Chapter 3

Enter in magnificent state to the sound of loud music, the King and Queen, as from church, attended by the Cardinal, Count Malateste, Marquis Daenia, Roderigo, Valasco, Alba, Carlo, and ladies-in waiting. The King and Queen with courtly compliments salute and part. She [exits] with one half attending her. King, Cardinal and the other half stay, the King seeming angry and desirous to be rid of them. King, Cardinal, Daenia and others [remain].

KING Give us what no man here is master of: Breath. Leave us pray, my father Cardinal Can by the physic of philosophy Set all again in order. Leave us pray.

Exeunt [King and Cardinal remain].

CARDINAL How is it with you, sir?

KING As with a ship Now beat with storms, now safe. The storms are vanished And having you my Pilot, I not only See shore, but harbour; I to you will open The book of a black sin, deep printed in me. Oh father, my disease lies in my soul.

CARDINAL The old wound sir?

KING Yes that, it festers inwards. For though I have a beauty to my bed That even creation envies at, as wanting Stuff to make such another, yet on her pillow I lie by her, but an adulterer, And she as an adulteress. She is my queen And wife, yet but my strumpet though the church Set on the seal of marriage. Good Onaelia, Niece to our Lord High Constable of Spain Was precontracted mine.

CARDINAL Yet when I stung Your conscience with remembrance of the act Your ears were deaf to counsel.

KING I confess it.

CARDINAL Now to untie the knot with your new Queen Would shake your crown half from your head.

KING Even Troy, though she has wept her eyes out, Would find tears to wail my kingdom's ruins.

CARDINAL What will you do then?

KING She has that contract written, sealed by you, And other churchmen witnesses unto it. A kingdom should be given for that paper.

CARDINAL I would not, for what lies beneath the moon, Be made a wicked engine to break in pieces That holy contract.

KING 'Tis my soul's aim To tie it upon a faster knot.

CARDINAL I do not see How you can with safe conscience get it from her.

KING Oh I know I wrestle with a lioness. To imprison her And force her to it, I dare not. Death! What King Did ever say 'I dare not'? I must have it; A bastard have I by her, and that cock Will have, I fear, sharp spurs, if he crow after Him that trod for him. Something must be done Both to the hen and the chicken. Haste you therefore To sad Onaelia, tell her I'm resolved To give my new hawk bells, and let her fly. My Queen, I'm weary of, and her will marry. To this, our text, add you what gloss you please; The secret drifts of kings are depthless seas.

Exeunt