now,

That bear a weighty and a serious brow,
Sad, high, and working, full of state and wo,
Such noble scenes as draw the eye to flow,
We now present. Those that can pity, here
May, if they think it well, let fall a tear;
The subject will deserve it. Such, as give
Their money out of hope they may believe,
May here find truth too. Those, that come to see
Only a show or two, and so agree,

The play may pass; if they be still, and willing,
I'll undertake, may see away their shilling
Richly in two short hours. Only they,
That come to hear a merry, bawdy play,
A noise of targets; or to see a fellow
In a long motley coat, guarded1 with yellow,
Will be deceiv'd: for, gentle hearers, know,
To rank our chosen truth with such a show
As fool and fight is, beside forfeiting

Our own brains, and the opinion that we bring
(To make that only true we now intend,o)

Will leave us never an understanding friend. Therefore, for goodness' sake, and as you are

known

Palace. Enter the Duke of Norfolk, at one door; at the other, the Duke of Buckingham, and the Lord Abergavenny.

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 dav
Became the next day's master, till the last
Made former wonders it's: To-day, the French,
All clinquant, all in gold, like heathen gods,
Shone down the English: and, to-morrow, they

(3) Henry VIII. and Francis 1. king of France. (4) Glittering, shining.

Made Britain, India: every man, that stood,
Show'd like a mine. Their dwarfish pages were
As cherubims, 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 mask
Was cry'd ncomparable; and the ensuing night
Made it a fool, and beggar. The two kings,
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 (For so they phrase them,) by their heralds challeng'd,

The noble spirits to arms, they did perform

Beyond thought's compass; that former fabulous

At a superfluous rate!

Buck.

Why, all this business

Our reverend cardinal carried.

Nor.

'Like it your grace, 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 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
Hath a sharp edge: it's long, and, it may be said,
It reaches far; and where 'twill not extend,
Thither he darts it. Bosom up my counsel,
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 disdain.

Wol. The duke of Buckingham's surveyor, ha ? Where's his examination?

Wol. Is he in person ready? 1 Secr.

Ay, please your grace. Wol. Well, we shall then know more; and Buckingham

Shall lessen this big look. [Exe. Wolsey and train. Buck. This butcher's cur1o is venom-mouth'd, and I

Have not the power to muzzle him; therefore, best Not wake him in his slumber. A beggar's book Out-worths a noble's blood.

Nor.

What, are you chaf'd? Ask God for temperance; that's the appliance only, Which your disease requires.

Buck.

I read in his looks

Matter against me; and his eye revil'd

Me, as his abject object: at this instant

(8) Sets down in his letter without consulting the council.

(9) Conducted.

(10) Wolsey was the son of a butcher.

king;

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;

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 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,

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 Júly, 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 it: 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, the 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 to 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,

(1) Stabs. (2) Excites. (3) Unfair stratagem.

Does buy and sell his honour as he pleases,
And for his own advantage.
Nor.

I am sorry

SCENE II.-The council-chamber. Cornets. Enter King Henry, Cardinal Wolsey, the Lords of the Council, Sir Thomas Lovell, Officers, and Assistants. The King enters, leaning on the Cardinal's shoulder.

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
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.

5

The King takes his state. The Lords of the Council take their several places. The Cardinal places himself under the King's feet, on his right side.