Take your lute, girl. My spirit is growing heavy with troubles. Sing and scatter them away if you can. Stop what you're working on.

Get your lute. I'm feeling really sad and troubled. Come on, sing and maybe it'll help me feel better. Just stop what you're doing.

play your lute. my soul is heavy. sing for me. stop working.

Orpheus with his lute made trees and frozen mountain peaks bow when he sang. His music made plants and flowers keep blooming, as if endless sun and showers had created a lasting spring. Everything that heard him play, even the ocean's waves, bowed their heads and then grew still. There is such power in sweet music: worry and heartache fall asleep or, when hearing it, die.

Orpheus played his lute and made trees bow down, and even the frozen mountains bent when he sang. His music kept making plants and flowers grow, as if there were endless sun and rain creating eternal spring. Everything that heard him play, even the ocean waves, lowered their heads and then stopped. Sweet music has such power: sadness and heartache fall asleep, or die when you hear it.

orpheus played lute trees and mountains bowed flowers bloomed forever even waves stopped moving music kills sadness

What's happening?

What's going on?

what is it

If it please your Grace, the two distinguished Cardinals are waiting in the presence chamber.

If it please your Grace, the two cardinals are here waiting to see you.

two cardinals waiting to see you

Do they wish to speak with me?

Do they want to talk to me?

they want to talk?

They instructed me to say so, madam.

Yes, madam, that's what they told me to say.

yes madam

Please ask their Graces to come closer.

Tell them to come over here.

tell them to come closer

What could their business be with me, a poor weak woman who has lost the King's favor? I don't like them coming to see me. Now that I think about it, they should be good men with righteous intentions. But wearing the robes of a holy man doesn't make someone truly religious.

What do these cardinals want with me, a poor woman out of favor with the King? I don't like that they're coming. I suppose they mean well and their business is honest, but just because someone dresses like a monk doesn't mean they're actually a good person.

why do they want to see me i lost the kings favor clothes dont make you good

May peace be upon you, your Highness.

Greetings, your Highness.

hello your highness

Your Graces find me here working at household duties; I would prefer to be fully occupied with them against whatever worst may come. What is it you wish from me, reverend lords?

You found me here doing household work; I'd rather stay busy with that to keep my mind off my troubles. What do you want from me, lords?

you found me working. i'd rather stay busy. what do you want?

If it may please you, noble madam, to withdraw into your private chamber, we shall explain to you the full reason for our coming.

If you don't mind, madam, let's go somewhere private and I'll explain why we're here.

let's go somewhere private. i'll explain why we're here.

Speak it here. I have done nothing that my conscience would say deserves to be discussed in private. I wish all other women could speak as freely and with as clear a conscience as I do! My lords, I don't care, I'm so blessed above most, that if my actions were judged by everyone's tongue, if every eye saw them, even with envy and base opinion against them, I know my life is so honest. If your business concerns me and involves how I've been as a wife, then say it boldly. Truth loves open dealing.

Say it here. I haven't done anything that requires privacy. I wish every woman could say what I can—that I have nothing to hide. I'm so blessed that I don't mind if everyone judges my actions, even if they're jealous or think badly of me. My life is honest. If this is about me and my role as a wife, just say it openly. The truth needs to be said out loud.

speak here. i have nothing to hide. i wish all women could say this. i'm so blessed. if this is about me, say it boldly. truth needs open dealing.

So great is your integrity, most serene queen—

Your integrity is so impressive, your Majesty—

your integrity is amazing—

No, please, my lord, no Latin. I am not so out of touch since arriving here that I don't know the language I've been living in. A foreign language makes my cause seem stranger and more suspicious. Please speak in English. There are some here who will thank you if you speak the truth, for their poor mistress's sake. Believe me, she has been greatly wronged. Lord Cardinal, even the smallest sin I have ever committed can be forgiven in English.

No, please, my lord, no Latin. I've been here long enough to speak English perfectly well. Using a foreign language just makes my situation look more suspicious. Please talk to me in English. And there are people here who will appreciate it if you're honest, for their mistress's sake. I've been treated very badly, and even my smallest mistakes can be forgiven if we just speak plainly.

no latin please. i speak english. foreign language makes this suspicious. speak plainly. my mistress has been wronged.

Noble lady, I am sorry that my integrity and my service to his Majesty and you should breed such deep suspicion, when all my intention was good. We come not as accusers, to damage the honor that everyone who speaks well of you respects, nor to bring you any further sorrow—you have suffered too much, good lady—but to understand how you feel about the serious dispute between the King and you, and to offer, as free and honest men, our fair judgments and support for your cause.

Noble lady, I'm sorry that my honesty and my service to the King and to you should make you so suspicious. That wasn't my intention at all. We're not here to accuse you or damage your reputation, and we don't want to make your suffering worse. You've already suffered too much. We just want to understand how you feel about this serious conflict with the King, and we want to give you our honest opinions and support for your cause.

i'm sorry you're suspicious. we're not here to accuse you. we want to understand your side. we'll support your cause.

Most honored madam, my Lord of York, out of his noble nature, his zeal, and the obedience he has always shown your Grace, forgetting, like a good man, your recent harsh judgment both of his honesty and of him—which was harsh—offers, as I do, in a sign of peace, his service and his counsel.

Most honored madam, my Lord of York, because he's noble and loyal and obedient to you, is willing to forget that you recently said harsh things about him and his honesty. It was too harsh, but he's moving past it. He's offering you his service and advice as a sign that he wants to help you.

cardinal offers service and counsel. he's forgetting your harsh words. he wants to help.

To betray me. My lords, I thank you for your intentions. You speak like honest men; may God prove it so. But how can I suddenly give you an answer On such weighty matters, so close to my honor— And even closer to my life—with my limited understanding, Especially to such learned and serious men? Truly, I don't know. I was just working With my attendants, not expecting Either such men or such business. Given what I have been—and I feel The end of my power—good lords, Please give me time and advice for my cause. Alas, I am a woman without friends or hope.

They're here to betray me. My lords, I'm grateful for your goodwill. You sound like honest men—I hope you are. But how am I supposed to suddenly answer On something this serious and dangerous to my honor— And to my life—and I'm not even educated in law? You're learned men, and I'm just... lost. I was doing housework. I wasn't expecting this. Given what I used to be—and I can feel my power slipping— Please, I need time and help with my case. I'm friendless and hopeless.

theyre here 2 betray me thanks 4 seeming honest but i dont know how 2 answer this is abt my life n honor im not learned enough 4 this give me time n help im alone n hopeless

Madam, you underestimate the King's love by having such fears; your hopes and friends are boundless.

Madam, you're not giving the King enough credit. He loves you, and you have many friends and many reasons for hope.

the king loves you. you have friends. you have hope.

Not much hope there for me. Can you imagine, lords, that any Englishman would dare to give me counsel? Or be a known friend openly against the King's wishes, even if he were desperate to be honest and still remain the King's subject? No, my friends, the people who truly understand my suffering, the people I need to trust, do not live here. They are, like all my other comforts, far away in my own country, lords.

But what good are they to me? Do you really think any Englishman would help me openly go against the King? Even if he wanted to be honest, he couldn't do it and still be the King's subject. No, my real friends—the people who understand what I'm going through, the people I can trust—they're not here. They're in Spain, far away from me.

englishmen won't help me. they can't go against the king. my real friends are in spain. they're far away.

I wish your Grace would put aside your sorrows and take my counsel.

I wish you would stop being so sad and listen to my advice.

stop being sad. listen to me.

How, sir?

how, sir?

how, sir?

Put your main concern into the King's care. He is loving and very generous. It will be much better both for your honor and your case, because if the legal trial goes against you, you will leave disgraced.

Trust your case to the King. He's kind and good. It will be better for you and your reputation that way. If the law goes against you, you'll be ruined.

put your case in the king's hands. he's kind. if the law goes against you, you're ruined.

He speaks the truth.

He's right about that.

he's right

You are telling me what you both want: my ruin. Is this your Christian counsel? Shame on you! Heaven is still above all; there sits a judge that no king can corrupt.

You both want me ruined. Is this what Christian advice looks like? You should be ashamed! But God is above everything, and God is a judge that no king can buy.

you want me ruined. this isn't christian. god judges kings.

Your anger misunderstands our intentions.

You're angry and not understanding what we're trying to do.

you're mad. you don't understand.

That makes the shame worse for you! I thought you were holy men, truly two reverend cardinal virtues; but cardinal sins and hollow hearts I fear I see in you. Fix yourselves, for shame, my lords. Is this your comfort, the restorative you bring to a miserable lady, a woman lost among you, laughed at and scorned? I will not wish even half of my suffering on you; I have more charity than that. But let me warn you. Take care, for heaven's sake, take care, or the burden of all my sorrows will fall upon you at once.

That's even worse for you! I thought you were holy men—real examples of virtue; instead, I see sins and empty hearts in you. Fix yourselves, my lords. This is the comfort you offer me? This is what you bring to a suffering woman, one who everyone here laughs at and insults? I won't even wish half my pain on you—I'm better than that. But listen to my warning. Be careful, for heaven's sake, be very careful. Or all my suffering will come down on you.

you're not holy. you're sinful and empty. this isn't comfort. i warned you. be careful or my suffering comes on you.

Madam, this is mere confusion on your part. You are turning the good we offer into envy.

Madam, you're not thinking clearly. You're making our offer of help into something to envy.

you're confused. you're turning our help into envy.

You are turning me into nothing. Woe upon you and all such false pretenders! Would you have me—if you have any justice or pity, if you are anything but just people in religious robes—put my weak case into the hands of a man who hates me? Alas, he has already banished me from his bed, and his love too, long ago. I am old, my lords, and all the companionship I have with him now is only my obedience. What else can happen to me worse than this wretchedness? Your advice only makes me cursed like this.

You're destroying me. Woe on you and all you fake holy people! Do you really want me—if you have any sense of justice or pity, if you're anything other than just men in church clothes—to put my case in the hands of someone who hates me? He's already thrown me out of his bed, and stopped loving me long ago. I'm old, and the only thing between us now is that I obey him. What could be worse than this? Your advice just makes everything worse.

you're destroying me. you're fake holy people. you want me to trust someone who hates me? he threw me out of his bed. i'm just obedient now.

Your fears are worse than the reality.

Your fears are making this worse.

your fears make it worse

Have I not lived this long—let me speak for myself, since virtue has no advocates—as a true wife, a genuine woman I dare say without boasting, never yet marked with suspicion? Have I not with all my whole heart always met the King, loved him next to heaven, obeyed him, been overly devoted to him out of affection, almost forgotten my prayers to please him, and is this how I am rewarded? This is not right, lords. Bring me a faithful woman to her husband, one who never even dreamed of joy except in his pleasure, and to that woman, when she has done everything, I will still give her one more honor: true patience.

I've lived my whole life as a true and faithful wife. Let me speak for myself, since virtue doesn't have anyone to defend it. I'm a woman who no one has ever accused of anything wrong. I gave my whole heart to the King, loved him above almost everything, obeyed him, loved him so much I nearly forgot to pray so I could make him happy. And this is how he rewards me? It's not right, lords. Find me any woman as devoted to her husband as I am, any woman who only wanted to please him, and I promise you I'll be even more patient and loyal than she is.

i've been a true wife. i loved him above all. i obeyed him. i almost forgot prayers to please him. this isn't fair. i'm more patient than any woman.

Madam, you are getting away from the good that we are trying to accomplish.

Madam, you're missing the point of what we're trying to help with.

you're missing the point

My lord, I dare not make myself so guilty as to give up willingly that noble title your master married me with. Nothing but death will ever separate me from my dignities.

My lord, I won't be guilty of giving up the title your king married me with. I'll hold onto my honor until I die.

i won't give up my title. i'll hold my honor till death.

Please listen to me.

Just hear me out.

listen to me

I wish I had never set foot on this English earth or felt the flattery that flourishes here! You have the faces of angels, but heaven knows what is in your hearts. What will become of me now, wretched woman? I am the most unhappy woman living.

I wish I'd never come to England or experienced the lying flattery here! You look like angels, but God knows what's really in your hearts. What will happen to me now? I'm the most miserable woman alive.

i wish i'd never come to england. you have angel faces but evil hearts. i'm the most miserable woman alive.

Alas, poor women, where is your good fortune now? We are wrecked upon a kingdom with no mercy, No friends, no hope, no family mourning for me, Almost denied even a grave. Like the lily That once ruled the field and flourished, I will bow my head and perish.

Oh, poor girls, where have your fortunes gone? We're shipwrecked in this heartless kingdom— No one shows mercy, no friends, no family to mourn me, I won't even get a proper burial. I was once like a lily That owned the entire meadow and thrived, But now I'll just bow my head and disappear.

poor girls where r our fortunes were shipwrecked here no mercy no friends no family 4 me no grave i was like a lily that ruled the field now im just dying

If your Grace could only understand that our intentions are honest, you would feel more comfort. Why would we, good lady, have any reason to wrong you? Our positions, the nature of our profession, prevents us from doing so. We are meant to heal such sorrows, not create them. For goodness' sake, consider what you are doing, how you may hurt yourself, or even completely lose the King's favor by your conduct. The hearts of princes love obedience so much, but to stubborn spirits they swell and become as terrible as storms. I know you have a gentle, noble nature, a soul as calm as a peaceful sea. Please believe us as we truly are: peacemakers, friends, and servants.

If you could just see that we really do want to help, you'd feel better. Why would we want to hurt you? We can't—it goes against everything we do. We're supposed to heal suffering, not cause it. Please think about what you're doing and how it might hurt you and your relationship with the King. Kings love it when people obey them, and when people resist, they get angry and dangerous like storms. You're naturally kind and calm, so please just believe us: we're here to make peace, as friends and servants.

we want to help. we can't hurt you. we heal suffering. think about what you're doing. kings hate stubbornness. we're your friends.

Madam, you will find that it is so. You do wrong to your virtues by giving in to these weak fears that befit weak women. A noble spirit, like the one you possess, always rejects such doubts as if they were false coin. The King loves you; beware that you do not lose that love. As for us, if you will trust us with your business, we are ready to use all our knowledge and efforts in your service.

Madam, you'll see that it's true. You're betraying your own good qualities by being so fearful like a weak woman would be. A noble spirit like yours rejects false doubts. The King loves you, so don't lose that love. If you trust us with your case, we're ready to do everything we can for you.

don't be so fearful. the king loves you. trust us. we'll do everything for you.

Do what you will, my lords, and please forgive me if I have been rude. You know I am a woman, not clever enough to give a proper answer to such learned men. Please give my regards to his Majesty. He still has my heart, and he will have my prayers as long as I live. Come, reverend fathers, give me your counsel. She now begs—and she little thought when she first arrived here that she would have to pay such a high price for her dignities.

Do what you want, my lords, and forgive me if I've been rude. I'm just a woman and not smart enough to match wits with you. Tell the King I still love him and I'll pray for him for the rest of my life. Come on then, give me your advice. She—and I can't believe this—when I arrived here, I never imagined I'd have to give up so much to keep my honor.

forgive me if i've been rude. i'm just a woman. tell the king i love him. i'll pray for him always. give me your advice. i never thought it would cost this much.