Shall shine at full upon them :-Some attend him.

[Exit Cham. 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 you:-Welcome all.

Hautboys. Enter the King, and twelve others, as Maskers, habited like Shepherds, with sixteen Torch-bearers; ushered by the Lord Chamberlain. 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
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
Crave leave to view these ladies, and entreat
An hour of revels with them.

Wol. Say, lord chamberlain,

fair conduct,

fthem

They have done my poor house grace; for which I pay A thousand thanks, and pray them take their pleasures. [Ladies chosen for the Dance. The King chooses ANNE BULLEN.

K. Hen. The fairest hand I ever touch'd! O, beauty, Till now I never knew thee,

Wol. My lord,

Cham. Your grace?

[Music. Dance.

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

I would surrender it.

Cham. I will, my lord.

[Chamberlain goes to the company and returns.

Wol. What say they?

Cham. Such a one, they all confess,

There is, indeed; which they would have your grace Find out, and he will take it.

Wol. Let me see then.

[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.'-A health, gentlemen,

Let it go round.

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

Lov. Yes, my lord.

Wol. Your grace,

I fear, with dancing is a little heated.

K. Hen. I fear, too much.

Wol. There's fresher air, my lord,

In the next chamber.

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.

ACT II.

[Exeunt, with trumpets.

SCENE I-A street. Enter two gentlemen, meeting

1 Gent. WHITHER away so fast?

2 Gen. 0,- -God save you!

Even to the hall, to hear what shall become

Of the great duke of Buckingham.

1 Gen. I'll save you

That labour, sir. All's now done, but the ceremony

A kiss was anciently the established fee of a lady's partner.

STEEVEN

SON. This custom is still prevalent, among the country people, in many, perhaps all parts of the kingdom. When the fiddler thinks his young couple have had music enough, he makes his instrument squeak out two notes which all understand to say-kiss her! RITSON.

2 Gen. Were you there?

1 Gen. Yes, indeed, was I.

2 Gen. Pray, speak, what has happen'd? 1 Gen. You may guess quickly what.

2 Gen. Is he found guilty?

1 Gen. Yes, truly is he, and condemn'd upon it. 2 Gen. I am sorry for❜t.

1 Gen. So are a number more.

2 Gen. But, pray, how pass'd it?

1 Gen. I'll tell you in a little.

The great duke

Came to the bar; where, to his accusations,
He pleaded still, not guilty, and alleg'd
Many sharp reasons to defeat the law.
The king's attorney, on the contrary,
Urg'd on the examinations, proofs, confessions
Of divers witnesses; which the duke desir'd
To him brought, vivâ voce, to his face :

At which appear'd against him, his surveyor;
Sir Gilbert Peck his chancellor; and John Court,
Confessor to him; with that devil-monk,

Hopkins, that made this mischief.

2 Gen. That was he,

That fed him with his prophecies ?

1 Gen. The same.

All these accus'd him strongly; which he fain

Would have flung from him, but, indeed, he could not :

And so his peers, upon this evidence,

Have found him guilty of high treason. Much

He spoke, and learnedly, for life; but all

Was either pitied in him, or forgotten.

2 Gen. After all this, how did he bear himself?

1 Gen. When he was brought again to th' bar,-to hear His knell rung out, his judgment, he was stirr'd

With such an agony, he sweat extremely,

And something spoke in choler, ill, and hasty :
But he fell to himself again, and, sweetly,
In all the rest show'd a most noble patience.
2 Gen. I do not think, he fears death.
1 Gen. Sure, he doth not,

He never was so womanish; the cause
He may a little grieve at.

[2] This circumstance is taken from Holinshed: "After he was found guilty, the duke was brought to the bar, sore-chafing, and sweat marvelously. STEEVENS.

2 Gen. Certainly,

The cardinal is the end of this.

1 Gen. 'Tis likely,

By all conjectures: First, Kildare's attainder,
Then deputy of Ireland; who remov'd,

Earl Surrey was sent thither, and in haste too,
Lest he should help his father.

2 Gen. That trick of state

Was a deep envious one.

1 Gen. At his return,

No doubt, he will requite it. This is noted,
And generally; whoever the king favours,
The cardinal instantly will find employment,
And far enough from court too.

2 Gen. All the commons

Hate him perniciously, and, o' my conscience,
Wish him ten fathom deep: this duke as much
They love and dote on; call him, bounteous Buckingham,
The mirror of all courtesy ;-

1 Gen. Stay there, sir,

And see the noble ruin'd man you speak of.

Enter BUCKINGHAM, from his arraignment; Tipstaves before him; the axe with the edge towards him; Halberds on each side: with him, Sir THOMAS LOVELL, Sir NICHOLAs Vaux, Sir WILLIAM SANDS, and common People.

2 Gen. Let's stand close, and behold him. Buck. All good people,

You that thus far have come to pity me,

Hear what I say, and then go home and lose me.

I have this day receiv'd a traitor's judgment,

And by that name must die; Yet, heaven bear witness,
And, if I have a conscience, let it sink me,
Even as the axe falls, if I be not faithful!
The law I bear no malice for my death,

It has done, upon the premises, but justice :

But those, that sought it, I could wish more christians : Be what they will, I heartily forgive them :

Yet let them look they glory not in mischief,

Nor build their evils on the graves of great men ;
For then my guiltless blood must cry against them.
For further life in this world I ne'er hope,
Nor will I sue, although the king have mercies
More than I dare make faults. You few that lov'd me,'

[3] These lines are remarkably tender and pathetick.

JOHNSON.

And dare be bold to weep for Buckingham,
His noble friends, and fellows, whom to leave
Is only bitter to him, only dying,

Go with me, like good angels, to my end;
And, as the long divorce of steel falls on me,
Make of your prayers one sweet sacrifice,

And lift my soul to heaven.-Lead on, o'God's name.
Lov. I do beseech your grace, for charity,

If ever any malice in your heart

Were hid against me, now to forgive me frankly.
Buck. Sir Thomas Lovell, I as free forgive you,
As I would be forgiven: I forgive all ;

There cannot be those numberless offences
'Gainst me, I can't take peace with no black envy
Shall make my grave.-Commend me to his grace;
And, if he speak of Buckingham, pray, tell him,
You met him half in heaven: my vows and prayers
Yet are the king's; and, till my soul forsake me,
Shall cry for blessings on him: May he live
Longer than I have time to tell his years!
Ever belov'd, and loving, may his rule be!
And, when old time shall lead him to his end,
Goodness and he fill up one monument!

Lov. To th' water side I must conduct your grace;
Then give my charge up to sir Nicholas Vaux,
Who undertakes you to your end.

Vaux. Prepare there,

The duke is coming: see, the barge be ready;

And fit it with such furniture, as suits

The greatness of his person.

Buck. Nay, sir Nicholas,

Let it alone; my state now will but mock me.

When I came hither, I was lord high constable,

And duke of Buckingham; now, poor Edward Bohun :

Yet I am richer than my base accusers,

That never knew what truth meant: I now seal it ;

And with that blood will make them one day groan for't.
My noble father, Henry of Buckingham,

Who first rais'd head against usurping Richard,

Flying for succour to his servant Banister,

Being distress'd, was by that wretch betray'd,

[4] Shakespeare, by this expression, meant no more than to make the duke action expressive of malice shall conclude my life. Envy by our author, is used for malice and hatred, in other places, and, perhaps, in this. STEEVENS. [5] I now seal my truth, my loyalty, with blood, which blood shall one day make them groan. JOHNSON.

say,

No