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. Buck. I'll to the king; 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; In seeming to augment it wastes it? Be advis'd: More stronger to direct you than yourself, Buck. Sir, I am thankful to you, and I'll go along By your prescription; but this top-proud fellow, 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, That swallow'd so much treasure, and like a glass 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 give a crutch t' the dead. But our count-cardinal 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. K. Hen. My life itself, and the best heart of it, And point by point the treasons of his master The King takes his State. The Lords of the Council Please you, sir, I know but of a single part, in ought Q. Kath. Q. Kath. I am much too venturous In tempting of your patience; but am bolden'd Under your promis'd pardon. The subjects' grief Comes through commissions, which compel from each The sixth part of his substance, to be levied Without delay; and the pretence for this Is nam'd, your wars in France. This makes bold mouths: Tongues spit their duties out, and cold hearts freeze Allegiance in them: their curses now, Live where their prayers did; and it's come to pass, To each incensed will. I would, your highness I have no farther gone in this, than by 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, 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 Enter Surveyor. [Exit Secretary. 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, Surv. First, it was usual with him, every day Lord Aberga'ny, to whom by oath he menac'd Wol. Of such a time: being my sworn servant, 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. Q. Kath. Deliver all with charity. K. Hen. My learn'd lord cardinal, Speak on. How grounded he his title to the crown, He was brought to this His confessor; who fed him every minute K. Hen. Th' usurper Richard; who, being at Salisbury, 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," Sir, a Chartreux friar, He did discharge a horrible oath; whose tenor How know'st thou this? To me, should utter, with demure confidence Q. Kath. K. Hen. Go forward. Surv. Let him on. On my soul, I'll speak but truth. I told my lord the duke, by the devil's illusions It forg'd him some design, which, being believ'd, It was much like to do: He answered, “Tush! It can do me no damage:" adding farther, K. Hen. Ha! what, so rank? Ah, ha! There's mischief in this man.-Canst thou say farther? Surv. I can, my liege. Though they be never so ridiculous, To Pepin or Clotharius, they keep state so. That never saw 'em pace before, the spavin, With all their honourable points of ignorance Out of a foreign wisdom; renouncing clean Or pack to their old playfellows: there, I take it, The lag end of their lewdness, and be laugh'd at. Cham. What a loss our ladies Will have of these trim vanities. Ay, marry, Lov. There will be woe indeed, lords: the sly whoresons Have got a speeding trick to lay down ladies; A French song and a fiddle have no fellow. Sands. The devil fiddle them! I am glad they're going, For, sure, there's no converting of them: now, A long time out of play, may bring his plain-song, This night he makes a supper, and a great one, Lov. That churchman bears a bounteous mind indeed; A hand as fruitful as the land that feeds us : Cham. No doubt, he's noble ; Sparing would show a worse sin than ill doctrine. 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. Guild. Ladies, a general welcome from his grace Salutes ye all: this night he dedicates To fair content, and you. None here, he hopes, Enter Lord Chamberlain, Lord SANDS, and Sir THOMAS The very thought of this fair company Cham. 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 y? 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. little cure, Let me alone. For my The red wine first must rise In their fair cheeks, my lord; then, we shall have 'em Talk us to silence. Anne. My lord Sands. Sands. You are a merry gamester, Here's to your ladyship; and pledge it, madam, Anne. M m Go, give them welcome; you can speak the French tongue : And, pray, receive them nobly, and conduct them You have now a broken banquet; but we'll mend it. 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 This night to meet here, they could do no less, Say, lord chamberlain, A thousand thanks, and pray them take their pleasures. [Ladies chosen for the Dance. The King takes ANNE BULLEN. K. Hen. The fairest hand I ever touch'd. O, beauty! Till now I never knew thee. [Music. Dance. Wol. My lord!- Wol. Pray tell them thus much from me. There should be one amongst them, by his person, More worthy this place than myself; to whom, If I but knew him, with my love and duty [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, The viscount Rochford,- And not to kiss you.-[Kisses her.] A health, gentlemen! Wol. Sir Thomas Lovell, is the banquet ready Lov. Wol. I fear, with dancing is a little heated. 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: |