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Translated Text |
| Source: Folger Shakespeare Library |
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Hautboys. A small table under a state for the Cardinal, a
longer table for the guests. Then enter Anne Bullen and
divers other ladies and gentlemen as guests at one door;
at another door enter Sir Henry Guilford. GUILFORD
Ladies, a general welcome from his Grace
Salutes you all. This night he dedicates
To fair content and you. None here, he hopes,
In all this noble bevy has brought with her
One care abroad. He would have all as merry 5
As, first, good company, good wine, good welcome
Can make good people. Enter Lord Chamberlain, Lord Sands, and
Sir Thomas Lovell. O, my lord, you’re tardy!
The very thought of this fair company
Clapped wings to me. 10 | Over in the dinner hall at Wolsey's pad, Guildford welcomes everyone. |
CHAMBERLAIN You are young, Sir Harry Guilford. SANDS
Sir Thomas Lovell, had the Cardinal
But half my lay thoughts in him, some of these
Should find a running banquet, ere they rested,
I think would better please ’em. By my life, 15
They are a sweet society of fair ones. LOVELL
O, that your Lordship were but now confessor
To one or two of these! SANDS I would I were.
They should find easy penance. 20 LOVELL Faith, how easy? SANDS
As easy as a down bed would afford it. | Lord Chamberlain, Sands, and Lovell are late, but Sands makes up for it by complimenting the gathering. |
CHAMBERLAIN
Sweet ladies, will it please you sit?—Sir Harry,
Place you that side; I’ll take the charge of this. The guests are seated. His Grace is ent’ring. Nay, you must not freeze; 25
Two women placed together makes cold weather.
My Lord Sands, you are one will keep ’em waking.
Pray sit between these ladies. SANDS By my faith,
And thank your Lordship.—By your leave, sweet ladies. 30 He sits between Anne Bullen and another lady. If I chance to talk a little wild, forgive me;
I had it from my father. ANNE Was he mad, sir? SANDS
O, very mad, exceeding mad, in love too;
But he would bite none. Just as I do now, 35
He would kiss you twenty with a breath. He kisses Anne. | Chamberlain tells Sands to sit between Anne Bullen and another lady. You
don't need to tell him twice: in fact, he's so happy to be sitting next
to Anne that he flirts with her and even kisses her. |
CHAMBERLAIN Well said,
my lord.
So, now you’re fairly seated, gentlemen,
The penance lies on you if these fair ladies 40
Pass away frowning. SANDS For my little cure,
Let me alone. Hautboys. Enter Cardinal Wolsey, with Attendants and
Servants, and takes his state. WOLSEY
You’re welcome, my fair guests. That noble lady
Or gentleman that is not freely merry 45
Is not my friend. This to confirm my welcome,
And to you all good health. He drinks to them. SANDS Your Grace is noble.
Let me have such a bowl may hold my thanks
And save me so much talking. 50 WOLSEY My Lord Sands,
I am beholding to you. Cheer your neighbors.—
Ladies, you are not merry.—Gentlemen,
Whose fault is this? SANDS The red wine first must rise 55
In their fair cheeks, my lord. Then we shall have ’em
Talk us to silence. ANNE You are a merry gamester,
My Lord Sands. SANDS Yes, if I make my play. 60
Here’s to your Ladyship, and pledge it, madam,
He drinks to her.
For ’tis to such a thing— ANNE You cannot show me. SANDS
I told your Grace they would talk anon.
Drum and Trumpet. Chambers discharged. WOLSEY What’s that? 65 CHAMBERLAIN
Look out there, some of you. Servants exit. WOLSEY What warlike voice,
And to what end, is this?—Nay, ladies, fear not.
By all the laws of war you’re privileged. Enter a Servant. | Wolsey enters and greets everyone. There's lots of brownnosing with Wolsey and lots more flirting between Anne and Sands. |
Enter a Servant. CHAMBERLAIN
How now, what is ’t? 70 SERVANT A noble troop of strangers,
For so they seem. They’ve left their barge and landed,
And hither make, as great ambassadors
From foreign princes. WOLSEY Good Lord Chamberlain, 75
Go, give ’em welcome—you can speak the French
tongue—
And pray receive ’em nobly, and conduct ’em
Into our presence, where this heaven of beauty
Shall shine at full upon them. Some attend him. 80
Lord Chamberlain exits, with Attendants.
All rise, and tables removed.
You have now a broken banquet, but we’ll mend it.
A good digestion to you all; and once more
I shower a welcome on you. Welcome all! Hautboys. Enter King and others as masquers, habited
like shepherds, ushered by the Lord Chamberlain.
They pass directly before the Cardinal and gracefully
salute him. A noble company! What are their pleasures? | Chamberlain notices a group of party crashers. He's never seen them before and asks the servant who they are. Wolsey instructs Chamberlain to greet them since he can speak French (and that's what they speak). Shhh… one of them is Henry, but he and his buddies are dressed as shepherds so no one will recognize them. |
CHAMBERLAIN
Because they speak no English, thus they prayed 85
To tell your Grace: that, having heard by fame
Of this so noble and so fair assembly
This night to meet here, they could do no less,
Out of the great respect they bear to beauty,
But leave their flocks and, under your fair conduct, 90
Crave leave to view these ladies and entreat
An hour of revels with ’em. WOLSEY Say, Lord Chamberlain,
They have done my poor house grace, for which I
pay ’em 95
A thousand thanks and pray ’em take their pleasures. The masquers choose Ladies. The
King chooses Anne Bullen. KING
The fairest hand I ever touched! O beauty,
Till now I never knew thee. Music, Dance. | Chamberlain comes back with a report on the mystery guests. They've heard about how awesome Wolsey's parties are, they say, and they just had to see for themselves. Wolsey takes that as a compliment and invites them in. Everyone dances. Henry chooses Anne as a dance partner because, well, she's hot. |
WOLSEY
My lord! CHAMBERLAIN Your Grace? 100 WOLSEY Pray tell ’em thus much
from me:
There should be one amongst ’em by his person
More worthy this place than myself, to whom,
If I but knew him, with my love and duty 105
I would surrender it. CHAMBERLAIN I will, my lord. Whisper with the masquers. WOLSEY
What say they? CHAMBERLAIN Such a one they all confess
There is indeed, which they would have your Grace 110
Find out, and he will take it. | Wolsey hears the king say this and figures out that he's not really a shepherd. Wolsey tells Chamberlain to ask the shepherd if there is one among them that is of higher status; if so, Wolsey will give up his home to the lad. (This is one big game of brownnosing for Wolsey, who wants to pump up the king's ego.) The response: there is—in fact—a man of high class there. Now Wolsey has to choose which person it is. |
WOLSEY Let me see, then. He leaves his state. By all your good leaves, gentlemen. He bows before the King. Here I’ll make
My royal choice. 115 KING, unmasking You have found him, cardinal.
You hold a fair assembly; you do well, lord.
You are a churchman, or I’ll tell you, cardinal,
I should judge now unhappily. WOLSEY I am glad 120
Your Grace is grown so pleasant. KING My Lord Chamberlain,
Prithee come hither. What fair lady’s that? CHAMBERLAIN
An ’t please your Grace, Sir Thomas Bullen’s daughter,
The Viscount Rochford, one of her Highness’ women. 125 KING
By heaven, she is a dainty one.—Sweetheart,
I were unmannerly to take you out
And not to kiss you. He kisses Anne. A health,
gentlemen!
Let it go round. He drinks a toast. 130 | Wolsey picks Henry. Henry takes off his mask, and everyone has a laugh. Then Henry asks about that chick he just danced with. Who was that? Chamberlain tells Henry it was Anne, Thomas Bullen's daughter, and Henry is pleased. He thinks he should have kissed her when they were dancing, so he does so right then and there. |
WOLSEY
Sir Thomas Lovell, is the banquet ready
I’ th’ privy chamber? LOVELL Yes, my lord. WOLSEY Your Grace,
I fear, with dancing is a little heated. 135 KING
I fear, too much. WOLSEY There’s fresher air, my lord,
In the next chamber. KING
Lead in your ladies ev’ry one.—Sweet partner,
I must not yet forsake you.—Let’s be merry, 140
Good my Lord Cardinal. I have half a dozen healths
To drink to these fair ladies, and a measure
To lead ’em once again, and then let’s dream
Who’s best in favor. Let the music knock it. They exit, with Trumpets. | A banquet is ready in a secret room, and Henry gets up to go—but not before promising to never forget Anne. We're pretty sure this won't be the last time we see Anne. |