Beheld them, when they lighted, how they clung
In their embracement, as they grew together;
Which had they, what four thron'd ones could
have weigh'd

Such a compounded one?
Buck.

21

All the whole time 12 I was my chamber's prisoner. Nor. Then you lost The view of earthly glory: men might say, Till this time, pomp was single, but now married To one above itself. Each following day 16 Became the next day's master, till the last Made former wonders its. To-day the French All clinquant, all in gold, like heathen gods, Shone down the English; and to-morrow they Made Britain India: every man that stood Show'd like a mine. Their dwarfish pages were As cherubins, all gilt: the madams, too, Not us'd to toil, did almost sweat to bear The pride upon them, that their very labour Was to them as a painting. Now this masque Was cried incomparable; and the ensuing night Made it a fool, and beggar. The two kings, 28 Equal in lustre, were now best, now worst, As presence did present them; him in eye, Still him in praise; and, being present both, 'Twas said they saw but one; and no discerner Durst wag his tongue in censure. When these

suns

24

33

56

From his ambitious finger. What had he
To do in these fierce vanities? I wonder
That such a keech can with his very bulk
Take up the rays o' the beneficial sun,
And keep it from the earth.
Nor.
Surely, sir,
There's in him stuff that puts him to these
ends;

For, being not propp'd by ancestry, whose grace
Chalks successors their way, nor call'd upon 60
For high feats done to the crown; neither allied
To eminent assistants; but, spider-like,
Out of his self-drawing web, he gives us note,
The force of his own merit makes his way; 64
A gift that heaven gives for him, which buys
A place next to the king.
Aber.

I cannot tell
What heaven hath given him: let some graver

Of all the gentry; for the most part such
To whom as great a charge as little honour
He meant to lay upon: and his own letter, –
The honourable board of council out,—
Must fetch him in he papers.
Aber.
I do know
Kinsmen of mine, three at the least, that have
By this so sicken'd their estates, that never
They shall abound as formerly.

Buck.

O! many

80

Have broke their backs with laying manors on 'em 84

For this great journey. What did this vanity But minister communication of

A most poor issue?

Nor.

Grievingly I think,

The peace between the French and us not

For France hath flaw'd the league, and hath attach'd

Our merchants' goods at Bourdeaux.
Aber.

Marry, is 't.

The ambassador is silenc'd?
Nor.
Aber. A proper title of a peace; and pur-
chas'd

At a superfluous rate!

132

Buck.
Why, all this business
Our reverend cardinal carried.
Nor.
Like it your Grace, 100
The state takes notice of the private difference
Betwixt you and the cardinal. I advise you,-
And take it from a heart that wishes towards
you

Honour and plenteous safety,-that you read 104
The cardinal's malice and his potency
Together; to consider further that

What his high hatred would effect wants not
A minister in his power. You know his nature,
That he's revengeful; and I know his sword 109
Hath a sharp edge: it's long, and 't may be said,
It reaches far; and where 'twill not extend,
Thither he darts it. Bosom up my counsel, 112
You'll find it wholesome. Lo where comes that
rock

That I advise your shunning.

Enter CARDINAL WOLSEY,-the Purse borne before him,-certain of the Guard, and two Secretaries with papers. The CARDINAL in his passage fixeth his eye on BUCKINGHAM, and BUCKINGHAM on him, both full of dis

dain.

140

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 overrunning. Know you not,
The fire that mounts the liquor till it 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, 148
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 152
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.' 156
Buck. To the king I'll say 't; and make my
vouch as strong

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 to the dead. But our count
cardinal

172
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,- 177
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

180

184

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

As soon he shall by me-that thus the cardinal Does buy and sell his honour as he pleases, 192 And for his own advantage.

Nor. I am sorry To hear this of him; and could wish he were Something mistaken in 't.

Buck.

No, not a syllable: I do pronounce him in that very shape He shall appear in proof.

196

SCENE II.-The Council Chamber.

Enter the KING, leaning on the CARDINAL'S shoulder, the Lords of the Council, SIR THOMAS LOVELL, Officers, and Attendants. The CARDINAL places himself under the KING'S feet on the right side.

K. Hen. My life itself, and the best heart of it, Thanks you 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 4
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.

8

A noise within, crying, 'Room for the Queen!' Enter QUEEN KATHARINE, ushered by the DUKES OF NORFOLK and SUFFOLK: she kneels. The KING riseth from his state, takes her up, kisses, and placeth her by him. Q. Kath. Nay, we must longer kneel: I am a suitor.

K. Hen. Arise, and take place by us: half your suit

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

76

To cope malicious censurers; which ever,
As rav'nous fishes, do a vessel follow
That is new-trimm'd, but benefit no further 80
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.

84

88

K. Hen. Things done well, And with a care, exempt themselves from fear;