Anna Dickinson [*Speeches & Writings File PLAYS*] "A Crown of Thorns" Act I Anne Boleyn or A Crown of Thorns. A Tragedy By Anna E. Dickinson. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1876, in the Office of the Librarian Congress. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.Anne Boleyn, or A Crown of Thorns. A Tragedy in four acts. By Anna E. Dickinson Entered according to act of Congress in the year 1876, by Anna E. Dickinson In the office of the Librarians of Congress, at Washington. All rights reserved. Anne Boleyn, or A Crown of Thorns. Act I. Morning. June, 1529. At Court. A Rose wreath. Act 2. Noon. December, 1529. At Home, The roses fall. Act 3. Evening May, 1536. On the throne. A Crown of Thorns. Act 4. Night. A fortnight later, At the Block, Bare-Headed.Persons Represented Anne Boleyn (Afterwards Queen of England.) Lady Jane Seymour. Madge Shelton. King Henry VIII, Cardinal Wolsey, Duke of Norfolk, Lord Henry Percy, (Afterwards Earl of Northumberland,) Lord Henry Percy, Thomas Cromwell, Sec to Cardinal Wolsey (Afterwards Earl of Essex,) Sir Thomas Boleyn, Sir William Kingston, Gov of the Tower, Patch, Cardinal Wolsey's fool, Mark [?], Magistrate of London, Geo. Boleyn, Page of the Queen, Page to Lord Henry Percy, Chamberlain, Servant, Courtiers, Ladies, Guards, Pages &C, Act I, of Anne Boleyn, or A Crown of Thorns. A tragedy in four acts, By Anna E. Dickinson.# Take cue to ring curtain from leader. [*1*] Act 1. - Anne Boleyn. # Summer room in palace with wide archway & steps at side ( ) open archway, or broad open windows revealing gardens ( ) Some vines & flowers in pots at archway (or windows) within the room. Enter Wolsey & Cromwell over steps ( ) Cromwell with open letter Wolsey, Let be! Let be! Eight years have I waited on the Emperor's pledge to make me Supreme at Rome. Twice in those years has opportunity offered to weld his words to deeds. Twice have they been blown into empty air It shall be seen if I answer not his mock "priests should be patient men." Cromwell, But, my lord, if you send away the Spanish Ambassador with this rude message (touches letter) it will make him your avowed foe. He doth promise fair. Would it not be well to trust him once again ere you come to open warfare? And from this (again touches paper) there is no retreat. You throw the helve after the hatchet.2 Wolsey (Smiles, puts hand affectionately on Cromwell's shoulder.) Tom he who on fair showing trusts once does so in good faith. Being betrayed & trusting the second time does do with his eyes cast forward, not back, from hope, not experience. But he who after such lissoning trusts the third time deserves not only defeat but death & transition to that paradise or purgatory that is reserved for fools. Cromwell. But in a matter of such high & dangerous concernment methinks your grace should wade no farther in than as you see others going hand in hand with you. Wolsey Thou unbelieving Thomas! What woulds't thou have? Have I not told thee that I have concluded all in France, & that so soon as his Majesty is freed from this Aunt of the Empire, his marriage with the gracious Duchess of Alençon, is assured by all reasonable plights, England wedded to France will change the face of Europe in a single# Ready Percy 3 campaign. Henry & Francis are my friends. Both are pledged to my support. They shall be allies. They shall defeat Spain, triumph over the Emperor & make an open pathway for me to the papal crown. Cromwell. I see a lion in the pathway. Wolsey # The Queen? (shakes his head) Cromwell. So long as she lives, She will be a link to bind fast her husband, (The King of England) & her nephew - the Emperor of Germany & Spain. Wolsey. That link will soon be broken. Cromwell. Ill as she seems you cannot depend upon that. People whose death is to benefit anyone never die. Wolsey. Death? Who spoke of death? Cromwell. Not – not divorce? Wolsey. Aye, divorce. Cromwell I did hear whisperings of this abroad.4 Wolsey Whisperings! Thou hast but just returned to England, or would'st know that here it is cried aloud. Even now the King is with the Commons & the Primate with the Clergy setting forth the royal doubts to questionings. Here is one of my household will tell us how they fared. (Enter Percy, bows low &c) How went the appeal to the Bishops? (Wolsey sits) Did they consent to Wareham's proposition, that Katherine could not legally be the King's wife - since She was dowager Princess of Wales? Percy Yes, my lord, with both speech & silence. Wolsey How say you? — silence? Percy Aye, my lord. When he did put it to vote they all consented – save a few. At which the Arch-bishop mused a moment &said, "it is not necessary to call the names for response – silence will give consent." "Then," said the Bishop of Rochester, "then, are we all silent." 5 Wolsey Good. — And how went his majesty's appeal? You heard it? Percy Aye my lord. Most eloquently. He spoke not after the fashion of a pedant, a preacher, or a pleader, but in soldier like style right on to the delight of all who listened. Wolsey Doubtless, - doubtless. The world is chiefly babble! 'Tis a pleasure the greater for its rarity to hear words that hold meaning as well as sound. What was the substance of these? (Percy has taken out parchment roll) Nay, I want not thy notes — not now, split the bone at once & reveal the marrow. Percy In brief, then, my lord, he did tell how the marriage with his sister was contracted while he was yet a boy, How the petition for the papal dispensation setting aside the law was signed by him before he did fairly know right from wrong in so grave a matter. How as child after child of theirs sickened & died he saw that tho' the alliance was sanctioned on#Ready Patch to sing. #Patch sings without 6 earth/it was marked with the curse of Heaven/ How doubts of the legitimacy of their only surviving child/ would plunge the realm into the same misery it knew at the death of Edward the fourth/ & / the slowly dying fires of the Great Civil War would flame forth afresh / if / even a[ny] question could be raised of her rightful title/ Therefore/ for the quieting of his conscience/ & the peace of the realm alike/ he must be loosed of this unlawful & unrighteous tie / & be free to find a contract & succession elsewhere. # Wolsey And / how took / they it? - Well? - or ill? - or indifferently? Percy A few/ ill./-Many well./- none indifferently./ Some lamented to hear what his Majesty/ was so afflicted in his mind/# _____ (Pauses & smiles at Patch's voice, outside) Patch (Sings without) Strim, Strong, pummierilla, rallabilla, raltum. Wolsey (Who has turned to Cromwell with nod & smile at close of Percy's speech looks again at Percy.)7 What art smiling at?/ [Sirrah?] Are King's scruples/ matters for mirth? Percy Nay/ your grace,/ I did but smile at the remembrance of what [you cried?] of mischief/ spake from the crowd. Wolsey (Smiles) And what, said he? - If there is food or mirth in the speech/ we/ have stomach for it. Percy When his majesty said/ that his conscience struck home/ Pateh cried,/ "Alack Sirs + gentlemen,/ for the sake of pity/have his Majesty from such cruel punishment/ Since his conscience hath been asleep for seventeen years/ while the Queen was [f?] + handsome/ it must have arisen from such long rest/ So fresh/ + lusty/ as to kill him with its blows/ if it strike home/ often." Wolsey (looks at Cromwell with smile) Whereas, doubtless/ his Majesty smoked! Percy Nay./ When they would have dragged the [?] away/ his Majesty laughed, right heartily/ + said/ "let him stay,/ kings be not kings of [?]/ if any man give occasion of his actions - (What he not understood.) 8 to be spoken of/ he will be spoken of./ At which all smiled/ + seeing his Majesty without anger,/ so [?], / yet without so determined/ none doubted that the affair/ mush now go on. ([?] eagerly towards window Wolsey (to Cromwell) It will go on. Percy (Clasping hands + C) Ah! 'tis she! (Cromwell with look, draws Wolsey's attention) Wolsey (aside) Aha! Mistress Boleyn is abroad! (to Percy) 'tis well. (points to parchment) See that that cypher is transcribed/ at once/ into good, legible, manuscript. I have need of it. Percy (eagerly looking from window to Cardinal) Your grace,/ I am somewhat cramped/ from the morning's [?] of unfamiliar [?] (smiles) I can more deftly handle this/ (touches sword) than a quill./ Will you first permit me some moments of recreation in the gardens? Wolsey Lo!/ My needs can stand cap in hand/ 9 to thy pleasure!-----------You can seek your recreation/yonder/ when my work is done there (points to door) Go. (Percy looks defiantly, then bows & exits) So/ none doubted that the affair must now go on! (rising & walking) They may well be sure of it since it is his majesty's purpose/for you can easier draw out the wedge from the unriven oak/than alter that. Yes,/it will go on/& there,/(pausing & indicating one without) is one will further it. Cromwell (looking off) Anne Boleyn? Wolsey She/(walks) His majesty has still left some foolish habit of affection for the Queen/that may stand in the way of a fresh alliance./He will lose all that/in this new, mad infatuation for Mistress Boleyn,/ & that holiday overpassed/ will be ready for more serious matters/ when the time is ripe for them. Cromwell But/ my lord/ will Mistress Anne be moved on this chess board of yours/ as it may serve your purpose?/ She hath a right royal will of her# Patch sings a single note # Patch sings a song without. 10 own./Brief time as I have been at Court/ I have seen how she doth affect that gallant sprig of Northumberland's. Wolsey. Percy? (laughing & looking toward door) Cromwell He./ It mayhap there is a woman who would rather be the wife of an honest, poor man/ than the idol, of a king. Wolsey In Sir Thomas More's Utopia/ the Kingdom of Nowhere./ Not/ in the kingdoms of this world./ However/ this mote/ shall be brushed from the royal sunshine/ I will talk with thee concerning the method as we walk. (rising) I must speak with his majesty/ & will go seek him in the gardens. # (Wolsey & Cromwell go towards gardens Patch sings note without. Wolsey pauses) Eh?--That madcap? # Patch (sings without) Kings/are but men. Well,/what then> Wives/they love dear. So/I hear. Maids/the love will,11 I can Fill. Lo, ho! Heigh, oh! (Wolsey laughs silently.) Cromwell Thinketh thou my lord, that [??] was known when he bandied fests with his majesty's Conscience? Pray heaven, not. Wolsey (turning back towards [L???]) Thou fearest it might be ill for me? (laughs) hay, hay, Patch is [h???sed] in folly / He may lay what he pleases. (enter Patch singing "Lo ho! Heigh oh!" But I will ask him. (Patch bows &c) How, knave, art not afraid to show thyself after thy monstrous imprudence to his majesty? Hast thou not earned a beating? Patch Nay, bother, nay, but a bating, (rubbing his stomach) and sure I am an hungered. Wolsey (sits) How! A bating! That would be a reward. And for what, pray, art thou to be rewarded? Patch For e'en following in thy footsteps, bother. I have oft heard thee say 12 thou wouldst [like] thy friends rather than thy jest — When thy jest has been the better of the two. Wolsey The better of the two? (laughs) I like thy assurance, fool. Best draw the stay laid on thy vanity, or it may chance to burst thee. — And thinkest thou, it was known whose wit so illumed the dull court proceedings when thy [Fouque?] was sharpened upon his majesty? Patch I am without peradventure. For my Lord of Norfolk did cry, "Lie the tail of the butcher's dog that wags so lustily. Pick him out." (laughs) Cromwell How, sirrah! dost thou dare to repeat such blasphemy to thy master & laugh in his very face! Wolsey Nay, [Lom?], fear not – thyself; did I not tell thee Patch may say what he please? (rising & walking) And thinkest thou I am shamed for my father's trade? or that it galls me to be called "butcher"? Not tho it be done by fools in motley, or fools in purple! I had rather be a sun than a whole firmament of planets. I had rather cash the glory13 of my name backwards than shine [thy??] reflected lustre — tho it be that of a thousand years! Patch 'Tis a good wise saying, brother. Cromwell (laughs) Dost pretend, knave, to understand my lord Cardinal? Patch Truly. He doth mean he had rather be the father of his ancestors than of his posterity, in which he showeth his great wisdom — since Whatever those [were?] they can disgrace him with no more folly – but he knows not what these may be. Wolsey Come, fool, enough of thy folly. Stand aside. I must go speak with one wiser than thou. Patch There will I precede thee. Wolsey Follow me, thou meanest. Patch Nay, brother. 'Tis proper for the greater to precede the less? Wolsey (smiling) Assuredly. By which showing thou shouldst be the [bob?] to my kite. 14 Patch Nay, brother, nay – for thou art but servant to Harry of [B??ford?] While I am servant to my lord Cardinal Wolsey. Judge thou which is the greater of us twain. Wolsey (laughs) Go thy ways, fool. Go thy ways. We will follow afer. (Exit Patch, stuttering out to gardens, followed in amused fashion by Wolsey & Cromwell. Presently through door at which Percy has made his exit [No???s] appears at first looking cautiously there pulling at Percy gaily. [Loneys?] I tell thee there is no one here. THey are gone. Come in! Come in. (enter Percy with roll in his hand) I would fain talk with thee but not in that gloomy closet! (looking back) Why are you caged in it on such a day where there is all outdoor with its bloom & shine to tempt you? Percy And, what time is more than flower bloom or sun shine. (looking at garde, coming down & throwing himself defeatedly into seat.15 Noneys (mischievously) Eh? – Eh? – To what strange taste are you confessing? What can be abroad / better than these? (at window & indicating people by gesture) Not his august majesty,/ surely?/ Nor your benign master,/ the great Cardinal? -/ Nor your Master's hopeful ,servant, / that protestant jesuit / Thomas Cromwell? _ Perhaps / it is sweet Mistress Madge Shelton / whom I see, yonder? - or perhaps — perhaps —/ for the one is never far distant from the other — / it may be / that my Cousin Anne takes — (Percy rushes to windows) Hold / hard, / madcap —/ Breaking my neck / will not sharpen your eyesight to find what is not there. / I said / perhaps. / Why are you not abroad to verify the perhapses? Percy I am here at the bidding of the Cardinal —/ or I would surely know in what region —/ without or within — / my sun shines. (again throws himself into seat) Noneys ( ) You are badly burned! Percy To my heart's / core. 16 Noneys Would wed her? Percy If I had to die for it on the morrow. Noneys. In which case / you would escape long misery / with short shrift! 'Tis well known that wedlock rides in the saddle, / repentence on the croup. -/ You are not afraid? Percy Yes. / - As a starving man would be of food, / or a freezing man of fire. Noneys. Nay. Nay, thou / hast the fire within thee man! What manner of feeling is this that so sets prudence at naught / & judgment at defiance? / Come! — Dissect! Define! Reveal it! Percy If thou hadst it within thee, / thou wouldst not ask / but / as thou hast it not, / no words can tell thee ./ Until thou hast, / wilt never know what it means. Noneys Sure / I have no wish to know it as thou. Hard of heart! / Who can see & care for but one woman in the world! / As for me, / I say naught to one / that I may not upon occasion17 say to another —— with perhaps / a little alteration of accent! Percy Methinks / the repetition must grow wearisome to thee./ Art not tempted to try a little genuine sentiment – for the sake of change? Noneys. Not I. -/Would thou wert as wise /, — for, /- in sober earnest / it is a bad thing,/ my friend, / that you love my cousin Anne / so well. /Is it not true that the Cardinal hath warned you from this pursuit? (Percy assents) Since your father is in disfavor with his Majesty,/ & you yourself are held as a sort of hostage, / do you well to incur the enmity of the Cardinal? Who / is Master of his Master —/ Who can make / or break you. Percy I love her. /- All is said in that. Noneys, But,/ Henry, / you have heard the whisper of the Court. / Nay, / you have eyes / & so must see / whose eyes rest upon her with favor. / Cross him,/ you will destroy yourself. Percy (rising) I will cross any man who would bring dishonor on the woman 18 I love, / tho' that cross bring me to the scaffold (X ) Noneys Even if it should so hap she herself would give you no thanks for the sacrifice? / You love my lady Anne. / Conceded. / How is it with her? Percy Ah,/ that / I know not. /- I have written her, / since of late I cannot get speech with her, / & in that letter have laid bare my heart. Noneys Hast any word of reply? Percy None. Noneys 'Tis the silence of coquetry. Percy You believe it? Noneys (teasingly) Assuredly. Percy That is to say / you accuse her of being selfish & vain.—/ She / is neither. Noneys You think her an angel! Percy I know her a proud & generous woman. —/No, /— Some ill19 fortune has prevented even sight of her. It must be the shadow of the Cardinal that makes this wall between us. {Noneys smiles, with dissenting gesture & goes on to the window I shall believe so till her own lips tells me otherwise Noneys {looking from the window & indicating His Majesty! Hark! He is asking for Mistress Boleyn. No shadow. Is not that rather the substance there? They say that proud as Mistress Anne seems to all her suitors, she has been seen to smile upon the King. Percy They say! Who says? Fie, Henry, you, a gentlemen & knight, join faces with (an such ruffians) such intangible yet deadly things as Rumour & Slander, to strike at a fair & noble woman, who never wished you — & all the world naught, but good & who lives her life where all may 20 see that it is without fear or shame. Noneys Pardon, pardon, my friend. I am justly struck home. I did but say it to try to wean you from a dangerous following. Forgive me, & come away from this place (Percy starts eagerly towards gardens) Not to the gardens! (Turning him about) No. In the face of straight orders? You are a madman! You shall not e'en look towards them, but at least where we can get a better taste in our mouths with air that is cleaner than this so often breathed by the Cardinal. Percy (puts out his hand) With all my heart. (Noneys grasps it & they exit Presently Anne enters from gardens holding in her hand & so intently studying a horoscope as to fairly stumble into a seat) Anne (throwing down book) Tchee! Why should I care for the book? 'Tis [*x short*] x but a bauble! (looking at it)21 A horoscope! My horoscope. The shadows of things to be (throwing it down) Why! to believe would be to make them! One says — this it must be & it follows. thus, it is. No No. What does Master Bulstrode know of fate more than I? He pictures I decide. Which is on surer foundation? (again looks) [*1/2/3*] [*1)*] Happiness — none! [*2*] Power — all [*(full)*] [*3*] The end – anguish, despair, [*(nerve)*])] death. A pretty tale, truly! (enter King from gardens going with impatient manner towards ) I myself can tell a better one! (King turns, sees her with delight & comes down) King Ah! — Good morrow sweet Mistress. Sure you must have been in hiding — I have searched for you through all the gardens, (pushing ottoman with his foot towards her) & have gathered this by the way (sits) Will accept a nosegay of my picking? Anne Most gladly, sire (takes it) since tis your majesty's choice & bestowal, (holds it off) — & yet. 22 King "Yet?" What is at fault? Anne Fault? – Naught, sire. I did but think. (nor carpingly) that its language makes it a boquet rather for eventide than for morningtime. King Its language? Its language — Let us see — (studies flowers) Ah! Mistress, you are wrong, for here is pimpernel which promoteth laughter, & laugher is rather for the day than for the night. Anne Truly. — But here is poppy which wooes to sleep, & thyme, which giveth pleasant dreams & a bit of ashen branch, which drives evil spirits from the pillow & here is one which speaks of the sleep wherewith all dreams are done. King (starts, & looks at it) Rosemarie! I saw it not. (makes motion to pull it out) Let me pluck it out. Anne Nay, sire, let it stay. It frights not me. At home I let it run all over my garden walls,23 not alone because my bees love it but because it is the herb sacred to remembrance & therefore to friendship. King But it speaks of funeral wakes & burial grounds. Nay. I will have it out (pulls it out, goes up & picks another) & but their in its stead. Would that you would give it me again. Anne The flower? Or its meaning? Sire. King Both. Sweet-Mistress. Anne But they deny each the other. The flower lays hearts ease (King takes is eagerly) The meaning hearts pain. King (puts is back) Nay, nay, keep it then. I walk in not. I have enough of that, already. Anne You will bestow it, sire? - because you want it not? Sure that is beggarly alms to give what one wishes to be rid of. No no this cannot find place with the others! (throw it down gaily) 24 King You fence too sharply with me mistress. And yet you say true. unwittingly, I would I could bestow it, for then might I hope to be eased of my pain. (touching his heart) What have you there (points to horoscope) that you were studying e'en now? Anne I book, your majesty, wherein one of the wise soothsayers of the court hath cast my horoscope. King Canst interpret the signs? Anne Well enough to read them - after a fashion. King Dost believe in them? Anne No sire? King You are above superstition. Anne Rather your majesty I am not so vain as to believe that the stars in their courses watch over me, nor sufficiently humble to be willing for them to control me. King You deny then, the omnipotenceReady Wolsey & Cromwell M.E.[*25*] Of fate?/ Anne Fate?/ I believe our own deeds / are our doomsmen. King I live me the book / (she does) Let me see who I can make of it / (He pretends to study it. she watching him with smile) Anne Well, / sire? King (looking from book to Anne significantly) Tho' I have not meddled with the black art / I can see that thou / art reserved for a lofty destiny. Anne my liege, / I desire it, not. King (looks again) Fortune, smiles on thee. Anne I trust not / her smile. / I do know that full often upon whom she smiles at morning / she frowns at night. King But she would enrich, thee Anne Only to make me, afterwards /, the subject of her spoil. 26 King She / would exalt thee. Anne (turns away) To pleasure herself thereafter / with my ruin. King Nay, / sweet mistress,/ turn not away from her -/ listen. to whom she promises, / I speak as thy friend, / I urge her upon thee. Anne Nay, / sire, / thou speaketh rather / as mine enemy, Wert indeed my friend / thou wouldst wish me a quiet fortune - / sheltered from wind / & weather / rather / than an exalted one, exposed to storms, / & followed by some dismal fall. King What more secure shelter / than thy King's favor? / I will not use this bauble as a mask! / (flinging book away) I will speak straightly. / But heed my prayer, / & in return / I swear that in all England / no light / but shall fade / beside the splendor with which I will compass thee, / no lady, in all my realms, / that shall have such faithful, servitor.27 Anne (rising) I entreat your grace No more of this / (x ) I wot well you speak there words -/ have before spoken the like (enter Wolsey & Cromwell xing to ,Cromwell draws Wolsey's attention to King & Anne, then exits over steps Wolsey comes down) only to slay an idle hour & / to prove me against mine enemies unjust reports./ Beseech you sire, be content. / Try me no more King (C) And dost thou Wolsey ( ) Pardon / my dear liege, / if I I mar pleasure or mirth (King goes angrily up stage) since I make none. / but / the affair of which you spoke / brings me. Anne (xing takes up horoscope) I dare swear for his majesty / that your grace / is right welcome / (going up) wisdom appearing -/ folly / is permitted to retire? (King comes to her eagerly, kisses her hand, looks after her ardently as she exits to gardens) King She hath the talent of an angel! / [comes down stage] & is worthy of a crown. 28 Wolsey It is sufficient if your majesty / finds her worthy of your love. King I fear me / she will never condescend to crooked, pathways. Wolsey Sire, you do yourself injustice -/ great princes / if they choose to play the lover / have that in their power / that would mollify a heart, of steel. King Thinkest thou so — in this case? Wolsey In all cases, my king. / A king / is a king. / A woman is —/ a woman! King (comes down stage) (Smiles) Nay, / but this woman is not to be confounded, with the herd / who scare know a man's doublet / from his shirt. She hath candor, / high spirit, _ fearless courage, generous honor / keen intellect -/ above all / I mistrust / she is cased in the chain armor / of an ardent love. / I fear / a rival (.sits) Wolsey Hu-sh! Sire, / I entreat your majesty to speak lower, / that I may not hear you. King (Smiles) And why woulds't thou not hear me?29 Wolsey Because my gracious master, you should always be believed. Dost indeed think that any woman would care for the love of another man if she knew the heart of Harry Tudor inclined toward her? Nay, nay, my liege, her coyness hath philosophic reason. She hath lived in the world long enough to learn that tis the price gives value to the diamond. King May be so. None the less I am more then willing to build a bridge for a retiring evening & break it down behind him! I would have Percy gone from the court at once. Not to return till he brings back a bride, or better still not to return at all. Wolsey Sire, there is battle service on the border in which he has found place before King Being married, let him find place there again ( x ) Wolsey I will see that he has it, my king. I am not opposed to letting that lively fellow go & get shot where 30 he pleases (takes stage) King Hast written to his father? Wolsey All & more than all your majesty suggested. Commanding him to see that the contract made for Percy while he was a child, with the Lady Mary Talbot, is fulfilled, if he would not lose lands, castles, honors, life itself. King The old attainder of treason still hangs over him. Let him look to it. His own head will pay the forfeit else. There is an old saying "if you would have a thing attended to, go- if not (going) Wolsey By which your majesty would signify? King An intent to interfere in person. Ourself will attend to this insolent young upstart. Wolsey Nay, sire. You would not do wisely (if you will permit your faithful servant to say so), - to show any interest in this affair. Leave it to me. It shall be done both speedily and effectually. (King & Wolsey go off)31 in earnest Conversation N.E. over steps. Enter Anne & Madge from gardens Anne (going up & looking off) That man / is my foe Left to his own , kingly, self / I [*(nerve)*] believe his majesty would be Percy's friend / & mine. But he -? (Shakes her head, comes down) Madge Sure / there is no one his grace doth more civilly affect / than thou. / Art not whimsical, coz? Anne No. Distrust & confidence / are sure, instincts. / I have tested them / full oft / & know that they should be obeyed./ There is something written in his countenance / that says to [me] —/ beware! Madge Of what? / And why should he be thy enemy?/ And how hurt thee? Anne I know not / Yet / certain am I / it is he, who prevents speech, or sight of Percy. / Wherefore? Again / I know not / yet so it must be / since in two days I have found no opportunity to answer his letter / by even , a sign. 32 Madge If it be so, then has he Noneys & Percy both / in, durance. Anne. Else / thou wouldst have seen one of them? - eh Madge? - & not have been sorry? Madge. Sorry, quotha! No, indeed. / not I -/ for then would I have found a post / to have delivered thy reply / (taking out letter) that burns in my keeping / (looks off) Ah! What do I see! / Yonder is / (checks herself) Noneys at last! / Now, / (smiles) It shall reach its destination. (she exits over steps) Anne. At last / he, will have a word from me! / — but / when / shall I see him? / When / hear his voice? / Since /my ears / cannot hear it /, speak to my eyes. , & heart, his silent messenger /. (taking out letter & reading) So! / I am his "rose, of June"! (kisses it) [*x deep*] My rose, my rose, in dreams /, I hold you, in my hands, / I press my face to you. / My eyes / wet / with longing tears, / my lips / eager with tender desire. / I inhale you. / I thrill at perfumed touch of you. / Ah, must# See Cardinal ready N.E. # Ring when Percy embraces Anne, 33 the awaking be the anguish/ of renunciation ?/ - Must I put you down? -/ what should my rough hands do/ with a flower, in "bloom?" [*#*] enter Percy, strong feeling in dumb show &c) His rough hands! — And yet, & yet, I dare here ask you / to give yourself . to me -/ & turn earth / to Heaven / with the bestowal. / Or to say me / nay, / in few, brief words, / that I may know at once, / & to the full, / that my life, tho' its days go on, is done. / I leave my heart / in your hands. Oh, my darling! My darling! I kiss the hands / that hold your heart. I kiss the air / that somewhere embraces you. / I love you. Percy (who has come down softly & unseen) My darling! Anne. I love you. (going to him) Percy [*#*] (embracing her) My darling. Wolsey enters over steps at back, & pauses, unseen, by them, with threatening gesture.) Picture. Quick Curtain. End of First Act.