| ACT V 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: | 5 |
| 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? | 10 |
| 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. | 15 |
| 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 | 20 |
| 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-- | 25 |
| 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, | 30 |
| 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; | 35 |
| 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: | 40 |
| 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, | 45 |
| 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 | 50 |
| 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, | 55 |
| 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. | 60 |
| 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, | 65 |
| 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 | 70 |
| 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, | 75 |
| 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 | 80 |
| 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 | 5 |
| 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; | 10 |
| 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. |
The Essential Student History Quiz (with answers and illustrations)