The full cause of our coming. Q. Kath. Speak it here; There's nothing I have done yet, o' my conscience, Deserves a corner: 'Would, all other women Were tried by every tongue, every eye saw them, Out with it boldly; Truth loves open dealing. Q. Kath. O, good my lord, no Latin; I am not such a truant since my coming, As not to know the language I have liv'd in : A strange tongue makes my cause more strange, suspicious; Pray, speak in English: here are some will thank you, If you speak truth, for their poor mistress' sake; Believe me, she has had much wrong: Lord cardinal, The willing'st sin I ever yet committed, May be absolv'd in English. Wol. Noble lady, I am sorry, my integrity should breed, You have too much, good lady: but to know How you stand minded in the weighty difference Cam. Most honour'd madam, My lord of York,-out of his noble nature, His service and his counsel. Q. Kath. To betray me. [Aside. My lords, I thank you both for your good wills, In such a point of weight, so near mine honour, For her sake that I have been, (for I feel Wol. Madam, you wrong the king's love with these fears; Your hopes and friends are infinite. In England, Q. Kath. Or be a known friend, 'gainst his highness' pleasure, (Though he be grown so desperate to be honest,) Cam. I would, your grace Would leave your griefs, and take my counsel. Q. Kath. How, sir? Cam. Put your main cause into the king's protec tion; He's loving, and most gracious; 'twill be much Both for your honour better, and your cause; You'll part away disgrac'd. Wol. He tells you rightly. Q. Kath. Ye tell me what ye wish for both, my Is this your ruin : Heaven is above all yet; there sits a judge, christian counsel? out upon ye! Your rage mistakes us. That no king can corrupt. Cam. Q. Kath. 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 them for shame, my lords. Is this your com fort? The cordial that ye bring a wretched lady? A woman lost among ye, laugh'd at, scorn'd? my miseries, 4 Outweigh. I have more charity: But say, I warn'd ye; Wol. Madam, this is a mere distraction; Q. Kath. Ye turn me into nothing: Woe upon yè, And all such false professors! Would ye have me (If you have any justice, any pity; If ye be any thing but churchmen's habits,) Put my Cam. Your fears are worse. Q. Kath. 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 heaven? obey'd Been, out of fondness, superstitious to him?5 5 Served him with superstitious attention. Yet will I add an honour,-a great patience. Wol. Madam, you wander from the good we aim at. Q. Kath. 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. Wol. 'Pray, hear me. Q. Kath. '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.— Alas! poor wenches, where are now your fortunes? [To her Women. Shipwreck'd upon a kingdom, where no pity, for me, No friends, no hope; no kindred weep If your grace Wol. 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 them. 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, |