Act 2, Scene 3: An ante-chamber of the QUEEN'S apartments

SCENE III. An ante-chamber of the QUEEN'S apartments.

    Enter ANNE and an Old Lady

ANNE

    Not for that neither: here's the pang that pinches:
    His highness having lived so long with her, and she
    So good a lady that no tongue could ever
    Pronounce dishonour of her; by my life,
    She never knew harm-doing: O, now, after
    So many courses of the sun enthroned,
    Still growing in a majesty and pomp, the which
    To leave a thousand-fold more bitter than
    'Tis sweet at first to acquire,--after this process,
    To give her the avaunt! it is a pity
    Would move a monster.

Old Lady

    Hearts of most hard temper
    Melt and lament for her.

ANNE

    O, God's will! much better
    She ne'er had known pomp: though't be temporal,
    Yet, if that quarrel, fortune, do divorce
    It from the bearer, 'tis a sufferance panging
    As soul and body's severing.

Old Lady

    Alas, poor lady!
    She's a stranger now again.

ANNE

    So much the more
    Must pity drop upon her. Verily,
    I swear, 'tis better to be lowly born,
    And range with humble livers in content,
    Than to be perk'd up in a glistering grief,
    And wear a golden sorrow.

Old Lady

    Our content
    Is our best having.

ANNE

    By my troth and maidenhead,
    I would not be a queen.

Old Lady

    Beshrew me, I would,
    And venture maidenhead for't; and so would you,
    For all this spice of your hypocrisy:
    You, that have so fair parts of woman on you,
    Have too a woman's heart; which ever yet
    Affected eminence, wealth, sovereignty;
    Which, to say sooth, are blessings; and which gifts,
    Saving your mincing, the capacity
    Of your soft cheveril conscience would receive,
    If you might please to stretch it.

ANNE

    Nay, good troth.

Old Lady

    Yes, troth, and troth; you would not be a queen?

ANNE

    No, not for all the riches under heaven.
    Old Lady: 'Tis strange: a three-pence bow'd would hire me,
    Old as I am, to queen it: but, I pray you,
    What think you of a duchess? have you limbs
    To bear that load of title?

ANNE

    No, in truth.

Old Lady

    Then you are weakly made: pluck off a little;
    I would not be a young count in your way,
    For more than blushing comes to: if your back
    Cannot vouchsafe this burthen,'tis too weak
    Ever to get a boy.

ANNE

    How you do talk!
    I swear again, I would not be a queen
    For all the world.

Old Lady

    In faith, for little England
    You'ld venture an emballing: I myself
    Would for Carnarvonshire, although there long'd
    No more to the crown but that. Lo, who comes here?

    Enter Chamberlain

Chamberlain

    Good morrow, ladies. What were't worth to know
    The secret of your conference?

ANNE

    My good lord,
    Not your demand; it values not your asking:
    Our mistress' sorrows we were pitying.

Chamberlain

    It was a gentle business, and becoming
    The action of good women: there is hope
    All will be well.

ANNE

    Now, I pray God, amen!

Chamberlain

    You bear a gentle mind, and heavenly blessings
    Follow such creatures. That you may, fair lady,
    Perceive I speak sincerely, and high note's
    Ta'en of your many virtues, the king's majesty
    Commends his good opinion of you, and
    Does purpose honour to you no less flowing
    Than Marchioness of Pembroke: to which title
    A thousand pound a year, annual support,
    Out of his grace he adds.

ANNE

    I do not know
    What kind of my obedience I should tender;
    More than my all is nothing: nor my prayers
    Are not words duly hallow'd, nor my wishes
    More worth than empty vanities; yet prayers and wishes
    Are all I can return. Beseech your lordship,
    Vouchsafe to speak my thanks and my obedience,
    As from a blushing handmaid, to his highness;
    Whose health and royalty I pray for.

Chamberlain

    Lady,
    I shall not fail to approve the fair conceit
    The king hath of you.

    Aside
    I have perused her well;
    Beauty and honour in her are so mingled
    That they have caught the king: and who knows yet
    But from this lady may proceed a gem
    To lighten all this isle? I'll to the king,
    And say I spoke with you.

    Exit Chamberlain

ANNE

    My honour'd lord.

Old Lady

    Why, this it is; see, see!
    I have been begging sixteen years in court,
    Am yet a courtier beggarly, nor could
    Come pat betwixt too early and too late
    For any suit of pounds; and you, O fate!
    A very fresh-fish here--fie, fie, fie upon
    This compell'd fortune!--have your mouth fill'd up
    Before you open it.

ANNE

    This is strange to me.

Old Lady

    How tastes it? is it bitter? forty pence, no.
    There was a lady once, 'tis an old story,
    That would not be a queen, that would she not,
    For all the mud in Egypt: have you heard it?

ANNE

    Come, you are pleasant.

Old Lady

    With your theme, I could
    O'ermount the lark. The Marchioness of Pembroke!
    A thousand pounds a year for pure respect!
    No other obligation! By my life,
    That promises moe thousands: honour's train
    Is longer than his foreskirt. By this time
    I know your back will bear a duchess: say,
    Are you not stronger than you were?

ANNE

    Good lady,
    Make yourself mirth with your particular fancy,
    And leave me out on't. Would I had no being,
    If this salute my blood a jot: it faints me,
    To think what follows.
    The queen is comfortless, and we forgetful
    In our long absence: pray, do not deliver
    What here you've heard to her.

Old Lady

    What do you think me?

    Exeunt

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