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All these accus'd him strongly: which he fain Would have flung from him, but, indeed, he could not :

And so his peers, upon this evidence,
Have found him guilty of high treason. Much
He spoke, and learnedly, for life; but all
Was either pitied in him, or forgotten.

2 Gent. After all this, how did he bear himself?

1 Gent. When he was brought again to the bar, to hear

His knell rung out, his judgment, he was stirr'd
With such an agony, he sweat extremely,
And something spoke in choler, ill, and hasty :
But he fell to himself again, and sweetly
In all the rest show'd a most noble patience.
2 Gent. I do not think he fears death.
1 Gent.
Sure, he does not,
He never was so womanish; the cause
He may a little grieve at.

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No doubt he will requite it. This is noted,
And generally, whoever the king favours,
The cardinal instantly will find employment,"
And far enough from court too.

2 Gent.
All the commons
Hate him perniciously, and, o' my conscience,
Wish him ten fathom deep: this duke as much
They love and dote on; call him bounteous
Buckingham,

The mirror of all courtesy.

Enter BUCKINGHAM from his arraignment; Tipstaves before him; the axe with the edge towards him; halberds on each side; accompanied with Sir THOMAS LOVELL, Sir NICHOLAS VAUX, Sir WILLIAM SANDS, and common people.

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2 Gent. Let's stand close, and behold him. Buck. All good people, You that thus far have come to pity me, Hear what I say, and then go home and lose

me.

I have this day receiv'd a traitor's judgment, And by that name must die: Yet, heaven bear witness,

And if I have a conscience let it sink me,
Even as the axe falls, if I be not faithful!
The law I bear no malice for my death,
It has done, upon the premises, but justice:
But those that sought it I could wish more
christians:

Be what they will, I heartily forgive them :
Yet let them look they glory not in mischief,
Nor build their evils on the graves of great

men;

For then my guiltless blood must cry against them.

For further life in this world I ne'er hope,
Nor will I sue, although the king have mercies
More than I dare make faults. You few that
lov'd me,

And dare be bold to weep for Buckingham,
His noble friends, and fellows, whom to leave
Is only bitter to him, only dying,

Go with me, like good angels, to my end;
And, as the long divorce of steel falls on me,
Make of your prayers one sweet sacrifice,
And lift my soul to heaven.-Lead on, o' God's

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Yet are the king's; and, till my soul forsake,
Shall cry for blessings on him: May he live

a These short lines are not introduced without a meaning. With those pauses in the delivery that properly belong to one speaking under such circumstances they add to the pathos. The three lines, beginning "Gainst me,' ordinarily printed as two. The original has make my grave, which Warburton altered to mark my grave.

are

"Gainst me I can't take peace with: no black envy Shall make my grave. Commend me to his grace." b Rowe here stuck in me-"till my soul forsake me." IL is not difficult to see that Shakspere had a different metaphysical notion from that of his editor: the me places the individuality in the body alone.

Longer than I have time to tell his years!
Ever belov'd, and loving, may his rule be!
And, when old time shall lead him to his end,
Goodness and he fill up one monument !

Lov. To the water side I must conduct your grace;

Then give my charge up to sir Nicholas Vaux, Who undertakes you to your end.

Vaux. Prepare there, The duke is coming; see the barge be ready; And fit it with such furniture as suits

The greatness of his person.

Nay, sir Nicholas,

Buck. Let it alone; my state now will but mock me. When I came hither I was lord high constable, And duke of Buckingham; now, poor Edward Bohun:

Yet I am richer than my base accusers,

That never knew what truth meant: I now seal it;

And with that blood will make them one day groan for 't.

My noble father, Henry of Buckingham,
Who first rais'd head against usurping Richard,
Flying for succour to his servant Banister,
Being distress'd, was by that wretch betray'd,
And without trial fell; God's peace be with
him!

Henry the seventh succeeding, truly pitying
My father's loss, like a most royal prince,
Restor❜d me to my honours, and, out of ruins,
Made my name once more noble. Now his

son,

Henry the eighth, life, honour, name, and all
That made me happy, at one stroke has taken
For ever from the world. I had my trial,
And, must needs say, a noble one; which makes

me

A little happier than my wretched father:
Yet thus far we are one in fortunes,-Both
Fell by our servants, by those men we lov'd
most;

A most unnatural and faithless service!
Heaven has an end in all: Yet, you that hear me,
This from a dying man receive as certain:
Where you are liberal of your loves and coun-
sels,

Be sure you be not loose; for those you make friends,

And give your hearts to, when they once per

ceive

The least rub in your fortunes, fall away
Like water from ye, never found again
But where they mean to sink ye. All good
people,

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You shall, sir: Did you not of late days hear
A buzzing, of a separation

Between the king and Katharine ?

1 Gent. Yes, but it held not: For when the king once heard it, out of anger He sent command to the lord mayor, straight To stop the rumour, and allay those tongues That durst disperse it.

2 Gent. But that slander, sir, Is found a truth now: for it grows again Fresher than e'er it was; and held for certain The king will venture at it. Either the cardinal,

Or some about him near, have, out of malice
To the good queen, possess'd him with a scruple
That will undo her: To confirm this too,
Cardinal Campeius is arriv'd, and lately;
As all think, for this business.

1 Gent. 'Tis the cardinal; And merely to revenge him on the emperor, For not bestowing on him, at his asking, The archbishopric of Toledo, this is purpos'd. 2 Gent. I think you have hit the mark: But is 't not cruel

That she should feel the smart of this? The cardinal Will have his will, and she must fall. 1 Gent.

'Tis woeful.

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SCENE II.-An Antechamber in the Palace.

Enter the Lord Chamberlain, reading a letter. Cham.

'My Lord, -The horses your lordship sent for, with all the care I had I saw well chosen, ridden, and furnished. They were young and handsome; and of the best breed in the north. When they were ready to set out for London, a man of my lol cardinal's, by commission and main power, took 'em from me; with this reason,-His master would be served before a subject, if not before the king; which stopped our mouths, sir.'

I fear, he will, indeed: Well, let him have them:
He will have all, I think.

Enter the DUKES OF NORFOLK and SUFFolk.
Nor. Well met, my lord chamberlain."
Cham. Good day to both your graces.
Suf. How is the king employ'd?
Chum.

I left him private.
Full of sad thoughts and troubles.
Nor.
What's the cause?
Cham. It seems the marriage with his brother's
wife

Has crept too near his conscience.

Suf.

No, his conscience Has crept too near another lady. Nor. "T is so : This is the cardinal's doing, the king-cardinal: That blind priest, like the eldest son of fortune, Turns what he list. The king will know him one day.

Suf. Pray God he do! he'll never know him

self else.

Nor. How holily he works in all his business! And with what zeal! For now he has crack'd the league

Between us and the emperor, the queen's great nephew:

He dives into the king's soul; and there scatters Dangers, doubts, wringing of the conscience, Fears, and despairs, and all these for his marriage :

And out of all these to restore the king,

He counsels a divorce: a loss of her
That, like a jewel, has hung twenty years
About his neck, yet never lost her lustre :
Of her that loves him with that excellence
That angels love good men with; even of her
That when the greatest stroke of fortune falls
Will bless the king: And is not this course
pious?

a Good-"my good lord chamberlain "- was here thrust into the text.

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Nor. We had need pray,

And heartily, for our deliverance;

Or this imperious man will work us all

a

From princes into pages: all men's honours Lie like one lump before him, to be fashion'd Into what pitch he please.

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a Such is the punctuation of the folio. It is ordinarily printed, "I'll venture one have-at-him. Have at you, as Douce properly says, is a cominon phrase; and it is used in two other passages of this play. But in following the old punctuation it is not less a common phrase. It appears to us that Norfolk means by "I'll venture one"-I'll risk myself; and that Suffolk is ready to encounter the same danger-"I another." Steevens reads, "I'll venture one heare at him "-a metaphor of the wharfs.

By a great freedom of construction the verb sent applies to this first member of the sentence, as well as to the second. Mr. White prints "Gave their free voices."

This just and learned priest, cardinal Campeius; Whom, once more, I present unto your high

ness.

K. Hen. And, once more, in mine arms I bid him welcome,

And thank the holy conclave for their loves; They have sent me such a man I would have wish'd for.

Cam. Your grace must needs deserve all strangers' loves,

You are so noble: To your highness' hand I tender my commission; by whose virtue, (The court of Rome commanding,) you, my lord

Cardinal of York, are join'd with me their servant,

In the unpartial judging of this business.

K. Hen. Two equal men. The queen shall be acquainted,

Forthwith, for what you come :-Where's Gardiner ?

Wol. I know your majesty has always lov'd her

So dear in heart, not to deny her that
A woman of less place might ask by law,
Scholars allow'd freely to argue for her.

K. Hen, Ay, and the best she shall have; and my favour

To him that does best; God forbid else. Cardinal,

Prithee call Gardiner to me, my new secretary; I find him a fit fellow.

[Exit WOLSEY.

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Old L.

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.

Anne.
Nay, good troth,—
Old L. Yes, troth, and troth,-You would not

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