As if we kept a fair here! Where are these porters, These lazy knaves?—Ye have made a fine hand, Great store of room, no doubt, left for the ladies, When they pass back from the christening. Port. An army cannot rule them. Cham. If the king blame me for't, By the heels, and suddenly; As I live, I'll lay ye all and on your heads Clap round fines, for neglect: ye are lazy knaves; An here ye lie baiting of bumbards, when Ye 'should do service. sound; Hark, the trumpets They are come already from the christening: Go, break among the press, and find a way out To let the troop pass fairly; or I'll find A Marshalsea, shall hold ye play these two months. Port. Make way there for the princess. Man. You great fellow, stand close up, or I'll make your head ache. Port. You i' the camblet, get up o' the rail; I'll pick you o'er the pales else. [Exeunt. SCENE V.-The Palace. Enter trumpets, sounding; then two Aldermen, LORD MAYOR, Garter, CRANMER, DUKE OF NORFOLK, with his marshal's staff, DUKE OF 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 OF DORSET, the other godmother, and Ladies. The troop pass once about the stage, and Garter speaks. Gart. Heaven, from thy endless goodness, send prosperous life, long, and ever happy, to the high and mighty princess of England, Elizabeth! Flourish. Enter KING and Train. Cran. [kneeling.] And to your royal grace, and My noble partners, and myself, thus pray ;- K. Hen. Thank you, good lord archbishop : K. Hen. My noble gossips, ye have been too prodigal : I thank ye heartily; so shall this lady, When she has so much English. Cran. Let me speak, sir, For Heaven now bids me; and the words I utter Upon this land a thousand thousand blessings, 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 see this and bless Heaven K. Hen. Thou speakest wonders. Cran. She shall be, to the happiness of Eng land, 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 dieShe 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. K. Hen. O lord archbishop, Thou hast made me now a man; never before To see what this child does, and praise my I thank ye all.To you, my good lord mayor, lords; Ye must all see the queen, and she must thank ye, VOL. VIII. 24 She will be sick else. This day, no man think He 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 |