Sands. The devil fiddle 'em! I'm glad they're going:

Now,

An honest country lord, as I am, beaten

A long time out of play, may bring his plain-song, And have an hour of hearing; and, by 'r-lady, Held current musick too.

Cham. Well said, lord Sands;

Your colt's tooth is not cast yet.
Sands. No, my lord;

Nor shall not, while I have a stump.

Cham. Sir Thomas, Whither are you a going?

Lov. To the cardinal's; Your lordship is a guest too.

Cham. O, 't is true:

This night he makes a supper, and a great one,
To many lords and ladies; there will be
The beauty of this kingdom, I'll assure you.

Lov. That churchman bears a bounteous mind indeed,

A hand as fruitful as the land that feeds us.

Sands. He may, my lord, he has wherewithal; in him,

Sparing would show a worse sin than ill doctrine :
Men of his way should be most liberal,
They are set here for examples.

Cham. True, they are so;

But few now give so great ones. My barge stays;
Come, good sir Thomas,

We shall be late else: which I would not be ;
For I was spoke to, with sir Henry Guildford,
This night to be comptrollers.-

Your lordship shall along.

Sands. Ay, ay; if the beauties are there, I must make one among them, to be sure.

[Exeunt.

A State for the Cardinal, and a Table for the Guests. ANNE BULLEN, Lady DENNY, and other Ladies and Gentlemen, as guests, WOLSEY's Servants attending them, discovered.

Enter GUILDFORD.

Guil. 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 As first-good company, good wine, good welcome, Can make good people.

Enter Chamberlain, SANDS, and LOVEL.

O my lord, you're tardy;

The very thought of this fair

Clap'd wings to me.

company

Cham. You are young, sir Harry Guildford.
Sands. Sir Thomas Lovel, 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,
They are a sweet society of fair ones.

Lov. O, that your lordship were but now confessor To one or two of these!

Sands. I would, I were;

They should find easy penance.

Lov. 'Faith, how easy?

Sands. As easy as a down bed would afford it. Cham. Sweet ladies, will it please you sit? (All sit.) Sir Harry,

Place

you

that side, I'll take the charge of this.-
[Flourish of Trumpets.]

His grace is ent'ring.-Nay, you must not freeze;

Two women plac'd together make 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:

[Sits between ANNE BULLEN and Lady DENNY. 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,

He would kiss you twenty with a breath. [Kisses her. Cham. Well said, my lord.—

So, now you are fairly seated :-Gentlemen,

The penance

lies on you,

Pass away frowning.

if these fair ladies

Sands. For my little cure,

Let me alone.

Flourish of Trumpets.

Enter two Gentlemen, WOLSEY, two Pages, and CROMWELL. All rise.—WOLSEY takes his state.

-

Wol. You are welcome, my fair guests; that noble lady,

Or gentleman, that is not freely merry,

Is not my friend: This, to confirm my welcome;
And to you all good health.

Drinks.-All sit.

[Flourish of Trumpets.] ·

Sands. Your grace is noble;

Let me have such a bowl may hold my thanks,

And save me so much talking.

Wol. My lord Sands,

[Servant gives him wine.

I am beholden to you: cheer your neighhours.-
Ladies, you are not merry ;-Gentlemen,
Whose fault is this?

Sands. The red wine first must rise

In their fair cheeks, my lord; then we shall have 'em Talk us to silence.

B 2

Anne. You are a merry gamester, My lord Sands.

Sands. Yes, if I make my play.

Here's to your ladyship: and pledge it, madam ;
For 't is to such a thing,-

Anne. You cannot show me.

[Drinks.

Sands. I told your grace, they would talk anon. [Drums and Trumpets,-Cannon discharged,-All rise. Wol. What's that?

Look out there, some of you.

What warlike voice?

[Exit CROMWELL.

And to what end is this?-Nay, ladies, fear not;
By all the laws of war you are privileg'd.

Enter CROMWELL.

How now? what is 't?

Crom. A noble troop of strangers;

[All sit.

For so they seem: they 've left their barge, and landed; And hither make, as great ambassadors

From foreign princes.

Wol. Good lord chamberlain,

Go, give 'em welcome;

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.-
[Exeunt Chamberlain, CROMWELL, and two Gentlemen.
You've 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.—

Musick.

Enter CROMWELL, and Chamberlain, introducing the King, NORFOLK, and SUFFOLK, in masks, and eight Attendants, habited as Shepherds, followed by two Gentlemen.

A noble company! What are their pleasures?

Cham. Because they speak no English,thus they pray'd To tell your grace;-That, having heard by fame Of this so noble and so fair assembly

KING HENRY VIII.

21

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,
Crave leave to view these ladies, and entreat

An hour of revels with them.

Wol. Say, lord chamberlain,

They've done my poor house grace; for which I pay them

A thousand thanks, and pray them take their plea

sures.

[The King converses with ANNE BULLEN.]

[A Dance.]

King. The fairest hand I ever touch'd! O, beauty, Till now I never knew thee.

Wol. My lord,

Cham. Your grace?

Wol. '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

I would surrender it.

Cham. I will, my lord.

[Chamberlain goes to the company.

Wol. What say they?

Cham. Such a one they all confess,

There is, indeed; which they would have your grace

Find out, and he will take it.

Wol. Let me see then.

By all your good leaves, gentlemen :-Here I'll make

My royal choice.

King. You've found him, cardinal :—

[The King unmasks—all rise, and bow. You hold a fair assembly; you do well, lord: You are a churchman, or, I'll tell you, cardinal, I should judge now unhappily.

Wol. I am glad,

Your grace is grown so pleasant.
King. My lord chamberlain,-

What fair lady's that?