Obrázky stránek
PDF
ePub

526

I'll follow, and out-stare him. Nor.

Stay, my lord, And let your reason with your choler question What 'tis you go about. To climb steep hills, Requires slow pace at first: anger is like A full-hot horse, who being allow'd his way, Self-mettle tires him. Not a man in England Can advise me like you: be to yourself, As you would to your friend. I'll to the king; Buck. And from a mouth of honour quite cry down This Ipswich fellow's insolence, or proclaim There's difference in no persons.

Nor.

Be advis'd;
Heat not a furnace for your foe so hot
That it do singe yourself: we may outrun
By violent swiftness that which we run at,
And lose by over-running. Know you not,
The fire, that mounts the liquor till't run o'er,

In seeming to augment it wastes it? Be advis'd:
I say again, there is no English soul
More stronger to direct you than yourself,
If with the sap of reason you would quench,
Or but allay, the fire of passion.

Buck.

Sir,

I am thankful to you, and I'll go along

By your prescription; but this top-proud fellow,
Whom from the flow of gall I name not, but
From sincere motions, by intelligence,
And proofs as clear as founts in July, when
We see each grain of gravel, I do know
To be corrupt and treasonous.

Nor.

Say not, treasonous.

Buck. To the king I'll say't, and make my vouch

as strong

As shore of rock. Attend: this holy fox,

Or wolf, or both, (for he is equal ravenous,
As he is subtle, and as prone to mischief,
As able to perform't, his mind and place
Infecting one another, yea, reciprocally)
Only to show his pomp, as well in France
As here at home, suggests the king, our master,
To this last costly treaty, th' interview

That swallow'd so much treasure, and like a glass
Did break i' the rinsing.

Nor.

Faith, and so it did.

Buck. Pray, give me favour, sir. This cunning cardinal

The articles o' the combination drew,

As himself pleas'd; and they were ratified,
As he cried, "Thus let be," to as much end,

As give a crutch t' the dead. But our count-cardinal
Has done this, and 'tis well; for worthy Wolsey,
Who cannot err, he did it. Now this follows,
(Which, as I take it, is a kind of puppy
To the old dam, treason) Charles the emperor,
Under pretence to see the queen, his aunt,
(For 'twas, indeed, his colour, but he came
To whisper Wolsey) here makes visitation:
His fears were, that the interview betwixt
England and France might, through their amity,
Breed him some prejudice; for from this league,
Peep'd harms that menac'd him. He privily
Deals with our cardinal, and, as I trow,
Which I do well; for, I am sure, the emperor
Paid ere he promis'd, whereby his suit was granted,
Ere it was ask'd: but when the way was made,
And pav'd with gold, the emperor thus desir'd:-
That he would please to alter the king's course,
And break the foresaid peace. Let the king know,

-:

[blocks in formation]

Buck. My surveyor is false: the o'er-great cardinal Hath show'd him gold. My life is spann'd already : I am the shadow of poor Buckingham, Whose figure even this instant cloud puts on, By darkening my clear sun. My lord, farewell.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.-The Council-Chamber. Cornets. Enter King HENRY, leaning on the Cardinal's shoulder; WOLSEY, the Lords of the Council, Sir THOMAS LOVELL, Officers, Secretary.

you

K. Hen. My life itself, and the best heart of it,
Thanks for this great care. I stood i' the level
Of a full charg'd confederacy, and give thanks
To you that chok'd it.-Let be call'd before us
That gentleman of Buckingham's: in person
I'll hear him his confessions justify,

And point by point the treasons of his master
He shall again relate.

The King takes his State. The Lords of the Council
occupy their several Places: the Cardinal places him-
self under the King's Feet on his right Side.
A Noise within, crying Room for the Queen! Enter
the Queen, ushered by the Dukes of NORFOLK and

[blocks in formation]

Wherein, and what taxation ?-My lord cardinal,
You that are blam'd for it alike with us,
Know you of this taxation?

Wol.

Please you, sir,
I know but of a single part, in ought
Pertains to the state; and front but in that file
Where others tell steps with me.

Q. Kath.
No, my lord,
You know no more than others; but you frame
Things, that are known, belike, which are not wholesome
To those which would not know them, and yet must
Perforce be their acquaintance. These exactions,
Whereof my sovereign would have note, they are
Most pestilent to the hearing; and, to bear them,
The back is sacrifice to the load. They say,
They are devis'd by you, or else you suffer
Too hard an exclamation.

K. Hen.

Still exaction!

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

And for me,

I have no farther gone in this, than by
A single voice, and that not pass'd me but
By learned approbation of the judges. If I am
Traduc'd by ignorant tongues, which neither know
My faculties, nor person, yet will be

The chronicles of my doing, let me say,

'Tis but the fate of place, and the rough brake That virtue must go through. We must not stint Our necessary actions, in the fear

To cope malicious censurers; which ever,
As ravenous fishes, do a vessel follow
That is new trimm'd, but benefit no farther
Than vainly longing. What we oft do best,
By sick interpreters (once weak ones) is
Not ours, or not allow'd; what worst, as oft,
Hitting a grosser quality, is cried up
For our best act. If we shall stand still,
In fear our motion will be mock'd or carp'd at,
We should take root here, where we sit, or sit
State statues only.

K. Hen.

Things done well,

And with a care, exempt themselves from fear:
Things done without example, in their issue
Are to be fear'd. Have you a precedent
Of this commission? I believe, not any.
We must not rend our subjects from our laws,
And stick them in our will. Sixth part of each?
A trebling contribution! Why, we take,
From every tree, lop, bark, and part o' the timber;
And, though we leave it with a root, thus hack'd,
The air will drink the sap. To every county
Where this is question'd send our letters, with
Free pardon to each man that has denied
The force of this commission. Pray, look to't;
I put it to your care.

Wol.

A word with you. [To the Secretary. Let there be letters writ to every shire,

Of the king's grace and pardon. The griev'd commons
Hardly conceive of me: let it be nois'd,
That through our intercession this revokement
And pardon comes. I shall anon advise you
Farther in the proceeding.

[Exit Secretary.

Enter Surveyor. Q. Kath. I am sorry that the duke of Buckingham Is run in your displeasure. K. Hen.

It grieves many: The gentleman is learn'd, and a most rare speaker; To nature none more bound; his training such, That he may furnish and instruct great teachers, And never seek for aid out of himself: yet see, When these so noble benefits shall prove Not well dispos'd, the mind growing once corrupt, They turn to vicious forms, ten times more ugly Than ever they were fair. This man so complete, Who was enroll'd 'mongst wonders, and when we, Almost with ravish'd list'ning, could not find His hour of speech a minute; he, my lady, Hath into monstrous habits put the graces That once were his, and is become as black As if besmear'd in hell. Sit by us; you shall hear (This was his gentleman in trust) of him Things to strike honour sad.-Bid him recount The fore-recited practices, whereof

We cannot feel too little, hear too much.

Wol. Stand forth; and with bold spirit relate what

you,

528

[blocks in formation]

Surv. First, it was usual with him, every day
It would infect his speech, that if the king
Should without issue die, he'd carry it so
To make the sceptre his. These very words
I've heard him utter to his son-in-law,
Lord Aberga'ny, to whom by oath he menac'd
Revenge upon the cardinal.

Wol.

[blocks in formation]

K. Hen.

I remember,

Of such a time: being my sworn servant,
The duke retain'd him his.-But on: what hence?
Surv. "If," quoth he, "I for this had been com-
mitted,

As, to the Tower, I thought, I would have play'd

Please your highness, note The part my father meant to act upon

This dangerous conception in this point.
Not friended by his wish, to your high person
His will is most malignant; and it stretches
Beyond you, to your friends.

Q. Kath.

Deliver all with charity.

K. Hen.

My learn'd lord cardinal,

Speak on.

How grounded he his title to the crown,
Upon our fail? To this point hast thou heard him
At any time speak aught?
Surv.

He was brought to this
By a vain prophecy of Nicholas Hopkins.
K. Hen. What was that Hopkins?
Surv.

Th' usurper Richard; who, being at Salisbury,
Made suit to come in's presence, which if granted,
As he made semblance of his duty, would
Have put his knife into him.”

K. Hen.
A giant traitor!
Wol. Now, madam, may his highness live in freedom,
And this man out of prison?

Q. Kath.

God mend all!

K. Hen. There's something more would out of thee: what say'st?

Surv. After "the duke his father," with " the knife,"
He stretch'd him, and, with one hand on his dagger,
Another spread on's breast, mounting his eyes,

Sir, a Chartreux friar, He did discharge a horrible oath; whose tenor
Was,-were he evil us'd, he would out-go
His father, by as much as a performance
Does an irresolute purpose.

His confessor; who fed him every minute
With words of sovereignty.

K. Hen.

How know'st thou this?
Surv. Not long before your highness sped to France,
The duke being at the Rose, within the parish
Saint Lawrence Poultney, did of me demand
What was the speech among the Londoners
Concerning the French journey? I replied,
Men fear'd the French would prove perfidious,
To the king's danger. Presently the duke
Said, 'twas the fear, indeed; and that he doubted,
'Twould prove the verity of certain words
Spoke by a holy monk; "that oft," says he,
"Hath sent to me, wishing me to permit
John de la Car, my chaplain, a choice hour
To hear from him a matter of some moment:
Whom after, under the confession's seal,
He solemnly had sworn, that what he spoke
My chaplain to no creature living, but
To me, should utter, with demure confidence
This pausingly ensu'd,-Neither the king, nor's heir,
(Tell you the duke) shall prosper: bid him strive
To gain the love o' the commonalty: the duke
Shall govern England.

Q. Kath.
If I know you well,
You were the duke's surveyor, and lost your office
On the complaint o' the tenants. Take good heed,
You charge not in your spleen a noble person,
And spoil your nobler soul: I say, take heed;
Yes, heartily beseech you.

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

Though they be never so ridiculous,
Nay, let 'em be unmanly, yet are follow'd.
Cham. As far as I see, all the good our English
Have got by the late voyage is but merely
A fit or two o' the face; but they are shrewd ones,
For when they hold 'em, you would swear directly,
Their very noses had been counsellors

To Pepin or Clotharius, they keep state so.
Sands. They have all new legs, and lame ones: one
would take it,

That never saw 'em pace before, the spavin,
Or springhalt reign'd among them.

[blocks in formation]

With all their honourable points of ignorance
Pertaining thereunto, as fights and fireworks;
Abusing better men than they can be,
Out of a foreign wisdom; renouncing clean
The faith they have in tennis, and tall stockings,
Short blister'd breeches, and those types of travel,
And understand again like honest men,

Or pack to their old playfellows: there, I take it,
They may, cum privilegio, wear away

The lag end of their lewdness, and be laugh'd at.
Sands. 'Tis time to give 'em physic, their diseases
Are grown so catching.

[blocks in formation]

This night he makes a supper, and a great one,
To many lords and ladies: there will be
The beauty of this kingdom, I'll assure you.

Lov. That churchman bears a bounteous mind indeed;

A hand as fruitful as the land that feeds us :
His dews fall every where.

Cham.

No doubt, he's noble ;
He had a black mouth that said other of him.
Sands. He may, my lord, he has wherewithal: in
him,

Sparing would show a worse sin than ill doctrine.
Men of his sway should be most liberal;
They are set here for examples.

Cham.
True, they are so;
But few now give so great ones. My barge stays;
Your lordship shall along.—Come, good sir Thomas,
We shall be late else; which I would not be,
For I was spoke to, with sir Henry Guildford,
This night to be comptrollers.
Sands.

I am your lordship's. [Exeunt.

SCENE IV. The Presence-Chamber in York-Place. Hautboys. A small Table under a State for the Cardinal, a longer Table for the Guests; then enter ANNE BULLEN, and divers Lords, Ladies, and Gentlewomen, as Guests, at one door; at another door, enter Sir HENRY GUILDFORD.

[blocks in formation]

Enter Lord Chamberlain, Lord SANDS, and Sir THOMAS
LOVELL.

The very thought of this fair company
Clapp'd wings to me.

Cham.
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.

Lov. O! that your lordship were but now confessor To one or two of these. Sands. I would, I were; They should find easy penance. Lov. Faith, how easy? Sands. As easy as a down-bed would afford it. Cham. 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 plac'd 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: [Seats himself between ANNE BULLEN and another Lady. 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. [Kisses her. Cham. Well said, my lord.— So, now you are fairly seated.-Gentlemen, The penance lies on you, if these fair ladies Pass away frowning.

Sands.

Let me alone.

For my little cure,

[blocks in formation]

Anne. My lord Sands.

Sands.

You are a merry gamester,

Here's to your ladyship; and pledge it, madam,
Yes, if I make my play.
For 'tis to such a thing,—

Anne.
You cannot show me.
Sands. I told your grace, how they would talk anon.
[Drum and Trumpets within; Chambers discharged.
Wol.
What's that?
Cham. Look out there, some of you. [Exit a Servant.
Wol.
What warlike voice,
And to what end is this?-Nay, ladies, fear not;
By all the laws of war y'are privileg'd.
Re-enter Servant.
Cham. How now! what is't?
Serv.
A noble troop of strangers,
For so they seem: they've left their barge, and landed;

[ocr errors]
[blocks in formation]

Go, give them welcome; you can speak the French tongue :

And, pray, receive them nobly, and conduct them
Into our presence, where this heaven of beauty
Shall shine at full upon them.-Some attend him.—
[Exit Chamberlain attended. All arise, and
Tables removed.

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.
Hautboys. Enter the King, and others, as Maskers,
habited like Shepherds, ushered by the Lord Chamber-
lain. They pass directly before the Cardinal, and
gracefully salute him.

A noble company! what are their pleasures?

Cham. Because they speak no English, thus they pray'd me

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 them.
Wol.
They have done my poor house grace; for which I pay

them

Say, lord chamberlain,

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

Wol. [Comes from his State. By all your good leaves, gentlemen, here I'll make My royal choice.

K. Hen. You have found him, cardinal. [Unmasking. You hold a fair assembly; you do well, lord: You are a churchman, or, I'll tell you, cardinal, I should judge now unhappily.

Wol.

I am glad,
Your grace is grown so pleasant.
K. Hen.

My lord chamberlain,
Pr'ythee, come hither. What fair lady's that?
Cham. An't please your grace, sir Thomas Bullen's
daughter,-

The viscount Rochford,-one of her highness' women.
K. Hen. By heaven, she is a dainty one.-Sweetheart,
I were unmannerly to take you out,
And not to kiss you.-[Kisses her.] A health, gentlemen!
Let it go round.

Wol. Sir Thomas Lovell, is the banquet ready
I' the privy chamber?

Lov. Wol.

Yes, my lord.

I fear, with dancing is a little heated.
K. Hen. I fear, too much.
Wol.

In the next chamber.

Your grace,

There's fresher air, my lord,

K. Hen. 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 them once again; and then let's dream
Who's best in favour.-Let the music knock it.
[Exeunt, with Trumpets.

[blocks in formation]
« PředchozíPokračovat »