SCENE III.—An Audience Room in the Castle. EnterAttendant.EnterHenryin haste, withGilbertaLord.Hen.Now by my crown, I’ll harry thosevillains out.(To the Page.) Quick, wine! (To Gilbert.]) You say this news be true.This Saxon Rodulph, would pluck Henry down,And wear his Empery. Ha, this likes me well!Gil.’Tis said, Your Majesty, the Saxon townsHave all revolted.Hen.And Rudolph leads them!EnterBamburg.Well, Bamburg, have you heard the latest news?The North’s revolted. Rodulph heads the SaxonsTo conquer Germany and take my crown,And on it all, this bold, insulting letter,Reads me a lesson from His Holiness,Yon arrogant priest, the scheming Pope of Rome.Bam.Henry, as your father’s oldest friend,As your most faithful subject I would plead,Be not o’er hasty in this sudden business.Hen.Bamburg, I am sick of being a child,You drive me mad by your pacific measures.While you are dallying, they will ride me downWith squadrons and with curses. Nay, no more!I’ll ride me north and show mine enemiesI’ll bring yon Rodulph’s head upon a pike-pole.Bam.What of this Roman message?Hen.Call in the messengers. (Enter aCardinaland aRoman bishop.)(To Ambs.) Go you to Rome?Card.Yea, Your Majesty.Hen.Go, tell your master, if he be the PopeThat I am Emperor, who can lift him down.Tell him, in spiritual matters, Henry bowsTo his opinion, in matters temporal, never!This is my answer, safe speed you Romewards.[ExitAmbassadors.Bam.Your Majesty, before you go will seeBut one more suppliant.Hen.Nay, Bamburg, nay not now, I’m hurried.Bam.By my love, I beseech you!Hen.Is it so urgent? Well, be hasty Bamburg.My troops await me, and my sword-arm achesTo hack yon Rodulph.(EnterQueenveiled.) Who be this?Bam.One who deserves your patience and your love,If you love aught on earth, proud Henry.Go you not forth to battle with your foesTill you have made your spirit’s peace with her,Your realm’s Queen, the mother of your child.Hen.Bamburg, Bamburg, you trifle with my kindness.This goes too far, know you that I am King!One word and I will hale you to a dungeonFor this insult.Queen.Henry, my Lord, one word before you go.What have I done to gather all this hate?Bam.Your Majesty may sever my poor body,Mend you your love. Kill me, Henry, butMurder not by scorn, the noblest loveThat soul hath nourished. By these wintry hairs,Though thou dost slay me, I will tell thee trueBy this one act thou dost unking thyself.Hen.No more, by heaven, no more, I know her not.When will my subjects treat me less the child?I am no ward now, and I ever hatedThis foolish, enforced marriage. Let her MajestyGet to some retirement. She demeansHerself by these forced meetings.[Exit.Queen.O Bamburg, I have lowered my queenlinessAnd cheapened my womanhood. I will no more.Take me away.[Curtain.
Hen.Now by my crown, I’ll harry thosevillains out.
(To the Page.) Quick, wine! (To Gilbert.]) You say this news be true.
This Saxon Rodulph, would pluck Henry down,
And wear his Empery. Ha, this likes me well!
Gil.’Tis said, Your Majesty, the Saxon towns
Have all revolted.
Hen.And Rudolph leads them!
EnterBamburg.
Well, Bamburg, have you heard the latest news?
The North’s revolted. Rodulph heads the Saxons
To conquer Germany and take my crown,
And on it all, this bold, insulting letter,
Reads me a lesson from His Holiness,
Yon arrogant priest, the scheming Pope of Rome.
Bam.Henry, as your father’s oldest friend,
As your most faithful subject I would plead,
Be not o’er hasty in this sudden business.
Hen.Bamburg, I am sick of being a child,
You drive me mad by your pacific measures.
While you are dallying, they will ride me down
With squadrons and with curses. Nay, no more!
I’ll ride me north and show mine enemies
I’ll bring yon Rodulph’s head upon a pike-pole.
Bam.What of this Roman message?
Hen.Call in the messengers. (Enter aCardinaland aRoman bishop.)
(To Ambs.) Go you to Rome?
Card.Yea, Your Majesty.
Hen.Go, tell your master, if he be the Pope
That I am Emperor, who can lift him down.
Tell him, in spiritual matters, Henry bows
To his opinion, in matters temporal, never!
This is my answer, safe speed you Romewards.
[ExitAmbassadors.
Bam.Your Majesty, before you go will see
But one more suppliant.
Hen.Nay, Bamburg, nay not now, I’m hurried.
Bam.By my love, I beseech you!
Hen.Is it so urgent? Well, be hasty Bamburg.
My troops await me, and my sword-arm aches
To hack yon Rodulph.
(EnterQueenveiled.) Who be this?
Bam.One who deserves your patience and your love,
If you love aught on earth, proud Henry.
Go you not forth to battle with your foes
Till you have made your spirit’s peace with her,
Your realm’s Queen, the mother of your child.
Hen.Bamburg, Bamburg, you trifle with my kindness.
This goes too far, know you that I am King!
One word and I will hale you to a dungeon
For this insult.
Queen.Henry, my Lord, one word before you go.
What have I done to gather all this hate?
Bam.Your Majesty may sever my poor body,
Mend you your love. Kill me, Henry, but
Murder not by scorn, the noblest love
That soul hath nourished. By these wintry hairs,
Though thou dost slay me, I will tell thee true
By this one act thou dost unking thyself.
Hen.No more, by heaven, no more, I know her not.
When will my subjects treat me less the child?
I am no ward now, and I ever hated
This foolish, enforced marriage. Let her Majesty
Get to some retirement. She demeans
Herself by these forced meetings.
[Exit.
Queen.O Bamburg, I have lowered my queenliness
And cheapened my womanhood. I will no more.
Take me away.
[Curtain.