Page 1666 - Shakespeare - Vol. 4

CHAMBERLAIN

Lady,
I shall not fail t’approve the fair conceit
The King hath of you. [Aside] I have perused her well; [75]

Beauty and honour in her are so mingled
That they have caught the King; and who knows yet
But from this lady may proceed a gem
To lighten all this isle? − I’ll to the King,
And say I spoke with you.

ANNE

My honoured lord! [80]
Exit Lord Chamberlain

OLD LADY
Why, this it is: see, see,
I have been begging sixteen years in court,

Am yet a courtier beggarly, nor could
Come pat betwixt too early and too late
For any suit of pounds; and you − O fate! − [85]
A very fresh fish here − fie, fie, fie upon
This compelled fortune! − have your mouth filled up

Before you open it.

ANNE
This is strange to me.

OLD LADY
How tastes it? Is it bitter? Forty pence, no.
There was a lady once − ’tis an old story − [90]

That would not be a queen, that would she not,
For all the mud in Egypt: have you heard it?

ANNE
Come, you are pleasant.

OLD LADY