Pass away frowning.
SANDYS For my little cure
Let me alone.
Hautboys. Enter Cardinal WOLSEY and takes his state.
WOLSEY
You’re welcome, my fair guests. That noble lady
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Or gentleman that is not freely merry
Is not my friend. This, to confirm my welcome;
And to you all, good health!
SANDYS Your grace is noble:
Let me have such a bowl may hold my thanks
And save me so much talking.
WOLSEY My lord Sandys,
40
I am beholding to you. Cheer your neighbours.
Ladies, you are not merry. Gentlemen,
Whose fault is this?
SANDYS The red wine first must rise
In their fair cheeks, my lord; then we shall have ’em
Talk us to silence.
ANNE You are a merry gamester,
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My lord Sandys.
SANDYS Yes, if I make my play.
Here’s to your ladyship; and pledge it, madam,
For ’tis to such a thing –
ANNE You cannot show me.
SANDYS I told your grace they would talk anon.
[Drum and trumpet. Chambers discharged.]
WOLSEY What’s that?
CHAMBERLAIN Look out there, some of ye.
WOLSEY What warlike voice,
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And to what end, is this? Nay, ladies, fear not:
By all the laws of war you’re privileged.
Enter a Servant.
CHAMBERLAIN How now, what is’t?
SERVANT A noble troop of strangers,
For so they seem. They’ve left their barge and landed,
And hither make, as great ambassadors
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From foreign princes.
WOLSEY Good Lord Chamberlain,
Go, give ’em welcome – you can speak the French tongue –
And pray receive ’em nobly, and conduct ’em
Into our presence, where this heaven of beauty
Shall shine at full upon them. Some attend him.
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Exit Lord Chamberlain, attended.
[All rise, 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 ye. Welcome all!
Hautboys. Enter KING and others as masquers, habited like shepherds, ushered by the Lord CHAMBERLAIN. They pass directly before the Cardinal and gracefully salute him.
A noble company. What are their pleasures?
CHAMBERLAIN
Because they speak no English, thus they prayed
To tell your grace: that having heard by fame
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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 fair conduct,
Crave leave to view these ladies and entreat
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An hour of revels with ’em.
WOLSEY Say, Lord Chamberlain,
They have done my poor house grace; for which I pay ’em
A thousand thanks and pray ’em take their pleasures.
[The masquers choose ladies. The King chooses Anne
Bullen.]
KING The fairest hand I ever touched. O Beauty,
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Till now I never knew thee. [Music. Dance.]
WOLSEY My lord.
CHAMBERLAIN Your grace?
WOLSEY Pray tell ’em thus much from me:
There should be one amongst ’em by his person
More worthy this place than myself, to whom,
If I but knew him, with my love and duty
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I would surrender it.
CHAMBERLAIN I will, my lord.
[Chamberlain talks in a whisper with the masquers].
WOLSEY What say they?
CHAMBERLAIN Such a one they all confess
There is indeed, which they would have your grace
Find out, and he will take it.
WOLSEY Let me see, then.
By all your good leaves, gentlemen, here I’ll make
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My royal choice.
KING Ye have found him, Cardinal.
[Unmasks.]
You hold a fair assembly. You do well, lord:
You are a churchman, or I’ll tell you, Cardinal,
I should judge now unhappily.
WOLSEY I am glad
Your grace is grown so pleasant.
KING My lord Chamberlain,
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Prithee come hither. What fair lady’s that?
CHAMBERLAIN
An’t please your grace, Sir Thomas Bullen’s daughter,
The Viscount Rochford, one of her highness’ women.
KING
By heaven, she is a dainty one. [to Anne] Sweetheart,
I were unmannerly to take you out
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And not to kiss you. A health, gentlemen!
Let it go round.
WOLSEY Sir Thomas Lovell, is the banquet ready
I’th’ privy chamber?
LOVELL Yes, my lord.
WOLSEY Your grace,
I fear, with dancing is a little heated.
100
KING I fear too much.
WOLSEY There’s fresher air, my lord,
In the next chamber.
KING Lead in your ladies, everyone. Sweet partner,
I must not yet forsake you. Let’s be merry,
Good my lord Cardinal. I have half a dozen healths
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To drink to these fair ladies, and a measure
To lead ’em once again, and then let’s dream
Who’s best in favour. Let the music knock it.
Exeunt with trumpets.
2.1 Enter two Gentlemen at several doors.
1 GENTLEMAN Whither away so fast?
2 GENTLEMAN O, God save ye.
Even to the Hall to hear what shall become
Of the great Duke of Buckingham.
1 GENTLEMAN I’ll save you
That labour, sir. All’s now done but the ceremony
Of bringing back the prisoner.
2 GENTLEMAN Were you there?
5
1 GENTLEMAN Yes, indeed was I.
2 GENTLEMAN Pray speak what has happened.
1 GENTLEMAN
You may guess quickly what.
2 GENTLEMAN Is he found guilty?
1 GENTLEMAN Yes, truly is he, and condemned upon’t.
2 GENTLEMAN I am sorry for’t.
1 GENTLEMAN So are a number more.
2 GENTLEMAN But pray, how passed it?
10
1 GENTLEMAN I’ll tell you in a little. The great Duke
Came to the bar, where to his accusations
He pleaded still not guilty and alleged
Many sharp reasons to defeat the law.
The King’s attorney, on the contrary,
15
Urged on the examinations, proofs, confessions,
Of diverse witnesses, which the Duke desired
To have brought viva voce to his face;
At which appeared against him his surveyor,
Sir Gilbert Park his chancellor, and John Court,
20
Confessor to him, with that devil monk,
Hopkins, that made this mischief.
2 GENTLEMAN That was he
That fed him with his prophecies.
1 GENTLEMAN The same.
All these accused him strongly, which he fain
Would have flung from him, but indeed he could not.
25
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 GENTLEMAN After all this, how did he bear himself?
30
1 GENTLEMAN
When he was brought again to th’ bar to hear
His knell rung out, his judgement, he was stirred
With such an agony he sweat extremely
And something spoke in choler, ill and hasty;
But he fell to himself again, and sweetly
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In all the rest showed a most noble patience.
2 GENTLEMAN I do not think he fears death.
1 GENTLEMAN Sure he does not;
He never was so womanish. The cause
He may a little grieve at.
2 GENTLEMAN Certainly
The Cardinal is the end of this.
1 GENTLEMAN ’Tis likely,
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By all conjectures: first, Kildare’s attainder,
Then Deputy of Ireland, who removed,
Earl Surrey was sent thither, and in haste too,
Lest he should help his father.
2 GENTLEMAN That trick of state
Was a deep envious one.
1 GENTLEMAN At his return
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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 GENTLEMAN All the commons
Hate him perniciously and, o’my conscience,
50
Wish him ten fathom deep. This Duke as much
They love and dote on, call him ‘bounteous Buckingham,
The mirror of all courtesy’ –
Enter BUCKINGHAM from his arraignment, tipstaves before him, the axe with the edge towards him, halberds on each side, accompanied with Sir Thomas LOVELL, Sir Nicholas VAUX, Lord SANDYS, attendants and common people.
1 GENTLEMAN Stay there, sir,
And see the noble ruined man you speak of.
2 GENTLEMAN Let’s stand close and behold him.
BUCKINGHAM All good people,
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You that thus far have come to pity me,
Hear what I say, and then go home and lose me.
I have this day received a traitor’s judgement,
And by that name must die; yet heaven bear witness,
And if I have a conscience, let it sink me,
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Even as the axe falls, if I be not faithful.
The law I bear no malice for my death –
’T has done upon the premises but justice –
But those that sought it I could wish more Christians.
Be what they will, I heartily forgive ’em.
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Yet let ’em look they glory not in mischief
Nor build their evils on the graves of great men,
For then my guiltless blood must cry against ’em.
For further life in this world I ne’er hope,
Nor will I sue, although the King have mercies
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More than I dare make faults. You few that loved me
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,
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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, i’God’s name.
LOVELL I do beseech your grace, for charity,
If ever any malice in your heart
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Were hid against me, now to forgive me frankly.
BUCKINGHAM Sir Thomas Lovell, I as free forgive you
As I would be forgiven. I forgive all.
There cannot be those numberless offences
’Gainst me that I cannot take peace with. No black envy
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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,
Shall cry for blessings on him. May he live
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Longer than I have time to tell his years;
Ever beloved and loving may his rule be;
And when old Time shall lead him to his end,
Goodness and he fill up one monument.
LOVELL To th’ waterside I must conduct your grace,
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Then give my charge up to Sir Nicholas Vaux,
Who undertakes you to your end.
The Arden Shakespeare Complete Works Page 249
