MRS. SIDDONS AS QUEEN KATHARINE, ETC. 77 



The daughter of a king,^ my drops of tears 

 I'll turn to sparks of fire. 



Wol. Be patient yet. 



Queen. 23 / will, when you are humble ; nay, before, 

 Or God will punish me. 23 24 1 do believe, 

 Induc'd by potent circumstances, that 

 You are mine enemy ; and make my challenge \ 

 You shall not be my judge : for it is you 

 Have blown this coal betwixt my lord and me, 

 Which God's dew quench ! 24 25 Therefore, I say again, 

 / utterly abhor, yea, from my soul 

 Refuse you for my judge : 26 whom, yet once more, 

 26 I hold my most malicious foe, and think not 

 At all a friend to truth. ^ 



Wol. 27 I do profess 



You speak not like yourself ; who ever yet 

 Have stood to charity, and display'd the effects 

 Of disposition gentle, and of wisdom 



O'ertopping woman's power. Madam, you do me wrong : 

 I have no spleen against you ; nor injustice 

 For you or any : how far I have proceeded, 

 Or how far further shall, is warranted 

 By a commission from the consistory, 

 Yea, the whole consistory of Rome. You charge me 

 That I have blown this coal : I do deny it : 

 The king is present : if it be known to him 

 That I gainsay my deed, how may he wound, 

 And worthily, my falsehood ! yea, as much 

 As you have done my truth. If he know 

 That I am free of your report, he knows 

 I am not of your wrong. Therefore in him 

 It lies to cure me : and the cure is, to 

 Remove these thoughts from you ; the which before 

 His highness shall speak in, I do beseech 

 You, gracious madam, to uiithiiik your speaking, 

 And to say so no more. 



22 Very dignified. 



23 Great contempt. Her voice swelled, but monotonous. 



24 Very distinct articulate charge against him. 



25 Great swell. 



26 ' I hold,' &c., very pointed. ' Not at allj &c., syllabic and most impres- 

 sive. 



27 Great impatience and contempt during this speech of Wolsey. 



