Culture: A Historic Love Letter 文化：一封历史情书
[audio]http://file.24en.com/bbc/tae/furniture_810676/bbc_historic_love_letter.mp3[/audio][color=#3f3f3f][font=Verdana, 宋体, helvetica, arial, sans-serif][size=12px]The [b]16th century[/b] English King [b]Henry VIII[/b] is best known for his [b]prodigious appetite[/b] and habit of [b]executing[/b] wives he was unhappy with, but a love letter written by Henry shows a softer side to his [url=http://d.24en.com/s/?wd=character]character[/url].
[p=21, 2, left]The letter, which has been hidden in[b]the Vatican[/b] for nearly 500 years, is to go on display at the [b]British Library[/b] in London in April.[/p][p=21, 2, left]Henry wrote to Anne Boleyn, who would become his second wife, in January 1528, apologising to her for suggesting that she become his[b]mistress[/b].[/p][p=21, 2, left]In the letter Henry promises Anne that "[b]henceforth[/b] my heart will be dedicated to you alone", an assurance that contradicts Henry’s[b]womanising reputation[/b].[/p][p=21, 2, left]Henry continues, "The beautiful words of your letter are so [b]cordially phrased[/b], that they really oblige me to honour, love, and serve you for ever."[/p][p=21, 2, left]Henry went on to marry Anne Boleyn after [b]divorcing[/b] his first wife, the Spanish princess Catherine of Aragon, but despite having written to Anne like a [b]lovesick schoolboy[/b], Henry’s marriage to her ended badly.[/p][p=21, 2, left]Having failed to provide him with a [b]male heir[/b], Anne [b]fell from favour[/b] with the king, whose chief minister had her charged with [b]treason[/b] and[b]adultery[/b].[/p][p=21, 2, left]Anne was executed by [b]beheading[/b] at the Tower of London in May 1536, leaving the way clear for Henry to marry his third wife Jane Seymour.[/p][p=21, 2, left]According to [b]contemporary witnesses[/b] Anne went to her death displaying[b]queenly dignity[/b]; on the morning of her execution she told her prison guard, "I heard say the executioner was very good, and I have a little neck."[/p][p=21, 2, left]Henry went on to be married a total of six times, divorcing twice and executing another wife, but in spite of all his efforts, Henry died without leaving a surviving male heir, a situation which resulted in the [b]coronation[/b]of Anne’s daughter, Queen Elizabeth I.[/p][/size][/font][/color]
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