Enter Katherine Dowager, sick, led between Griffith, her
gentleman usher, and Patience, her woman.GRIFFITH How does your Grace?KATHERINE O Griffith, sick to death. My legs like loaden branches bow to th’ earth, Willing to leave their burden. Reach a chair.⌜She sits.⌝5 So. Now, methinks, I feel a little ease. Didst thou not tell me, Griffith, as thou ledst me, That the great child of honor, Cardinal Wolsey, Was dead?GRIFFITH Yes, madam, but I ⌜think⌝ your Grace,10 Out of the pain you suffered, gave no ear to ’t.KATHERINE Prithee, good Griffith, tell me how he died. If well, he stepped before me happily For my example.GRIFFITH Well, the voice goes, madam;15 For after the stout Earl Northumberland Arrested him at York and brought him forward, As a man sorely tainted, to his answer, He fell sick suddenly and grew so ill He could not sit his mule.KATHERINE 20 Alas, poor man!GRIFFITH At last, with easy roads, he came to Leicester, Lodged in the abbey, where the reverend abbot With all his convent honorably received him; To whom he gave these words: “O Father Abbot,25 An old man, broken with the storms of state, Is come to lay his weary bones among you. Give him a little earth, for charity.” So went to bed, where eagerly his sickness
177
Henry VIII
ACT 4. SC. 2
Pursued him still; and three nights after this,30 About the hour of eight, which he himself Foretold should be his last, full of repentance, Continual meditations, tears, and sorrows, He gave his honors to the world again, His blessèd part to heaven, and slept in peace.KATHERINE 35 So may he rest. His faults lie gently on him! Yet thus far, Griffith, give me leave to speak him, And yet with charity. He was a man Of an unbounded stomach, ever ranking Himself with princes; one that by suggestion40 Tied all the kingdom. Simony was fair play. His own opinion was his law. I’ th’ presence He would say untruths, and be ever double Both in his words and meaning. He was never, But where he meant to ruin, pitiful.45 His promises were, as he then was, mighty, But his performance, as he is now, nothing. Of his own body he was ill, and gave The clergy ill example.GRIFFITH Noble madam,50 Men’s evil manners live in brass; their virtues We write in water. May it please your Highness To hear me speak his good now?KATHERINE Yes, good Griffith; I were malicious else.GRIFFITH 55 This cardinal, Though from an humble stock, undoubtedly Was fashioned to much honor. From his cradle He was a scholar, and a ripe and good one: Exceeding wise, fair-spoken, and persuading;60 Lofty and sour to them that loved him not, But, to those men that sought him, sweet as summer. And though he were unsatisfied in getting, Which was a sin, yet in bestowing, madam,
179
Henry VIII
ACT 4. SC. 2
He was most princely. Ever witness for him65 Those twins of learning that he raised in you, Ipswich and Oxford, one of which fell with him, Unwilling to outlive the good that did it; The other, though unfinished, yet so famous, So excellent in art, and still so rising,70 That Christendom shall ever speak his virtue. His overthrow heaped happiness upon him, For then, and not till then, he felt himself, And found the blessedness of being little. And, to add greater honors to his age75 Than man could give him, he died fearing God.KATHERINE After my death I wish no other herald, No other speaker of my living actions, To keep mine honor from corruption But such an honest chronicler as Griffith.80 Whom I most hated living, thou hast made me, With thy religious truth and modesty, Now in his ashes honor. Peace be with him!— Patience, be near me still, and set me lower. I have not long to trouble thee.—Good Griffith,85 Cause the musicians play me that sad note I named my knell, whilst I sit meditating On that celestial harmony I go to.Sad and solemn music.GRIFFITH She is asleep. Good wench, let’s sit down quiet, For fear we wake her. Softly, gentle Patience.⌜They sit.⌝
The Vision.
Enter, solemnly tripping one after another, six
Personages clad in white robes, wearing on their
heads garlands of bays, and golden vizards on their
faces, branches of bays or palm in their hands. They
181
Henry VIII
ACT 4. SC. 2
first congee unto her, then dance; and, at certain
changes, the first two hold a spare garland over her
head, at which the other four make reverent curtsies.
Then the two that held the garland deliver the same
to the other next two, who observe the same order in
their changes and holding the garland over her head;
which done, they deliver the same garland to the last
two, who likewise observe the same order. At which,
as it were by inspiration, she makes in her sleep
signs of rejoicing and holdeth up her hands to
heaven; and so, in their dancing, vanish, carrying
the garland with them.The music continues.KATHERINE, ⌜waking⌝ 90 Spirits of peace, where are you? Are you all gone, And leave me here in wretchedness behind you?GRIFFITH Madam, we are here.KATHERINE It is not you I call for. Saw you none enter since I slept?GRIFFITH 95 None, madam.KATHERINE No? Saw you not, even now, a blessed troop Invite me to a banquet, whose bright faces Cast thousand beams upon me, like the sun? They promised me eternal happiness100 And brought me garlands, Griffith, which I feel I am not worthy yet to wear. I shall, assuredly.GRIFFITH I am most joyful, madam, such good dreams Possess your fancy.KATHERINE Bid the music leave.105 They are harsh and heavy to me.Music ceases.PATIENCE, ⌜aside to Griffith⌝ Do you note How much her Grace is altered on the sudden?
183
Henry VIII
ACT 4. SC. 2
How long her face is drawn? How pale she looks, And of an earthy cold? Mark her eyes.GRIFFITH, ⌜aside to Patience⌝ 110 She is going, wench. Pray, pray.PATIENCE Heaven comfort her!Enter a Messenger.MESSENGER, ⌜to Katherine⌝ An ’t like your Grace—KATHERINE You are a saucy fellow. Deserve we no more reverence?GRIFFITH, ⌜to Messenger⌝ 115 You are to blame, Knowing she will not lose her wonted greatness, To use so rude behavior. Go to. Kneel.MESSENGER, ⌜kneeling⌝ I humbly do entreat your Highness’ pardon. My haste made me unmannerly. There is staying120 A gentleman sent from the King to see you.KATHERINE Admit him entrance, Griffith.⌜Messenger rises.⌝ But this fellow Let me ne’er see again.Messenger exits.Enter Lord Capuchius. If my sight fail not,125 You should be Lord Ambassador from the Emperor, My royal nephew, and your name Capuchius.CAPUCHIUS Madam, the same. Your servant.KATHERINE O my lord, The times and titles now are altered strangely130 With me since first you knew me. But I pray you, What is your pleasure with me?CAPUCHIUS Noble lady, First, mine own service to your Grace; the next, The King’s request that I would visit you,
185
Henry VIII
ACT 4. SC. 2
135 Who grieves much for your weakness, and by me Sends you his princely commendations, And heartily entreats you take good comfort.KATHERINE O, my good lord, that comfort comes too late; ’Tis like a pardon after execution.140 That gentle physic given in time had cured me. But now I am past all comforts here but prayers. How does his Highness?CAPUCHIUS Madam, in good health.KATHERINE So may he ever do, and ever flourish,145 When I shall dwell with worms, and my poor name Banished the kingdom.—Patience, is that letter I caused you write yet sent away?PATIENCE No, madam.⌜She presents a paper to Katherine, who gives
it to Capuchius.⌝KATHERINE Sir, I most humbly pray you to deliver150 This to my lord the King—CAPUCHIUS Most willing, madam.KATHERINE In which I have commended to his goodness The model of our chaste loves, his young daughter— The dews of heaven fall thick in blessings on her!—155 Beseeching him to give her virtuous breeding— She is young and of a noble, modest nature; I hope she will deserve well—and a little To love her for her mother’s sake that loved him, Heaven knows how dearly. My next poor petition160 Is that his noble Grace would have some pity Upon my wretched women, that so long Have followed both my fortunes faithfully, Of which there is not one, I dare avow— And now I should not lie—but will deserve,
187
Henry VIII
ACT 4. SC. 2
165 For virtue and true beauty of the soul, For honesty and decent carriage, A right good husband. Let him be a noble; And sure those men are happy that shall have ’em. The last is for my men—they are the poorest,170 But poverty could never draw ’em from me— That they may have their wages duly paid ’em, And something over to remember me by. If heaven had pleased to have given me longer life And able means, we had not parted thus.175 These are the whole contents. And, good my lord, By that you love the dearest in this world, As you wish Christian peace to souls departed, Stand these poor people’s friend, and urge the King To do me this last right.CAPUCHIUS 180 By heaven, I will, Or let me lose the fashion of a man!KATHERINE I thank you, honest lord. Remember me In all humility unto his Highness. Say his long trouble now is passing185 Out of this world. Tell him in death I blessed him, For so I will. Mine eyes grow dim. Farewell, My lord.—Griffith, farewell.—Nay, Patience, You must not leave me yet. I must to bed; Call in more women. When I am dead, good wench,190 Let me be used with honor. Strew me over With maiden flowers, that all the world may know I was a chaste wife to my grave. Embalm me, Then lay me forth. Although unqueened, yet like A queen and daughter to a king inter me.195 I can no more.They exit, leading Katherine.
Henry VIII: 
