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Act 5, Scene 4
Henry VIII Translation Act 5, Scene 5
Enter trumpets, sounding; then two Aldermen, Lord Mayor, GARTER, CRANMER, NORFOLK with his marshal's staff, SUFFOLK, two Noblemen bearing great standing-bowls for the christening-gifts; then four Noblemen bearing a canopy, under which the Duchess of Norfolk, godmother, bearing the child richly habited in a mantle, & c., train borne by a Lady; then follows the Marchioness Dorset, the other godmother, and Ladies. The troop pass once about the stage, and GARTER speaks
GARTER
Heaven, from thy endless goodness, send prosperouslife, long, and ever happy, to the high and mightyprincess of England, Elizabeth!
GARTER
From your endless supply of goodness, God, send a lucky, long, and happy life to the powerful princess of England, Elizabeth!
Flourish. Enter KING HENRY VIII and Guard
CRANMER
[Kneeling] And to your royal grace, and the good queen, My noble partners, and myself, thus pray: All comfort, joy, in this most gracious lady, Heaven ever laid up to make parents happy, May hourly fall upon ye!
CRANMER
[Kneeling] Your grace, you, the good queen, my noble fellow-godparents, and I pray in this way: may heaven give you all the comfort and joy in this princess that ever made parents happy every hour!
KING HENRY VIII
Thank you, good lord archbishop:What is her name?
KING HENRY VIII
Thank you, lord archbishop. What is her name?
CRANMER
Elizabeth.
CRANMER
Elizabeth.
KING HENRY VIII
Stand up, lord.
KING HENRY VIII
Stand up, lord.
KING HENRY VIII kisses the child
KING HENRY VIII
With this kiss take my blessing: God protect thee!Into whose hand I give thy life.
KING HENRY VIII
Take my blessing with this kiss. May God protect you! I trust him to keep you safe.
CRANMER
Amen.
CRANMER
Amen.
KING HENRY VIII
My noble gossips, ye have been too prodigal:I thank ye heartily; so shall this lady,When she has so much English.
KING HENRY VIII
My noble friends, you have been too generous. Thank you very much. This girl will thank you too when she learns enough English.
CRANMER
Let me speak, sir, For heaven now bids me; and the words I utter Let none think flattery, for they'll find 'em truth. This royal infant—heaven still move about her!— Though in her cradle, yet now promises Upon this land a thousand thousand blessings, Which time shall bring to ripeness: she shall be— But few now living can behold that goodness— A pattern to all princes living with her, And all that shall succeed: Saba was never More covetous of wisdom and fair virtue Than this pure soul shall be: all princely graces, That mould up such a mighty piece as this is, With all the virtues that attend the good, Shall still be doubled on her: truth shall nurse her, Holy and heavenly thoughts still counsel her: She shall be loved and fear'd: her own shall bless her; Her foes shake like a field of beaten corn, And hang their heads with sorrow: good grows with her: In her days every man shall eat in safety, Under his own vine, what he plants; and sing The merry songs of peace to all his neighbours: God shall be truly known; and those about her From her shall read the perfect ways of honour, And by those claim their greatness, not by blood. Nor shall this peace sleep with her: but as when The bird of wonder dies, the maiden phoenix, Her ashes new create another heir, As great in admiration as herself; So shall she leave her blessedness to one, When heaven shall call her from this cloud of darkness, Who from the sacred ashes of her honour Shall star-like rise, as great in fame as she was, And so stand fix'd: peace, plenty, love, truth, terror, That were the servants to this chosen infant, Shall then be his, and like a vine grow to him: Wherever the bright sun of heaven shall shine, His honour and the greatness of his name Shall be, and make new nations: he shall flourish, And, like a mountain cedar, reach his branches To all the plains about him: our children's children Shall see this, and bless heaven.
CRANMER
Let me speak, sir, because now God tells me to. I hope no one thinks that the words I say are flattery, because they'll find them to be true. This royal child—may God be with her always!—although still a baby, promises to bring a thousand, thousand blessings to this country in time. She will be—few alive now will live to see this goodness—an example for all the kings alive then, and all to come. This pure soul will have as much wisdom and virtue as the queen of Sheba wished for. She'll have double all the royal qualities that go into making someone as powerful as this along with all the virtues that good people have. Truth will raise her, holy and religious thoughts will advise her always, she will be loved and feared, her family and friends will bless her, her enemies will shake in fear like a field of beaten corn and hang their heads in sorrow. Goodness will grow as she grows. In her life everyone will eat what he plants safely in his own field and sing the happy songs of peace to all his neighbors. God will be truly understood and those around her will learn how to be honorable from her and will be great because of that, not because they come from good families. Nor will this peace die with her. But like when that amazing bird, the virgin phoenix, dies, a new heir as amazing as she was will be born from her ashes. So someone will inherit her blessings who will rise like a star from the holy ashes of her honor and stay firmly in the sky when heaven calls her from this dark cloud, the earth. Peace, plenty, love, truth, terror, which served this chosen baby, will belong to him and grow on him like a vine. Wherever the bright sun shines, his honor and the greatness of his name will be found and will create new countries. He will grow and, like a tree on a mountain, reach his branches over all the plains around him. Our children's children will see this and bless God.
KING HENRY VIII
Thou speakest wonders.
KING HENRY VIII
You say amazing things.
CRANMER
She shall be, to the happiness of England, An aged princess; many days shall see her, And yet no day without a deed to crown it. Would I had known no more! but she must die, She must, the saints must have her; yet a virgin, A most unspotted lily shall she pass To the ground, and all the world shall mourn her.
CRANMER
She will live to be an old queen and make England happy. She will live many days and do a great deed on every one. I wish I knew nothing more! But she must die, she must, the saints must have her. Still a virgin, a pure flower, she will fall to the ground and the whole world will miss her.
KING HENRY VIII
O lord archbishop, Thou hast made me now a man! never, before This happy child, did I get any thing: This oracle of comfort has so pleased me, That when I am in heaven I shall desire To see what this child does, and praise my Maker. I thank ye all. To you, my good lord mayor, And your good brethren, I am much beholding; I have received much honour by your presence, And ye shall find me thankful. Lead the way, lords: Ye must all see the queen, and she must thank ye, She will be sick else. This day, no man think Has business at his house; for all shall stay: This little one shall make it holiday.
KING HENRY VIII
Oh, lord archbishop, now you've made me a man! It's like I never made anything before I conceived this happy child. This comforting prophecy has pleased me so much that when I am in heaven I will want to see what this child does, and praise God. I thank you all. I am very thankful to you, my good lord mayor, and your good companions. You have done me a lot of honor in being here and I will repay you. Lead the way, lords. You must all see the queen and she must thank you or she will be sick. Today, no one should think he has to go home. Everyone will stay. It's a holiday because of this little one.
Exeunt
