Original Text |
Translated Text |
| Source: Folger Shakespeare Library |
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Enter Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester, a Page with a
torch before him, met by Sir Thomas Lovell. GARDINER
It’s one o’clock, boy, is ’t not? PAGE It hath struck. GARDINER
These should be hours for necessities,
Not for delights; times to repair our nature
With comforting repose, and not for us 5
To waste these times.—Good hour of night, Sir
Thomas.
Whither so late? LOVELL Came you from the King, my lord? GARDINER
I did, Sir Thomas, and left him at primero 10
With the Duke of Suffolk. LOVELL I must to him too,
Before he go to bed. I’ll take my leave. GARDINER
Not yet, Sir Thomas Lovell. What’s the matter?
It seems you are in haste. An if there be 15
No great offense belongs to ’t, give your friend
Some touch of your late business. Affairs that walk,
As they say spirits do, at midnight have
In them a wilder nature than the business
That seeks dispatch by day. 20 LOVELL My lord, I love you,
And durst commend a secret to your ear
Much weightier than this work. The Queen’s in
labor—
They say in great extremity—and feared 25
She’ll with the labor end. | Gardiner runs into Lovell, who's running around like a chicken with its
head cut off. Why the rush? Lovell is on his way to help, because Anne
is in labor. |
GARDINER The fruit she goes with
I pray for heartily, that it may find
Good time and live; but for the stock, Sir Thomas,
I wish it grubbed up now. 30 LOVELL Methinks I could
Cry the amen, and yet my conscience says
She’s a good creature and, sweet lady, does
Deserve our better wishes. GARDINER But, sir, sir, 35
Hear me, Sir Thomas. You’re a gentleman
Of mine own way. I know you wise, religious;
And let me tell you, it will ne’er be well,
’Twill not, Sir Thomas Lovell, take ’t of me,
Till Cranmer, Cromwell—her two hands—and she 40
Sleep in their graves. | That's all very well, says Gardiner, but he's got more pressing issues:
he's worried about the kingdom. He doesn't think they're safe until
Anne, Cranmer, and Cromwell are all dead. |
LOVELL Now, sir, you speak of two
The most remarked i’ th’ kingdom. As for Cromwell,
Besides that of the Jewel House, is made Master
O’ th’ Rolls and the King’s secretary; further, sir, 45
Stands in the gap and trade of more preferments,
With which the time will load him. Th’ Archbishop
Is the King’s hand and tongue, and who dare speak
One syllable against him? GARDINER Yes, yes, Sir Thomas, 50
There are that dare, and I myself have ventured
To speak my mind of him. And indeed this day,
Sir—I may tell it you, I think—I have
Incensed the lords o’ th’ Council that he is—
For so I know he is, they know he is— 55
A most arch heretic, a pestilence
That does infect the land; with which they, moved,
Have broken with the King, who hath so far
Given ear to our complaint, of his great grace
And princely care foreseeing those fell mischiefs 60
Our reasons laid before him, hath commanded
Tomorrow morning to the Council board
He be convented. He’s a rank weed, Sir Thomas,
And we must root him out. From your affairs
I hinder you too long. Goodnight, Sir Thomas. 65 LOVELL
Many good nights, my lord. I rest your servant. | That might be, but they're the king's faves, replies Lovell. Gardiner isn't so sure: he's already started badmouthing Cranmer because of his religious beliefs, and Cromwell won't be too far behind. |
Gardiner and Page exit. Enter King and Suffolk. KING
Charles, I will play no more tonight.
My mind’s not on ’t; you are too hard for me. SUFFOLK
Sir, I did never win of you before. KING But little, Charles, 70
Nor shall not when my fancy’s on my play.—
Now, Lovell, from the Queen what is the news? LOVELL
I could not personally deliver to her
What you commanded me, but by her woman
I sent your message, who returned her thanks 75
In the great’st humbleness, and desired your Highness
Most heartily to pray for her. KING What sayst thou, ha?
To pray for her? What, is she crying out? LOVELL
So said her woman, and that her suff’rance made 80
Almost each pang a death. | Gardiner leaves, and on his tail, the king and Suffolk enter. Henry is desperate to know about his wife's labor. Lovell reports that his messenger sent word to pray for Anne because she's in a lot of pain. You don't say: she's in labor, after all. |
KING Alas, good lady! SUFFOLK
God safely quit her of her burden, and
With gentle travail, to the gladding of
Your Highness with an heir! 85 KING ’Tis midnight, Charles.
Prithee, to bed, and in thy prayers remember
Th’ estate of my poor queen. Leave me alone,
For I must think of that which company
Would not be friendly to. 90 SUFFOLK I wish your Highness
A quiet night, and my good mistress will
Remember in my prayers. KING Charles, good night. Suffolk exits. Enter Sir Anthony Denny. Well, sir, what follows? 95 Enter Sir Anthony Denny.
Well, sir, what follows? 95 DENNY
Sir, I have brought my lord the Archbishop,
As you commanded me. KING Ha! Canterbury? DENNY
Ay, my good lord. KING ’Tis true. Where is he, Denny? 100 DENNY
He attends your Highness’ pleasure. KING Bring him to us. Denny exits. | Henry sends Suffolk away, and Sir Antony Denny enters with news that
Cranmer is about to arrive. He bring Cranmer in; then Henry tells Denny
and Lovell to scram. |
LOVELL, aside
This is about that which the Bishop spake.
I am happily come hither. Enter Cranmer and Denny. KING
Avoid the gallery. Lovell seems to stay. 105
Ha! I have said. Be gone!
What! Lovell and Denny exit. CRANMER, aside I am fearful. Wherefore frowns he thus?
’Tis his aspect of terror. All’s not well. KING
How now, my lord? You do desire to know 110
Wherefore I sent for you. CRANMER, kneeling It is my duty
T’ attend your Highness’ pleasure. KING Pray you arise,
My good and gracious Lord of Canterbury. 115
Come, you and I must walk a turn together.
I have news to tell you. Come, come, give me your
hand. Cranmer rises.
Ah, my good lord, I grieve at what I speak,
And am right sorry to repeat what follows. 120
I have, and most unwillingly, of late
Heard many grievous—I do say, my lord,
Grievous—complaints of you, which, being
considered,
Have moved us and our Council that you shall 125
This morning come before us, where I know
You cannot with such freedom purge yourself
But that, till further trial in those charges
Which will require your answer, you must take
Your patience to you and be well contented 130
To make your house our Tower. You a brother of us,
It fits we thus proceed, or else no witness
Would come against you. | Finally alone with Cranmer, Henry brings up all the complaints he's heard about Cranmer. Hmm... where have we heard all this before? Gardiner has been badmouthing Cranmer all over town, and others are starting to join in. Henry decides that while Cranmer is being investigated, he'll have to be relocated… to the Tower (translation: to prison). Don't worry, it's just until we sort this whole thing out, Henry tells him. |
CRANMER, kneeling I humbly thank your
Highness, 135
And am right glad to catch this good occasion
Most throughly to be winnowed, where my chaff
And corn shall fly asunder. For I know
There’s none stands under more calumnious tongues
Than I myself, poor man. 140 KING Stand up, good Canterbury!
Thy truth and thy integrity is rooted
In us, thy friend. Give me thy hand. Stand up. Cranmer rises. Prithee, let’s walk. Now by my halidom,
What manner of man are you? My lord, I looked 145
You would have given me your petition that
I should have ta’en some pains to bring together
Yourself and your accusers and to have heard you
Without endurance further. | Cranmer kneels and thanks Henry for the warning. Cranmer says he's honest and truthful, but he has enemies. He doesn't understand why someone would complain about him, but he knows the truth will come out eventually. Henry tells Cranmer to be patient, and he says that he believes in the guy. |
CRANMER Most dread liege, 150
The good I stand on is my truth and honesty.
If they shall fail, I with mine enemies
Will triumph o’er my person, which I weigh not,
Being of those virtues vacant. I fear nothing
What can be said against me. 155 KING Know you not
How your state stands i’ th’ world, with the whole
world?
Your enemies are many and not small; their practices
Must bear the same proportion, and not ever 160
The justice and the truth o’ th’ question carries
The due o’ th’ verdict with it. At what ease
Might corrupt minds procure knaves as corrupt
To swear against you? Such things have been done.
You are potently opposed, and with a malice 165
Of as great size. Ween you of better luck,
I mean in perjured witness, than your master,
Whose minister you are, whiles here he lived
Upon this naughty earth? Go to, go to.
You take a precipice for no leap of danger 170
And woo your own destruction. | Cranmer thinks a trap has already been set for him. Henry tells Cranmer not to worry: Cranmer's a good guy, he says, and he tries to do the right thing all the time. |
CRANMER God and your Majesty
Protect mine innocence, or I fall into
The trap is laid for me. KING Be of good cheer. 175
They shall no more prevail than we give way to.
Keep comfort to you, and this morning see
You do appear before them. If they shall chance,
In charging you with matters, to commit you,
The best persuasions to the contrary 180
Fail not to use, and with what vehemency
Th’ occasion shall instruct you. If entreaties
Will render you no remedy, this ring
Deliver them, and your appeal to us
There make before them. He gives Cranmer a ring. 185
Aside. Look, the good man weeps!
He’s honest, on mine honor! God’s blest mother,
I swear he is truehearted, and a soul
None better in my kingdom.—Get you gone,
And do as I have bid you. Cranmer exits. 190
He has strangled
His language in his tears. LOVELL (within) Come back! What mean you? | Henry promises to help Cranmer out if he is convicted of anything. |
Enter Old Lady, followed by Lovell. OLD LADY
I’ll not come back! The tidings that I bring
Will make my boldness manners.—Now, good angels 195
Fly o’er thy royal head and shade thy person
Under their blessèd wings! KING Now by thy looks
I guess thy message. Is the Queen delivered?
Say “Ay, and of a boy.” 200 OLD LADY Ay, ay, my liege,
And of a lovely boy. The God of heaven
Both now and ever bless her! ’Tis a girl
Promises boys hereafter. Sir, your queen
Desires your visitation, and to be 205
Acquainted with this stranger. ’Tis as like you
As cherry is to cherry. | When the Old Lady enters with news of Anne's delivery. Henry is worried and asks if she has had a baby. On top of that, he's all, "Please say it's a boy. Pretty please? With a cherry on top?"
Well, the Old Lady can only do half of that: Anne is safe, and she had a baby girl. The Old Lady reports that the little baby girl is way cute. |
KING Lovell. LOVELL Sir. KING
Give her an hundred marks. I’ll to the Queen. 210 King exits. OLD LADY
An hundred marks? By this light, I’ll ha’ more.
An ordinary groom is for such payment.
I will have more or scold it out of him.
Said I for this the girl was like to him?
I’ll have more or else unsay ’t. And now, 215
While ’tis hot, I’ll put it to the issue. Old Lady exits, with Lovell. | Henry instructs Lovell to give the Old Lady 100 marks (coins) while he goes off to the Queen. Alone, the Old Lady wishes she got more than a measly old 100 marks. She knows it's such a small sum because the baby turned out to be a girl. |