharine
    Have I lived thus long (let me speak myself,
    Since virtue finds no friends), a wife, a true one?
    A woman (I dare say without vainglory),
    1760Never yet branded with suspicion?
    Have I, with all my full affections,
    Still met the king? Loved him next heaven? Obeyed him?
    Been (out of fondness), superstitious to him?
    Almost forgot my prayers to content him?
    1765And am I thus rewarded? 'Tis not well, lords.
    Bring me a constant woman to her husband,
    One that ne'er dreamed a joy beyond his pleasure;
    And to that woman (when she has done most),
    Yet will I add an honor: a great patience.
    Madam, you wander from the good
    We aim at.
    Katharine
    My lord,
    I dare not make myself so guilty
    To give up willingly that noble title
    1775Your master wed me to; nothing but death
    Shall e'er divorce my dignities.
    Pray, hear me.
    Katharine
    Would I had neuer trod this English earth,
    Or felt the flatteries that grow upon it:
    1780Ye 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?
    Shipwrecked upon a kingdom where no pity,
    1785No friends, no hope, no kindred weep for me?
    Almost no grave allowed me? Like the lily
    That once was mistress of the field and flourished,
    I'll hang my head and perish.
    If your grace
    1790Could 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,
    The way of our profession is against it;
    We are to cure such sorrows, not to sow 'em.
    1795For goodness' sake, consider what you do;
    How you may hurt yourself. Aye, 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
    1800They swell and grow as terrible as storms.
    I know you have a gentle, noble temper;
    A soul as even as a calm. Pray think us
    Those we profess: peace-makers, friends, and servants.
    Campeius
    Madam, you'l find it so.
    1805You wrong your virtues
    With these weak woman's fears. A noble spirit,
    As yours was put into you, ever casts
    Such doubts as false coin from it. The king loves you;
    Beware you lose it not. For us, (if you please
    1810To trust us in your business) we are ready
    To use our utmost studies in your service.
    Katharine
    Do what ye will, my lords,
    And pray forgiue me;
    If I have used myself unmannerly
    1815You know I am a woman, lacking wit
    To make a seemly answer to such persons.
    PPray do my service to his majesty;
    He has my heart yet, and shall have my prayers
    While I shall have my life. Come, reverend fathers,
    1820Bestow your counsels on me. She now begs
    That little thought when she set footing here,
    She should have bought her dignities so dear.
    Exeunt