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King Henry VIII: Act 5 Scene 5

Scene V The palace.

[Enter trumpets, sounding; then two Aldermen, Lord

Mayor, Garter, CRANMER, NORFOLK with his marshal's

staff, SUFFOLK, two Noblemen bearing great

standing-bowls for the christening-gifts; then

four Noblemen bearing a canopy, under which the

Duchess of Norfolk, godmother, bearing the child

richly habited in a mantle, &c., train borne by a

Lady; then follows the Marchioness Dorset, the

other godmother, and Ladies. The troop pass once

about the stage, and Garter speaks]

GARTER

Heaven, from thy endless goodness, send prosperous

life, long, and ever happy, to the high and mighty

princess of England, Elizabeth!

[Flourish. Enter KING HENRY VIII and Guard]

CRANMER

[Kneeling] And to your royal grace, and the good queen,

My noble partners, and myself, thus pray:

All comfort, joy, in this most gracious lady,

Heaven ever laid up to make parents happy,

May hourly fall upon ye!

KING HENRY VIII

Thank you, good lord archbishop:

What is her name?

CRANMER

Elizabeth.

KING HENRY VIII

Stand up, lord.

[KING HENRY VIII kisses the child]

With this kiss take my blessing: God protect thee!

Into whose hand I give thy life.

CRANMER

Amen.

KING HENRY VIII

My noble gossips, ye have been too prodigal:

I thank ye heartily; so shall this lady,

When she has so much English.

CRANMER

Let me speak, sir,

For heaven now bids me; and the words I utter

Let none think flattery, for they'll find 'em truth.

This royal infant--heaven still move about her!--

Though in her cradle, yet now promises

Upon this land a thousand thousand blessings,

Which time shall bring to ripeness: she shall be--

But few now living can behold that goodness--

A pattern to all princes living with her,

And all that shall succeed: Saba was never

More covetous of wisdom and fair virtue

Than this pure soul shall be: all princely graces,

That mould up such a mighty piece as this is,

With all the virtues that attend the good,

Shall still be doubled on her: truth shall nurse her,

Holy and heavenly thoughts still counsel her:

She shall be loved and fear'd: her own shall bless her;

Her foes shake like a field of beaten corn,

And hang their heads with sorrow: good grows with her:

In her days every man shall eat in safety,

Under his own vine, what he plants; and sing

The merry songs of peace to all his neighbours:

God shall be truly known; and those about her

From her shall read the perfect ways of honour,

And by those claim their greatness, not by blood.

Nor shall this peace sleep with her: but as when

The bird of wonder dies, the maiden phoenix,

Her ashes new create another heir,

As great in admiration as herself;

So shall she leave her blessedness to one,

When heaven shall call her from this cloud of darkness,

Who from the sacred ashes of her honour

Shall star-like rise, as great in fame as she was,

And so stand fix'd: peace, plenty, love, truth, terror,

That were the servants to this chosen infant,

Shall then be his, and like a vine grow to him:

Wherever the bright sun of heaven shall shine,

His honour and the greatness of his name

Shall be, and make new nations: he shall flourish,

And, like a mountain cedar, reach his branches

To all the plains about him: our children's children

Shall see this, and bless heaven.

KING HENRY VIII

Thou speakest wonders.

CRANMER

She shall be, to the happiness of England,

An aged princess; many days shall see her,

And yet no day without a deed to crown it.

Would I had known no more! but she must die,

She must, the saints must have her; yet a virgin,

A most unspotted lily shall she pass

To the ground, and all the world shall mourn her.

KING HENRY VIII

O lord archbishop,

Thou hast made me now a man! never, before

This happy child, did I get any thing:

This oracle of comfort has so pleased me,

That when I am in heaven I shall desire

To see what this child does, and praise my Maker.

I thank ye all. To you, my good lord mayor,

And your good brethren, I am much beholding;

I have received much honour by your presence,

And ye shall find me thankful. Lead the way, lords:

Ye must all see the queen, and she must thank ye,

She will be sick else. This day, no man think

Has business at his house; for all shall stay:

This little one shall make it holiday.

[Exeunt]

EPILOGUE

'Tis ten to one this play can never please

All that are here: some come to take their ease,

And sleep an act or two; but those, we fear,

We have frighted with our trumpets; so, 'tis clear,

They'll say 'tis naught: others, to hear the city

Abused extremely, and to cry 'That's witty!'

Which we have not done neither: that, I fear,

All the expected good we're like to hear

For this play at this time, is only in

The merciful construction of good women;

For such a one we show'd 'em: if they smile,

And say 'twill do, I know, within a while

All the best men are ours; for 'tis ill hap,

If they hold when their ladies bid 'em clap.