Katherine. Sir, I desire you to do me right and justice; | |
| And to bestow your pity on me: for | |
| I am a most poor woman, and a stranger, | |
| Born out of your dominions; having here | |
| No judge indifferent, nor no more assurance | 5 |
| Of equal friendship and proceeding. Alas, sir, | |
| In what have I offended you? what cause | |
| Hath my behaviour given to your displeasure, | |
| That thus you should proceed to put me off, | |
| And take your good grace from me? Heaven witness, | 10 |
| I have been to you a true and humble wife, | |
| At all times to your will conformable; | |
| Ever in fear to kindle your dislike, | |
| Yea, subject to your countenance, glad or sorry | |
| As I saw it inclined: when was the hour | 15 |
| I ever contradicted your desire, | |
| Or made it not mine too? Or which of your friends | |
| Have I not strove to love, although I knew | |
| He were mine enemy? what friend of mine | |
| That had to him derived your anger, did I | 20 |
| Continue in my liking? nay, gave notice | |
| He was from thence discharged? Sir, call to mind | |
| That I have been your wife, in this obedience, | |
| Upward of twenty years, and have been blest | |
| With many children by you: if, in the course | 25 |
| And process of this time, you can report, | |
| And prove it, too, against mine honour aught, | |
| My bond to wedlock, or my love and duty, | |
| Against your sacred person, in God’s name, | |
| Turn me away; and let the foul’st contempt | 30 |
| Shut door upon me, and so give me up | |
| To the sharp’st kind of justice. Please you, sir, | |
| The king, your father, was reputed for | |
| A prince most prudent, of an excellent | |
| And unmatch’d wit and judgment; Ferdinand, | 35 |
| My father, king of Spain, was reckon’d one | |
| The wisest prince that there had reign’d by many | |
| A year before: it is not to be question’d | |
| That they had gather’d a wise council to them | |
| Of every realm, that did debate this business, | 40 |
| Who deem’d our marriage lawful: wherefore I humbly | |
| Beseech you, sir, to spare me, till I may | |
| Be by my friends in Spain advised; whose counsel | |
| I will implore: if not i’ the name of God, | |
| Your pleasure be fulfilled! | 45 |
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