MRS. SIDDONS AS QUEEN KATHARINE, ETC. 75 



King. A giant traitor ! 



Wol. Now, madam, may his highness live in freedom, 

 And this man out of prison ? 



Queen. God mend all \ 12 



The scene shortly ends. Mrs. Siddons in this scene evi- 

 dently brought into strong relief the intellect and power of the 

 Queen as well as her rectitude. In the fourth scene of the 

 second act the Queen enters, called into the court at Blackfriars. 

 The clerk of the court says, ' Katharine, queen of England, come 

 into the court.' Again Guildford precedes the Queen with a 

 cushion, and again she kneels. 



ACT II. SCENE 4. 



Queen. 13 Sir, I desire you do me right and justice, 

 And to bestow your pity on me ; for 

 I am a most poor woman, and a stranger, 

 Born out of your dominions ; having here 

 No judge indifferent, nor no more assurance 

 Of equal friendship and proceeding. 13 [She risesJ\ 14 Alas, sir, 

 In what have I offended you ? what cause 

 Hath my behaviour given to your displeasure, 

 That thus you should proceed to put me off, 

 And take your good grace from me ? 14 15 Heaven witness, 

 I have been to you a true and humble wife, 

 At all times to your will conformable. 15 



16 Sir, call to mind 



That I have been your wife, in this obedience, 

 Upward of twenty years, and have been blest 

 With many children by you : if, in the course 

 And process of this time, you can report, 

 And prove it too, against mine honour aught, 

 My bond to wedlock, or my love and duty, 

 Against your sacred person/ in God's name, 

 Turn me away ; v and let the f oul'st contempt 

 Shut door upon me, and so give me up 



12 A long emphasis, intimating that the Cardinal and his designs were 

 known to her. 



13 A most sweet and gracious prelude, yet no departure from her dignity. 



14 Remonstrance, dignified, without any bitterness. 



15 Earnest protestation. 



18 Dignified confidence in her own innocence. 



