As, let them have their rights, they are ever forward In celebration of this day4 with shows, Pageants, and sights of honour. 1 Gent. Never greater, Nor, I'll assure you, better taken, sir. 2 Gent. May I be bold to ask what that contains, That paper in your hand? 1 Gent. The duke of Suffolk is the first, and claims To be high steward; next, the duke of Norfolk, 2 Gent. I thank you, sir; had I not known those customs, I should have been beholden to your paper. But, I beseech you, what's become of Katharine, 1 Gent. That I can tell you too. The archbishop Of Canterbury, accompanied with other Learned and reverend fathers of his order, to kings; which Sir T. Hanmer changed to loyal, and I too hastily followed Dr. Johnson and the late editions, in adopting the emendation. The recurrence of the same expression, though it is not such a one as we should now use, convinces me that there is no error in the text in either place. Malone. Royal, I believe, in the present instance, only signifies-noble. So, Macbeth, speaking of Banquo, mentions his "royalty of nature." Steevens. 4 this day] Sir Thomas Hanmer reads: but Shakspeare meant such a day as this, a coronation day. And such is the English idiom, which our author commonly prefers to grammatical nicety. Johnson. 5 not appearance,] I suppose our author wrote-non-appearance. So, in The Winter's Tale: the execution did cry out And the late marriage made of none effect: 2 Gent. Alas, good lady! [Trumpets. The trumpets sound: stand close, the queen is coming. THE ORDER OF THE PROCESSION. A lively flourish of Trumpets; then, enter 1. Two Judges. 2. Lord Chancellor, with the purse and mace before him. 3. Choristers singing. [Musick. 4. Mayor of London bearing the mace. Then Garter, in his coat of arms, and on his head, a gilt copper crown. 5. Marquis Dorset, bearing a sceptre of gold, on his head a demi-coronal of gold. With him, the Earl of Surrey, bearing the rod of silver with the dove, crowned with an earl's coronet. Collars of SS. 6. Duke of Suffolk, in his robe of estate, his coronet on his head, bearing a long white wand, as high-steward. With him, the Duke of Norfolk, with the rod of marshalship, a coronet on his head. Collars of SS. 7. A canopy borne by four of the Cinque-ports; under it, the Queen in her robe; in her hair richly adorned with pearl, crowned. On each side of her, the Bishops of London and Winchester. 8. The old Duchess of Norfolk, in a coronal of gold, wrought with flowers, bearing the Queen's train. 9. Certain Ladies or Countesses, with plain circlets of gold without flowers. -These I know ;— 2 Gent. A royal train, believe me.Who's that, that bears the sceptre? 6 the late marriage-] i. e. the marriage lately considered as a valid one. Steevens. 7 in his coat of arms,] i. e. in his coat of office, emblazoned with the royal arms. Steevens. 8 -coronal circlets-] I do not recollect that these two words occur in any other of our author's works; a circumstance that may serve to strengthen Dr. Farmer's opinion-that the directions for the court pageantry throughout the present drama, were drawn up by another hand. Steevens. 1 Gent. Marquis Dorset: And that the earl of Surrey, with the rod. 2 Gent. A bold brave gentleman: And that should be The duke of Suffolk. 1 Gent. 'Tis the same; high-steward. 2 Gent. And that my lord of Norfolk? 1 Gent. 2 Gent. Yes. Heaven bless thee! [Looking on the Queen. Thou hast the sweetest face I ever look'd on. Sir, as I have a soul, she is an angel; Our king has all the Indies in his arms, And more, and richer, when he strains that lady :9 1 Gent. They, that bear The cloth of honour over her, are four barons Of the Cinque-ports. 2. Gent. Those men are happy; and so are all, are near her. I take it, she that carries up the train, Is that old noble lady, duchess of Norfolk. 1 Gent. It is; and all the rest are countesses. 2 Gent. Their coronets say so. These are stars, indeed; And, sometimes, falling ones. 1 Gent. No more of that. [Exit Procession, with a great flourish of Trumpets. Enter a third Gentleman. God save you, sir! Where have you been broiling? 3 Gent. Among the croud i' the abbey; where a finger Could not be wedg'd in more; and I am stifled1 when he strains that lady:] I do not recollect that our author, in any other of his works, has used the verb-strain in its present sense, which is that of the Latin comprimere. Thus Livy, I 4: "Compressa vestalis, quum geminum partum edidisset," &c. Again, in Chapman's version of the 21st Iliad: Bright Peribæa, whom the flood, &c. "Compress'd." I have pointed out this circumstance, because Ben Jonson is suspected of having made some additions to the play before us, and, perhaps, in this very scene which is descriptive of the personages who compose the antecedent procession. See Dr. Far mer's note on the Epilogue to this play. Steevens. · and I am stifled —] And was introduced by Sir T. Hanmer, to complete the measure. Steevens. 3 Gent. As well as I am able. The rich stream2 A distance from her; while her grace sat down As the shrouds make at sea in a stiff tempest, 2 66 The rich stream &c.] ingentem foribus domus alta superbis Virg. Georg. II, 461. Malone. Again, in the second Thebaid of Statius, v. 223: foribus cum immissa superbis "Unda fremit vulgi." So, in Timon of Athens, Act I, sc. i: 66 this confluence, this great flood of visitors." See Dr. Johnson's note on this passage. 3 to go,] i. e. to continue in their pregnancy. So, afterwards: 4 cr -the fruit she goes with "I pray for heartily." Steevens. like rams-] That is, like battering rams. Johnson. So, in Virgil, Æneid II: labat ariete crebro 66 So strangely in one piece. 2 Gent. But, 'pray, what follow'd?5 3 Gent. At length her grace rose, and with modest paces Came to the altar; where she kneel'd, and, saint like, As holy oil, Edward Confessor's crown, The rod, and bird of peace, and all such emblems 1 Gent. Sir, you Must no more call it York-place, that is past: But 'tis so lately alter'd, that the old name 2 Gent. I know it; What two reverend bishops Were those that went on each side of the queen? 3 Gent. Stokesly and Gardiner; the one, of Winches ter, (Newly preferr'd from the king's secretary) The other, London. 2 Gent. He of Winchester Is held no great lover of the archbishop's, 3 Gent. All the land knows that: However, yet there's no great breach; when it comes, Cranmer will find a friend will not shrink from him. 2 Gent. Who may that be, I pray you? 3 Gent." Thomas Cromwell; A man in much esteem with the king, and truly A worthy friend. The king Has made him master o' the jewel-house, 5 But, 'pray, what follow'd?] The word-'pray was added, for the sake of the measure, by Sir Thomas Hanmer. Steevens. |