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Catherine Howard Dramatic Reading - Alexandre Dumas · Classic Drama Book Collection

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: Act one of Catherine Howard by Alexandra Dumont, adapted by W. D. Suitor.
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  Speaker 1: This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in
• 0:12
  Speaker 1: the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please
• 0:16
  Speaker 1: visit LibriVox dot org. Catherine Howard or The Throne, the
• 0:22
  Speaker 1: Tomb and the Scaffold an historical play in three acts
• 0:26
  Speaker 1: from the celebrated play of that name by Alexandra Dumont,
• 0:29
  Speaker 1: adapted by W. D. Suitor, as first performed at the
• 0:33
  Speaker 1: Surrey Theater, London, under the management of mister Creswick eighteen
• 0:37
  Speaker 1: fifty eight. Cast of characters.
• 0:42
  Speaker 2: King Henry read by Lurie.
• 0:44
  Speaker 3: Wilson Athelwood, Duke of Northumberland read by Paul Simonon.
• 0:52
  Speaker 4: Archbishop Cranmer read by Allan Mapstone, Duke.
• 0:58
  Speaker 5: Of Sussex read by k Hand, Duke.
• 1:02
  Speaker 6: Of Norfolk read by the Rtish Grand Chamberlain read by Thomas.
• 1:07
  Speaker 7: Peter, Lieutenant of the Tower read by Sandra Fleming.
• 1:14
  Speaker 8: An Alchemist read by Abbaye Page.
• 1:18
  Speaker 6: Read by Lyria Martin Crinkley. Accord Wainer read by Thomas.
• 1:24
  Speaker 9: Peter Simon Creetner. A Weaver read by Vivianne Weaver.
• 1:31
  Speaker 10: Captain of the Guard read by Burne v.
• 1:34
  Speaker 11: Executioner read by Calinda.
• 1:38
  Speaker 12: Princess Margaret wrote by Leanna.
• 1:43
  Speaker 13: Catherine Howard read by Beth Thomas.
• 1:46
  Speaker 14: Jane Kennedy read by Lyria Winnifred Crinkley read by Sonia.
• 1:53
  Speaker 1: Stage directions read by Todd Catherine Howard. Act one, Scene one,
• 2:00
  Speaker 1: Reception chamber in Palace, Enter, Duke of Norfolk and Duke
• 2:04
  Speaker 1: of Sussex. Preceded by the Grand Chamberlain.
• 2:08
  Speaker 5: His Majesty is not yet visible.
• 2:10
  Speaker 6: Not yet, my Lord.
• 2:12
  Speaker 15: Is there any change in the ordinary ceremonial?
• 2:16
  Speaker 1: None, my lord, Enter, Archbishop Cranmer.
• 2:20
  Speaker 4: Good Morrow to your lordships.
• 2:22
  Speaker 1: They bow tell.
• 2:24
  Speaker 4: Me, my lords is the difference yet settled with James
• 2:28
  Speaker 4: of Scotland.
• 2:30
  Speaker 15: It has hardly commenced, for on the instant war will
• 2:33
  Speaker 15: be declared by our noble King Henry, My lords.
• 2:38
  Speaker 6: His majesty sister, the Princess Margaret.
• 2:42
  Speaker 1: Enter, Princess Margaret attended all bow.
• 2:47
  Speaker 15: We were speaking, Madam, of the threatened war against Scotland,
• 2:52
  Speaker 15: my lord, since.
• 2:53
  Speaker 12: Heaven is kindly given a son unto my brother, and
• 2:56
  Speaker 12: so taken from me all chance of succeeding to England's
• 2:59
  Speaker 12: third on your longest see construction in war and politics.
• 3:03
  Speaker 12: Therefore I pray that you will spare me the balacose discussion.
• 3:08
  Speaker 1: Folding doors are thrown open by pages.
• 3:11
  Speaker 6: His Majesty approaches.
• 3:14
  Speaker 2: Enter King Henry attended my lord's good morrow, sister, how
• 3:21
  Speaker 2: fares it with thee looking around? How our cousin of
• 3:25
  Speaker 2: Northumberland not arrived yet?
• 3:28
  Speaker 3: Enter Ethelwald health to your majesty.
• 3:33
  Speaker 2: You are welcome, my lord. We have something for your
• 3:37
  Speaker 2: privateer music.
• 3:40
  Speaker 1: The pages bring forward a chair. Henry waives his hand.
• 3:45
  Speaker 1: Margaret et cetera go off right, Norfolk Suffolk left. The
• 3:51
  Speaker 1: King's attendants center. Doors are closed. Henry approaches Archbishop Cranmer
• 3:57
  Speaker 1: and bows before him. Cranmer raises his hands above Henry
• 4:01
  Speaker 1: and goes off.
• 4:03
  Speaker 2: Athe Wald, my friend, look at me. I am a king,
• 4:07
  Speaker 2: a great and powerful. Perchance, there is not one amongst
• 4:11
  Speaker 2: my subjects by whom I am not endeed. And yet
• 4:15
  Speaker 2: I swear to you there are times when I envy
• 4:19
  Speaker 2: the poorest and meanest of my subjects. You, sire, yes,
• 4:26
  Speaker 2: or the lowest of my subjects may have a wife
• 4:28
  Speaker 2: and children who love him. The lowest of my subjects
• 4:32
  Speaker 2: is therefore happier than his king.
• 4:36
  Speaker 3: But your queens have loved you, sire, and the children
• 4:39
  Speaker 3: they have left you.
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  Speaker 2: Of my four marriages, what now remains to me the
• 4:46
  Speaker 2: remembrance of a few days of happiness and twenty years
• 4:51
  Speaker 2: of remorse, grief, and shame. Two daughters whom the law
• 4:55
  Speaker 2: has declared incapable to reign, and a son that Heaven
• 4:59
  Speaker 2: has declared incapable to live.
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  Speaker 3: Sire, A new marriage may yet bring you that happiness
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  Speaker 3: which hitherto you have vainly sought.
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  Speaker 2: I know it, and will once more tempt my fate.
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  Speaker 2: But this time my queen shall be chosen from amidst
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  Speaker 2: the people. She must be young, that I may love her, beautiful,
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  Speaker 2: that she may gratify my pride, and wise, that I
• 5:28
  Speaker 2: may fearlessly confide in her discretion.
• 5:32
  Speaker 3: Where will your majesty seek this paragon, this treasure.
• 5:36
  Speaker 2: She has already found cousin and resides on the banks
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  Speaker 2: of the Thames, within a few miles of my palace.
• 5:44
  Speaker 2: An aged nurse has reared her. Since almost from her
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  Speaker 2: infancy she has been an orphan.
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  Speaker 3: Her name is doubtless as yet a secret.
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  Speaker 2: No, because that you may render me the service I
• 5:57
  Speaker 2: am about to ask of you. It is even necessary
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  Speaker 2: that you should know it. Her name is Catherine Howard.
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  Speaker 1: Rises althel Wood, clinging to chair for support.
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  Speaker 2: Catherine Howard, yes, my lord, smiling. It is an obscure name.
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  Speaker 2: Is it to not so obscure that only the eye
• 6:22
  Speaker 2: of Fleming, my alchemist could have discovered it?
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  Speaker 3: Fleming?
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  Speaker 2: So it was he that, yes, and in a manner
• 6:31
  Speaker 2: most simple and smiling, without having recourse to sorcery or enchantment.
• 6:38
  Speaker 2: He was seeking in the neighborhood of London the herbs
• 6:41
  Speaker 2: necessary for his chemical operations. When surprised by a shower
• 6:45
  Speaker 2: of rain, he sought shelter in the isolated mansion inhabited
• 6:49
  Speaker 2: by that girl. So marvelous a treasure astounded him. He
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  Speaker 2: knew my intentions, and on his return told me of her.
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  Speaker 3: And on his mere word, your Majesty has decided.
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  Speaker 2: Oh no. Yesterday, guided by our old alchemist and perfectly disguised,
• 7:11
  Speaker 2: a boat conveyed us to the spot where dwells the
• 7:14
  Speaker 2: lady who has so occupied our thoughts, and there we
• 7:19
  Speaker 2: beheld her wandering on the banks of the river, and
• 7:23
  Speaker 2: in a profound reverie, as if she already felt a
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  Speaker 2: presentiment of the high destiny that awaits her.
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  Speaker 3: Ethelwald quickly and and Fleming had exaggerated.
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  Speaker 2: No, she far excelled all that he had said of her,
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  Speaker 2: my Lord, the beauty of Anne Boleyn, the grace of
• 7:44
  Speaker 2: Jane Seymour.
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  Speaker 3: And you spoke to her.
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  Speaker 2: No, my Lord, she modestly retired as she perceived our
• 7:53
  Speaker 2: boat approaching her. I intended to have seen her again
• 7:56
  Speaker 2: this day, or at Furthest tomorrow, but this senate war
• 8:01
  Speaker 2: with Scotland has deprived me of all leisure. I have
• 8:05
  Speaker 2: therefore formed a fresh resolution. You, my Lord, will tomorrow
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  Speaker 2: seek her with a befitting escort chosen from the people
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  Speaker 2: of thy palace, and you will bring the young lady
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  Speaker 2: hither and confide her to the care of the Princess Margaret,
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  Speaker 2: to whom, on my recommendation, she will become a maid
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  Speaker 2: of honor. And now I may no longer linger with you,
• 8:27
  Speaker 2: for I am stayed for at the council board. Adieu,
• 8:31
  Speaker 2: and remember that I rely on your devotion to your
• 8:35
  Speaker 2: King exit alth.
• 8:38
  Speaker 1: The wolf sinks into chair for a moment, overpowered, then
• 8:41
  Speaker 1: suddenly starting up, hurries a door at which he knocks
• 8:44
  Speaker 1: violently and calls Fleming, Fleming, Fleming, without who calls.
• 8:53
  Speaker 3: Forth from your borough, old fox to the broad daylight?
• 8:57
  Speaker 3: Disciple of hell? A Christian would speak.
• 9:00
  Speaker 1: With you, Er Fleming, how can I serve your lordship?
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  Speaker 3: The King? Has this instant left me?
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  Speaker 8: Heaven preserve his majesty?
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  Speaker 3: Ah man raising his hat, so, old calculator, you have
• 9:16
  Speaker 3: chosen a fifth wife for Henry.
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  Speaker 8: Yes, and one, as my science tells me, will make
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  Speaker 8: him happy.
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  Speaker 3: Your science, then has lied, most learned, Fleming, for this
• 9:27
  Speaker 3: marriage can never be. Wherefore for this reason she whom
• 9:34
  Speaker 3: you would cause the king to espouse Catherine Howard, is
• 9:38
  Speaker 3: it not?
• 9:39
  Speaker 8: Yes?
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  Speaker 13: Well, well she is my wife Mercy.
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  Speaker 3: I am lost, Yes, Fleming, thou art lost, for thou
• 9:50
  Speaker 3: knowest the law which, after Anne Boleyn's death was passed
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  Speaker 3: by Henry's orders.
• 9:56
  Speaker 2: Yes, yes, this.
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  Speaker 3: Law condemns to the se dames scaffold, the queen, who,
• 10:02
  Speaker 3: not being a maiden, wedded the King without avowing first
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  Speaker 3: the truth, and all others male and female, who shall
• 10:09
  Speaker 3: have counseled or aided in the marriage. So ho you
• 10:14
  Speaker 3: promised him a wife? Young, beautiful, and virtuous. Catherine is
• 10:19
  Speaker 3: all these? But think you that such virtue would contempt,
• 10:23
  Speaker 3: the judge of Catherine of Arragon, the executioner of Anne Boleyn.
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  Speaker 8: Confess all to him, my lord, and he will pardon
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  Speaker 8: you for me.
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  Speaker 3: Pardon, oh, yes, And would make of my wife a
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  Speaker 3: maid of honor to Princess Margaret, would send me to
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  Speaker 3: do battle in the highlands. No fleming, no.
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  Speaker 8: No, Oh, my lord, have pity on me.
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  Speaker 3: Pity for THEE whose pandering search has crushed my every
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  Speaker 3: hope in life, who, over my bright and golden days,
• 10:57
  Speaker 3: has cast a pall like shadow. Who, I pray THEE
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  Speaker 3: is to pity me.
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  Speaker 8: Oh? Is there no way by which your happiness and
• 11:07
  Speaker 8: my life may be preserved?
• 11:09
  Speaker 3: Yes? One way, ah, dangerous, No matter desperate speak. It
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  Speaker 3: is I who am commissioned by the King to seek
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  Speaker 3: Catherine and conduct her to the court.
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  Speaker 13: When tomorrow, oh heaven.
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  Speaker 3: The King must not again behold her.
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  Speaker 8: No, or we are lost, for he already loves her.
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  Speaker 3: Then it is necessary that this night she die.
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  Speaker 1: My Lord, I have the most subtle poisons Ethelwald, seizing.
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  Speaker 3: Him, miscreant mercy. She must die to the King and
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  Speaker 3: all the world. But she must live for me, for
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  Speaker 3: me alone.
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  Speaker 8: What would my lord, then I should do.
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  Speaker 3: Is there not a disation which can suddenly arrest the
• 12:02
  Speaker 3: blood within the veins, stay the beatings of the heart,
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  Speaker 3: and for a while suspend the course of life. May
• 12:10
  Speaker 3: not this sleep resemble death so closely as to deceive
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  Speaker 3: the most mistrustful eye.
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  Speaker 8: Yes, my Lord, and I possessed the secret of that
• 12:20
  Speaker 8: liquid and.
• 12:21
  Speaker 3: Can answer for its effect with my life. Well, for
• 12:26
  Speaker 3: that liquid, I will give you more gold than during
• 12:29
  Speaker 3: an entire year your furnace could produce.
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  Speaker 14: Dissent.
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  Speaker 8: With me, my Lord, to my laboratory.
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  Speaker 3: And in an hour you will leave it.
• 12:38
  Speaker 1: With the filter that you need Athelwold, staying him.
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  Speaker 3: A moment Fleming, you have well understood me. This is
• 12:47
  Speaker 3: for you an affair of life or death.
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  Speaker 8: My life is in your Lordship's hands.
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  Speaker 1: Lead on excellent clear stage Scene two. Catherine's chain door
• 13:01
  Speaker 1: looking on to open country. Small table covered with fruit
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  Speaker 1: and flowers, toilet table, glass chairs, couch, et cetera. Catherine enters,
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  Speaker 1: leaning on the arm of Dame Kennedy.
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  Speaker 16: We have had but a short walk, my child.
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  Speaker 13: Yes, good nurse, for it grows late.
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  Speaker 16: The sun has scarcely set, and at this hour, seen
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  Speaker 16: from yonder height, the horizon is so beautiful, Catherine, smiling.
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  Speaker 13: Yes, magnificent. But it is the same sun and the
• 13:31
  Speaker 13: same horizon that I saw yesterday six there.
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  Speaker 16: Now you are sad again.
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  Speaker 13: Nay, Nurse, not sad, but wearied.
• 13:42
  Speaker 16: And can you pine amidst the lovely country that surrounds you?
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  Speaker 13: Yes, if I saw it for the first time, I
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  Speaker 13: should no doubt think it very beautiful. But for eighteen
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  Speaker 13: years I have gazed upon the same prospect.
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  Speaker 16: And how long then have I looked upon it? And
• 13:58
  Speaker 16: have not wearied?
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  Speaker 6: Yet?
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  Speaker 16: I think Heaven that has enabled me to limit my
• 14:02
  Speaker 16: desires to things within my reach, and has never inspired
• 14:05
  Speaker 16: me with the thought of happiness not beyond.
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  Speaker 13: And yet, Nurse, all that is beyond our power of
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  Speaker 13: attainment must be indeed delightful. London, they say, tis magnificent.
• 14:16
  Speaker 13: Oh shall I ever inhabit London?
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  Speaker 6: Some day?
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  Speaker 16: Child, you will marry, for you are too beautiful and
• 14:22
  Speaker 16: too good not to find a rich and noble husband.
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  Speaker 13: Catherine quickly, Oh, yes, And dwell in London, in a palace,
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  Speaker 13: own a forest, wherein with falcon on my wrist, I
• 14:34
  Speaker 13: can pursue the game followed by pages and by valets,
• 14:38
  Speaker 13: you shall accompany me through my estates shall behold me,
• 14:41
  Speaker 13: receive the homage of my vassals. Oh, then I shall
• 14:45
  Speaker 13: no longer pine, for I shall be rich and beautiful. Aye,
• 14:48
  Speaker 13: and powerful too, shall need but to command, for none
• 14:52
  Speaker 13: will dare to disobey.
• 14:55
  Speaker 16: Silly girl, Oh.
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  Speaker 13: Dame, Were I told that I should always continued thus
• 15:01
  Speaker 13: in this lone and paltry cottage, within these stifling walls,
• 15:05
  Speaker 13: in rooms so poorly furnished, I would believe me rather
• 15:09
  Speaker 13: lie within a coffin, provided it were covered by a
• 15:12
  Speaker 13: noble tomb of marble.
• 15:14
  Speaker 16: There are days, my child, when the dreams of your
• 15:16
  Speaker 16: imagination terrify me. Trust me, twere best you should abandon
• 15:20
  Speaker 16: all such thoughts.
• 15:22
  Speaker 13: Oh no, they are my only wealth, my dreams, my
• 15:26
  Speaker 13: only happiness. You must not take from me. When alone
• 15:30
  Speaker 13: I hear strange voices murmur in my ear, see strange
• 15:34
  Speaker 13: visions float before my eyes. In the fire are salamanders that,
• 15:38
  Speaker 13: in their sport to raise a thousand sparkles in the
• 15:41
  Speaker 13: water which flows beneath our windows. Their bathes are Naiad, who,
• 15:45
  Speaker 13: each time that I bend to her, salutes me as
• 15:48
  Speaker 13: a sister. The perfumed breeze which evening brings us passes
• 15:52
  Speaker 13: laden with sylphs who stay and nestle midst my tresses
• 15:56
  Speaker 13: and fairies naiad sylphs, all all whisper were in my ears. Oh,
• 16:01
  Speaker 13: words that almost drive me mad.
• 16:04
  Speaker 16: What an age of happiness when one has but to
• 16:06
  Speaker 16: close the eyes to behold such wonders, and when dreams
• 16:09
  Speaker 16: are a consolation of the reality. But beware, my childs.
• 16:13
  Speaker 16: Of all the demons that, in their waking or their
• 16:15
  Speaker 16: sleeping hours do hover around young girls, the most dangerous
• 16:19
  Speaker 16: and the most difficult to be banished is the demon
• 16:22
  Speaker 16: of ambition.
• 16:23
  Speaker 1: Exit nay, good, nurse.
• 16:25
  Speaker 13: He is not a demon, but an angel, And the
• 16:28
  Speaker 13: most attractive, the most splendid, is the King of the hosts,
• 16:31
  Speaker 13: for he has golden wings, and his head is surmounted
• 16:34
  Speaker 13: by a crown. So good, nurse, go and let me
• 16:37
  Speaker 13: open the door by which all my dreams do enter
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  Speaker 13: and depart.
• 16:42
  Speaker 1: Catherine closes door after Kennedy then goes to and opens door.
• 16:47
  Speaker 13: Will ethel Wold come this evening this morning? He said? Perhaps,
• 16:52
  Speaker 13: and perhaps is always yes, how much he loves me,
• 16:56
  Speaker 13: and yet he cannot or wherefore conceal from me his
• 16:59
  Speaker 13: name and rank? Each morning? Do I hope that during
• 17:02
  Speaker 13: the day I shall know the whole evening arrives and
• 17:05
  Speaker 13: I have learned nothing. He is very happy when he
• 17:09
  Speaker 13: can steal a few hours from whom I do not know,
• 17:12
  Speaker 13: from another, perhaps that he may give them to me,
• 17:15
  Speaker 13: to me buried here, far from the world, a prisoner,
• 17:19
  Speaker 13: a slave set. The evening hours are laden with pleasures
• 17:24
  Speaker 13: to dwellers in cities. But I sit here alone and sad,
• 17:28
  Speaker 13: awaiting my husband, who perchance will not come. My husband,
• 17:32
  Speaker 13: who has title and rank of that I am certain,
• 17:34
  Speaker 13: and who gives me neither rank nor title rises. If, however,
• 17:39
  Speaker 13: I were with him now in London, instead of doffing
• 17:42
  Speaker 13: this simple robe, whose plainness humbles me to seek before
• 17:45
  Speaker 13: the hour asleep that will not come, I should be
• 17:48
  Speaker 13: seated at my toilette.
• 17:50
  Speaker 1: Sits before glass at table.
• 17:52
  Speaker 13: I should choose from the caskets that he has given
• 17:55
  Speaker 13: me so useless to me here the richest.
• 17:57
  Speaker 1: Of my jewels, opening caskets and decking herself with jewels, I.
• 18:02
  Speaker 13: Would put this necklace of pearls around my neck, these
• 18:06
  Speaker 13: diamonds in my ears, these bracelets on my arms, amid
• 18:10
  Speaker 13: the simple flowers of my hair, these tiny diamond stars,
• 18:14
  Speaker 13: this girdle of precious stones should encircle my waist, a
• 18:17
  Speaker 13: page should precede us, halls splendent with light would be
• 18:21
  Speaker 13: open to us. And when I appeared, oh if my
• 18:25
  Speaker 13: mirror deceived me, not no voice around, but would exclaim,
• 18:29
  Speaker 13: never was queen more brilliantly attired, Never was queen more beautiful.
• 18:34
  Speaker 1: Athelwold has entered and has heard the last two or
• 18:37
  Speaker 1: three lines of the speech. He advances to the back
• 18:40
  Speaker 1: of her chair. She sees his shadow in the glass
• 18:43
  Speaker 1: and starts up.
• 18:45
  Speaker 13: Oh, oh, oh, athel Wald, I did not see you.
• 18:49
  Speaker 3: I know it, you were by far too interestingly occupied
• 18:53
  Speaker 3: to observe my arrival.
• 18:55
  Speaker 13: Am I pretty? Thus?
• 18:57
  Speaker 3: But two beautiful lady aside for my happiness.
• 19:02
  Speaker 13: Then, thank Heaven that hath made me so for you.
• 19:06
  Speaker 13: Now come to me and embrace me, my lord.
• 19:08
  Speaker 1: He receives her in his arms, but does not embrace her.
• 19:12
  Speaker 13: Besides, it was instinct which caused me thus to deck
• 19:15
  Speaker 13: my figure. I have made myself beautiful from a presentiment.
• 19:19
  Speaker 13: My heart told me that you would come to me
• 19:21
  Speaker 13: so smooth that thoughtful brow. Sit and I will place
• 19:24
  Speaker 13: myself at your feet, My gentle chevalier, my gallant baron,
• 19:29
  Speaker 13: my noble.
• 19:30
  Speaker 1: Earl, seating herself at his feet.
• 19:32
  Speaker 13: By Which of these titles must I call you by?
• 19:35
  Speaker 3: None of them, for none can I claim?
• 19:39
  Speaker 13: But how did you come? For I did not hear
• 19:41
  Speaker 13: the gallop of your steed.
• 19:43
  Speaker 3: I came by the Thames in a fisherman's boat. For
• 19:46
  Speaker 3: to day, more than ever that I dread being recognized.
• 19:50
  Speaker 13: Ever mysterious, You therefore have very powerful motives.
• 19:54
  Speaker 3: Judge of their import, my love, since I conceal them
• 19:57
  Speaker 3: from you? Who are my life?
• 20:00
  Speaker 13: Oh, if you love me?
• 20:02
  Speaker 3: Never before was woman loved by man as I love
• 20:07
  Speaker 3: thee My Catherine.
• 20:10
  Speaker 1: Forgive me Aldelwold, taking her head between his hands.
• 20:14
  Speaker 3: Look on me, dearest, my heart till its last throb,
• 20:18
  Speaker 3: my life till its latest breath, my blood, to the
• 20:22
  Speaker 3: last drop. Are thine all thine and thine alone, Kate.
• 20:27
  Speaker 3: And should I lose thee? Should another, Oh heaven you suffer. Yes,
• 20:34
  Speaker 3: I am fatigued. My forehead burns.
• 20:38
  Speaker 1: Give me drink, drink, Catherine rising, oh, yes, my lord.
• 20:44
  Speaker 1: While she goes too and opens a cabinet, He draws
• 20:46
  Speaker 1: a vial from his vest and pours a portion of
• 20:49
  Speaker 1: its contents into a goblet, which is on the table
• 20:52
  Speaker 1: Athelwald aside.
• 20:54
  Speaker 3: Heaven, pardon me that thus I tempt thy power.
• 20:58
  Speaker 13: In default of page? Do you suffer me to be
• 21:01
  Speaker 13: your cup bearer?
• 21:02
  Speaker 1: He holds the cup she pours.
• 21:05
  Speaker 13: Thanks your hand trembles.
• 21:08
  Speaker 1: Athelwald, still seated and taking her in his arms.
• 21:11
  Speaker 3: Kate, Kate, Oh, never never, you are very sad tonight?
• 21:17
  Speaker 13: How shall I cheer your drooping spirits? Shall I say
• 21:20
  Speaker 13: to you the ballad made of that ancient king of England, Edgar,
• 21:23
  Speaker 13: who married with a vassal, the beautiful.
• 21:25
  Speaker 1: Elfrida Athelwald Aside.
• 21:28
  Speaker 3: Oh, her every word is fresh torture to my heart.
• 21:32
  Speaker 13: Will listen?
• 21:33
  Speaker 3: No, I know the story. She was betrothed to one
• 21:37
  Speaker 3: Richard of humble birth, when King Edgar saw and loved.
• 21:40
  Speaker 13: Her, and yes, and as knight and baron, even as
• 21:44
  Speaker 13: earl did she reject him. But when he told her
• 21:46
  Speaker 13: that he was king and said that she should share
• 21:49
  Speaker 13: his throne, Ah, then was the serf dazzled, and she
• 21:52
  Speaker 13: became his queen?
• 21:54
  Speaker 3: And is it thus that ends the tale of Alfrida
• 21:57
  Speaker 3: the Beautiful?
• 21:59
  Speaker 13: Is it not complete? She becomes queen?
• 22:01
  Speaker 3: I said, but what of Richard? Richard her lover.
• 22:06
  Speaker 13: The ballad makes no further mention of him.
• 22:09
  Speaker 3: So neither in the verses of the troubadour, nor in
• 22:12
  Speaker 3: the soul of his mistress, a thought of him so
• 22:15
  Speaker 3: shamefully cast off. I shall be less ungrateful than they were,
• 22:20
  Speaker 3: for I will drink to his memory.
• 22:22
  Speaker 1: He holds the goblet without carrying it to his lips.
• 22:26
  Speaker 1: Catherine looking at him, well, do you forget?
• 22:30
  Speaker 3: Have I ever drank from a cup that your lips
• 22:33
  Speaker 3: have not previously kissed? That I might taste upon its
• 22:37
  Speaker 3: edge the place where they had pressed? Come, my dear Elfrida, No,
• 22:43
  Speaker 3: pardon me, I mean my Catherine, to the memory of Richard.
• 22:48
  Speaker 1: Catherine drinks. He looks on her greatly agitated, then snatches
• 22:52
  Speaker 1: the gobblet from her lips and casts it at his feet, exclaiming, Oh.
• 22:57
  Speaker 3: Kate, Kate, forgetive, Oh, forgive.
• 23:01
  Speaker 1: Me, Catherine surprised, forgive you?
• 23:06
  Speaker 3: There was no other way, It was alas the only means?
• 23:11
  Speaker 1: What mean you?
• 23:12
  Speaker 3: Without it? We had been lost, forever separated. You are pale, Catherine?
• 23:18
  Speaker 13: Yes, yes, what can this mean? I'm faint? The room
• 23:23
  Speaker 13: swims around me. Oh, I'm turning blind.
• 23:27
  Speaker 3: Oh heaven, my breast.
• 23:29
  Speaker 13: Is all on fire. My forehead burns. Oh surely this
• 23:34
  Speaker 13: is death.
• 23:36
  Speaker 3: Oh misery, misery to see her suffer. Thus, Oh, better
• 23:40
  Speaker 3: that I had.
• 23:41
  Speaker 13: Leave me, leave me water, water, a choke, mercy, pity
• 23:46
  Speaker 13: me ethel Oh I feel that I am dying.
• 23:49
  Speaker 6: Is there no aid?
• 23:51
  Speaker 13: Oh? Without help, there.
• 23:53
  Speaker 1: Help ethel Wold taking her in his arms.
• 23:56
  Speaker 3: No, no, not a cry, not a sound.
• 24:00
  Speaker 1: Catherine patting her hands to her head.
• 24:03
  Speaker 13: What are these flowers?
• 24:05
  Speaker 2: Jewels?
• 24:06
  Speaker 1: Snatching them away?
• 24:08
  Speaker 13: Despair? Oh, life, Heaven, life, You will not die, so young,
• 24:15
  Speaker 13: so young to perish, Oh, Heaven, have pity on me. Kennedy, Kennedy,
• 24:21
  Speaker 13: I can see nothing. I am dying.
• 24:24
  Speaker 1: She struggles in Athelwold's arms, repulses him, and falls. Athelwold,
• 24:30
  Speaker 1: kneeling beside her and raising her in his arms.
• 24:32
  Speaker 3: Oh, Kate, Kate, Now I am sure that we shall
• 24:36
  Speaker 3: live or die.
• 24:38
  Speaker 1: Together, embraces her, rises, opens door, rings Bell violently returns
• 24:46
  Speaker 1: to Catherine, embraces her and rushes off. As Dame Kennedy enters,
• 24:51
  Speaker 1: she hurries and kneels beside Catherine. Places one hand on
• 24:54
  Speaker 1: Catherine's heart, and, weeping, hides her face in the other
• 24:59
  Speaker 1: music curtain and of Act one, Act two of Catherine
• 25:11
  Speaker 1: Howard by Alexandre Dumont, adapted by W. D. Suitor. This
• 25:16
  Speaker 1: is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the
• 25:20
  Speaker 1: public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit
• 25:24
  Speaker 1: LibriVox dot org. Act two, Scene one vault of supporter
• 25:32
  Speaker 1: steps at back up to door, several tombs with statues
• 25:35
  Speaker 1: lying on them, well forward, an open tomb raised with
• 25:39
  Speaker 1: steps on which Catherine Howard is lying lamp on a
• 25:43
  Speaker 1: tomb Athelwalt discovered standing beside Catherine.
• 25:48
  Speaker 3: I Fleming, thou hast indeed kept faith with me. Her
• 25:53
  Speaker 3: sleep is twin sister to death itself. And but that
• 25:58
  Speaker 3: it is my own work, I must myself have been
• 26:01
  Speaker 3: deceived by the resemblance. Oh, I can understand how an
• 26:06
  Speaker 3: assassin may not feel remorse when gazing on his victim.
• 26:11
  Speaker 3: For if this inanimate body be not happy, at least
• 26:15
  Speaker 3: tis very tranquil, Oh, Catherine, Catherine, would it not be
• 26:22
  Speaker 3: better that I should cast myself beside thee in this
• 26:25
  Speaker 3: tomb and suffer them firmly to enclose us that, locked
• 26:30
  Speaker 3: together in each other's arms, we might sleep calmly on
• 26:34
  Speaker 3: until the day of every lasting reawakening. For who but
• 26:39
  Speaker 3: Heaven can say whether in this world joy or calamity
• 26:43
  Speaker 3: is in store for us? Who but Heaven knows whether
• 26:48
  Speaker 3: hereafter thou will bless or curse me for suffering thee
• 26:52
  Speaker 3: again to live? For there is nothing certain in the
• 26:56
  Speaker 3: future save the grave. And wherefore should we wait death's
• 27:00
  Speaker 3: slow approach, since so easily we can reach it.
• 27:06
  Speaker 1: Oh, Kate bends over her and kisses her on the forehead.
• 27:11
  Speaker 3: Heavens, surely her frame did quiver, then my voice, even
• 27:16
  Speaker 3: through this lethargy has penetrated to her soul. Oh Catherine, Catherine, Revive, Revive,
• 27:28
  Speaker 3: Hence all thought of death, live, live with thee. Happiness
• 27:34
  Speaker 3: or woe, joy or despair? Oh Heaven, Yes, live Kate
• 27:40
  Speaker 3: Darling Live.
• 27:43
  Speaker 1: Turning towards door at back, which at this moment opens.
• 27:47
  Speaker 3: Hah, who comes here? Oh, imprudence, why did I not
• 27:53
  Speaker 3: secure that door?
• 27:55
  Speaker 1: Advances towards it, then retreats, terrified the king. The king
• 28:01
  Speaker 1: here returns to tomb and bends over Catherine.
• 28:06
  Speaker 3: Powers of darkness weigh her eyelids down with a leaden slumber.
• 28:11
  Speaker 3: Rather let her never awaken than awaken.
• 28:14
  Speaker 1: Now enter Henry Henry closing door, perplexed by the darkness Athelwald,
• 28:22
  Speaker 1: Where art thou Athelwald, going towards him.
• 28:26
  Speaker 3: Here's, sire, here.
• 28:28
  Speaker 1: Henry, descending steps and laying his hand on Athelwald's arm.
• 28:33
  Speaker 2: You are indeed a faithful friend. Where is she?
• 28:37
  Speaker 1: Athelwald? Pointing to tomb there?
• 28:41
  Speaker 2: Thanks your grace for having placed her in your family vault.
• 28:45
  Speaker 2: A week later, and she should have slept in hours
• 28:47
  Speaker 2: of Westminster.
• 28:49
  Speaker 3: Sire, the woman on whom, during her life your majesty
• 28:53
  Speaker 3: had designed to cast your eyes could not be but
• 28:57
  Speaker 3: for me, even after her death, an object of respect
• 29:01
  Speaker 3: and veneration. But how comes it that your majesty has
• 29:05
  Speaker 3: descended here alone?
• 29:07
  Speaker 2: I desired once more to behold her ere? The tomb
• 29:10
  Speaker 2: was forever closed upon her when those of my palace
• 29:14
  Speaker 2: who yesterday accompanied you returned and told me that you
• 29:19
  Speaker 2: had found her dead, and that you had remained to
• 29:22
  Speaker 2: render her the last rites. Oh, scarcely could I credit
• 29:26
  Speaker 2: the afflicting tidings. My eyes filled with tears, My heart
• 29:32
  Speaker 2: did scarcely throb. Oh I loved her. I loved her
• 29:38
  Speaker 2: and must behold her once again.
• 29:41
  Speaker 1: Athelwold draws his dagger and with the other hand, raises
• 29:44
  Speaker 1: the veil which covers Catherine, and taking the lamp, approaches
• 29:48
  Speaker 1: and holds it over her.
• 29:50
  Speaker 3: Then look upon her, Sire.
• 29:52
  Speaker 1: Henry, regarding her fixedly dead, dead dead, raising his eyes
• 30:00
  Speaker 1: to Heaven.
• 30:01
  Speaker 2: Have I offended? Heaven? A star was about to shed
• 30:06
  Speaker 2: its luster, or England and or England's king breeze passes
• 30:12
  Speaker 2: laden with death, and it is extinguished? Or paltry human authority,
• 30:18
  Speaker 2: so mighty to destroy life, so utterly powerless to restore it.
• 30:24
  Speaker 1: Taking her right hand.
• 30:26
  Speaker 2: Oh that I could but give warmth to this hand,
• 30:29
  Speaker 2: which I now press within mine.
• 30:31
  Speaker 1: Own Ethelwald aside, touching her left hand.
• 30:36
  Speaker 3: I permit you, King, to hold that hand, for it
• 30:40
  Speaker 3: is still cold.
• 30:42
  Speaker 2: Catherine, my beautiful, my.
• 30:46
  Speaker 1: Affianced placing ring on her finger, carry with.
• 30:50
  Speaker 2: THEE to the grave, this ring which thou shouldst have
• 30:54
  Speaker 2: worn upon the throne. Oh how royal should be the
• 30:59
  Speaker 2: ransom eye would pay? Could I restore THEE again to life?
• 31:03
  Speaker 1: My Catherine Athelwold aside.
• 31:07
  Speaker 3: Malediction, her heart renews its throbbings.
• 31:12
  Speaker 2: Oh Heaven. It is then true that sovereign and subject
• 31:17
  Speaker 2: alike are equal to THEE, and that a king within
• 31:20
  Speaker 2: his palace is no more prized by THEE than a
• 31:23
  Speaker 2: poor clown within his sorry hut. Catherine Catherine.
• 31:33
  Speaker 1: Athelwold aside, listening, she.
• 31:36
  Speaker 3: Breathes, Sire, you must no longer remain such unholy exclamations
• 31:43
  Speaker 3: are a prophanation.
• 31:45
  Speaker 2: Come, sire, Come no, no, I cannot cannot yet quit her.
• 31:52
  Speaker 1: Tone Athelwold aside.
• 31:55
  Speaker 3: Damnation, She awakes, allowed, Sire, Sire, suffer the dead quietly
• 32:02
  Speaker 3: to sleep on or tremble, lest they rise, and curse
• 32:06
  Speaker 3: you for having dared to trouble their last rest.
• 32:10
  Speaker 1: Dragging him away, Come come, he drags Henry off, who
• 32:15
  Speaker 1: exclaims as he leaves the vault.
• 32:18
  Speaker 2: Catherine, Oh, Catherine, our bride of death, Farewell, farewell forever.
• 32:28
  Speaker 1: Closing door after him, a short pause, music, Catherine raising
• 32:37
  Speaker 1: her arm. It falls again to her side.
• 32:41
  Speaker 13: Oh, Heaven, how profound is my sleep? Miss seems that
• 32:46
  Speaker 13: I'm fastened to this bit. Oh, I have no power
• 32:51
  Speaker 13: to raise myself.
• 32:53
  Speaker 1: Rises on her hands.
• 32:55
  Speaker 13: My eyes will not unclose.
• 32:58
  Speaker 1: Pressing her hand over her forehead.
• 33:00
  Speaker 13: There is a weight upon my brow.
• 33:03
  Speaker 1: Touching her white crown.
• 33:05
  Speaker 13: Oh, I have slept with my crown on Dame, Dame Kennedy,
• 33:11
  Speaker 13: Still night, I thought it had been daylight. I am
• 33:15
  Speaker 13: very cold and frightened too.
• 33:19
  Speaker 1: Descends from the tomb and almost falls upon the steps.
• 33:23
  Speaker 13: Oh how my limbs ache steps, a lamp.
• 33:28
  Speaker 1: Touches monument, marble, rising, terrified a tomb, walking and dragging
• 33:36
  Speaker 1: wrappings with her a shroud.
• 33:39
  Speaker 13: Oh, great heaven, where am I in a funeral vault
• 33:43
  Speaker 13: surrounded by the dead?
• 33:45
  Speaker 1: Shuddering?
• 33:46
  Speaker 14: Horror?
• 33:47
  Speaker 13: Horror? What has happened to me? Let me reflect? Hole
• 33:53
  Speaker 13: is calm, old, tranquill hear? Why then should I fear?
• 33:58
  Speaker 13: Let me think? Let me think Ethelwald as usual came
• 34:03
  Speaker 13: yesterday or or the day before, For for I no
• 34:06
  Speaker 13: longer know the days. Then I experience frightful torture, believe
• 34:12
  Speaker 13: that I should die. Then my senses left me, and then.
• 34:16
  Speaker 1: Then ah, suddenly and despairingly, I have been.
• 34:21
  Speaker 13: Thought dead and was entombed. Hear living, living, and no escape.
• 34:27
  Speaker 6: This door.
• 34:29
  Speaker 1: Goes to door, up the steps, puts her hand upon
• 34:32
  Speaker 1: the lock. The key is not there. She tries door fast,
• 34:37
  Speaker 1: merciful powers, rapidly descends steps, and, coming hastily forward, falls
• 34:42
  Speaker 1: on her knees.
• 34:44
  Speaker 13: Mercy, Heaven, Mercy.
• 34:46
  Speaker 1: Her figure drews, and she is nearly fainting. Ethelwald appears
• 34:52
  Speaker 1: at door, closes it, and coming forward, proceeds directly to
• 34:56
  Speaker 1: the tomb. Seeing it empty, he calls Kate. Catherine, rising
• 35:02
  Speaker 1: on one arm, did.
• 35:04
  Speaker 13: I not hear my name?
• 35:06
  Speaker 3: Catherine?
• 35:08
  Speaker 1: Catherine, rising at a bound here here, Ah, darting towards her.
• 35:15
  Speaker 13: Athel Wald, I am saved Athelwold. Can we not leave
• 35:19
  Speaker 13: this place?
• 35:21
  Speaker 3: Yes? Yes, but not till I have held you to
• 35:24
  Speaker 3: my heart that I may feel assured you live and
• 35:27
  Speaker 3: live for me alone.
• 35:30
  Speaker 13: Yes, yes, for you alone.
• 35:32
  Speaker 11: But let us go.
• 35:33
  Speaker 13: Let us go.
• 35:34
  Speaker 3: I need air, air yet a moment, I implore you, Catherine,
• 35:40
  Speaker 3: in the name of our love, which by now and
• 35:43
  Speaker 3: narrowly has escaped a terrible danger.
• 35:46
  Speaker 1: Catherine, clinging closer to him.
• 35:49
  Speaker 13: Yes, yes, tis well, but tell me, do not quit me.
• 35:53
  Speaker 13: How comes it that I was here amidst these terms alone,
• 35:57
  Speaker 13: shut in, and one of them my bed? How is
• 36:01
  Speaker 13: it that I behold you that, like my guardian angel,
• 36:04
  Speaker 13: you have hastened to restore me to life and to
• 36:07
  Speaker 13: the light of day.
• 36:08
  Speaker 6: Speak.
• 36:09
  Speaker 13: Tell me, I entreat to you.
• 36:12
  Speaker 3: Yes, for the moment has arrived that you may know
• 36:14
  Speaker 3: the secret which has so perplexed you.
• 36:18
  Speaker 13: What shall I know who thou really art?
• 36:22
  Speaker 3: Yes, I am athel Wal, Duke of Northumberland. The king
• 36:26
  Speaker 3: alone claims rank above the peers of England.
• 36:30
  Speaker 13: Ah, And I shall share honors, fortune position with you.
• 36:37
  Speaker 3: In giving you my heart? Did I not bestow all
• 36:40
  Speaker 3: these upon you? Am I not ready now to yield
• 36:43
  Speaker 3: to you my life?
• 36:45
  Speaker 13: Then you will conduct me to the court one word? Yes,
• 36:51
  Speaker 13: say on?
• 36:52
  Speaker 3: You have heard of King Henry's amours, always dissolute, sometimes fatal. Yes, well,
• 37:00
  Speaker 3: I thought of him and dared not introduce you at
• 37:03
  Speaker 3: his court, for royalty has but to breathe upon the
• 37:06
  Speaker 3: honor of a woman, and it is tarnished. Hence I
• 37:11
  Speaker 3: concealed my rank from you, for I trembled lest some
• 37:14
  Speaker 3: indiscretion on your part should destroy the happiness that depended
• 37:19
  Speaker 3: so entirely on my Catharine. A year flew thus twelve
• 37:24
  Speaker 3: months of felicity, during which I every evening came to you,
• 37:29
  Speaker 3: whilst every day I was compelled by my position to
• 37:32
  Speaker 3: be near the King, and the better to hide my secret.
• 37:36
  Speaker 3: There I feigned that my ambitious desires were for the
• 37:40
  Speaker 3: Princess Margaret.
• 37:41
  Speaker 13: The King's system.
• 37:43
  Speaker 3: Yes, but it was you who held my heart, who
• 37:46
  Speaker 3: inspired my every thought.
• 37:49
  Speaker 13: Yes, yes, I know all that, But but you have
• 37:52
  Speaker 13: not yet told me.
• 37:53
  Speaker 6: Why.
• 37:54
  Speaker 3: Well, all that I feared has come to pass. Four
• 37:58
  Speaker 3: days ago the King beheld you.
• 38:02
  Speaker 13: The King has seen me, seen me.
• 38:05
  Speaker 3: Yes, and and he loves you, loves me, or thinks
• 38:11
  Speaker 3: he loves you. He desires you. Now you understand, from
• 38:15
  Speaker 3: that moment, unless some preventive were found, we both were lost.
• 38:21
  Speaker 3: A skillful alchemist furnished me for gold with a narcotic
• 38:26
  Speaker 3: liquid whose effect is rapid and profound. You drank, And
• 38:31
  Speaker 3: when the messengers of the King came to conduct you
• 38:34
  Speaker 3: to court, they found your nurse weeping over my beautiful Catherine,
• 38:39
  Speaker 3: who was but sleeping while all believed that she was dead.
• 38:44
  Speaker 13: Oh the king also, Oh, it.
• 38:47
  Speaker 3: Was most essential that he above all should so believe.
• 38:52
  Speaker 13: And even now he does not doubt.
• 38:55
  Speaker 3: No, for that which might have destroyed has saved us.
• 39:00
  Speaker 6: What mean you?
• 39:01
  Speaker 3: While I stood here beside your tomb, awaiting your first breath,
• 39:06
  Speaker 3: your first sigh, your first look, the King, suspicious, no doubt,
• 39:12
  Speaker 3: appeared at yonder door. The King descended those steps and
• 39:18
  Speaker 3: approached this tomb, where I steal in hand awaited him,
• 39:24
  Speaker 3: for by the rude, had he shown suspicion, I would
• 39:28
  Speaker 3: have slain him.
• 39:30
  Speaker 13: My lord, you would have killed your king.
• 39:34
  Speaker 3: Rather than have lost you. By heaven, Yes, but everything
• 39:38
  Speaker 3: aided us. Vainly did he place that ring upon your.
• 39:42
  Speaker 1: Finger, Catherine, aside looking at it a ring of betrothal.
• 39:48
  Speaker 3: Your hand remained frozen within his own. Vainly did he
• 39:52
  Speaker 3: call upon your name? You waked not, You did not
• 39:56
  Speaker 3: answer the fatal appeal his adult Her lips were vainly
• 40:01
  Speaker 3: pressed upon your brow, for that brow continued pale and
• 40:06
  Speaker 3: still as pure, so that now he cannot doubt, can
• 40:10
  Speaker 3: never suspect that you are still the prey of death
• 40:14
  Speaker 3: and of the tomb.
• 40:16
  Speaker 13: Oh, but think, had that beverage proved mortal, if instead
• 40:21
  Speaker 13: of a mere narcotic, that man had given THEE a poison.
• 40:25
  Speaker 3: I had foreseen all that, and and gave THEE but
• 40:29
  Speaker 3: half the vile's contents.
• 40:32
  Speaker 13: Nevertheless, tis most frightful, living, living, and yet thought dead
• 40:38
  Speaker 13: by all the world.
• 40:40
  Speaker 3: Ah, dear Kate, forget the world that you have quitted,
• 40:44
  Speaker 3: as already it hath forgotten THEE. At the earliest possible moment,
• 40:48
  Speaker 3: I will quit England conduct THEE to France. There we
• 40:52
  Speaker 3: shall find a court far more magnificent, more mirthful than Henry's.
• 40:58
  Speaker 3: My fortune too, and my title will be thine homage
• 41:02
  Speaker 3: and pleasure will surround thee And then thou wilt confess
• 41:06
  Speaker 3: that I have acted well, that thou art happy, happy, happy, Yes.
• 41:13
  Speaker 13: But until then we shall dwell far from London.
• 41:16
  Speaker 3: Oh, no close by.
• 41:20
  Speaker 13: And should I be seen, Oh, you.
• 41:22
  Speaker 3: Will conceal yourself from every eye.
• 41:25
  Speaker 1: Catherine aside and so have but exchanged my tomb.
• 41:30
  Speaker 3: Catherine. Now that you know all, and the king and
• 41:34
  Speaker 3: his train have departed, let us quit this.
• 41:37
  Speaker 13: Vault already come first, be sure that no one will
• 41:43
  Speaker 13: perceive us. That all is quiet, and the night fall
• 41:47
  Speaker 13: and dark, but you will remain an instant here. I
• 41:52
  Speaker 13: am frightened.
• 41:53
  Speaker 3: Now tis well I go exit.
• 41:57
  Speaker 13: Tis very strange, but all seems changed to me since
• 42:01
  Speaker 13: Athelwald's revelation. Henry the Eighth loves me. The Tutor has
• 42:06
  Speaker 13: descended into this vault once more to behold the humble howard.
• 42:11
  Speaker 13: How was it I did not suddenly awaken at the
• 42:13
  Speaker 13: echo of his steps, the sound of his voice. His
• 42:17
  Speaker 13: feet were maybe placed upon this spot where now I
• 42:21
  Speaker 13: stand here towards me. He has bowed the head that
• 42:24
  Speaker 13: bears a crown. Here he has placed his royal hands.
• 42:29
  Speaker 13: Here is the ring, the betrothal ring, which he has
• 42:32
  Speaker 13: slipped upon my finger. Oh, there cannot be a doubt
• 42:36
  Speaker 13: he loves me truly ardently, and does he believe me dead?
• 42:41
  Speaker 1: Leans her head against the tomb. Enter Athelwald. Athelwald at door,
• 42:48
  Speaker 1: Kate Catherine rising, Ah, Come, Kate.
• 42:54
  Speaker 3: All is quiet. Let us leave this funeral vault.
• 42:59
  Speaker 1: Catherine going to him aside.
• 43:02
  Speaker 13: I fear ethel world. The most sumptuous mention will never
• 43:05
  Speaker 13: so greatly charm me as this gloomy vault, brightened by
• 43:09
  Speaker 13: the presence of the king.
• 43:11
  Speaker 1: With her feet on the bottom step, she turns and
• 43:13
  Speaker 1: looks toward tomb Athelwold at door. Scene closes in scene
• 43:20
  Speaker 1: too a street enter Martin Crinkley and Simon Greetner.
• 43:25
  Speaker 6: I consider myself a man, aye, and by the King's beard,
• 43:28
  Speaker 6: as good a man.
• 43:29
  Speaker 9: As he don't talk treason? Martin, what is.
• 43:34
  Speaker 6: It treason to be a man? Then? Have her libertiese
• 43:37
  Speaker 6: come to a pretty pass, as we'll say, tis treason
• 43:40
  Speaker 6: to be married?
• 43:42
  Speaker 9: No, certainly that is not treason. Yet tis not reason.
• 43:48
  Speaker 6: You are right, There is no reason in it. Tis
• 43:50
  Speaker 6: very stupid, Simon. If to be man a superior specimen
• 43:55
  Speaker 6: of human nature, a householder to pay taxes, If all
• 43:58
  Speaker 6: this be treason, then denounce me to roll Harry, for
• 44:01
  Speaker 6: I am a traitor.
• 44:03
  Speaker 9: Well no, but you talk.
• 44:06
  Speaker 6: Of course I do, for I have the organ of speech,
• 44:10
  Speaker 6: a mouth organ. Do you mark me?
• 44:12
  Speaker 9: But you talk in a way.
• 44:14
  Speaker 6: Well it's my way. And I say here before everybody.
• 44:18
  Speaker 9: There is nobody but me, and you are nobody.
• 44:21
  Speaker 6: So I shall postpone my burst of eloquence till I
• 44:23
  Speaker 6: get a better audience.
• 44:25
  Speaker 9: You cause a riot in every town.
• 44:27
  Speaker 6: We enter, Then you should not lead me to such
• 44:30
  Speaker 6: dens of iniquity. I certainly the jingle of coins never
• 44:36
  Speaker 6: heard in my pouch. And if you are not so
• 44:38
  Speaker 6: infamous as to pay for the spiced sack that I imbibe,
• 44:41
  Speaker 6: I should be too virtuous.
• 44:42
  Speaker 9: Every tender a tavern, there's gratitude, tis I that would
• 44:47
  Speaker 9: avoid every hostelry. But you force every silver from my pocket?
• 44:53
  Speaker 6: And is it not a horrible country, as Simon, where
• 44:56
  Speaker 6: a man has to pay for another's luxuries, whether he
• 44:58
  Speaker 6: likes it or not.
• 45:00
  Speaker 9: You should have a private purse Martin impossible? Why so?
• 45:07
  Speaker 6: Because I am married, Simon, And there is another instance
• 45:11
  Speaker 6: of frightful tyranny. I am never allowed a coin? Is
• 45:15
  Speaker 6: it not atrocious that the man I may, without vanity
• 45:18
  Speaker 6: say a fine man should be the slave of a woman,
• 45:22
  Speaker 6: And that woman to his wife.
• 45:24
  Speaker 9: I know she governs you, she does.
• 45:28
  Speaker 6: And never blushes at her abominable delinquency. Talk of liberty?
• 45:33
  Speaker 6: Where in England is one to look for the commodity
• 45:35
  Speaker 6: when even one's wife is allowed to gallop off shot
• 45:38
  Speaker 6: over her husband's rights. Heridaatee's government is horrible to endure.
• 45:42
  Speaker 6: But peddicoat government, Oh, that is something awful?
• 45:47
  Speaker 9: What nonsense you do?
• 45:48
  Speaker 6: Talk nonsense? Depend upon it, Simon. There will be no
• 45:53
  Speaker 6: liberty in this country till every woman is made a
• 45:55
  Speaker 6: prisoner for life. Where is our freedom? Where the liberty
• 45:59
  Speaker 6: of the subject? When at this very moment, I, with
• 46:02
  Speaker 6: the courage of a lion, am trembling lest my spouse
• 46:06
  Speaker 6: Whenefred Crinkley should suddenly pounce upon.
• 46:09
  Speaker 1: Me winneverd enters left, Grinkley goes over.
• 46:13
  Speaker 14: To right, And no wonder, lazy ale biba, that thou
• 46:18
  Speaker 14: art thy business is going to wreck and ruin.
• 46:22
  Speaker 6: I have no time to attend to business. I am
• 46:24
  Speaker 6: engaged in the pursuit of liberty.
• 46:28
  Speaker 9: HM.
• 46:28
  Speaker 14: Yes, liberty to lounge about the streets, talking rubbish and
• 46:33
  Speaker 14: haunt taverns advancing. Listen to me, Master Martin.
• 46:39
  Speaker 1: Or Grinkley retreating.
• 46:42
  Speaker 6: They were what you do? I am a man. I
• 46:45
  Speaker 6: pay taxes.
• 46:48
  Speaker 14: Dost thou not lately? Then? For the collector has just
• 46:51
  Speaker 14: called for the arrears and was about to take possession
• 46:54
  Speaker 14: of our chattels.
• 46:56
  Speaker 6: Simon, you hear that more Tyranny.
• 46:59
  Speaker 14: And de Vintna, who was besotted enough to give THEE credit,
• 47:04
  Speaker 14: has threatened law.
• 47:06
  Speaker 6: He has bloated tyrant. Take my word for Simon. There
• 47:11
  Speaker 6: can be no hope for liberty in his country so
• 47:13
  Speaker 6: long as a man is compelled to pay his debts.
• 47:17
  Speaker 14: And thou, Master Cretna, why dost thou entice my husband
• 47:20
  Speaker 14: from his dwelling and trot at his heels like a
• 47:23
  Speaker 14: spaniard dog.
• 47:25
  Speaker 6: Someone remember you are a man.
• 47:28
  Speaker 1: Silence Grinkley. Aside disgusting Tyranny, he seeks me out.
• 47:35
  Speaker 9: Mistress Winneford. He clings to me.
• 47:40
  Speaker 14: I shall in future endeavor to keep him from THEE.
• 47:44
  Speaker 6: And this is a land of liberty, where you may
• 47:47
  Speaker 6: not have a friend must basely desert the man who
• 47:50
  Speaker 6: has money to discharge on alhouse reckoning, He.
• 47:53
  Speaker 9: Tax treasons and brings me into danger, for when people
• 47:57
  Speaker 9: threaten to call the guard, he always wear twas I who.
• 48:01
  Speaker 14: Spoke, shameful, Martin, shameful.
• 48:07
  Speaker 6: I can no longer doubt it. Liberty is extinct. For
• 48:11
  Speaker 6: now a man is not allowed to sacrifice his friend
• 48:13
  Speaker 6: to save himself.
• 48:15
  Speaker 14: Get to die home, Simon Creedner.
• 48:19
  Speaker 9: Cladly crossing, for my loom is idle, and my pocket's empty.
• 48:26
  Speaker 1: Brinkley aside, and I shall need more spiced ale.
• 48:31
  Speaker 14: And thou Martin, come with me.
• 48:35
  Speaker 6: Winnifred Crinkly, I am a man. I pay taxes, Simon Creedner.
• 48:40
  Speaker 6: Liberty is a precious prerogative. Therefore it's all as I
• 48:45
  Speaker 6: do to maintain your rights, and never to yield to
• 48:47
  Speaker 6: any tyrant.
• 48:48
  Speaker 1: Breathing Winnifred with.
• 48:50
  Speaker 14: Authority, Are you coming, Martin.
• 48:53
  Speaker 1: Grinkley humbly, certainly, my love. Martin follows Winnifred off exit Simon.
• 49:03
  Speaker 1: Scene changes to scene three, chamber, handsomely furnished door covered
• 49:09
  Speaker 1: with tapestry. Catherine Enters goes to Ethelwald discovered sitting on
• 49:14
  Speaker 1: a sofa and gives him her hand.
• 49:17
  Speaker 3: My lord, ah tis you. My heart welcomes you. And
• 49:22
  Speaker 3: how did you sleep last night in your new dwelling.
• 49:25
  Speaker 13: I did not sleep an instant, And yet.
• 49:28
  Speaker 3: Your eyes are brilliant. Your complexion rose like as if
• 49:32
  Speaker 3: sleep had shaken over you all her nightly flowers.
• 49:37
  Speaker 13: Waking ours have sometimes dreams as sweet as those which
• 49:41
  Speaker 13: follow us to our sleep. Happiness and hope can also
• 49:44
  Speaker 13: freshen the complexion and make the eyes sparkle.
• 49:48
  Speaker 3: So you're happy, surely.
• 49:51
  Speaker 13: Since you have promised me that we shall.
• 49:52
  Speaker 1: Not leave England, sits by his side.
• 49:56
  Speaker 3: But if we quit not England, my beautiful Duchess, you
• 49:59
  Speaker 3: will become held to renounce that title, to forego the
• 50:02
  Speaker 3: pleasures of the Court of France, the joy of hearing
• 50:06
  Speaker 3: twenty times a day that you are fair. You will
• 50:09
  Speaker 3: tell me so, will you, not, my darling Kate.
• 50:13
  Speaker 13: But prithee, why have you lodged me in the most
• 50:16
  Speaker 13: remote chambers of this mansion? The view methinks from this
• 50:19
  Speaker 13: apartment is far more beautiful, and during your absence, for
• 50:23
  Speaker 13: you have said that occasionally you must leave to attend
• 50:25
  Speaker 13: the court, I should find pleasure in gazing from this.
• 50:28
  Speaker 3: Window, Catherine, this chamber has always been mine own. To
• 50:33
  Speaker 3: change would be to arouse suspicion all who seek me.
• 50:37
  Speaker 3: Come to this apartment. You see hence that I have
• 50:41
  Speaker 3: ever seen everything, And how impossible it is that I
• 50:44
  Speaker 3: should grant what now you ask.
• 50:47
  Speaker 13: But I may sometimes approach this window to watch for
• 50:50
  Speaker 13: your return, to wave my handkerchief and say by signs
• 50:54
  Speaker 13: that which you would not have uttered from my lips.
• 50:56
  Speaker 13: Come quickly, for I love thee I think of an exp.
• 51:01
  Speaker 3: Is not the entire mansion thine own love. Yes, come hither,
• 51:06
  Speaker 3: but never without the greatest caution, never without closing, as
• 51:10
  Speaker 3: I do now this door, secure's door.
• 51:15
  Speaker 13: Tell me is it London that we behold from this casement?
• 51:19
  Speaker 3: Yes?
• 51:20
  Speaker 13: And the Palace of Whitehall? Cannot that be distinguished?
• 51:25
  Speaker 9: Ay?
• 51:26
  Speaker 1: Pointing?
• 51:27
  Speaker 3: Tis there?
• 51:29
  Speaker 13: It was to that palace that, when raised to the throne,
• 51:32
  Speaker 13: Anne Boleyn was conducted. Yes, tell me is it true
• 51:37
  Speaker 13: that when she left her splendid barge upon the Thames
• 51:40
  Speaker 13: and placed her foot upon the shore, the queenly robe
• 51:43
  Speaker 13: was thrown across her shoulders, that the white satin litter
• 51:46
  Speaker 13: in which she was born and on all sides open
• 51:49
  Speaker 13: that the people might gaze on her, who was to
• 51:51
  Speaker 13: reign over them. It was Nurse Kennedy who related this
• 51:55
  Speaker 13: to me. She told you, truly, ambassadors and noble woman
• 52:00
  Speaker 13: with a hundred gentlemen mounted on splendid steeds, accompanied.
• 52:03
  Speaker 1: Her, observing Athelwold's fixed look of astonishment?
• 52:08
  Speaker 13: Is it not true that thus splendidly attired and with
• 52:11
  Speaker 13: that brilliant train, Anne Boleyn arrived at Whitehall to join
• 52:15
  Speaker 13: the monarch, who there most eagerly awaited her.
• 52:18
  Speaker 3: And three years after she left Whitehall, clothed in black
• 52:23
  Speaker 3: and accompanied but by a single priest, repaired to the
• 52:26
  Speaker 3: tower where the headsman awaited her.
• 52:30
  Speaker 13: She merited her fate, for she deceived the King.
• 52:33
  Speaker 3: You are admirably informed in all these matters, my sweet historian.
• 52:38
  Speaker 3: It is a new accomplishment for which I have never
• 52:41
  Speaker 3: given you credit.
• 52:43
  Speaker 1: Raises her hand to kiss it. His lips touched the
• 52:45
  Speaker 1: ring that the king has put upon her finger. He starts,
• 52:50
  Speaker 1: why do you start?
• 52:51
  Speaker 3: Tis nothing? But tell me I dare not. Oh, yes,
• 52:57
  Speaker 3: what if it is a sacrifice that I would ask
• 53:00
  Speaker 3: of you?
• 53:01
  Speaker 13: Speak nevertheless, and we will see if we love you
• 53:04
  Speaker 13: sufficiently to make that sacrifice.
• 53:07
  Speaker 3: That ring, well, my lips encountered it. But now on
• 53:11
  Speaker 3: kissing your hand, and it was given you not by me,
• 53:15
  Speaker 3: but by another, Are you anxious to retain that ring?
• 53:20
  Speaker 1: Catherine? Holding it up?
• 53:22
  Speaker 13: Do you not think that it becomes my hand, that
• 53:25
  Speaker 13: it is a foil to its whiteness?
• 53:27
  Speaker 3: But dear Love, thy hand is sufficiently white, sufficiently beautiful
• 53:32
  Speaker 3: without it, So let me have it.
• 53:36
  Speaker 13: A ring given by a king is rare and curious
• 53:39
  Speaker 13: and surely worth preserving.
• 53:41
  Speaker 3: Yes, but when that king has given it as a
• 53:44
  Speaker 3: token of love?
• 53:46
  Speaker 11: Aunt jealous?
• 53:47
  Speaker 3: Yes, Kate, I confess I am jealous. I should be jealous,
• 53:52
  Speaker 3: even of him whom thy robe had touched in passing, Oh, Catherine.
• 53:58
  Speaker 1: Catherine, throwing himself at her feet, pity me, for.
• 54:03
  Speaker 3: I am mad with love for thee Thou wilt have
• 54:06
  Speaker 3: mercy on me, and wilt not, by retaining that ring
• 54:09
  Speaker 3: crush my heart.
• 54:11
  Speaker 1: Catherine, rising and looking from window.
• 54:15
  Speaker 13: Athelwold, Look, do you not behold a troop of horse
• 54:18
  Speaker 13: approaching Yonder on the London Road. No, they wind their
• 54:21
  Speaker 13: way towards this.
• 54:22
  Speaker 1: Mansion, pointing off but not leaving the sofa Athelwald, bending
• 54:28
  Speaker 1: out of the window.
• 54:30
  Speaker 3: Yes, who are these men and what they're.
• 54:32
  Speaker 1: Errand Catherine aside, he will forget the.
• 54:36
  Speaker 3: Ring heavens I cannot be mistaken, tis he?
• 54:42
  Speaker 6: What would he?
• 54:43
  Speaker 3: Now?
• 54:44
  Speaker 1: He?
• 54:45
  Speaker 3: Whom Harry of England?
• 54:48
  Speaker 1: Catherine advancing hastily towards window, the King Athelwald restraining her. Yes, yes,
• 54:55
  Speaker 1: the King, drawing her back.
• 54:58
  Speaker 3: Fly this instant, Catherine, return to your own apartment. I
• 55:03
  Speaker 3: implore you, and in the name of Heaven, in the
• 55:06
  Speaker 3: name of our love of my life, Oh conceal my
• 55:09
  Speaker 3: treasure from every eye.
• 55:12
  Speaker 1: Suddenly stopping as a trumpet sounds without do you not.
• 55:15
  Speaker 3: Hear his trumpet? He is there even now at yonder door.
• 55:21
  Speaker 1: Away away, hurries her off, draws the tapestry over the
• 55:26
  Speaker 1: door by which she goes.
• 55:28
  Speaker 3: Why come see here? Has he learned that I have
• 55:32
  Speaker 3: deceived him?
• 55:33
  Speaker 1: Goes to and opens door.
• 55:36
  Speaker 3: Yet no, no, for then.
• 55:40
  Speaker 1: Enter page, his majesty, the King, exit page. Enter Henry Althelwold, bowing.
• 55:49
  Speaker 2: Sire, good morning, your grace, this honor sire, I must
• 55:55
  Speaker 2: even seek you athel Wald in your own mission, since
• 55:59
  Speaker 2: you will not visit me in my palace.
• 56:02
  Speaker 3: Your Majesty had but to express the wish.
• 56:05
  Speaker 2: Yes, yes, I know that I had need to converse
• 56:09
  Speaker 2: with you and instantly of important matters, and the walls
• 56:13
  Speaker 2: of my palace have ears, so I preferred to come
• 56:16
  Speaker 2: here and speak surrounded by this old tapestry.
• 56:20
  Speaker 1: Catherine is seen to raise the tapestry of her door
• 56:23
  Speaker 1: and listen for a short time. Thanks, Henry sits on
• 56:27
  Speaker 1: the sofa. Athelwald remains standing, and.
• 56:31
  Speaker 2: Now ethel Wall hearkened to me. For the last year
• 56:34
  Speaker 2: you have, I know, been dreaming of an honor you
• 56:36
  Speaker 2: thought unattainable, I, sire, your lips tis too have not
• 56:42
  Speaker 2: given utterance to a word that could betray your secret,
• 56:46
  Speaker 2: but your eyes have revealed it to all who would
• 56:49
  Speaker 2: give themselves the trouble to observe my lord brief You
• 56:55
  Speaker 2: love my sister, Sire. Yesterday I questioned the Princess Margaret
• 57:02
  Speaker 2: and learned her sentiments.
• 57:03
  Speaker 3: Respecting you, and she does not love me.
• 57:07
  Speaker 2: She does love you.
• 57:09
  Speaker 3: Heavens this time.
• 57:12
  Speaker 2: For once my heart and my politics can.
• 57:15
  Speaker 1: Agree, extending his hand to Athelwald, you.
• 57:19
  Speaker 2: Will be happy, Athawald, and your happiness will insure my tranquility.
• 57:24
  Speaker 2: For when I depart to Scotland, I shall leave for
• 57:27
  Speaker 2: regent of my kingdom more than a friend a brother,
• 57:32
  Speaker 2: I shall go without fears, since should misfortune happen to me,
• 57:37
  Speaker 2: the law, in consequence of the illegitimate birth of Mary
• 57:41
  Speaker 2: and Elizabeth and the poor health of Prince Edward, has
• 57:45
  Speaker 2: empowered me to name a succession to my throne rising. Therefore, Brother,
• 57:52
  Speaker 2: I shall leave with thee a testament of which my
• 57:56
  Speaker 2: keeper of the seals will hold a duplicate, appointing you
• 58:00
  Speaker 2: regent in my absence king on my death. Sire, well, oh.
• 58:08
  Speaker 3: I am unworthy of such favor. Wherefore I can accept
• 58:13
  Speaker 3: nothing of all that your majesty has offered.
• 58:16
  Speaker 2: Ah, what means your grace? Methinks you are distraught, Sire.
• 58:22
  Speaker 3: I can understand why you should deem me so or
• 58:25
  Speaker 3: most ungrateful. But Sire, I cannot accept henry.
• 58:30
  Speaker 1: Threateningly, my lord, you will Athelwald raising his head.
• 58:36
  Speaker 2: I have reflected, Sire, you refuse the regency.
• 58:42
  Speaker 3: I am grateful for the honor, Sire, but you.
• 58:45
  Speaker 2: Decline the hand of the Princess Margaret.
• 58:49
  Speaker 3: I know how little I have expected the offer of
• 58:52
  Speaker 3: such an alliance. Therefore I but render justice to myself
• 58:56
  Speaker 3: in confessing that I am unworthy of it.
• 59:00
  Speaker 2: Do you forget that under the friend is the king,
• 59:05
  Speaker 2: that entreaty may be followed by command.
• 59:09
  Speaker 3: Sire, in the name of all you hold most dear,
• 59:12
  Speaker 3: have grace save me from my threatened destiny. Your entreaty
• 59:18
  Speaker 3: has made of me an ingrate. Your command would make
• 59:21
  Speaker 3: of me a rebel.
• 59:23
  Speaker 2: I am curious to see such boldness.
• 59:27
  Speaker 1: Smiles Athelwald, advancing to take his hand.
• 59:31
  Speaker 3: Oh, I employ your majesty.
• 59:34
  Speaker 1: Henry, repulsing him back, my lord back Athelwold, placing his
• 59:39
  Speaker 1: hand on his sword.
• 59:41
  Speaker 2: Sire, Beware, my lord, beware. You have laid your hand
• 59:47
  Speaker 2: upon your sword in presence of your king. That is
• 59:51
  Speaker 2: high treason.
• 59:52
  Speaker 3: My lord, Oh Heaven, teach me how to act.
• 59:57
  Speaker 2: Fortunes more brilliant than your graces have shown around our throne.
• 1:00:02
  Speaker 2: But on one breadth of ours, they have died extinct.
• 1:00:08
  Speaker 3: I know it.
• 1:00:09
  Speaker 2: You now are rich and powerful. But I could snatch
• 1:00:12
  Speaker 2: from you, shred by shred, your titles and your fortune,
• 1:00:16
  Speaker 2: and cast you forth to storm and tempest. More poor
• 1:00:20
  Speaker 2: and naked than the meanest mendicant who crawls before my
• 1:00:23
  Speaker 2: palace gates, you could. I could drag you before the
• 1:00:28
  Speaker 2: peers and charge you with high treason for the crime
• 1:00:31
  Speaker 2: which you have just committed.
• 1:00:34
  Speaker 3: I should not deny it.
• 1:00:36
  Speaker 2: I could drag you to the scaffold.
• 1:00:40
  Speaker 3: I should not fear to climb the steps.
• 1:00:43
  Speaker 2: Ah, this is too much, my lord, and we shall
• 1:00:47
  Speaker 2: see who first will yield.
• 1:00:50
  Speaker 1: Going Athelwold is following.
• 1:00:53
  Speaker 3: Remain, Sire, You are now within my mansion. I am,
• 1:00:59
  Speaker 3: till declared other ones by my peers, still a loyal subject.
• 1:01:03
  Speaker 3: It is my duty therefore to attend your majesty to
• 1:01:07
  Speaker 3: the entrance gate and bend my knee that you may
• 1:01:10
  Speaker 3: mount your steed.
• 1:01:12
  Speaker 2: Come then, my lord, but by our royal word, it
• 1:01:16
  Speaker 2: is the last time such honor shall be accorded to you.
• 1:01:20
  Speaker 1: Excellent Catherine comes forward slowly.
• 1:01:24
  Speaker 13: He is very handsome. So that's the king who descended
• 1:01:28
  Speaker 13: to my tomb to place this ring upon my finger,
• 1:01:31
  Speaker 13: and would have placed a crown upon my head. How
• 1:01:34
  Speaker 13: great and powerful he appears amidst the courtiers.
• 1:01:36
  Speaker 1: Who surround him at window.
• 1:01:39
  Speaker 13: Behold them bareheaded and bowing lowly, where he alone is
• 1:01:44
  Speaker 13: covered and bears head erect. What is I say? Athelwald,
• 1:01:48
  Speaker 13: leading to him the horse and holding for him the
• 1:01:51
  Speaker 13: stirrup that the king may tread upon him and rising
• 1:01:54
  Speaker 13: to the saddle. What degradation? And Athelwald is noble too,
• 1:01:58
  Speaker 13: my husband, Oh most humiliating, Go mighty king. The lower
• 1:02:04
  Speaker 13: thou shalt tread men beneath thy feet. The greater wilt
• 1:02:07
  Speaker 13: thou be, and the more envied that woman, whom thou
• 1:02:10
  Speaker 13: shalt place beside thee on thy throne? Should I become
• 1:02:13
  Speaker 13: a widow?
• 1:02:16
  Speaker 1: Enter Ethelwald, pale and agitated Kate, Catherine, following Henry with
• 1:02:22
  Speaker 1: her eyes.
• 1:02:23
  Speaker 3: I'm here, tis well, hasten a pen and parchment instantly?
• 1:02:28
  Speaker 1: What would you do Athelwald? Sitting at table and writing?
• 1:02:32
  Speaker 3: Where were you whilst the king was here?
• 1:02:35
  Speaker 13: Behind yon tapestry?
• 1:02:37
  Speaker 1: Athelwald still writing?
• 1:02:39
  Speaker 3: Ah, then you've heard every word you heard. My wealth
• 1:02:44
  Speaker 3: is confiscated, yes, that even my life is menaced.
• 1:02:50
  Speaker 13: Yes, yes, but the king will be softened.
• 1:02:53
  Speaker 1: Athelwald rising and looking at her.
• 1:02:56
  Speaker 3: And you know for whom I thus lose all?
• 1:02:59
  Speaker 1: Catherine throwing herself into his arms.
• 1:03:03
  Speaker 3: Oh yes, yes, Well, the moment I have expected has
• 1:03:06
  Speaker 3: now arrived.
• 1:03:08
  Speaker 6: What mean you?
• 1:03:10
  Speaker 3: When you recovered from your lethargy? I showed you this
• 1:03:13
  Speaker 3: vile still half full of the narcotic liquid. Oh heaven, Catherine,
• 1:03:20
  Speaker 3: my beloved, tis now my turn to do that for
• 1:03:23
  Speaker 3: your happiness which I caused you to perform for mine.
• 1:03:27
  Speaker 3: I must now descend, as you did into the crypt,
• 1:03:32
  Speaker 3: die to the world that I may live again, for
• 1:03:36
  Speaker 3: only you drinks.
• 1:03:39
  Speaker 13: Oh no, no, you must not.
• 1:03:42
  Speaker 1: Athelwold, showing the vial empty.
• 1:03:45
  Speaker 13: Behold empty, mercy. I will call for.
• 1:03:49
  Speaker 3: Eight silence, and remember we must not lose a moment,
• 1:03:55
  Speaker 3: for moments are numbered to me now, and there are
• 1:03:58
  Speaker 3: a thousand things that I would say to thee.
• 1:04:02
  Speaker 13: Ethel Wald, ethel Wald, Oh Heaven, how bail he is.
• 1:04:05
  Speaker 3: Already, Catherine. This parchment, it will be found about me,
• 1:04:11
  Speaker 3: will indicate that, fearing Henry's anger and wishing to escape
• 1:04:15
  Speaker 3: the block, I have taken poison. The motive will appear sufficient,
• 1:04:20
  Speaker 3: and no one will suspect that my death is feigned.
• 1:04:24
  Speaker 13: Ethel Wald, ethel Wald, this is tempting providence.
• 1:04:29
  Speaker 3: It is restored to me a more precious treasure which
• 1:04:32
  Speaker 3: I confided to its care. Listen, I am the last
• 1:04:37
  Speaker 3: of my line. I dead, my name would be extinct,
• 1:04:41
  Speaker 3: and my wealth would go unto the crown. Oh, be
• 1:04:44
  Speaker 3: not alarmed. I shall still have gold enough for splendor
• 1:04:48
  Speaker 3: in a foreign land.
• 1:04:50
  Speaker 1: Catherine, thoughtful, what say.
• 1:04:52
  Speaker 3: You that by all but THEE I speedily shall be forgotten?
• 1:04:58
  Speaker 3: Thou alone wilt think of me when I'm enclosed within
• 1:05:01
  Speaker 3: that tomb, of which there are but two keys that
• 1:05:04
  Speaker 3: can unlock the door.
• 1:05:06
  Speaker 1: Two?
• 1:05:07
  Speaker 3: Yes, one of those keys must be given to my heir.
• 1:05:11
  Speaker 1: My king, and the other Athelwold, placing key in her hand.
• 1:05:17
  Speaker 13: To thee my wife, No, no, retain that key, And
• 1:05:22
  Speaker 13: when you awake you can yourself employ it?
• 1:05:25
  Speaker 3: And who will place it near me? Have you forgotten
• 1:05:28
  Speaker 3: that you may not yourself attend me to the tomb?
• 1:05:32
  Speaker 1: Catherine taking the key, Ah true, Athelwold, falling on his knee.
• 1:05:38
  Speaker 3: And now, dearest, while still i've power to gaze, let
• 1:05:42
  Speaker 3: me read in your eyes that I shall awake to
• 1:05:44
  Speaker 3: love and happiness.
• 1:05:46
  Speaker 1: Catherine sinks on the couch.
• 1:05:48
  Speaker 3: Well, I can listen. Let me hear your sweet voice
• 1:05:52
  Speaker 3: murmur words of tenderness in my ear, and let its
• 1:05:55
  Speaker 3: melodious ascents penetrate to my soul even while I sleep.
• 1:06:00
  Speaker 3: For you will be beside my tomb, will you not, Oh? Yes, yes,
• 1:06:06
  Speaker 3: you will be there, watching my return to life, your
• 1:06:10
  Speaker 3: eyes fixed on mine, your hand placed upon my heart.
• 1:06:15
  Speaker 1: Taking her hand, he starts.
• 1:06:18
  Speaker 3: That ring again, that ring. Oh, let me have it.
• 1:06:21
  Speaker 1: Kate, Catherine giving it to him.
• 1:06:25
  Speaker 3: There, Oh, how happy am I in thy love? Oh,
• 1:06:30
  Speaker 3: speak to me, say that you are mine, only mine,
• 1:06:34
  Speaker 3: that I am dear to thee.
• 1:06:36
  Speaker 13: Ethel Wald my husband aside, I know not what to
• 1:06:42
  Speaker 13: say to him.
• 1:06:43
  Speaker 1: Embraces him convulsively, Ethelwald rising, Oh.
• 1:06:48
  Speaker 3: Embrace me not thus thou makest it terrible to quit
• 1:06:52
  Speaker 3: thee even for an hour. Thy breath is of fire.
• 1:06:56
  Speaker 3: It burns my blood, air air, I stifle Catherine. He
• 1:07:05
  Speaker 3: falls Catherine.
• 1:07:09
  Speaker 1: Catherine on one knee, raising his head on the other.
• 1:07:13
  Speaker 3: Oh heaven, Oh heaven, I no longer see or hear thee.
• 1:07:20
  Speaker 1: Thy hand forcibly pressing it.
• 1:07:23
  Speaker 3: Where is thy hand, Oh, Catherine, my life, my soul.
• 1:07:31
  Speaker 1: Tomorrow tomorrow athel Wulf's head slides from Catherine's knee and
• 1:07:37
  Speaker 1: on to ground. Catherine contemplates him for an instant as
• 1:07:40
  Speaker 1: he lies before her, then her lips trembling, but without speaking,
• 1:07:45
  Speaker 1: she places her hand on his heart, and, feeling that
• 1:07:48
  Speaker 1: it has ceased to beat, she, still on one knee
• 1:07:51
  Speaker 1: behind the body, draws the royal ring from his finger
• 1:07:54
  Speaker 1: and passes it on her own and looks to window.
• 1:07:59
  Speaker 1: This is in silence and without music, slow curtain and
• 1:08:06
  Speaker 1: of Act two, Act three of Catherine Howard by Alexandre Dumont,
• 1:08:22
  Speaker 1: adapted by W. D. Suter. This is a LibriVox recording.
• 1:08:27
  Speaker 1: All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more
• 1:08:31
  Speaker 1: information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org. Act three,
• 1:08:38
  Speaker 1: Scene one the throne room of the Palace. As in
• 1:08:40
  Speaker 1: Act one, Scene one, thrown on steps, Henry discovered seated
• 1:08:46
  Speaker 1: Princess Margaret, kneeling at his feet, her head bowed on
• 1:08:49
  Speaker 1: his knees.
• 1:08:50
  Speaker 12: Oh, sire, brother, suffer me to weep before you, for
• 1:08:55
  Speaker 12: you alone know why I weep.
• 1:08:57
  Speaker 2: Courage girl, courage.
• 1:09:00
  Speaker 1: Princess still kneeling.
• 1:09:02
  Speaker 12: Oh, my brother, yours is the greatest loss. For of
• 1:09:06
  Speaker 12: all the flattering courtiers by whom you are surrounded, he
• 1:09:10
  Speaker 12: was the only man who really cared for you.
• 1:09:13
  Speaker 3: I know it.
• 1:09:15
  Speaker 12: He was the most noble amongst all nobility, the bravest
• 1:09:18
  Speaker 12: of the.
• 1:09:19
  Speaker 2: Brave, true, true.
• 1:09:23
  Speaker 12: And yet you menaced him, My brother, twas you who
• 1:09:26
  Speaker 12: drove him to that dread extremity.
• 1:09:29
  Speaker 13: Tis you who are the cause.
• 1:09:30
  Speaker 2: Of that oh, silence, silence, the wealth of kingdoms? Would
• 1:09:36
  Speaker 2: I give if I could but recall the threats I uttered?
• 1:09:41
  Speaker 13: Tis late now, brother, too late, for he is dead.
• 1:09:45
  Speaker 2: You are young, and will yet wed happily, Margaret, For
• 1:09:49
  Speaker 2: you can choose amongst the noblest of our land.
• 1:09:52
  Speaker 12: No, the heart which has loved Athelwald henceforth can worship
• 1:09:56
  Speaker 12: only Heaven and of all the world can offer.
• 1:09:59
  Speaker 1: I ask this aside producing.
• 1:10:02
  Speaker 12: Key, the key which unlocks the vault where he lies buried,
• 1:10:07
  Speaker 12: aside fourewell Harry, forewell, my.
• 1:10:11
  Speaker 2: Heart too is now bereft of all it loved, Oh, Catherine, Catherine.
• 1:10:20
  Speaker 16: Enter page, Sire a young lady who comes, she says,
• 1:10:24
  Speaker 16: from the neighborhood of Richmond, is in the adjoining chamber,
• 1:10:27
  Speaker 16: and most earnestly solicits an interview with your majesty.
• 1:10:31
  Speaker 2: Oh twas near Richmond that Catherine resided. Did the lady
• 1:10:35
  Speaker 2: approach Exit page as some companions. Someone who knew her,
• 1:10:41
  Speaker 2: and who now about to wed peradventure, comes to ask
• 1:10:45
  Speaker 2: a dowry at my hands.
• 1:10:47
  Speaker 1: Catherine appears closely veiled.
• 1:10:50
  Speaker 2: What would you, young lady?
• 1:10:53
  Speaker 1: Catherine advances slowly to the king, kneels and presents the
• 1:10:57
  Speaker 1: ring that he has given.
• 1:10:58
  Speaker 2: Her, the ring. Who then are you?
• 1:11:03
  Speaker 1: He hastily removes the veil. Catherine remains on her knee,
• 1:11:07
  Speaker 1: her eyes cast down.
• 1:11:09
  Speaker 2: Catherine, Howard, Great Heaven, What can this mean? Do I
• 1:11:15
  Speaker 2: gaze upon a shadow or reality taking.
• 1:11:20
  Speaker 1: Her in his arms and raising her levin?
• 1:11:24
  Speaker 2: Oh? They cannot be for did I not behold you?
• 1:11:29
  Speaker 2: Tended on the tablet enveloped in a shroud, pale and
• 1:11:34
  Speaker 2: frozen as a marble statue? Has Heaven permitted you to
• 1:11:39
  Speaker 2: rise from the funeral? Beer? Or speak? Speak? Your voice
• 1:11:44
  Speaker 2: alone can prove to me that you are not a phantom?
• 1:11:48
  Speaker 13: Sire? Am I the first maid deemed dead when only
• 1:11:52
  Speaker 13: in a trance, who has awakened in the coffin wherein
• 1:11:55
  Speaker 13: she had been placed?
• 1:11:57
  Speaker 2: King of Kings, Ki Harry, thank me. Knew you that
• 1:12:01
  Speaker 2: I loved you.
• 1:12:03
  Speaker 13: I had been told, Sir, Sire.
• 1:12:05
  Speaker 2: Knew you that rendered desperate, I descended to your twob.
• 1:12:10
  Speaker 13: That too, I was told.
• 1:12:12
  Speaker 2: I knew you that it was this hand which placed
• 1:12:16
  Speaker 2: that ring upon your finger, the.
• 1:12:19
  Speaker 13: Ring I have restored to you, sire.
• 1:12:22
  Speaker 2: And was your trance so deep that you remember not
• 1:12:25
  Speaker 2: of all that passed while you so slept nothing, and
• 1:12:29
  Speaker 2: of your previous life I have forgotten it entirely.
• 1:12:36
  Speaker 13: I live only since the moment that I issued from
• 1:12:38
  Speaker 13: my grave. I have no memory for aught beyond.
• 1:12:42
  Speaker 2: But tell me, dearest Catherine, how got you from the vault?
• 1:12:47
  Speaker 1: Catherine, looking at a key which she holds pressed on
• 1:12:50
  Speaker 1: her hand.
• 1:12:52
  Speaker 13: Every vault has a key which closes and which opens it.
• 1:12:56
  Speaker 2: Oh, I shudder at the thought that you might have
• 1:12:59
  Speaker 2: remained enclosed within that sepulcher, living amongst the dead, and
• 1:13:05
  Speaker 2: none have known that you were there.
• 1:13:08
  Speaker 13: Horror starting that would have been most awful.
• 1:13:12
  Speaker 2: To awaken within a coffin alone and darkness, vainly, to
• 1:13:16
  Speaker 2: shrink for succor, and to be answered only by the
• 1:13:20
  Speaker 2: dreary echoes at last, to feel approached the pangs of hunger.
• 1:13:27
  Speaker 1: No more, no more, in great agony, carrying her hand
• 1:13:31
  Speaker 1: to her head.
• 1:13:32
  Speaker 13: Oh, atrocious, most atrocious.
• 1:13:35
  Speaker 2: Forgive me for thus recalling to your thoughts such horrors,
• 1:13:40
  Speaker 2: And stay receive again.
• 1:13:41
  Speaker 1: This ring, placing it on her finger.
• 1:13:45
  Speaker 2: Never more to be plucked from your finger.
• 1:13:48
  Speaker 13: So you renewed to Catherine the living the promises made
• 1:13:51
  Speaker 13: to Catherine the dead.
• 1:13:53
  Speaker 2: All by palace and by throne, thou shalt share with
• 1:13:58
  Speaker 2: me thy most golden dreams shall be realized. Thou shalt
• 1:14:04
  Speaker 2: revel in every delight which this world can afford. Where
• 1:14:08
  Speaker 2: here my power extends, thou shalt command. Thou shalt be happy.
• 1:14:14
  Speaker 1: Catherine looking at key in her hand, do you think.
• 1:14:17
  Speaker 2: Sir, by my faith? Yes? Wherefore shouldst thou not art?
• 1:14:23
  Speaker 2: Thou not, young, beautiful, beloved and Queen? We will be united,
• 1:14:31
  Speaker 2: suante de lay in our private chapel, and tomorrow I
• 1:14:36
  Speaker 2: will publicly proclaim Catherine Howard, the Queen of Henry the eighth.
• 1:14:42
  Speaker 1: Catherine going rapidly to window.
• 1:14:44
  Speaker 13: Sire, the water flying beneath this window. Is it very deep?
• 1:14:49
  Speaker 2: Yes?
• 1:14:51
  Speaker 1: Seeing her extend the hand which holds the key. What
• 1:14:54
  Speaker 1: is it you do, Catherine dropping key? Nothing aside? I
• 1:15:00
  Speaker 1: make myself Queen allowed.
• 1:15:03
  Speaker 13: Sire, Your affianced bride is.
• 1:15:05
  Speaker 1: Ready, Henry embracing her.
• 1:15:09
  Speaker 2: Ah Beloved, Kate await me here speedily I shall return
• 1:15:16
  Speaker 2: Hurries off.
• 1:15:17
  Speaker 13: Am I really now awake? Or is all that's passing
• 1:15:21
  Speaker 13: round me but a dream? I feel impelled by an
• 1:15:24
  Speaker 13: invisible breath which urges me forward, like the dust of
• 1:15:28
  Speaker 13: the earth or the clouds of heaven. But the past.
• 1:15:31
  Speaker 13: The past is annihilated. The present only is something. The future.
• 1:15:36
  Speaker 13: Everything I exist, I live, all that is occurring to
• 1:15:41
  Speaker 13: me now is real. What matters to me? Then the rest?
• 1:15:45
  Speaker 13: This is the palace, This the throne. My foot is on.
• 1:15:49
  Speaker 1: The first step, places it.
• 1:15:51
  Speaker 13: I ascend?
• 1:15:53
  Speaker 1: Does so I sit sit enthrone?
• 1:15:56
  Speaker 13: Cheer Oh, to assure me that all this is true.
• 1:16:00
  Speaker 13: Let some one approach and bow before me. Let them
• 1:16:03
  Speaker 13: acknowledge my power and salute me.
• 1:16:06
  Speaker 1: As the Queen enter Athelwald, pale and haggard, he advances
• 1:16:11
  Speaker 1: slowly and places his foot on the first step of
• 1:16:13
  Speaker 1: the throne Athelwald, bowing.
• 1:16:16
  Speaker 3: Hail Catherine Howard, Queen of England.
• 1:16:21
  Speaker 1: Catherine Aghast falling back in chair.
• 1:16:24
  Speaker 3: Horror, horror, scarcely a moment, are you, Queen? But yet already, Catherine,
• 1:16:30
  Speaker 3: you see that as soon as they are expressed, your
• 1:16:34
  Speaker 3: wishes are accomplished. Athelwald, Do you indeed recognize me? The
• 1:16:40
  Speaker 3: grave is treacherous, is it not? You deemed twas more
• 1:16:44
  Speaker 3: secure and more profound?
• 1:16:46
  Speaker 13: Mercy awaken me, o heaven no longer Let me writhe
• 1:16:51
  Speaker 13: a prey to this most talish dream.
• 1:16:54
  Speaker 3: How gladly would you hear twas but a dream. But no, Catherine, No,
• 1:16:59
  Speaker 3: you do not sleep.
• 1:17:01
  Speaker 13: Art thou a specter, a phantom shade?
• 1:17:04
  Speaker 3: Yes to all but THEE, to THEE. I live am
• 1:17:08
  Speaker 3: still thy husband, to all the rest. As thou sayest,
• 1:17:12
  Speaker 3: I am a shadow.
• 1:17:14
  Speaker 13: What devil has evoked thee from thy close shut marble home.
• 1:17:19
  Speaker 3: Thou didst forget, fair Catherine, that there were two keys,
• 1:17:24
  Speaker 3: that I gave thee one, and that the king received
• 1:17:27
  Speaker 3: the other. Thou didst forget that there were two women,
• 1:17:31
  Speaker 3: One whom I did not love, but who loved me.
• 1:17:34
  Speaker 3: She is the Princess Margaret. The other whom I loved,
• 1:17:39
  Speaker 3: but who loved me not, And she is Catherine Howard,
• 1:17:43
  Speaker 3: These women have changed characters. Who should have remembered has forgotten.
• 1:17:49
  Speaker 3: Who should have forgotten, has remembered, so that on my
• 1:17:53
  Speaker 3: awakening I beheld the one instead of the other. Beside
• 1:17:57
  Speaker 3: my tomb Ah.
• 1:17:59
  Speaker 13: I crave your mercy.
• 1:18:01
  Speaker 1: Ethelwald, going to him, forgive me.
• 1:18:05
  Speaker 13: And let us fly, Let us depart together as you
• 1:18:08
  Speaker 13: at first did wish. I am ready conceal me within
• 1:18:11
  Speaker 13: your cloak, bear me in your own dear arms, Hide
• 1:18:15
  Speaker 13: me in some remote and desolate corner of the earth,
• 1:18:17
  Speaker 13: But let us fly, Let us.
• 1:18:19
  Speaker 1: Fly Athelwold, repulsing her.
• 1:18:22
  Speaker 3: No, lady, the destiny of all on earth must be
• 1:18:25
  Speaker 3: accomplished mine equally with your own. Athelwald, you were of
• 1:18:31
  Speaker 3: humble birth, but not content to be a duke's wife.
• 1:18:35
  Speaker 3: You thirsted to be queen. Well, your wish will be gratified.
• 1:18:39
  Speaker 3: You have not feared the passion of Henry the eighth,
• 1:18:42
  Speaker 3: yet his love will destroy you.
• 1:18:46
  Speaker 13: Oh, have pity on me.
• 1:18:48
  Speaker 3: You have desired a crown, and you will rest it
• 1:18:51
  Speaker 3: on your brow, but it will whiten your hair. You
• 1:18:55
  Speaker 3: have sighed for a scepter. You will grasp it, but
• 1:18:59
  Speaker 3: it will wither your hand. You have sought a throne,
• 1:19:03
  Speaker 3: you have mounted it, but in descending you will stumble
• 1:19:07
  Speaker 3: against Anne Boleyn's block.
• 1:19:10
  Speaker 1: Catherine clapping her hands to her neck.
• 1:19:13
  Speaker 3: All saints in heaven, ha lady, that you sleep may
• 1:19:17
  Speaker 3: have golden dreams. You need a bed whereon already four
• 1:19:22
  Speaker 3: queens have reposed. Dare to close your eyes there, Catherine,
• 1:19:27
  Speaker 3: And on the morrow you shall tell me what those
• 1:19:30
  Speaker 3: queens said when they came to you. At the hour
• 1:19:33
  Speaker 3: when go steal from their tombs?
• 1:19:36
  Speaker 13: Am I to see then again?
• 1:19:38
  Speaker 3: Canst thou doubt it? Catherine? Have we not stood together
• 1:19:42
  Speaker 3: at the altar? And death alone can separate those whom
• 1:19:46
  Speaker 3: Heaven hath united. Yes, thou wilt again behold me, for
• 1:19:51
  Speaker 3: the most secret passages of the Palace are familiar to me.
• 1:19:55
  Speaker 3: And Fleming and the Princess Margaret will lend me their aid,
• 1:19:59
  Speaker 3: and will be Catherine Howard. Though the Queen of England
• 1:20:04
  Speaker 3: is nonetheless Countess of Northumberland, the Northumberland's rights are more ancient, Madam,
• 1:20:10
  Speaker 3: than those of the tutor and faithful subject. Though I
• 1:20:14
  Speaker 3: am I cannot consent to yield to him but a
• 1:20:17
  Speaker 3: portion of them?
• 1:20:19
  Speaker 13: What is that you would do?
• 1:20:21
  Speaker 3: Your ascension to the throne has been but slow and tortuous,
• 1:20:26
  Speaker 3: In joy without delay the happiness of having reached it,
• 1:20:29
  Speaker 3: For straight and rapid will be your fall therefrom.
• 1:20:34
  Speaker 13: But to crush me you must also destroy yourself.
• 1:20:38
  Speaker 3: I have told you, Catherine, that in life and death,
• 1:20:41
  Speaker 3: my destiny is your own. We have reposed in the
• 1:20:45
  Speaker 3: same bed, we will mount, the same scaffold, will lie
• 1:20:50
  Speaker 3: within the self same grave.
• 1:20:53
  Speaker 13: The King approaches, fly, my lord.
• 1:20:55
  Speaker 1: Fly ethel wolded arts to a small door, and holding
• 1:20:59
  Speaker 1: it open is concealed behind it. Doors are thrown open,
• 1:21:03
  Speaker 1: and Lord's pages et cetera enter. Henry comes forward and
• 1:21:07
  Speaker 1: takes Catherine's hand.
• 1:21:09
  Speaker 2: My lords and gentlemen, behold the Queen.
• 1:21:14
  Speaker 1: Two or three voices exclaim, long live the Queen.
• 1:21:18
  Speaker 2: All bow Kate, I have kept my word. The Archbishop
• 1:21:23
  Speaker 2: stands in readiness Athelwald aside.
• 1:21:27
  Speaker 3: Let me now fulfill mine, Catherine, I go to prepare
• 1:21:32
  Speaker 3: the executioner.
• 1:21:34
  Speaker 1: Flourish, all go up center. Catherine at back turns and
• 1:21:39
  Speaker 1: sees Athelwald, who is gazing menacingly on her. She shudders,
• 1:21:44
  Speaker 1: utters a subdued cry and clings to Henry, all turned
• 1:21:48
  Speaker 1: towards her. Athelwold disappears, closing door. Scene closes in scene
• 1:21:56
  Speaker 1: two street Enter the Duke of North attended, Duke of
• 1:22:01
  Speaker 1: Sussex attended.
• 1:22:03
  Speaker 5: Still in England, my Lord, I believed ere this you
• 1:22:06
  Speaker 5: had renewed acquaintance with the Scots on the banks of.
• 1:22:09
  Speaker 15: Tweed within the next four and twenty hours. I certainly
• 1:22:13
  Speaker 15: shall depart. But have you heard the news at court?
• 1:22:17
  Speaker 15: My lord?
• 1:22:18
  Speaker 5: No, I have this instant returned to London has aught
• 1:22:22
  Speaker 5: of importance?
• 1:22:23
  Speaker 15: Then you do not know that Ethelwood is dead dead heaven.
• 1:22:28
  Speaker 5: Forfend, how very sudden.
• 1:22:31
  Speaker 15: And something even more important still has happened. But I
• 1:22:34
  Speaker 15: have no time to tell you now, unless indeed you
• 1:22:37
  Speaker 15: make my way thereby.
• 1:22:40
  Speaker 5: Oh, I have no momentous matter on my hands, and
• 1:22:43
  Speaker 5: am most anxious to learn.
• 1:22:45
  Speaker 1: Come then, my lord excellent Martin Crinkley enters, dragging on
• 1:22:51
  Speaker 1: Simon by the caller.
• 1:22:52
  Speaker 6: Do not be ridiculous, Simon, but come along.
• 1:22:56
  Speaker 9: I object to this proceeding. It is a liberty.
• 1:23:00
  Speaker 6: I am very glad of it, for liberty is a
• 1:23:02
  Speaker 6: scarce commodity.
• 1:23:03
  Speaker 9: Nowadays you have dragged me from my home, and.
• 1:23:07
  Speaker 6: Not without sufficient reason. I am thirsty. This is tyranny,
• 1:23:12
  Speaker 6: of course it is, I tell you, Simon. The country
• 1:23:16
  Speaker 6: is full of tyrants. There is no such thing as
• 1:23:18
  Speaker 6: freedom for a living mortal. Look at me, Simon. I
• 1:23:21
  Speaker 6: pay taxes well, pointing the owner of Yonder Tavern not
• 1:23:27
  Speaker 6: an hour since forcibly ejecting me from his premises, Because
• 1:23:31
  Speaker 6: after I had drunk a flagon of his vile home brood,
• 1:23:34
  Speaker 6: he suddenly discovered that I had no money where I
• 1:23:36
  Speaker 6: was to.
• 1:23:37
  Speaker 9: Pay for it, and served you right, Martin.
• 1:23:41
  Speaker 6: Simon, you are unworthy the blessings of freedom. I pant
• 1:23:44
  Speaker 6: for that liberty. Whether I have money or not, I
• 1:23:47
  Speaker 6: may help myself to whatever I think proper.
• 1:23:50
  Speaker 9: If your wife knew.
• 1:23:52
  Speaker 6: Mention, not the female here, Simon, do you know that
• 1:23:56
  Speaker 6: one of our tyrants is defunct? The Duke of Northumberland
• 1:23:59
  Speaker 6: is no more poor gentleman. He had a good heart.
• 1:24:05
  Speaker 6: He was kind to the poor. Yes, and now observe
• 1:24:09
  Speaker 6: how basely he has acted, evidently weary of these donations.
• 1:24:13
  Speaker 6: He has poisoned himself that he might henceforth save his
• 1:24:16
  Speaker 6: money and be rid of their importunities.
• 1:24:19
  Speaker 9: Poisoned himself. Oh dear, that was very wrong.
• 1:24:23
  Speaker 6: Simon, I said, plainly, you carry about with you the
• 1:24:26
  Speaker 6: germs of tyranny, and if you had had the power,
• 1:24:29
  Speaker 6: would no doubt have taking from him the liberty to
• 1:24:32
  Speaker 6: destroy himself.
• 1:24:33
  Speaker 9: Certainly, I am a Christian.
• 1:24:36
  Speaker 6: Pos Simon. A Christian is nothing, But I am a man.
• 1:24:41
  Speaker 6: I paid taxes. Man should be a free agent.
• 1:24:45
  Speaker 1: So come along, Simon, grasping him.
• 1:24:48
  Speaker 6: You have money, and my throat is remarkably dry.
• 1:24:52
  Speaker 1: Shout without Hey, what is that?
• 1:24:55
  Speaker 6: Have the people risen for a liberties? Then I shall
• 1:24:58
  Speaker 6: go home and pray for the the.
• 1:25:00
  Speaker 1: Success Simon, going to write, rise ridiculous, what for looking off?
• 1:25:08
  Speaker 2: No?
• 1:25:09
  Speaker 9: I see tis the brave Duke of Sussex. As he
• 1:25:12
  Speaker 9: passes along, the people recognize him.
• 1:25:16
  Speaker 6: Oh, miserable slaves to shout, because I see a lord,
• 1:25:19
  Speaker 6: and that is.
• 1:25:20
  Speaker 9: Liberty, certainly the liberty to shout.
• 1:25:25
  Speaker 6: Simon, Thank Heaven, I still have the liberty to say
• 1:25:28
  Speaker 6: that you are a fool.
• 1:25:29
  Speaker 1: Turns from him.
• 1:25:31
  Speaker 9: Ah, but that is making rather too free.
• 1:25:34
  Speaker 1: Duke of Sussex and attendants enter. Simon bows and draws back.
• 1:25:40
  Speaker 1: Duke passes over to left. Brinkley, not seeing Sussex.
• 1:25:45
  Speaker 6: And would I shout? Would I humble myself before the Lord?
• 1:25:49
  Speaker 1: Never Sussex close to Martin.
• 1:25:52
  Speaker 5: Suffer me to pass, good fellow.
• 1:25:55
  Speaker 1: Brinkley starting turning and seeing Duke.
• 1:25:58
  Speaker 6: Certainly, my lord, a grief pardon.
• 1:26:01
  Speaker 1: I was not aware, bowing humbly and profoundly and drawing
• 1:26:06
  Speaker 1: back as Duke and his attendants go off.
• 1:26:09
  Speaker 6: There goes one of the foes to liberty.
• 1:26:11
  Speaker 9: Then why did you bow so lowly to him?
• 1:26:15
  Speaker 6: To hide from him the indignation and my countenance?
• 1:26:18
  Speaker 9: Pooh, you are a counterfeit.
• 1:26:21
  Speaker 6: Counterfeit, how do you mean I'm a man? I pit
• 1:26:25
  Speaker 6: taxes and I pant for freedom. And I see that
• 1:26:29
  Speaker 6: lords are foes to liberty. And while those lords are
• 1:26:31
  Speaker 6: at liberty, there can be no liberty.
• 1:26:35
  Speaker 1: Captain of Guard and two soldiers pass behind, grinckly, not
• 1:26:39
  Speaker 1: seeing them.
• 1:26:40
  Speaker 6: And if it needed a hand to exterminate every lord
• 1:26:43
  Speaker 6: in the kingdom, even the king.
• 1:26:45
  Speaker 1: I captain suddenly stopping treason, advancing quickly, which view added
• 1:26:52
  Speaker 1: that it was qrinckly quickly.
• 1:26:56
  Speaker 6: Certainly it was he. He is forever talking treason. I'm
• 1:27:00
  Speaker 6: a man. I pay taxes.
• 1:27:03
  Speaker 1: Captain pointing to Simon, secure him Simon as they seize him.
• 1:27:09
  Speaker 9: No, no, I assure you, oh Martin.
• 1:27:13
  Speaker 6: Simon, is my duty to sacrifice you. Liberty demands it.
• 1:27:17
  Speaker 1: Simon in great alarm, suffer me to speak.
• 1:27:21
  Speaker 10: You have already said.
• 1:27:22
  Speaker 6: Too much, certainly much too much. Away with him.
• 1:27:28
  Speaker 1: Simon is taken off worthy, fellow.
• 1:27:31
  Speaker 10: We shall need your evidence followed to the guardhouse.
• 1:27:34
  Speaker 6: Exit Captain at present is not convenient. Simon will be
• 1:27:38
  Speaker 6: no lost to society. I shall regret him for he gone.
• 1:27:43
  Speaker 6: Whence he will come the spiced ales un necessary to
• 1:27:45
  Speaker 6: inspire my patriotic order. Now I will go home to
• 1:27:49
  Speaker 6: my domestic tyrant with the sweet consolation that I am man,
• 1:27:54
  Speaker 6: I pay taxes, that I am not unworthy to be free,
• 1:27:57
  Speaker 6: for I have this instant sacrificed my friend to preserve
• 1:28:00
  Speaker 6: my own liberty.
• 1:28:02
  Speaker 1: With Roman firmness. Exit scene changes to scene three, the
• 1:28:08
  Speaker 1: Queen's chamber door covered with tapestry. Catherine discovered seated, her
• 1:28:14
  Speaker 1: elbows on a table and her face buried in her hands.
• 1:28:18
  Speaker 13: Oh, how quickly will my brow be furrowed by wearing
• 1:28:21
  Speaker 13: this mask of gaiety?
• 1:28:23
  Speaker 1: While misery is at my heart rises?
• 1:28:27
  Speaker 13: I thought that I should love him because he was
• 1:28:29
  Speaker 13: a king. Love him, I fear him.
• 1:28:33
  Speaker 1: That is all sinks on couch. Athelwald, unseen by Catherine,
• 1:28:38
  Speaker 1: raises tapestry of door enters and slowly advances.
• 1:28:43
  Speaker 13: And oh, should he continue to pursue? He said this
• 1:28:47
  Speaker 13: morning he would come to me. I dare not look around,
• 1:28:50
  Speaker 13: lest I should see him standing.
• 1:28:52
  Speaker 1: There, pointing without looking at the spot where Athelwald is standing.
• 1:28:57
  Speaker 13: Stern and menacing. Lest I should his sepulchral voice pronounce
• 1:29:02
  Speaker 13: my name?
• 1:29:03
  Speaker 1: Starting up, I will.
• 1:29:04
  Speaker 13: Summon my maids of honor? Why did they leave me
• 1:29:07
  Speaker 13: thus alone?
• 1:29:08
  Speaker 1: About to ring bell, her hand is arrested by that
• 1:29:11
  Speaker 1: of Athelwald, one instant, Catherine, great heaven, how got you
• 1:29:16
  Speaker 1: here Athelwald? Pointing by that door which communicates with the
• 1:29:21
  Speaker 1: apartment of the Princess Margaret.
• 1:29:24
  Speaker 13: You are a magician. I myself locked that door.
• 1:29:28
  Speaker 3: You always forget, Catherine, that there may be two keys
• 1:29:31
  Speaker 3: to every lock.
• 1:29:33
  Speaker 1: Catherine, going hastily to write this at least secure's door
• 1:29:38
  Speaker 1: by placing the wooden bar across it.
• 1:29:40
  Speaker 3: Poor Catherine, thou art as anxious now to prevent the
• 1:29:45
  Speaker 3: king beholding me as I was formerly to guard you
• 1:29:48
  Speaker 3: from his sight.
• 1:29:50
  Speaker 13: Oh, if he saw me here with you, we both
• 1:29:53
  Speaker 13: were lost.
• 1:29:55
  Speaker 3: The very words which once I spoke to you?
• 1:29:58
  Speaker 13: And now what would you with me speak?
• 1:30:01
  Speaker 3: I would know if thy new fortune hath made thee.
• 1:30:04
  Speaker 13: Happy happy Ethelwald, I could not wish such happiness to
• 1:30:09
  Speaker 13: the murderer of my mother. Rest satisfied that you are
• 1:30:13
  Speaker 13: well avenged? Did you but know how much I suffer?
• 1:30:16
  Speaker 9: Oh?
• 1:30:17
  Speaker 13: Surely you would pity me.
• 1:30:19
  Speaker 3: Pity madam, that would be a strange sentiment to cherish
• 1:30:22
  Speaker 3: for a queen. Pity you have you not gained all
• 1:30:26
  Speaker 3: that you so much desired. Obsquious pages, a brilliant court,
• 1:30:32
  Speaker 3: superb vestments, and sumptuous apartments.
• 1:30:36
  Speaker 13: Often Nurse Kennedy, my plain white robe, my little room
• 1:30:40
  Speaker 13: at Richmond, and thee my Ethelwald, loving me as thou
• 1:30:44
  Speaker 13: once loved.
• 1:30:45
  Speaker 1: Me, sangs on couch. Ethelwald sitting at table near couch.
• 1:30:51
  Speaker 3: Yes, I at that time was sad while you were gay.
• 1:30:55
  Speaker 3: You've not forgotten, Catherine, the ballad that you so oft
• 1:30:58
  Speaker 3: recited to me. The king has received his answer. The
• 1:31:03
  Speaker 3: bondswoman wears a crown.
• 1:31:05
  Speaker 1: Oh unhappily yes, Hathelwald rising and seating himself on stool
• 1:31:10
  Speaker 1: at Catherine's feet.
• 1:31:12
  Speaker 3: When I ask you for the sequel of the loves
• 1:31:15
  Speaker 3: of Richard and Elfrida, the fair you answered that you
• 1:31:18
  Speaker 3: did not know it. Shall I relate it to you?
• 1:31:22
  Speaker 13: To what purpose?
• 1:31:24
  Speaker 3: Because the story may interest you, since it bears a
• 1:31:26
  Speaker 3: close resemblance to our own.
• 1:31:29
  Speaker 1: Places his hat on couch.
• 1:31:31
  Speaker 13: Say and do whatever you will.
• 1:31:33
  Speaker 6: You are the master Well.
• 1:31:35
  Speaker 3: Elfrida answered yes and became queen.
• 1:31:39
  Speaker 13: Unhappy woman to be a queen, but she.
• 1:31:42
  Speaker 3: Had forgotten one thing, which was to confess her amour
• 1:31:46
  Speaker 3: with Richard to her royal husband. Tis very strange, but
• 1:31:51
  Speaker 3: there was at that time a law exactly similar to
• 1:31:54
  Speaker 3: that which Henry of England has passed which condemned to
• 1:31:58
  Speaker 3: death any female who, after a like affection, should, without
• 1:32:03
  Speaker 3: informing him of it, espouse the king to death. Tis
• 1:32:08
  Speaker 3: true that this secret was known only to Richard Richard
• 1:32:11
  Speaker 3: her accomplice, and that.
• 1:32:13
  Speaker 13: Law condemned the accomplice to the same death that it
• 1:32:17
  Speaker 13: inflicted on the guilty woman.
• 1:32:19
  Speaker 3: Yes, but what is death to a man who has
• 1:32:22
  Speaker 3: been jealous, especially when that death brings him revenge upon
• 1:32:28
  Speaker 3: the woman that caused him to suffer all the tortures
• 1:32:31
  Speaker 3: of hell. Massy Richard found means to gain entrance into
• 1:32:36
  Speaker 3: the palace, penetrating even to the apartments of the Queen,
• 1:32:41
  Speaker 3: who no doubt was studying by what way she could
• 1:32:44
  Speaker 3: be rid of.
• 1:32:44
  Speaker 1: That man, Catherine quickly.
• 1:32:47
  Speaker 13: Oh you cannot think that.
• 1:32:50
  Speaker 3: Oh no, Perhaps she would only have immured him within
• 1:32:53
  Speaker 3: some vault of which she alone possessed the key. She
• 1:32:57
  Speaker 3: might there have left him to die of hunger and thirst,
• 1:33:01
  Speaker 3: or have stricken him with a dagger. Oh never, never, however,
• 1:33:07
  Speaker 3: that he might be prepared for every hazard, he wore
• 1:33:10
  Speaker 3: beneath his vestments a coat of.
• 1:33:11
  Speaker 1: Mail like this, draws aside his tunic and displays a
• 1:33:16
  Speaker 1: coat of mail.
• 1:33:18
  Speaker 3: For though Richard feared not death, he greatly dreaded the
• 1:33:21
  Speaker 3: loss of vengeance. Well, as I said, he penetrated to
• 1:33:25
  Speaker 3: the Queen's chamber, where she was alone. He seated himself
• 1:33:29
  Speaker 3: at her back, as I am now at yours. Then
• 1:33:32
  Speaker 3: he took the hands with which she would have concealed her.
• 1:33:35
  Speaker 1: Face, dragging her hand down as she was about to
• 1:33:39
  Speaker 1: hide her face, and holding them.
• 1:33:41
  Speaker 3: And forcing her to look into his eyes. He said
• 1:33:43
  Speaker 3: to her, Catherine, no I mistake, elfrida. Never was woman
• 1:33:49
  Speaker 3: loved by man as I loved THEE speak. Never never
• 1:33:55
  Speaker 3: man sacrificed so much for woman as I for THEE speak,
• 1:34:01
  Speaker 3: Never never, And never was man so atrociously rewarded as
• 1:34:06
  Speaker 3: I have been. Rising speak, will you speak?
• 1:34:11
  Speaker 1: Catherine, rising from couch and vending before him mercy, mercy
• 1:34:17
  Speaker 1: Athelwold despairingly.
• 1:34:18
  Speaker 3: Oh, he could have pardoned everything in that woman, her forgetfulness,
• 1:34:23
  Speaker 3: her ingratitude, even his death, everything, except having passed into
• 1:34:29
  Speaker 3: the arms of another, he could not forgive her. That
• 1:34:32
  Speaker 3: it was impossible that he could ever pardon her. And
• 1:34:35
  Speaker 3: so they perished, both perished drop its heard Yes, For
• 1:34:42
  Speaker 3: whilst the Queen's lover was locked with her in her chamber.
• 1:34:46
  Speaker 3: The King returned from the council board.
• 1:34:49
  Speaker 13: My Lord, my lord, those trumpets announce that the king
• 1:34:53
  Speaker 13: is coming. Hither, fly, oh, fly.
• 1:34:57
  Speaker 1: Athelwold immovable and as he would not leave ah.
• 1:35:03
  Speaker 3: When the King reached the door of the Queen's apartments,
• 1:35:06
  Speaker 3: knocking at door, he found it firmly sealed.
• 1:35:11
  Speaker 1: Henry without open Kate did his eye Catherine imploringly, my lord,
• 1:35:17
  Speaker 1: my lord, clinging to Athelwald. Athelwald raising his voice, and heard.
• 1:35:23
  Speaker 3: Two voices together speaking, Catherine, you are not alone.
• 1:35:29
  Speaker 1: Open Athelwald, thrusting Catherine from him, who falls.
• 1:35:35
  Speaker 3: Ha ha tis now they turned to feel the pangs
• 1:35:39
  Speaker 3: of jealousy.
• 1:35:41
  Speaker 1: Catherine, kneeling, be merciful and slay me. Henry without hate me, gentlemen.
• 1:35:48
  Speaker 2: Guards forced the door.
• 1:35:51
  Speaker 1: The door is druck violently without Catherine pointing to door
• 1:35:55
  Speaker 1: which is yielding.
• 1:35:56
  Speaker 13: See see.
• 1:35:58
  Speaker 3: Yes, it is time that I should quit thee. But Catherine,
• 1:36:03
  Speaker 3: we shall meet again.
• 1:36:05
  Speaker 1: Hurries off behind the tapestry. As door is forced open
• 1:36:08
  Speaker 1: and Henry enters, sword in hand, accompanied by lords et cetera.
• 1:36:13
  Speaker 1: Soldiers appear in the doorway. Henry looking round.
• 1:36:17
  Speaker 2: No one, how is this? Who Madam has been with.
• 1:36:23
  Speaker 1: You, grasping her arm.
• 1:36:25
  Speaker 2: Look at me an answer, no.
• 1:36:28
  Speaker 13: One, sire, no one, You say the time alone.
• 1:36:32
  Speaker 1: Henry searches and suddenly sees athelwolf's hat, Henry holding hat
• 1:36:36
  Speaker 1: towards her, and this, oh heaven, Henry going to tapestry door.
• 1:36:44
  Speaker 2: He to whom it belongs, can only have left by
• 1:36:47
  Speaker 2: this portal?
• 1:36:48
  Speaker 1: Am, I not right, Catherine running to him, Sire, Henry
• 1:36:54
  Speaker 1: trying door, Ah made fast. Catherine reassured you see the key?
• 1:37:02
  Speaker 9: The key?
• 1:37:02
  Speaker 13: I I know nothing of it, Sire.
• 1:37:05
  Speaker 2: Certain you will find it? Search, I say impossible.
• 1:37:10
  Speaker 13: I cannot remember.
• 1:37:11
  Speaker 2: Will you swear you have it? Not about you?
• 1:37:15
  Speaker 1: Catherine, producing key and offering it. Tis here, Sir, Henry
• 1:37:20
  Speaker 1: endeavoring to open door.
• 1:37:22
  Speaker 2: Sir, death Is it so? The point of a dagger
• 1:37:26
  Speaker 2: broken in the lock?
• 1:37:28
  Speaker 6: Ah ha.
• 1:37:29
  Speaker 2: Your accomplice has contrived his measures admirably to prevent pursuit.
• 1:37:34
  Speaker 2: But he forgot that he would leave you within my power.
• 1:37:40
  Speaker 2: The name, Madam of that man.
• 1:37:43
  Speaker 1: Sire, I implore you his name, Catherine, entreatingly, no one, Sire,
• 1:37:51
  Speaker 1: his name?
• 1:37:53
  Speaker 13: Oh I cannot, sire, I cannot, Ah.
• 1:37:57
  Speaker 2: You cannot, so, said a Boleyn too, but we found
• 1:38:02
  Speaker 2: means to conquer her silence, and closely as her adulterous
• 1:38:07
  Speaker 2: lips were sealed, yet agony wrung from them. The name
• 1:38:10
  Speaker 2: of Norris for the last time, Catherine, the name of
• 1:38:17
  Speaker 2: your paramour.
• 1:38:19
  Speaker 13: I am at your mercy, Sire, Do with.
• 1:38:21
  Speaker 2: Me what you will, and not to justify their self,
• 1:38:25
  Speaker 2: not a word to make me doubt the evidence of
• 1:38:28
  Speaker 2: my senses. Again deceived, again, betrayed, and always by those
• 1:38:36
  Speaker 2: most near and dear to me. Captain Ruthergarde, secure your prisoner,
• 1:38:43
  Speaker 2: oh sire, Sire Catherine, be ready to appear before the
• 1:38:48
  Speaker 2: judges who condemned Anne Boleyn to the scaffold.
• 1:38:52
  Speaker 1: Catherine utters a despairing cry and falls senseless to the ground.
• 1:38:58
  Speaker 1: Henry turns away, seeing closes in seeing four room in
• 1:39:04
  Speaker 1: Martin Brinkley's house. Andre Martin, followed by Winnifred, stir from.
• 1:39:10
  Speaker 14: The house at thy peril, O gra.
• 1:39:13
  Speaker 6: Mercy, And I'm a man. I pay taxes.
• 1:39:18
  Speaker 14: If I were not more thwifty than thou lazy vallet,
• 1:39:22
  Speaker 14: nothing would be paid.
• 1:39:24
  Speaker 6: And must I suffer my patriotic nature to be subdued
• 1:39:27
  Speaker 6: by a woman? Must I be pent up? Within four walls,
• 1:39:30
  Speaker 6: or my heart is struggling for a nation's liberty. Woman,
• 1:39:34
  Speaker 6: knowst thou the value of freedom?
• 1:39:37
  Speaker 9: Ah?
• 1:39:37
  Speaker 14: Yes, But thou shalt not for at least a week
• 1:39:41
  Speaker 14: to come. I warrant me thou wouldst go to Simon
• 1:39:45
  Speaker 14: creed Now.
• 1:39:46
  Speaker 6: No, decidedly, I have no inclination there too. It would
• 1:39:50
  Speaker 6: not harmonize with the liberty I contend.
• 1:39:52
  Speaker 1: For Ander Simon Creedner Simon.
• 1:39:56
  Speaker 6: And three, let me embrace thee thou martyr's liberty?
• 1:40:00
  Speaker 9: Yeah, keep off? Her turn will come, Oh mistress crankly,
• 1:40:06
  Speaker 9: hast thou heard the dreadful tidies Catherine Howard so lightly
• 1:40:11
  Speaker 9: become queen a sentenced to be beheaded?
• 1:40:15
  Speaker 14: Oh, dear, dear, another poor creature doomed to the block.
• 1:40:20
  Speaker 14: My heart foreboded that Anne Bullen would not be the last.
• 1:40:23
  Speaker 14: What a time for us, lovely women.
• 1:40:27
  Speaker 6: And there again, why should a king arrogate himself at
• 1:40:30
  Speaker 6: liberty that he denies his subjects?
• 1:40:33
  Speaker 14: What dost thou mean, dolt?
• 1:40:36
  Speaker 6: The king has had five wives, aye, but one. When
• 1:40:39
  Speaker 6: he wearies of them, he makes them shorter by the head.
• 1:40:42
  Speaker 6: I am a man, I pay taxes, wherefore then should
• 1:40:45
  Speaker 6: I not enjoy the same precious liberty.
• 1:40:48
  Speaker 14: Oh doou Bluebeard?
• 1:40:51
  Speaker 6: Why should not I, at the present moment, be about
• 1:40:54
  Speaker 6: to rid myself of my fifth wife? Nay, I would
• 1:40:57
  Speaker 6: not complain if I were even now allow us pleasant
• 1:41:00
  Speaker 6: to put away my first The smallest donation to liberty
• 1:41:03
  Speaker 6: would be thankfully received.
• 1:41:05
  Speaker 1: Winnifred in a rage, dow wretch.
• 1:41:10
  Speaker 6: But Simon, there is no hope.
• 1:41:11
  Speaker 1: For liberty, Winnifred striking him on the shoulder, du monster
• 1:41:19
  Speaker 1: Grinkley roaring, Oh, Simon, liberty has received a Harvey blow Martin.
• 1:41:25
  Speaker 9: I despise you. You are a traitor to your friend friend.
• 1:41:31
  Speaker 6: I reject the tone. You are my instrument, my victim.
• 1:41:35
  Speaker 9: Very well, then we shall presently change places. For I
• 1:41:39
  Speaker 9: very soon found witnesses to prove that it was you
• 1:41:43
  Speaker 9: who always talk treason.
• 1:41:45
  Speaker 14: What is all this?
• 1:41:47
  Speaker 9: He caused me to be locked in prison for his fault,
• 1:41:51
  Speaker 9: Mistress Winifred.
• 1:41:53
  Speaker 14: Oh dw Mannequin.
• 1:41:56
  Speaker 6: What's so sacred?
• 1:41:57
  Speaker 9: It is our liberty and soldiers will be here to
• 1:42:01
  Speaker 9: convey him to the tower.
• 1:42:04
  Speaker 14: I am very glad to hear it.
• 1:42:07
  Speaker 6: What then I am lost? Oh Simon, you surely could
• 1:42:12
  Speaker 6: not and say her words? Oh, I implore you by
• 1:42:16
  Speaker 6: her long tried friendship. Surely you will not basically sacrifice
• 1:42:19
  Speaker 6: me to save your own worthless life, Simon. By the
• 1:42:23
  Speaker 6: many cups of sack that we have drawn together and
• 1:42:25
  Speaker 6: you have always paid for, I implore you save me.
• 1:42:29
  Speaker 9: You know, Martin, tis my duty to sacrifice you. Liberty
• 1:42:33
  Speaker 9: demands it.
• 1:42:35
  Speaker 6: No, Simon, My liberty does not demand anything of the sort.
• 1:42:38
  Speaker 1: Simon turned from him.
• 1:42:40
  Speaker 6: The tyrant is inexorable. You win for it, my phone,
• 1:42:44
  Speaker 6: my doting wife. You will save me, hide me, think
• 1:42:48
  Speaker 6: of liberty, lock me in the ale cellar.
• 1:42:51
  Speaker 14: H No, Martin, thou dost deserve thye punishment, and the
• 1:42:56
  Speaker 14: law must take its course.
• 1:42:59
  Speaker 6: Take its care. Oh that means that my blockhead must
• 1:43:03
  Speaker 6: go to the block. Oh how loose my head does feel,
• 1:43:07
  Speaker 6: Winifred Crinkley. Now I understand your atrocious nature. You are
• 1:43:11
  Speaker 6: a disciple of the King's liberty. You are a female
• 1:43:13
  Speaker 6: harry the eighth Mistress Winnifred, and you are about to
• 1:43:16
  Speaker 6: repudiate your first husband. Oh it is all very well
• 1:43:20
  Speaker 6: to be a patriot, but I never intended to be
• 1:43:23
  Speaker 6: a martyr.
• 1:43:24
  Speaker 1: Going left, Captain of Guard enters halt Martin Crinkley, Simon pointing.
• 1:43:32
  Speaker 9: That is the illustrious individual.
• 1:43:35
  Speaker 6: Good mercy, your highness. I'm a man.
• 1:43:38
  Speaker 10: I pay taxes Martin Crinkley, my soldiers are without, and
• 1:43:42
  Speaker 10: I arrest thee for seditious speech.
• 1:43:44
  Speaker 6: Come, no, no mercy, have you no regard for the
• 1:43:48
  Speaker 6: liberty of the subject.
• 1:43:50
  Speaker 10: Thou art dangerous to the King's welfare?
• 1:43:53
  Speaker 6: Me there never was a more harmless mortal. I appeal
• 1:43:57
  Speaker 6: to my wife. She has known me a great many years,
• 1:44:00
  Speaker 6: even before I was married.
• 1:44:01
  Speaker 1: Captain suddenly drawing his sword, come grinkly, falling on his knees.
• 1:44:07
  Speaker 6: No, no, do not kill me here, not before my wife.
• 1:44:11
  Speaker 6: Respect the feelings. If you have no regards for mine,
• 1:44:14
  Speaker 6: let me have liberty to kneel at your feet. I
• 1:44:16
  Speaker 6: love the King and mad his policy, particularly his matrimonial arrangements.
• 1:44:20
  Speaker 6: Henry the Eighth, forever, Long live the King. Hurrah.
• 1:44:24
  Speaker 14: Captain doom, mayst spare him, for he is but a
• 1:44:27
  Speaker 14: silly goose, and his cacker very harmless.
• 1:44:31
  Speaker 1: Grankly stow on his knees there.
• 1:44:35
  Speaker 6: I told you all worship that she knew me.
• 1:44:37
  Speaker 10: It is the character that I before heard of him.
• 1:44:40
  Speaker 10: But so much license cannot be permitted to his tongue.
• 1:44:43
  Speaker 10: If however, you will appear to be a prudent woman,
• 1:44:45
  Speaker 10: will undertake control of him.
• 1:44:48
  Speaker 6: Of course you will. This are constant custom.
• 1:44:52
  Speaker 14: Oh trust me that for the future I shall hold
• 1:44:55
  Speaker 14: him with a tight train and.
• 1:44:58
  Speaker 9: Take my advice. Mistress, sometimes apply the.
• 1:45:02
  Speaker 1: Lash Greggley looking reproachfully at Simon, And.
• 1:45:06
  Speaker 6: That is a friend who spiced air life so often drunk.
• 1:45:10
  Speaker 10: Then Martin Crinkley, I spare thee for the present, But
• 1:45:13
  Speaker 10: remember thou wilt be strictly watched.
• 1:45:16
  Speaker 1: Exit Grinkley on his knees. I am a man happy
• 1:45:21
  Speaker 1: taxes and looking at himself.
• 1:45:25
  Speaker 6: This is the tax I have to pay for liberty.
• 1:45:28
  Speaker 14: Get THEE to thy home instantly, Simon.
• 1:45:31
  Speaker 9: Yes, Mistress Wonnifred, farewell, most valiant patriot, most illustrious martyr.
• 1:45:38
  Speaker 14: Exit rise, Violet. How couldst thou so degreat thy manhood
• 1:45:45
  Speaker 14: as to kneel to a captain of the.
• 1:45:46
  Speaker 1: Guard, Grinkly rising, You cannot possibly think that about the
• 1:45:51
  Speaker 1: knee to him?
• 1:45:53
  Speaker 14: Well, unless my eyes deceived me they.
• 1:45:57
  Speaker 6: Did, for it was not him the time, though does
• 1:46:00
  Speaker 6: not to him I knelt no how about to glorious liberty.
• 1:46:04
  Speaker 6: I am still ready to die for liberty.
• 1:46:07
  Speaker 14: Art now then thou shalt have no liberty for a month.
• 1:46:13
  Speaker 6: No, then thou art too free altogether. And when you
• 1:46:16
  Speaker 6: talk of the liberty to abridge my liberty, I must
• 1:46:19
  Speaker 6: take the liberty to observe that it is a liberty
• 1:46:21
  Speaker 6: I shall not allow.
• 1:46:22
  Speaker 1: She boxes his ears, He dodges her and runs off,
• 1:46:26
  Speaker 1: Winifred follows, beating him. Scene changes to Scene five. Chamber
• 1:46:32
  Speaker 1: in the tower. Two thirds are covered by large black curtains, door,
• 1:46:38
  Speaker 1: table and chair, lamp, large open book, and writing materials.
• 1:46:43
  Speaker 1: Catherine is discovered kneeling on hassock, her face hid on
• 1:46:46
  Speaker 1: her arms, which are spread upon the table. Clock begins
• 1:46:50
  Speaker 1: to strike five on the third stroke. Catherine raises her
• 1:46:54
  Speaker 1: head and begins to count. She is dressed in plain black,
• 1:46:58
  Speaker 1: Her hair is disheveled, and she is deadly pale.
• 1:47:02
  Speaker 13: Three four, five, five o'clock Another hour, and I am dust,
• 1:47:10
  Speaker 13: And to morrow the sun will rise upon my grave.
• 1:47:14
  Speaker 13: So young, yet I have but to extend my arm
• 1:47:17
  Speaker 13: to reach eternity, to die, to die, Oh, Heaven, wilt
• 1:47:23
  Speaker 13: thou leave me thus to perish?
• 1:47:25
  Speaker 1: Rising?
• 1:47:27
  Speaker 9: Oh?
• 1:47:27
  Speaker 13: If the King would but pardon me and suffer me
• 1:47:30
  Speaker 13: to return to the retreat from whence he drew me.
• 1:47:33
  Speaker 13: Oh that I were but permitted to kneel and weep
• 1:47:36
  Speaker 13: to him. Surely he would have compassion, Surely he would
• 1:47:39
  Speaker 13: spare me. I must see.
• 1:47:41
  Speaker 1: Him producing diamond ring.
• 1:47:44
  Speaker 13: My last hope, all that is left to me of
• 1:47:47
  Speaker 13: my queenly fortune. Oh, come thou to my aid. And
• 1:47:51
  Speaker 13: the time is passing, The moments fly? How long is it?
• 1:47:55
  Speaker 13: Since it was five o'clock? I can no longer measure
• 1:47:58
  Speaker 13: the hours. My senses are bewildered.
• 1:48:02
  Speaker 1: She sinks since a chair, her hands pressed upon her forehead.
• 1:48:06
  Speaker 1: She starts, fixes her eyes on door. It slowly opens.
• 1:48:12
  Speaker 1: The executioner enters, takes a step or two within the door,
• 1:48:15
  Speaker 1: and then sinks on his knee. Catherine, on his entrance,
• 1:48:19
  Speaker 1: has started to her feet and is now clinging with
• 1:48:21
  Speaker 1: one hand to the table.
• 1:48:24
  Speaker 11: You know, madam, who I am?
• 1:48:27
  Speaker 13: I fear sir, you are you.
• 1:48:30
  Speaker 1: Are unable to finish?
• 1:48:33
  Speaker 9: Yes?
• 1:48:35
  Speaker 13: Why do you kneel?
• 1:48:36
  Speaker 11: I come according to custom to ask forgiveness?
• 1:48:40
  Speaker 13: Oh mockery. The deast man asks pardon of the victim
• 1:48:44
  Speaker 13: he has hired to slay.
• 1:48:46
  Speaker 1: I must perform my duty, Madam Catherine, looking at diamond
• 1:48:50
  Speaker 1: which he has placed on her finger, think.
• 1:48:53
  Speaker 13: You not that yours is a horrible.
• 1:48:54
  Speaker 1: Trade, Executioner rising horrible?
• 1:48:59
  Speaker 13: Why do you follow it?
• 1:49:01
  Speaker 11: Because my grandsire bequeathed it to my father, and it
• 1:49:05
  Speaker 11: was my father's legacy to me?
• 1:49:07
  Speaker 13: Then you abhor the trade.
• 1:49:10
  Speaker 11: I have known the time that I would have given
• 1:49:12
  Speaker 11: half my life to have been permitted to embrace another,
• 1:49:16
  Speaker 11: And since I have found it necessary to harden my
• 1:49:19
  Speaker 11: nature to it.
• 1:49:21
  Speaker 13: There is in London no other of your.
• 1:49:23
  Speaker 11: Calling, no other madam.
• 1:49:26
  Speaker 13: And were you to quit the city, no one.
• 1:49:29
  Speaker 11: Could replace you, no one, madam.
• 1:49:32
  Speaker 13: And they would be forced to send to Calais for.
• 1:49:35
  Speaker 11: Yes, as they did for Queen Anne, as I could
• 1:49:39
  Speaker 11: have wished that they have done for you, And a respite.
• 1:49:42
  Speaker 13: Of three or four days thus would be obtained.
• 1:49:46
  Speaker 1: Undoubtedly Catherine to herself.
• 1:49:49
  Speaker 13: During which I should be able to see the King,
• 1:49:51
  Speaker 13: or if not see right to him, and perchance obtain
• 1:49:55
  Speaker 13: my pardon.
• 1:49:56
  Speaker 1: Going to executioner, my.
• 1:49:59
  Speaker 11: Friend, you quit London impossible? Wherefore who would support my
• 1:50:05
  Speaker 11: wife and children?
• 1:50:06
  Speaker 13: But if I made you rich rich? What is your
• 1:50:11
  Speaker 13: yearly recompense for this twenty pounds? Look at this ring? Well,
• 1:50:17
  Speaker 13: it is worth a thousand pounds, a sum that it
• 1:50:20
  Speaker 13: would take you twenty years to win. You may, if
• 1:50:23
  Speaker 13: you choose, possess this ring.
• 1:50:26
  Speaker 11: But to earn it, what would be required of me
• 1:50:29
  Speaker 11: to fly?
• 1:50:30
  Speaker 13: That is all. I do not ask you to save me.
• 1:50:33
  Speaker 13: That I know you could not do. But with your
• 1:50:35
  Speaker 13: wife and children instantly depart and quit the kingdom, no
• 1:50:39
  Speaker 13: one would recognize you. You would no longer return home
• 1:50:43
  Speaker 13: with hands reddened with blood, and the infamy bequeathed to
• 1:50:46
  Speaker 13: you by your father would not descend unto your son.
• 1:50:49
  Speaker 11: I need not run so great risk to obtain that ring,
• 1:50:53
  Speaker 11: for it will belong to me. Everything worn by the
• 1:50:56
  Speaker 11: condemned is my inheritance.
• 1:50:59
  Speaker 13: But I would give this ring to one of my women.
• 1:51:01
  Speaker 11: You will no more behold them.
• 1:51:04
  Speaker 13: From the scaffold. I could proclaim it's worth and cast
• 1:51:07
  Speaker 13: it amidst the crowd.
• 1:51:09
  Speaker 11: I could snatch it from you.
• 1:51:10
  Speaker 1: Here look, holding ring to her mouth.
• 1:51:15
  Speaker 13: Even that attempt would fail you.
• 1:51:17
  Speaker 11: And that ring, Madam, is really worth a thousand pounds.
• 1:51:20
  Speaker 1: You swear it, Catherine, placing her hand on open book
• 1:51:24
  Speaker 1: which lies on table.
• 1:51:26
  Speaker 13: I swear it on this sacred volume.
• 1:51:28
  Speaker 11: Give it to me, and I go?
• 1:51:30
  Speaker 13: And by what oath will you assure me of your departure.
• 1:51:34
  Speaker 11: I swear, Madam, by the life of my youngest child,
• 1:51:37
  Speaker 11: and may Heaven crush me if I do not fulfill
• 1:51:40
  Speaker 11: my oath that on the instant I receive that ring,
• 1:51:43
  Speaker 11: I will quit London and never again return.
• 1:51:47
  Speaker 1: Catherine giving ring, take it then and fly. Executioner hurries off,
• 1:51:53
  Speaker 1: Catherine thinking on her knees.
• 1:51:55
  Speaker 13: Oh, Heaven, I thank THEE for I believe thou hast
• 1:51:59
  Speaker 13: at last had pity on me.
• 1:52:01
  Speaker 1: Enter Archbishop Cranmer.
• 1:52:04
  Speaker 4: I am glad, my child, to find you in that
• 1:52:07
  Speaker 4: humble posture, since you have now but half an hour
• 1:52:12
  Speaker 4: to live.
• 1:52:14
  Speaker 1: Catherine rising, ah, I sighed, But he knows not, no,
• 1:52:20
  Speaker 1: no smiling.
• 1:52:21
  Speaker 4: He does not know, my child. What strange thoughts occupy
• 1:52:27
  Speaker 4: your mind that they, at such a fearful moment can
• 1:52:32
  Speaker 4: cause you to smile?
• 1:52:35
  Speaker 13: Father, you must procure me access to the king.
• 1:52:39
  Speaker 4: Impossible, ma'am. The execution is fixed for six o'clock, and
• 1:52:44
  Speaker 4: it is now so near the hour that.
• 1:52:48
  Speaker 13: But if an execution should not take place.
• 1:52:52
  Speaker 1: Granmer shaking his head, My child.
• 1:52:57
  Speaker 13: You will never reveal what now I am about to utter.
• 1:53:01
  Speaker 1: Oh never, Catherine, leaning on his shoulder and speaking in
• 1:53:05
  Speaker 1: a subdued tone.
• 1:53:07
  Speaker 13: There can be no execution without an executioner.
• 1:53:11
  Speaker 1: And he has fled, in a still lower tone, even
• 1:53:15
  Speaker 1: while now.
• 1:53:16
  Speaker 13: We speak, he has quitted London.
• 1:53:18
  Speaker 4: How very strange, Hark murmurs.
• 1:53:22
  Speaker 1: Without it is the.
• 1:53:24
  Speaker 4: Crowd assembled before the scaffold, Ah.
• 1:53:28
  Speaker 13: They will lose their expected sport. I will now write
• 1:53:32
  Speaker 13: to the King. You promise that you will deliver him
• 1:53:34
  Speaker 13: my letter.
• 1:53:36
  Speaker 1: Lieutenant of Tower enters. Several persons look anxiously in what.
• 1:53:41
  Speaker 7: Would you pardon, madam?
• 1:53:43
  Speaker 1: But looking about, he's not here. Catherine aside, they will
• 1:53:49
  Speaker 1: not find him.
• 1:53:50
  Speaker 13: He has kept his word.
• 1:53:52
  Speaker 4: Granmore to Catherine, Heaven protect you, my child. To Lieutenant,
• 1:53:59
  Speaker 4: you seek.
• 1:54:00
  Speaker 7: The executioner, for I could not believe that he had fled.
• 1:54:04
  Speaker 1: Drop its heard without Catherine clinging to Cranmer.
• 1:54:09
  Speaker 13: What is that?
• 1:54:10
  Speaker 7: A proclamation that, if, for the present occasion any one
• 1:54:14
  Speaker 7: will volunteer to supply the place of the missing executioner,
• 1:54:17
  Speaker 7: he shall receive the sum of twenty pounds and be
• 1:54:20
  Speaker 7: permitted to conceal his features beneath a mask.
• 1:54:24
  Speaker 1: Drop it sounds again more distant. Lieutenant goes off. Door
• 1:54:30
  Speaker 1: is closed.
• 1:54:31
  Speaker 13: But there cannot, under Heaven be found a wretch sufficiently
• 1:54:35
  Speaker 13: vile to undertake the loathsome mission.
• 1:54:39
  Speaker 4: I hope not, my child.
• 1:54:42
  Speaker 13: Let me instantly write to the king, say said table,
• 1:54:46
  Speaker 13: Tell me, my lord, what I must say to him,
• 1:54:48
  Speaker 13: For my brain is wandering.
• 1:54:51
  Speaker 4: Write the language of truth, and Heaven permits it to
• 1:54:55
  Speaker 4: soften the King's heart.
• 1:54:58
  Speaker 13: Oh, no one, No one would perform the horrible task.
• 1:55:03
  Speaker 13: Twould be a hideous assassination.
• 1:55:06
  Speaker 1: Right madam, Right, Catherine, writing.
• 1:55:11
  Speaker 13: Henry with my foot upon the scaffold, by the light
• 1:55:15
  Speaker 13: of a last ray of hope?
• 1:55:17
  Speaker 1: Do I suddenly stopping grasping Cranmer's robe and pointing to
• 1:55:22
  Speaker 1: a man who enters masked, Look there, my lord, with
• 1:55:26
  Speaker 1: great terror, look there, rising and retreating. It is he.
• 1:55:32
  Speaker 1: It is he Athelwald, masked, having advanced slowly as she recoils,
• 1:55:38
  Speaker 1: passing with her back to the audience.
• 1:55:40
  Speaker 3: Madam, are you prepared?
• 1:55:44
  Speaker 13: It is his voice. He's a cursed voice. How came
• 1:55:47
  Speaker 13: I to forget.
• 1:55:48
  Speaker 1: Him to Cranmer?
• 1:55:51
  Speaker 13: Oh, my lord, I am lost.
• 1:55:53
  Speaker 1: Passes to the other side of Cranmer, clinging to him.
• 1:55:56
  Speaker 13: I am lost.
• 1:55:58
  Speaker 4: Entreat this man to have pity on you, my child.
• 1:56:02
  Speaker 13: Pity from him as well expected from the block on
• 1:56:06
  Speaker 13: which I am about to place my head.
• 1:56:08
  Speaker 4: You know him?
• 1:56:09
  Speaker 1: Then, she shudders.
• 1:56:12
  Speaker 3: Oh, yes, you know me, Catherine, do you not you
• 1:56:17
  Speaker 3: remember the destiny of both of us must be accomplished.
• 1:56:22
  Speaker 3: Confess to the Holy Father that you deserve your punishment,
• 1:56:27
  Speaker 3: that once to die is insufficient for your crimes, and
• 1:56:30
  Speaker 3: that you have merited a thousand deaths. Hasten, madam, for
• 1:56:35
  Speaker 3: it is the hour of your doom, and the headsman
• 1:56:38
  Speaker 3: awaits his victim.
• 1:56:40
  Speaker 1: He passes out through curtains.
• 1:56:42
  Speaker 13: My daughter, Yes, my lord, Yes, I am indeed a
• 1:56:48
  Speaker 13: guilty wretch. Think you that Heaven will pardon me?
• 1:56:52
  Speaker 4: Hope child, for infinite is its mercy.
• 1:56:58
  Speaker 1: Four maids of honor, dressed in black, enter and comes
• 1:57:01
  Speaker 1: slowly forward Katherine to them.
• 1:57:04
  Speaker 13: I did not think that I should see you once again,
• 1:57:08
  Speaker 13: would that I was able to bequeath you something in
• 1:57:10
  Speaker 13: remembrance of your queen. But poor I mounted to the throne,
• 1:57:15
  Speaker 13: and poor, indeed do I descend therefrom I have nothing.
• 1:57:20
  Speaker 1: Ladies neil, two on each side of her, and weeping,
• 1:57:22
  Speaker 1: kiss her hands. The first stroke of six o'clock is heard.
• 1:57:26
  Speaker 1: She shudders and staggers back a pace or two. The
• 1:57:30
  Speaker 1: ladies continue kneeling Cranmer going to Catherine door.
• 1:57:34
  Speaker 13: Sir, I am ready, Father, I am ready.
• 1:57:40
  Speaker 1: Catherine goes slowly off through curtains, supported by Cranmer. The
• 1:57:44
  Speaker 1: clock continues striking, and after the last stroke of six,
• 1:57:47
  Speaker 1: a short pause, then a dull, heavy sound as of
• 1:57:51
  Speaker 1: an axe falling. Confused murmurs, the black curtains are suddenly
• 1:57:56
  Speaker 1: drawn aside, and discover a raised scaffold with steps to
• 1:58:00
  Speaker 1: it from the stage. On each side of the steps,
• 1:58:03
  Speaker 1: guards with halberts and torches un scaffold, the body of
• 1:58:07
  Speaker 1: Catherine covered with a pall. Granmer kneeling and alfa wolt upright,
• 1:58:12
  Speaker 1: his hand upon the handle of the axe. In the distance,
• 1:58:16
  Speaker 1: tower hill and spectators. The lieutenant and officers advance slowly
• 1:58:21
  Speaker 1: on each side. From the back pause.
• 1:58:26
  Speaker 3: The law condemned alike the guilty woman and her accomplice,
• 1:58:31
  Speaker 3: and that the sentence may be fully executed to your hands.
• 1:58:36
  Speaker 3: I now give that.
• 1:58:37
  Speaker 1: Accomplice, casting aside axe and tearing masks from his face.
• 1:58:42
  Speaker 3: Behold him, arrest him, kill him. His mission in life
• 1:58:47
  Speaker 3: is done. His outraged love and honor are revenged. And
• 1:58:52
  Speaker 3: now welcome, oh, welcome death to the last.
• 1:58:57
  Speaker 1: Northumberland Officers rush on to scaffold and secure athel World
• 1:59:02
  Speaker 1: at the same time, General Exclamation of Athelwold, Grand Tableaux
• 1:59:08
  Speaker 1: and Curtain. End of Act three, end of Catherine Howard