Wol. Be patient yet.[388]
Q. Kath. I will, when you are humble; nay, before,
Or God will punish me. I do believe,[389] 75
Induced by potent circumstances, that
You are mine enemy, and make my challenge[390]
You shall not be my judge: for it is you
Have blown this coal betwixt my lord and me;
Which God's dew quench! Therefore I say again, 80
I utterly abhor, yea, from my soul
Refuse you for my judge; whom, yet once more,
I hold my most malicious foe and think not
At all a friend to truth.
Wol. I do profess
You speak not like yourself; who ever yet 85
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:[391]
I have no spleen against you, nor injustice
For you or any: how far I have proceeded,[392] 90
Or how far further shall, is warranted[393]
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[394] 95
That I gainsay my deed, how may he wound,[395]
And worthily, my falsehood! yea, as much
As you have done my truth. If he know[396]
That I am free of your report, he knows
I am not of your wrong. Therefore in him 100
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 unthink your speaking
And to say so no more.[397]
Q. Kath. My lord, my lord, 105
I am a simple woman, much too weak
To oppose your cunning. You're meek and humble-mouth'd;[398]
You sign your place and calling, in full seeming,
With meekness and humility; but your heart
Is cramm'd with arrogancy, spleen, and pride.[399] 110
You have, by fortune and his highness' favours,[400]
Gone slightly o'er low steps and now are mounted[401]
Where powers are your retainers, and your words,[402]
Domestics to you, serve your will as't please
Yourself pronounce their office. I must tell you, 115
You tender more your person's honour than
Your high profession spiritual; that again
I do refuse you for my judge, and here,
Before you all, appeal unto the pope,
To bring my whole cause 'fore his holiness, 120
And to be judged by him.
[She curtsies to the King, and offers to depart.
Cam. The queen is obstinate,
Stubborn to justice, apt to accuse it and
Disdainful to be tried by't: 'tis not well.
She's going away.
King. Call her again. 125
Crier. Katharine Queen of England, come into the court.
Gent. Ush. Madam, you are call'd back.[403]
Q. Kath. What need you note it? pray you, keep your way:
When you are call'd, return. Now the Lord help![404]
They vex me past my patience. Pray you, pass on: 130
I will not tarry, no, nor ever more
Upon this business my appearance make
In any of their courts. [Exeunt Queen, and her Attendants.[405]