634 DRAMATIC LITERATURE. 



Henry. Out on't ! poor Kate had shewn you better feeling 

 Here doth she write us a death-bed adieu (producing a letter. ) 

 And half her speech craves heed of her few friends. 

 Half breathes forgiveness of too many foes. 



Anne. Weak are we, but unpitying never ; 

 We mark'd how far the course of nature here 

 Befriended us, ere yet we notic'd 

 How others were pain'd by it 'twas ungentle ; 

 Be it agreed, my liege, I have your pardon for it. 



Henry. Now, by our Lady, this offends us, ha! 

 No more ; but to your chamber orderly ; 

 And if the grace to honour circumstances, 

 As your degree and their import demand, 

 Possess ye not, shut yourself up, nor let 

 The index of comparison expose 

 How much the virtues that are gone to heaven 

 Excel the worth preferr'd so rashly to them ! 

 Madam, we've said, away to your chamber, ha ! 



^Exeunt Anne and Mrs. Lee. 

 Ladies and lords, be it known it is our will 

 The memory of the princess dowager 

 Be honour'd with all forms and state of grief. 

 We trust us to your loves for this sad duty 

 Go to. ^Exeunt . 



Nor is the following scene less forcible and dramatic, in which the 

 first indication of the king's desire to make or to find occasion of 

 " letting her down the wind to prey at fortune/' is manifested : 



Henry. Simple we found ye, dame ; art resolute 

 To make us wish that we had left ye so ? 



Anne. Oh, most egregious Simple ; for I thought 

 That once made great by thee, my heart for ever 

 Would only feel the gentlest pulse of joy. 



Henry. Less on this greatness would ye dwell, and more 

 On the pursuits that may undo it, 

 There were some hope ye might be happy. 



Anne. Happy ! 



Was it some echo, or the word itself, 

 That mock'd my ear so strangely with that sound ! 

 Happy and hope they are twins; nay both but one ; 

 For happiness is hope a fairy flower 

 So sensitively fine, 'twill not be handled, 

 But prematurely dies of too great sweetness. 

 Like a fond gleaner, memory hoards the leaves, 

 Dreaming a warmer sun and softer breeze 

 May yet revive the beauties she has lov'd 

 Dear are her cares but never to be bless'd ! 



Henry. 'Twas us'd to be an antient rule of conduct, 

 Told first by wise old men, or their good mothers, 

 That we should keep great minds in lowly bodies ; 

 But now the prudence of the maxim's far 

 Outstepp'd : we bear most proudly mind and body ha ! 

 Is't not so? 



Anne. Where has my exaltation fail'd ye ? 

 Tender in duty, in devotion whole, 



