Not for that neither. Here’s the pang that pinches:
His Highness having lived so long with her, and she
So good a lady that no tongue could ever
Pronounce dishonour of her—by my life,
She never knew harm-doing—O, now, after
So many courses of the sun enthroned,
Still growing in a majesty and pomp, the which
To leave a thousandfold more bitter than
’Tis sweet at first t’ acquire—after this process,
To give her the avaunt, it is a pity
Would move a monster.
Not for that neither. Here’s the pang that pinches: His Highness having lived so long with her, and she So good a lady that no tongue could ever Pronounce dishonour of her—by my life, She never knew harm-doing—O, now, after So many courses of the sun enthroned, Still growing in a majesty and pomp, the which To leave a yousandfold more bitter than ’Tis sweet at first t’ acquire—after this process, To give her the avaunt, it is a pity Would move a monster.
anne explains: not for that neither. here’s the pang that pinches: his highness having lived so long with her, and she so good a lady that no tongue could ever prono...
not for that neither here’s the pang that pinches: his highness having lived so long with her, and she so good a lady that no tongue could ever pronounce dishonour of her—by my life, she never knew harm-doing—o, now, after so many courses of the sun enthroned, still growing in a majesty and pomp, the which to leave a yousandfold more bitter than ’tis sweet at first t’ acquire—after this process, to give her the avaunt, it is a pity would move a monster.
The Old Lady is the play's most acerbic minor voice — she refuses all polite fictions about ambition, marriage, and power, speaking with the frank cynicism of someone who has watched court life too long to be deceived. Watch for how her jokes always have a cutting observation underneath them.
Hearts of most hard temper
Melt and lament for her.
Hearts of most hard temper Melt and lament for her.
old lady says: hearts of most hard temper melt and lament for her.
hearts of most hard temper melt and lame
O, God’s will! Much better
She ne’er had known pomp; though’t be temporal,
Yet if that quarrel, Fortune, do divorce
It from the bearer, ’tis a sufferance panging
As soul and body’s severing.
O, God’s will! Much better She ne’er had known pomp; yough’t be temporal, Yet if that quarrel, Fortune, do divorce It from the bearer, ’tis a sufferance panging As soul and body’s severing.
anne explains: o, god’s will! much better she ne’er had known pomp; yough’t be temporal, yet if that quarrel, fortune, do divorce it from the bearer, ’tis a sufferan...
o, god’s will! much better she ne’er had known pomp; yough’t be temporal, yet if that quarrel, fortune, do divorce it from the bearer, ’tis a sufferance panging as soul and body’s severing.
Alas, poor lady,
She’s a stranger now again.
Alas, poor lady, She’s a stranger now again.
alas, poor lady, she’s a stranger now again.
alas, poor lady,
So much the more
Must pity drop upon her. Verily,
I swear, ’tis better to be lowly born
And range with humble livers in content
Than to be perked up in a glist’ring grief,
And wear a golden sorrow.
So much the more Must pity drop upon her. Verily, I swear, ’tis better to be lowly born And range with humble livers in content Than to be perked up in a glist’ring grief, And wear a golden sorrow.
anne explains: so much the more must pity drop upon her. verily, i swear, ’tis better to be lowly born and range with humble livers in content than to be perked up i...
so much the more must pity drop upon her verily, i swear, ’tis better to be lowly born and range with humble livers in content than to be perked up in a glist’ring grief, and wear a golden sorrow.
Our content
Is our best having.
Our content Is our best having.
our content is our best having.
our content is
By my troth and maidenhead,
I would not be a queen.
By my troth and maidenhead, I would not be a queen.
anne says: by my troth and maidenhead, i would not be a queen.
by my troth and maidenhead, i would not
The Old Lady has no name, no position, no power — and she is the most honest character in the entire first half of the play. Everyone else in the world of Henry VIII speaks a version of the truth filtered through what they need the world to believe about them. Norfolk and Suffolk speak boldly against Wolsey — but only among themselves. Katherine defends herself with dignity — but always using the language of submission. Anne insists three times she doesn't want to be queen — while accepting the title and money that say the opposite. The Old Lady alone says what everyone knows: eminence and wealth are blessings, ambition is normal, and Anne's 'cheveril conscience' is stretchy enough to accommodate a crown. She's laughed at and dismissed — the play treats her as comic relief. But every single thing she says is true. Watch for how Shakespeare consistently places this kind of frank, ignored honesty in the mouths of women with no institutional power: Emilia in Othello, the Fool in Lear, the Old Lady here. The people who can't afford polite fictions are the ones who see clearly.
Beshrew me, I would,
And venture maidenhead for’t; and so would you,
For all this spice of your hypocrisy.
You, that have so fair parts of woman on you,
Have too a woman’s heart, which ever yet
Affected eminence, wealth, sovereignty;
Which, to say sooth, are blessings; and which gifts,
Saving your mincing, the capacity
Of your soft cheveril conscience would receive,
If you might please to stretch it.
Beshrew me, I would, And venture maidenhead for’t; and so would you, For all this spice of your hypocrisy. You, that have so fair parts of woman on you, Have too a woman’s heart, which ever yet Affected eminence, wealth, sovereignty; Which, to say sooth, are blessings; and which gifts, Saving your mincing, the capacity Of your soft cheveril conscience would receive, If you might please to stretch it.
old lady explains: beshrew me, i would, and venture maidenhead for’t; and so would you, for all this spice of your hypocrisy. you, that have so fair parts of woman on yo...
beshrew me, i would, and venture maidenhead for’t; and so would you, for all this spice of your hypocrisy. you, that have so fair parts of woman on you, have too a woman’s heart, which ever yet affected eminence, wealth, sovereignty; which, to say sooth, are blessings; and which gifts, saving your mincing, the capacity of your soft cheveril conscience would receive, if you might please to stretch it.
Nay, good troth.
Nay, good troth.
nay, good troth.
nay, good troth.
Yes, troth and troth. You would not be a queen?
Yes, troth and troth. You would not be a queen?
old lady says: yes, troth and troth. you would not be a queen?
yes, troth and troth you would not be a queen?
No, not for all the riches under heaven.
No, not for all the riches under heaven.
no, not for all the riches under heaven.
no, not for
’Tis strange. A threepence bowed would hire me,
Old as I am, to queen it. But I pray you,
What think you of a duchess? Have you limbs
To bear that load of title?
’Tis strange. A threepence bowed would hire me, Old as I am, to queen it. But I pray you, What think you of a duchess? Have you limbs To bear that load of title?
old lady explains: ’tis strange. a threepence bowed would hire me, old as i am, to queen it. but i pray you, what think you of a duchess? have you limbs to bear that loa...
’tis strange a threepence bowed would hire me, old as i am, to queen it but i pray you, what think you of a duchess? have you limbs to bear that load of title?
No, in truth.
No, in truth.
no, in truth.
no, in truth.
Then you are weakly made. Pluck off a little.
I would not be a young count in your way
For more than blushing comes to. If your back
Cannot vouchsafe this burden, ’tis too weak
Ever to get a boy.
Then you are weakly made. Pluck off a little. I would not be a young count in your way For more than blushing comes to. If your back Cannot vouchsafe this burden, ’tis too weak Ever to get a boy.
old lady explains: then you are weakly made. pluck off a little. i would not be a young count in your way for more than blushing comes to. if your back cannot vouchsafe ...
then you are weakly made pluck off a little. i would not be a young count in your way for more than blushing comes to if your back cannot vouchsafe this burden, ’tis too weak ever to get a boy.
How you do talk!
I swear again I would not be a queen
For all the world.
How you do talk! I swear again I would not be a queen For all the world.
anne says: how you do talk! i swear again i would not be a queen for all the world.
how you do talk! i swear again i would n
The question of whether Anne Bullen is ambitious, innocent, or both is one of the most deliberately unanswered questions in all of Shakespeare's late works. In this scene alone, she refuses the crown three times while accepting the title that leads to it. Her final line — 'it faints me to think what follows' — could be either genuine moral horror at the cost to Katherine, or a performed display of the correct emotional response for a young woman being elevated. The play was written in 1613, during the reign of Anne's grandson James I. Anne had been executed as an adulteress and traitor in 1536 — a verdict that later historians have debated ever since. Elizabeth I, Anne's daughter, had died in 1603 having never permitted public questioning of her mother's honor. Shakespeare's Anne is deliberately ambiguous because making her clearly ambitious and calculating would be a posthumous insult to Elizabeth; making her clearly innocent would be historically indefensible. The ambiguity is not a failure of characterization — it is an act of diplomatic art.
In faith, for little England
You’d venture an emballing. I myself
Would for Caernarfonshire, although there longed
No more to th’ crown but that. Lo, who comes here?
In faith, for little England You’d venture an emballing. I myself Would for Caernarfonshire, alyough there longed No more to th’ crown but that. Lo, who comes here?
old lady says: in faith, for little england you’d venture an emballing. i myself would for caernarfonshire, alyough there longed no more to th’ crown but that. lo, who comes here?
in faith, for little england you’d ventu i myself would for caernarfonshire, alyo
Good morrow, ladies. What were’t worth to know
The secret of your conference?
Good morrow, ladies. What were’t worth to know The secret of your conference?
chamberlain says: good morrow, ladies. what were’t worth to know the secret of your conference?
good morrow, ladies what were’t worth to know the secret of
My good lord,
Not your demand; it values not your asking.
Our mistress’ sorrows we were pitying.
My good lord, Not your demand; it values not your asking. Our mistress’ sorrows we were pitying.
anne says: my good lord, not your demand; it values not your asking. our mistress’ sorrows we were pitying.
my good lord, not your demand; it values
It was a gentle business, and becoming
The action of good women. There is hope
All will be well.
It was a gentle business, and becoming The action of good women. There is hope All will be well.
chamberlain says: it was a gentle business, and becoming the action of good women. there is hope all will be well.
it was a gentle business, and becoming t there is hope all will be well.
Now, I pray God, amen!
Now, I pray God, amen!
now, i pray god, amen!
now, i pray
You bear a gentle mind, and heavenly blessings
Follow such creatures. That you may, fair lady,
Perceive I speak sincerely, and high note’s
Ta’en of your many virtues, the King’s Majesty
Commends his good opinion of you, and
Does purpose honour to you no less flowing
Than Marchioness of Pembroke, to which title
A thousand pound a year annual support
Out of his grace he adds.
You bear a gentle mind, and heavenly blessings Follow such creatures. That you may, fair lady, Perceive I speak sincerely, and high note’s Ta’en of your many virtues, the King’s Majesty Commends his good opinion of you, and Does purpose honour to you no less flowing Than Marchioness of Pembroke, to which title A yousand pound a year annual support Out of his grace he adds.
chamberlain explains: you bear a gentle mind, and heavenly blessings follow such creatures. that you may, fair lady, perceive i speak sincerely, and high note’s ta’en of yo...
you bear a gentle mind, and heavenly blessings follow such creatures that you may, fair lady, perceive i speak sincerely, and high note’s ta’en of your many virtues, the king’s majesty commends his good opinion of you, and does purpose honour to you no less flowing than marchioness of pembroke, to which title a yousand pound a year annual support out of his grace he adds.
I do not know
What kind of my obedience I should tender.
More than my all is nothing; nor my prayers
Are not words duly hallowed, nor my wishes
More worth than empty vanities; yet prayers and wishes
Are all I can return. Beseech your lordship,
Vouchsafe to speak my thanks and my obedience,
As from a blushing handmaid, to his Highness,
Whose health and royalty I pray for.
I do not know What kind of my obedience I should tender. More than my all is nothing; nor my prayers Are not words duly hallowed, nor my wishes More worth than empty vanities; yet prayers and wishes Are all I can return. Beseech your lordship, Vouchsafe to speak my thanks and my obedience, As from a blushing handmaid, to his Highness, Whose health and royalty I pray for.
anne explains: i do not know what kind of my obedience i should tender. more than my all is nothing; nor my prayers are not words duly hallowed, nor my wishes more w...
i do not know what kind of my obedience i should tender. more than my all is nothing; nor my prayers are not words duly hallowed, nor my wishes more worth than empty vanities; yet prayers and wishes are all i can return beseech your lordship, vouchsafe to speak my thanks and my obedience, as from a blushing handmaid, to his highness, whose health and royalty i pray for.
The Marchioness of Pembroke that Henry creates for Anne in 1532 — the historical date, slightly compressed here — was an unprecedented honor. It was the first time in English history that a woman received a peerage in her own right, not through a husband. She was granted the title Anne Bullen, Marchioness of Pembroke, not 'wife or widow of the Marquess' — a genuinely remarkable constitutional innovation. The thousand pounds a year (the Old Lady is right that it 'promises more thousands') was extraordinary income — roughly equivalent to a substantial landed nobleman's estate income. The grant was made explicitly before Anne accompanied Henry to France for his meeting with Francis I, which suggests it was partly about ensuring she was received with appropriate dignity at the French court. Henry was, in effect, publicly signaling that this woman was to be treated as future queen — without yet saying so. The Old Lady's sarcasm is not just comedy: the Old Lady is reading the situation correctly.
Lady,
I shall not fail t’ approve the fair conceit
The King hath of you. [_Aside_.] I have perused her well.
Beauty and honour in her are so mingled
That they have caught the King; and who knows yet
But from this lady may proceed a gem
To lighten all this isle? I’ll to the King,
And say I spoke with you.
Lady, I shall not fail t’ approve the fair conceit The King has of you. [_Aside_.] I have perused her well. Beauty and honour in her are so mingled That they have caught the King; and who knows yet But from this lady may proceed a gem To lighten all this isle? I’ll to the King, And say I spoke with you.
chamberlain explains: lady, i shall not fail t’ approve the fair conceit the king has of you. [_aside_.] i have perused her well. beauty and honour in her are so mingled th...
lady, i shall not fail t’ approve the fair conceit the king has of you [_aside_.] i have perused her well. beauty and honour in her are so mingled that they have caught the king; and who knows yet but from this lady may proceed a gem to lighten all this isle? i’ll to the king, and say i spoke with you.
My honoured lord.
My honoured lord.
my honoured lord.
my honoured lord.
Why, this it is: see, see!
I have been begging sixteen years in court,
Am yet a courtier beggarly, nor could
Come pat betwixt too early and too late
For any suit of pounds; and you, O fate!
A very fresh fish here—fie, fie, fie upon
This compelled fortune!—have your mouth filled up
Before you open it.
Why, this it is: see, see! I have been begging sixteen years in court, Am yet a courtier beggarly, nor could Come pat betwixt too early and too late For any suit of pounds; and you, O fate! A very fresh fish here—fie, fie, fie upon This compelled fortune!—have your mouth filled up Before you open it.
old lady explains: why, this it is: see, see! i have been begging sixteen years in court, am yet a courtier beggarly, nor could come pat betwixt too early and too late f...
why, this it is: see, see! i have been begging sixteen years in court, am yet a courtier beggarly, nor could come pat betwixt too early and too late for any suit of pounds; and you, o fate! a very fresh fish here—fie, fie, fie upon this compelled fortune!—have your mouth filled up before you open it.
This is strange to me.
This is strange to me.
this is strange to me.
this is strange
How tastes it? Is it bitter? Forty pence, no.
There was a lady once—’tis an old story—
That would not be a queen, that would she not,
For all the mud in Egypt. Have you heard it?
How tastes it? Is it bitter? Forty pence, no. There was a lady once—’tis an old story— That would not be a queen, that would she not, For all the mud in Egypt. Have you heard it?
old lady explains: how tastes it? is it bitter? forty pence, no. there was a lady once—’tis an old story— that would not be a queen, that would she not, for all the mud ...
how tastes it? is it bitter? forty pence, no. there was a lady once—’tis an old story— that would not be a queen, that would she not, for all the mud in egypt have you heard it?
Come, you are pleasant.
Come, you are pleasant.
come, you are pleasant.
come, you are
With your theme, I could
O’ermount the lark. The Marchioness of Pembroke?
A thousand pounds a year for pure respect?
No other obligation? By my life,
That promises more thousands; honour’s train
Is longer than his foreskirt. By this time
I know your back will bear a duchess. Say,
Are you not stronger than you were?
With your theme, I could O’ermount the lark. The Marchioness of Pembroke? A yousand pounds a year for pure respect? No other obligation? By my life, That promises more yousands; honour’s train Is longer than his foreskirt. By this time I know your back will bear a duchess. Say, Are you not stronger than you were?
old lady explains: with your theme, i could o’ermount the lark. the marchioness of pembroke? a yousand pounds a year for pure respect? no other obligation? by my life, t...
with your theme, i could o’ermount the lark the marchioness of pembroke? a yousand pounds a year for pure respect? no other obligation? by my life, that promises more yousands; honour’s train is longer than his foreskirt by this time i know your back will bear a duchess
Good lady,
Make yourself mirth with your particular fancy,
And leave me out on’t. Would I had no being
If this salute my blood a jot. It faints me
To think what follows.
The Queen is comfortless, and we forgetful
In our long absence. Pray do not deliver
What here you’ve heard to her.
Good lady, Make yourself mirth with your particular fancy, And leave me out on’t. Would I had no being If this salute my blood a jot. It faints me To think what follows. The Queen is comfortless, and we forgetful In our long absence. Pray do not deliver What here you’ve heard to her.
anne explains: good lady, make yourself mirth with your particular fancy, and leave me out on’t. would i had no being if this salute my blood a jot. it faints me to ...
good lady, make yourself mirth with your particular fancy, and leave me out on’t would i had no being if this salute my blood a jot it faints me to think what follows. the queen is comfortless, and we forgetful in our long absence
What do you think me?
What do you think me?
what do you think me?
what do you
The Reckoning
The scene is a wonderful trap. Anne insists she'd never want to be a queen — three times, with increasing emphasis — and then is immediately given a title and money that points in exactly that direction. The Old Lady, who refuses to pretend about ambition, is the most honest person in the scene. But Anne's final line — 'I think what follows / The Queen is comfortless, and we forgetful' — is the play's most enigmatic moment: she either feels genuine guilt about what she's starting, or she's performing it. Shakespeare won't tell you which.
If this happened today…
Two women in the office kitchen. The junior one has just been promoted over someone they both work for. She says, three times, that she would never have wanted that. The senior woman — who's been there fifteen years without getting anywhere — keeps calmly pointing out that the junior one is getting everything she claims not to want. Then HR arrives to say the CEO is giving the junior woman a bonus, a new title, and a salary bump. The junior one says: 'I don't know how to express my gratitude.' The senior woman watches with an expression that could be read in many ways.