第16章 ACT III(2)

QUEEN KATHARINE.How,sir?CAMPEIUS.Put your main cause into the King's protection;He's loving and most gracious.'Twill be much Both for your honour better and your cause;For if the trial of the law o'ertake ye You'll part away disgrac'd.WOLSEY.He tells you rightly.QUEEN KATHARINE.Ye tell me what ye wish for both--my ruin.Is this your Christian counsel?Out upon ye!Heaven is above all yet:there sits a Judge That no king can corrupt.CAMPEIUS.Your rage mistakes us.QUEEN KATHARINE.The more shame for ye;holy men I thought ye,Upon my soul,two reverend cardinal virtues;But cardinal sins and hollow hearts I fear ye.Mend 'em,for shame,my lords.Is this your comfort?The cordial that ye bring a wretched lady--A woman lost among ye,laugh'd at,scorn'd?I will not wish ye half my miseries:I have more charity;but say I warned ye.Take heed,for heaven's sake take heed,lest at once The burden of my sorrows fall upon ye.WOLSEY.Madam,this is a mere distraction;You turn the good we offer into envy.QUEEN KATHARINE.Ye turn me into nothing.Woe upon ye,And all such false professors!Would you have me--If you have any justice,any pity,If ye be any thing but churchmen's habits--Put my sick cause into his hands that hates me?Alas!has banish'd me his bed already,His love too long ago!I am old,my lords,And all the fellowship I hold now with him Is only my obedience.What can happen To me above this wretchedness?All your studies Make me a curse like this.CAMPEIUS.Your fears are worse.QUEEN KATHARINE.Have I liv'd thus long--let me speak myself,Since virtue finds no friends--a wife,a true one?A woman,I dare say without vain-glory,Never yet branded with suspicion?Have I with all my full affections Still met the King,lov'd him next heav'n,obey'd him,Been,out of fondness,superstitious to him,Almost forgot my prayers to content him,And am I thus rewarded?'Tis not well,lords.Bring me a constant woman to her husband,One that ne'er dream'd a joy beyond his pleasure,And to that woman,when she has done most,Yet will I add an honour--a great patience.WOLSEY.Madam,you wander from the good we aim at.QUEEN KATHARINE.My lord,I dare not make myself so guilty,To give up willingly that noble title Your master wed me to:nothing but death Shall e'er divorce my dignities.WOLSEY.Pray hear me.QUEEN KATHARINE.Would I had never trod this English earth,Or felt the flatteries that grow upon it!Ye have angels'faces,but heaven knows your hearts.What will become of me now,wretched lady?I am the most unhappy woman living.[To her WOMEN]Alas,poor wenches,where are now your fortunes?Shipwreck'd upon a kingdom,where no pity,No friends,no hope;no kindred weep for me;Almost no grave allow'd me.Like the lily,That once was mistress of the field,and flourish'd,I'll hang my head and perish.WOLSEY.If your Grace Could but be brought to know our ends are honest,You'd feel more comfort.Why should we,good lady,Upon what cause,wrong you?Alas,our places,The way of our profession is against it;We are to cure such sorrows,not to sow 'em.For goodness'sake,consider what you do;How you may hurt yourself,ay,utterly Grow from the King's acquaintance,by this carriage.The hearts of princes kiss obedience,So much they love it;but to stubborn spirits They swell and grow as terrible as storms.I know you have a gentle,noble temper,A soul as even as a calm.Pray think us Those we profess,peace-makers,friends,and servants.CAMPEIUS.Madam,you'll find it so.You wrong your virtues With these weak women's fears.A noble spirit,As yours was put into you,ever casts Such doubts as false coin from it.The King loves you;Beware you lose it not.For us,if you please To trust us in your business,we are ready To use our utmost studies in your service.QUEEN KATHARINE.Do what ye will my lords;and pray forgive me If I have us'd myself unmannerly;You know I am a woman,lacking wit To make a seemly answer to such persons.Pray do my service to his Majesty;He has my heart yet,and shall have my prayers While I shall have my life.Come,reverend fathers,Bestow your counsels on me;she now begs That little thought,when she set footing here,She should have bought her dignities so dear.Exeunt