The Complete Works of William Shakespeare - Israel Gollancz William Shakespeare [2068]
the form was portrayed lively in thy sleep.
come, come, it is nothing. what, are the horses ready?
Cheyney
they are, my lord.
Woodstock
where is the gentleman that brought this message?
where lies the Queen, sir?
Servant
at sheen, my lord: most sick, and so much altered
as those about her fear her sudden death.
Woodstock
forfend it heaven! away, make haste I charge ye.
what, weeping now? afore my god thou art fond!
come, come, I know thou art no augurer of ill.
dry up thy tears, this kiss, and part. farewell!
Duchess of Gloucester
that farewell from your lips to me sounds ill.
wherever I go, my fears will follow still.
Woodstock
see her to horseback, Cheyney.
Exeunt Duchess and the rest. Manet Woodstock
before my god, it is late,
and but the important business craves such haste,
she had not gone from plashey house tonight.
but woe is me the good Queen Anne is sick
and (by my soul) my heart is sad to hear it:
so good a lady, and so virtuous,
this realm for many ages could not boast of.
her charity hath stayed the commons' rage
that would ere this have shaken Richard's chair
or set all England on a burning fire.
and, before my god, I fear, when she is gone
this woeful land will all to ruin run.
Enter Cheney
how now, Cheyney! what, is thy lady gone yet?
Cheyney
she is, my lord, with much unwillingness,
and it is so dark I cannot blame her grace.
the lights of heaven are shut in pitchy clouds
and flakes of fire run tilting through the sky
like dim ostents to some great tragedy.
Woodstock
god bless good Anne-a-Beame. I fear her death
will be the tragic scene the sky foreshows us.
when Kingdoms change, the very heavens are
troubled.
pray god King Richard's wild behaviour
force not the powers of heaven to frown upon us.
my prayers are still for him. what thinkest thou,
Cheyney. may not plain Thomas live a time, to see
this state attain her former royalty?
before god I doubt it not. my heart is merry,
and I am suddenly inspired for mirth.
ha, what sport shall we have tonight, Cheyney?
Cheyney
I am glad to see your grace addicted so
for I have news of sudden mirth to tell ye
which, till I heard ye speak, I durst not utter:
we shall have a masque tonight, my lord.
Woodstock
ha, a masque sayest thou? what are they, Cheyney?
Cheyney
it seems, my lord, some country gentlemen,
to show their dear affection to your grace
proffer their sports this night to make you merry.
their drums have called for entrance twice already.
Woodstock
are they so near? I prithee let them enter.
tell them we do embrace their loves most kindly.
give order through the house that all observe them.
we must accept their loves, although the times
are no way suited now for masks and revels.
what, ho, within there!
Enter Servants Servant my lord?
Woodstock
prepare a banquet: call for lights and music. [Exit a Servant]
they come in love, and we will accept it so.
some sports does well, we are all too full of woe.
Enter Cheyney Cheyney
they are come, my lord.
Woodstock
they all are welcome, Cheyney, set me a chair.
we will behold their sports in spite of care.
Flourish [of] cornets. Then a great shout and winding of horns. Then enter Cynthia Cynthia
from the clear orb of our ethereal sphere
bright cynthia comes to hunt and revel here.
the groves of calydon and arden woods
of untamed monsters, wild and savage herds,
we and our knights have freed, and hither come
to hunt these forests, where we hear there lies
a cruel tusked boar, whose terror flies
through this large Kingdom, and with fear and dread
strikes her amassed greatness pale and dead.
and, having viewed from far these towers of stone,
we heard the people midst their joy and moan
extol to heaven a faithful prince and peer
that keeps a court of love and pity here.
reverend and mild his looks: if such there be
this state directs, great prince, that you are he;
and ere our knights to this great hunting go,
before your grace they would some pastime show
in sprightly dancing.