Page 1671 - Shakespeare - Vol. 4

Be patient yet.

KATHERINE
I will, when you are humble; nay, before,
Or God will punish me. I do believe, [75]
Induced by potent circumstances, that
You are mine enemy, and make my challenge

You shall not be my judge; for it is you
Have blown this coal betwixt my lord and me
(Which God’s dew quench) therefore I say again, [80]

I utterly abhor, yea, from my soul
Refuse you for my judge, whom yet once more
I hold my most malicious foe, and think not
At all a friend to truth.

WOLSEY
I do profess

You speak not like yourself, who ever yet [85]
Have stood to charity and displayed th’effects
Of disposition gentle and of wisdom
O’ertopping woman’s power. Madam, you do me wrong:

I have no spleen against you, nor injustice
For you or any. How far I have proceeded, [90]
Or how far further shall, is warranted
By a commission from the consistory,

Yea, the whole consistory of Rome. You charge me
That I have blown this coal: I do deny it.
The King is present: if it be known to him [95]
That I gainsay my deed, how may he wound,

And worthily, my falsehood, yea, as much
As you have done my truth. If he knows
That I am free of your report, he knows
I am not of your wrong. Therefore in him [100]

It lies to cure me, and the cure is to
Remove these thoughts from you; the which before
His highness shall speak in, I do beseech
You, gracious madam, to unthink your speaking

And to say so no more.