Henry VIII, Act 1 Scene 4 runs 137 lines of dialogue, spoken by 8 speakers. That is shorter than the play’s average scene length of about 190 lines. This scene is part of Act 1 of Henry VIII.
Full Dialogue
Guildford ♂
Ladies, a general welcome from his grace
Salutes ye all; this night he dedicates
To fair content and you: none here, he hopes,
In all this noble bevy, has brought with her
One care abroad; he would have all as merry
As, first, good company, good wine, good welcome,
Can make good people. O, my lord, you're tardy:
The very thought of this fair company
Clapp'd wings to me.
Salutes ye all; this night he dedicates
To fair content and you: none here, he hopes,
In all this noble bevy, has brought with her
One care abroad; he would have all as merry
As, first, good company, good wine, good welcome,
Can make good people. O, my lord, you're tardy:
The very thought of this fair company
Clapp'd wings to me.
Chamberlain ♂
You are young, Sir Harry Guildford.
Sands ♂
Sir Thomas Lovell, had the cardinal
But half my lay thoughts in him, some of these
Should find a running banquet ere they rested,
I think would better please 'em: by my life,
They are a sweet society of fair ones.
But half my lay thoughts in him, some of these
Should find a running banquet ere they rested,
I think would better please 'em: by my life,
They are a sweet society of fair ones.
Lovell ♂
O, that your lordship were but now confessor
To one or two of these!
To one or two of these!
Sands ♂
I would I were;
They should find easy penance.
They should find easy penance.
Lovell ♂
Faith, how easy?
Sands ♂
As easy as a down-bed would afford it.
Chamberlain ♂
Sweet ladies, will it please you sit? Sir Harry,
Place you that side; I'll take the charge of this:
His grace is entering. Nay, you must not freeze;
Two women placed together makes cold weather:
My Lord Sands, you are one will keep 'em waking;
Pray, sit between these ladies.
Place you that side; I'll take the charge of this:
His grace is entering. Nay, you must not freeze;
Two women placed together makes cold weather:
My Lord Sands, you are one will keep 'em waking;
Pray, sit between these ladies.
Sands ♂
By my faith,
And thank your lordship. By your leave, sweet ladies:
If I chance to talk a little wild, forgive me;
I had it from my father.
And thank your lordship. By your leave, sweet ladies:
If I chance to talk a little wild, forgive me;
I had it from my father.
Anne ♀
Was he mad, sir?
Sands ♂
O, very mad, exceeding mad, in love too:
But he would bite none; just as I do now,
He would kiss you twenty with a breath.
But he would bite none; just as I do now,
He would kiss you twenty with a breath.
Chamberlain ♂
Well said, my lord.
So, now you're fairly seated. Gentlemen,
The penance lies on you, if these fair ladies
Pass away frowning.
So, now you're fairly seated. Gentlemen,
The penance lies on you, if these fair ladies
Pass away frowning.
Sands ♂
For my little cure,
Let me alone.
Let me alone.
Cardinal Wolsey ♂
You're welcome, my fair guests: that noble lady,
Or gentleman, that is not freely merry,
Is not my friend: this, to confirm my welcome;
And to you all, good health.
Or gentleman, that is not freely merry,
Is not my friend: this, to confirm my welcome;
And to you all, good health.
Sands ♂
Your grace is noble:
Let me have such a bowl may hold my thanks,
And save me so much talking.
Let me have such a bowl may hold my thanks,
And save me so much talking.
Cardinal Wolsey ♂
My Lord Sands,
I am beholding to you: cheer your neighbours.
Ladies, you are not merry: gentlemen,
Whose fault is this?
I am beholding to you: cheer your neighbours.
Ladies, you are not merry: gentlemen,
Whose fault is this?
Sands ♂
The red wine first must rise
In their fair cheeks, my lord; then we shall have 'em
Talk us to silence.
In their fair cheeks, my lord; then we shall have 'em
Talk us to silence.
Anne ♀
You are a merry gamester,
My Lord Sands.
My Lord Sands.
Sands ♂
Yes, if I make my play.
Here's to your ladyship: and pledge it, madam,
For 'tis to such a thing,–
Here's to your ladyship: and pledge it, madam,
For 'tis to such a thing,–
Anne ♀
You cannot show me.
Sands ♂
I told your grace they would talk anon.
Cardinal Wolsey ♂
What's that?
Chamberlain ♂
Look out there, some of ye.
Cardinal Wolsey ♂
What warlike voice,
And to what end is this? Nay, ladies, fear not;
By all the laws of war you're privileged.
And to what end is this? Nay, ladies, fear not;
By all the laws of war you're privileged.
Chamberlain ♂
How now! what is't?
Servant ♂
A noble troop of strangers;
For so they seem: they've left their barge and landed;
And hither make, as great ambassadors
From foreign princes.
For so they seem: they've left their barge and landed;
And hither make, as great ambassadors
From foreign princes.
Cardinal Wolsey ♂
Good lord chamberlain,
Go, give 'em welcome; you can speak the French tongue;
And, pray, receive 'em nobly, and conduct 'em
Into our presence, where this heaven of beauty
Shall shine at full upon them. Some attend him.
You have now a broken banquet; but we'll mend it.
A good digestion to you all: and once more
I shower a welcome on ye; welcome all.
A noble company! what are their pleasures?
Go, give 'em welcome; you can speak the French tongue;
And, pray, receive 'em nobly, and conduct 'em
Into our presence, where this heaven of beauty
Shall shine at full upon them. Some attend him.
You have now a broken banquet; but we'll mend it.
A good digestion to you all: and once more
I shower a welcome on ye; welcome all.
A noble company! what are their pleasures?
Chamberlain ♂
Because they speak no English, thus they pray'd
To tell your grace, that, having heard by fame
Of this so noble and so fair assembly
This night to meet here, they could do no less
Out of the great respect they bear to beauty,
But leave their flocks; and, under your fair conduct,
Crave leave to view these ladies and entreat
An hour of revels with 'em.
To tell your grace, that, having heard by fame
Of this so noble and so fair assembly
This night to meet here, they could do no less
Out of the great respect they bear to beauty,
But leave their flocks; and, under your fair conduct,
Crave leave to view these ladies and entreat
An hour of revels with 'em.
Cardinal Wolsey ♂
Say, lord chamberlain,
They have done my poor house grace; for which I pay 'em
A thousand thanks, and pray 'em take their pleasures.
They have done my poor house grace; for which I pay 'em
A thousand thanks, and pray 'em take their pleasures.
King Henry Viii ♂
The fairest hand I ever touch'd! O beauty,
Till now I never knew thee!
Till now I never knew thee!
Cardinal Wolsey ♂
My lord!
Chamberlain ♂
Your grace?
Cardinal Wolsey ♂
Pray, tell 'em thus much from me:
There should be one amongst 'em, by his person,
More worthy this place than myself; to whom,
If I but knew him, with my love and duty
I would surrender it.
There should be one amongst 'em, by his person,
More worthy this place than myself; to whom,
If I but knew him, with my love and duty
I would surrender it.
Chamberlain ♂
I will, my lord.
Cardinal Wolsey ♂
What say they?
Chamberlain ♂
Such a one, they all confess,
There is indeed; which they would have your grace
Find out, and he will take it.
There is indeed; which they would have your grace
Find out, and he will take it.
Cardinal Wolsey ♂
Let me see, then.
By all your good leaves, gentlemen; here I'll make
My royal choice.
By all your good leaves, gentlemen; here I'll make
My royal choice.
King Henry Viii ♂
Ye have found him, cardinal:
You hold a fair assembly; you do well, lord:
You are a churchman, or, I'll tell you, cardinal,
I should judge now unhappily.
You hold a fair assembly; you do well, lord:
You are a churchman, or, I'll tell you, cardinal,
I should judge now unhappily.
Cardinal Wolsey ♂
I am glad
Your grace is grown so pleasant.
Your grace is grown so pleasant.
King Henry Viii ♂
My lord chamberlain,
Prithee, come hither: what fair lady's that?
Prithee, come hither: what fair lady's that?
Chamberlain ♂
An't please your grace, Sir Thomas Bullen's daughter–
The Viscount Rochford,–one of her highness' women.
The Viscount Rochford,–one of her highness' women.
King Henry Viii ♂
By heaven, she is a dainty one. Sweetheart,
I were unmannerly, to take you out,
And not to kiss you. A health, gentlemen!
Let it go round.
I were unmannerly, to take you out,
And not to kiss you. A health, gentlemen!
Let it go round.
Cardinal Wolsey ♂
Sir Thomas Lovell, is the banquet ready
I' the privy chamber?
I' the privy chamber?
Lovell ♂
Yes, my lord.
Cardinal Wolsey ♂
Your grace,
I fear, with dancing is a little heated.
I fear, with dancing is a little heated.
King Henry Viii ♂
I fear, too much.
Cardinal Wolsey ♂
There's fresher air, my lord,
In the next chamber.
In the next chamber.
King Henry Viii ♂
Lead in your ladies, every one: sweet partner,
I must not yet forsake you: let's be merry:
Good my lord cardinal, I have half a dozen healths
To drink to these fair ladies, and a measure
To lead 'em once again; and then let's dream
Who's best in favour. Let the music knock it.
I must not yet forsake you: let's be merry:
Good my lord cardinal, I have half a dozen healths
To drink to these fair ladies, and a measure
To lead 'em once again; and then let's dream
Who's best in favour. Let the music knock it.
137 lines rendered verbatim from the dialogue corpus.
Who’s On Stage
Speaking characters in this scene
| Character | Lines | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Cardinal Wolsey | 42 | 30.7% |
| Chamberlain | 28 | 20.4% |
| Sands | 27 | 19.7% |
| King Henry Viii | 19 | 13.9% |
| Guildford | 9 | 6.6% |
| Anne | 4 | 2.9% |
| Servant | 4 | 2.9% |
| Lovell | 4 | 2.9% |
Line distribution
The top speaker in this scene delivers 42 lines, while the scene’s average per speaker is about 17 lines.
Total speakers on stage
8 named characters speak in this scene.
Scene in Context
Position within Act 1
This is Scene 4 of 4 in Act 1 of Henry VIII.
Scene length vs. play average
At 137 lines, this scene is shorter than the Henry VIII average scene in Henry VIII (~190 lines).
Adjacent scenes
Previous: Act 1 Scene 3 · Next: Act 2 Scene 1
About Act 1 Scene 4 of Henry VIII
Who carries Act 1 Scene 4 of Henry VIII?
Cardinal Wolsey, with 42 lines — about 31% of the scene.
Is the scene a dialogue or a solo?
With 8 speakers and the lead holding 31% of the lines, this scene is a balanced multi-voice exchange.