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 counsels, Be sure, you be not locse; for those you make friends, And give your hearts to, when they once perceive 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, Pray for me! I must now forsake ye; the last hour Of my long weary life is come upon me.

Farewell:

And when you would say something that is sad, Speak how I fell. I have done; and God forgive me! [Exeunt BUCKINGHAM and Train. 1 Gent. O, this is full of pity!-Sir, it calls, I fear, too many curses on their heads,

That were the authors.

2 Gent.

"Tis full of woe: yet I can give you inkling

If the duke be guiltless,

Good angels keep it from us!

Of an ensuing evil, if it fall,

Greater than this.

1 Gent.

Where may it be? You do not doubt my faith, sir? 2 Gent. This secret is so weighty, 'twill require

A strong faith to conceal it.

1 Gent.

Let me have it;

I do not talk much.

2 Gent.

I am confident;

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 Archbishoprick 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. We are too open here to argue this; Let's think in private more.

"Tis woful.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

An Ante-chamber 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 lord 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.

Lord Chamberlain.

Cham.

Well met, my good

Good day to both your graces.

I left him private,

What's the cause?

Suf. How is the king employ'd?
Cham.

Full of sad thoughts and troubles.

Nor.

Cham. It seems, the marriage with his brother's

wife

Has crept too near his conscience.

Suf.

No, his conscience

"Tis so;

Has crept too near another lady.
Nor.
This is the cardinal's doing, the king-cardinal:
That blind priest, like the eldest son of fortune,
Turns what he lists. The king will know him one

day.

Suf. Pray God, he do! he'll never know himself

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?
Cham. Heaven keep me from such counsel! "Tis
most true,

These news are every where; every tongue speaks them,

And every true heart weeps for't: All, that dare
Look into these affairs, see this main end,-

The French king's sister. Heaven will one day open
The king's eyes, that so long have slept upon
This bold bad man.

Srif.

And free us from his slavery.

Nor. We had need pray,

And heartily, for our deliverance;

Or this imperious man will work us all
From princes into pages; all men's honours
Lie in one lump before him, to be fashion'd
Into what pitch he please.'

Into what pitch he please.] The mass must be fashioned Into pitch or height, as well as into particular form. The meaning is, that the Cardinal can, as he pleases, make high or low.

Suf.

For me, my lords,
I love him not, nor fear him; there's my creed:
As I am made without him, so I'll stand,
If the king please; his curses and his blessings
Touch me alike, they are breath I not believe in.
I knew him, and I know him; so I leave him
To him, that made him proud, the pope.

Nor.

Let's in ; And, with some other business, put the king From these sad thoughts, that work too much upon

him:

My lord, you'll bear us company?

Cham. Excuse me; The king hath sent me other-where besides, You'll find a most unfit time to disturb him: Health to your lordships.

Nor.

Thanks, my good lord chamberlain. [Exit Lord Chamberlain.

NORFOLK opens a folding-door. The King is discovered sitting, and reading pensively.

Suf. How sad he looks! sure, he is much afflicted.
K. Hen. Who is there? ha?

Nor.

'Pray God, he be not angry. K. Hen. Who's there, I say? How dare you thrust yourselves

Into my private meditations?

Who am I? ha?

Nor. A gracious king, that pardons all offences Malice ne'er meant: our breach of duty, this way, Is business of estate; in which, we come

To know your royal pleasure.

K. Hen.

You are too bold;

Go to; I'll make ye know your times of business: Is this an hour for temporal affairs? ha?