Page 1674 - Shakespeare - Vol. 4

That you have many enemies that know not
Why they are so, but, like to village curs,
Bark when their fellows do. By some of these
The Queen is put in anger. You’re excused. [160]

But will you be more justified? You ever
Have wished the sleeping of this business, never desired
It to be stirred, but oft have hindered, oft,
The passages made toward it. On my honour,

I speak my good lord Cardinal to this point, [165]
And thus far clear him. Now, what moved me to’t,
I will be bold with time and your attention.
Then mark th’inducement: thus it came − give heed to’t:

My conscience first received a tenderness,
Scruple, and prick, on certain speeches uttered [170]
By th’Bishop of Bayonne, then French ambassador,
Who had been hither sent on the debating

A marriage ’twixt the Duke of Orleans and
Our daughter Mary. I’th’progress of this business,
Ere a determinate resolution, he [175]
(I mean the Bishop) did require a respite,

Wherein he might the King his lord advertise
Whether our daughter were legitimate,
Respecting this our marriage with the dowager,
Sometimes our brother’s wife. This respite shook [180]

The bosom of my conscience, entered me,
Yea, with a spitting power, and made to tremble
The region of my breast; which forced such way
That many mazed considerings did throng

And pressed in with this caution. First, methought [185]
I stood not in the smile of heaven, who had
Commanded nature that my lady’s womb,
If it conceived a male child by me, should

Do no more offices of life to’t than
The grave does to th’dead; for her male issue [190]
Or died where they were made, or shortly after
This world had aired them. Hence I took a thought

This was a judgement on me, that my kingdom,
Well worthy the best heir o’th’world, should not