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Henry VIII: Act I, Scene 4

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Henry VIII
Act I, Scene 4

A hall in York Place.

The fairest hand I ever touch’d! O Beauty, till now I never knew thee!

John Masey Wright, Robert Smirke, late 18th cent. or 19th cent.

  1. Hoboys. A small table under a state for the Cardinal, a
  2. longer table for the guests.
  1. Then enter Anne Bullen and divers other Ladies and Gentlemen
  2. as guests, at one door; at another door, enter Sir Henry
  3. Guilford.

Sir Henry Guilford

1 - 10
  1. Ladies, a general welcome from his Grace
  2. Salutes ye all; this night he dedicates
  3. To fair content and you. None here, he hopes,
  4. In all this noble bevy, has brought with her
  5. One care abroad. He would have all as merry
  6. As, first, good company, good wine, good welcome,
  7. Can make good people.
  8. Enter Lord Chamberlain, Lord Sands, and Lovell.
  9.                       O my lord, y’ are tardy;
  10. The very thought of this fair company
  11. Clapp’d wings to me.

Lord Chamberlain

11
  1.                      You are young, Sir Harry Guilford.

Lord Sands

12 - 16
  1. Sir Thomas Lovell, had the Cardinal
  2. But half my lay-thoughts in him, some of these
  3. Should find a running banquet, ere they rested,
  4. I think would better please ’em. By my life,
  5. They are a sweet society of fair ones.

Sir Thomas Lovell

17 - 18
  1. O that your lordship were but now confessor
  2. To one or two of these!

Lord Sands

19 - 20
  1.                         I would I were,
  2. They should find easy penance.

Sir Thomas Lovell

21
  1.                                Faith, how easy?

Lord Sands

22
  1. As easy as a down-bed would afford it.

Lord Chamberlain

23 - 28
  1. Sweet ladies, will it please you sit? Sir Harry,
  2. Place you that side, I’ll take the charge of this.
  3. His Grace is ent’ring. Nay, you must not freeze,
  4. Two women plac’d together makes cold weather.
  5. My Lord Sands, you are one will keep ’em waking;
  6. Pray sit between these ladies.

Lord Sands

29 - 32
  1.                                By my faith,
  2. And thank your lordship. By your leave, sweet ladies.
  3. If I chance to talk a little wild, forgive me;
  4. I had it from my father.

Anne Bullen

33
  1.                          Was he mad, sir?

Lord Sands

34 - 36
  1. O, very mad, exceeding mad, in love too;
  2. But he would bite none. Just as I do now,
  3. He would kiss you twenty with a breath.
  1. Kisses her.

Lord Chamberlain

37 - 40
  1.                                         Well said, my lord.
  2. So now y’ are fairly seated. Gentlemen,
  3. The penance lies on you, if these fair ladies
  4. Pass away frowning.

Lord Sands

41 - 42
  1.                     For my little cure,
  2. Let me alone.
  1. Hoboys. Enter Cardinal Wolsey and takes his state.

Cardinal Wolsey

43 - 46
  1. Y’ are welcome, my fair guests. That noble lady
  2. Or gentleman that is not freely merry
  3. Is not my friend. This, to confirm my welcome,
  4. And to you all good health.
  1. Drinks.

Lord Sands

47 - 49
  1.                             Your Grace is noble.
  2. Let me have such a bowl may hold my thanks,
  3. And save me so much talking.

Cardinal Wolsey

50 - 53
  1.                              My Lord Sands,
  2. I am beholding to you; cheer your neighbors.
  3. Ladies, you are not merry. Gentlemen,
  4. Whose fault is this?

Lord Sands

54 - 56
  1.                      The red wine first must rise
  2. In their fair cheeks, my lord, then we shall have ’em
  3. Talk us to silence.

Anne Bullen

57 - 58
  1.                     You are a merry gamester,
  2. My Lord Sands.

Lord Sands

59 - 61
  1.                Yes, if I make my play.
  2. Here’s to your ladyship, and pledge it, madam,
  3. For ’tis to such a thing—

Anne Bullen

62
  1.                           You cannot show me.

Lord Sands

63
  1. I told your Grace they would talk anon.
  1. Drum and trumpet; chambers discharg’d.

Cardinal Wolsey

64
  1.                                         What’s that?

Lord Chamberlain

65
  1. Look out there, some of ye.
  1. Exit a Servant.

Cardinal Wolsey

66 - 68
  1.                             What warlike voice,
  2. And to what end is this? Nay, ladies, fear not;
  3. By all the laws of war y’ are privileg’d.
  1. Enter a Servant.

Lord Chamberlain

69
  1. How now, what is’t?

Servant

70 - 73
  1.                     A noble troop of strangers,
  2. For so they seem. Th’ have left their barge and landed,
  3. And hither make, as great ambassadors
  4. From foreign princes.

Cardinal Wolsey

74 - 82
  1.                       Good Lord Chamberlain,
  2. Go, give ’em welcome: you can speak the French tongue;
  3. And pray receive ’em nobly and conduct ’em
  4. Into our presence, where this heaven of beauty
  5. Shall shine at full upon them. Some attend him.
  6. Exit Chamberlain attended.
  7. All rise, and tables remov’d.
  8. You have now a broken banquet, but we’ll mend it.
  9. A good digestion to you all; and once more
  10. I show’r a welcome on ye. Welcome all!
  11. Hoboys. Enter King and others as Maskers, habited like
  12. shepherds, usher’d by the Lord Chamberlain.
  13. They pass directly before the Cardinal and gracefully salute
  14. him.
  15. A noble company! What are their pleasures?

Byam Shaw, 1901

Lord Chamberlain

83 - 90
  1. Because they speak no English, thus they pray’d
  2. To tell your Grace, that having heard by fame
  3. Of this so noble and so fair assembly
  4. This night to meet here, they could do no less
  5. (Out of the great respect they bear to beauty)
  6. But leave their flocks, and under your fair conduct
  7. Crave leave to view these ladies, and entreat
  8. An hour of revels with’em.

Cardinal Wolsey

91 - 93
  1.                            Say, Lord Chamberlain,
  2. They have done my poor house grace; for which I pay ’em
  3. A thousand thanks, and pray ’em take their pleasures.
  1. Choose ladies; King and Anne Bullen.

King

94 - 95
  1. The fairest hand I ever touch’d! O Beauty,
  2. Till now I never knew thee!
  1. Music. Dance.

Cardinal Wolsey

96
  1. My lord!

Lord Chamberlain

97
  1.          Your Grace?

Cardinal Wolsey

98 - 102
  1.             Pray tell ’em thus much from me:
  2. There should be one amongst ’em, by his person
  3. More worthy this place than myself, to whom
  4. (If I but knew him) with my love and duty
  5. I would surrender it.

Lord Chamberlain

103
  1.                       I will, my lord.
  1. Whisper with the Maskers.

Cardinal Wolsey

104
  1. What say they?

Lord Chamberlain

105 - 107
  1.                Such a one, they all confess,
  2. There is indeed, which they would have your Grace
  3. Find out, and he will take it.

Cardinal Wolsey

108 - 110
  1.                                Let me see then,
  2. By all your good leaves, gentlemen; here I’ll make
  3. My royal choice.

King

111 - 114
  1.                  Ye have found him, Cardinal.
  2. Unmasking.
  3. You hold a fair assembly; you do well, lord.
  4. You are a churchman, or I’ll tell you, Cardinal,
  5. I should judge now unhappily.

Cardinal Wolsey

115 - 116
  1.                               I am glad
  2. Your Grace is grown so pleasant.

King

117 - 118
  1.                                  My Lord Chamberlain,
  2. Prithee come hither. What fair lady’s that?

Lord Chamberlain

119 - 120
  1. An’t please your Grace, Sir Thomas Bullen’s daughter—
  2. The Viscount Rochford—one of her Highness’ women.

King

121 - 124
  1. By heaven, she is a dainty one. Sweet heart,
  2. I were unmannerly to take you out
  3. And not to kiss you. A health, gentlemen!
  4. Let it go round.

Cardinal Wolsey

125 - 126
  1. Sir Thomas Lovell, is the banquet ready
  2. I’ th’ privy chamber?

Sir Thomas Lovell

127
  1.                       Yes, my lord.

Cardinal Wolsey

128 - 129
  1.               Your Grace,
  2. I fear, with dancing is a little heated.

King

130
  1. I fear, too much.

Cardinal Wolsey

131 - 132
  1.                   There’s fresher air, my lord,
  2. In the next chamber.

King

133 - 138
  1. Lead in your ladies, ev’ry one. Sweet partner,
  2. I must not yet forsake you. Let’s be merry,
  3. Good my Lord Cardinal: I have half a dozen healths
  4. To drink to these fair ladies, and a measure
  5. To lead ’em once again, and then let’s dream
  6. Who’s best in favor. Let the music knock it.
  1. Exeunt with Trumpets.
Henry meets Anne Boleyn

Henry meets Anne Boleyn

Edwin Austin Abbey, 1908

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