Complete Plays, The

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Complete Plays, The Page 232

by William Shakespeare

Which of the peers

  Have uncontemn’d gone by him, or at least

  Strangely neglected? when did he regard

  The stamp of nobleness in any person

  Out of himself?

  Chamberlain

  My lords, you speak your pleasures:

  What he deserves of you and me I know;

  What we can do to him, though now the time

  Gives way to us, I much fear. If you cannot

  Bar his access to the king, never attempt

  Any thing on him; for he hath a witchcraft

  Over the king in’s tongue.

  Norfolk

  O, fear him not;

  His spell in that is out: the king hath found

  Matter against him that for ever mars

  The honey of his language. No, he’s settled,

  Not to come off, in his displeasure.

  Surrey

  Sir,

  I should be glad to hear such news as this

  Once every hour.

  Norfolk

  Believe it, this is true:

  In the divorce his contrary proceedings

  Are all unfolded wherein he appears

  As I would wish mine enemy.

  Surrey

  How came

  His practises to light?

  Suffolk

  Most strangely.

  Surrey

  O, how, how?

  Suffolk

  The cardinal’s letters to the pope miscarried,

  And came to the eye o’ the king: wherein was read,

  How that the cardinal did entreat his holiness

  To stay the judgment o’ the divorce; for if

  It did take place, ‘I do,’ quoth he, ‘perceive

  My king is tangled in affection to

  A creature of the queen’s, Lady Anne Bullen.’

  Surrey

  Has the king this?

  Suffolk

  Believe it.

  Surrey

  Will this work?

  Chamberlain

  The king in this perceives him, how he coasts

  And hedges his own way. But in this point

  All his tricks founder, and he brings his physic

  After his patient’s death: the king already

  Hath married the fair lady.

  Surrey

  Would he had!

  Suffolk

  May you be happy in your wish, my lord

  For, I profess, you have it.

  Surrey

  Now, all my joy

  Trace the conjunction!

  Suffolk

  My amen to’t!

  Norfolk

  All men’s!

  Suffolk

  There’s order given for her coronation:

  Marry, this is yet but young, and may be left

  To some ears unrecounted. But, my lords,

  She is a gallant creature, and complete

  In mind and feature: I persuade me, from her

  Will fall some blessing to this land, which shall

  In it be memorised.

  Surrey

  But, will the king

  Digest this letter of the cardinal’s?

  The Lord forbid!

  Norfolk

  Marry, amen!

  Suffolk

  No, no;

  There be moe wasps that buzz about his nose

  Will make this sting the sooner. Cardinal Campeius

  Is stol’n away to Rome; hath ta’en no leave;

  Has left the cause o’ the king unhandled; and

  Is posted, as the agent of our cardinal,

  To second all his plot. I do assure you

  The king cried Ha! at this.

  Chamberlain

  Now, God incense him,

  And let him cry Ha! louder!

  Norfolk

  But, my lord,

  When returns Cranmer?

  Suffolk

  He is return’d in his opinions; which

  Have satisfied the king for his divorce,

  Together with all famous colleges

  Almost in Christendom: shortly, I believe,

  His second marriage shall be publish’d, and

  Her coronation. Katharine no more

  Shall be call’d queen, but princess dowager

  And widow to Prince Arthur.

  Norfolk

  This same Cranmer’s

  A worthy fellow, and hath ta’en much pain

  In the king’s business.

  Suffolk

  He has; and we shall see him

  For it an archbishop.

  Norfolk

  So I hear.

  Suffolk

  ’Tis so.

  The cardinal!

  Enter Cardinal Wolsey and Cromwell

  Norfolk

  Observe, observe, he’s moody.

  Cardinal Wolsey

  The packet, Cromwell.

  Gave’t you the king?

  Cromwell

  To his own hand, in’s bedchamber.

  Cardinal Wolsey

  Look’d he o’ the inside of the paper?

  Cromwell

  Presently

  He did unseal them: and the first he view’d,

  He did it with a serious mind; a heed

  Was in his countenance. You he bade

  Attend him here this morning.

  Cardinal Wolsey

  Is he ready

  To come abroad?

  Cromwell

  I think, by this he is.

  Cardinal Wolsey

  Leave me awhile.

  Exit Cromwell

  Aside

  It shall be to the Duchess of Alencon,

  The French king’s sister: he shall marry her.

  Anne Bullen! No; I’ll no Anne Bullens for him:

  There’s more in’t than fair visage. Bullen!

  No, we’ll no Bullens. Speedily I wish

  To hear from Rome. The Marchioness of Pembroke!

  Norfolk

  He’s discontented.

  Suffolk

  May be, he hears the king

  Does whet his anger to him.

  Surrey

  Sharp enough,

  Lord, for thy justice!

  Cardinal Wolsey

  [Aside] The late queen’s gentlewoman, a knight’s daughter,

  To be her mistress’ mistress! the queen’s queen!

  This candle burns not clear: ’tis I must snuff it;

  Then out it goes. What though I know her virtuous

  And well deserving? yet I know her for

  A spleeny Lutheran; and not wholesome to

  Our cause, that she should lie i’ the bosom of

  Our hard-ruled king. Again, there is sprung up

  An heretic, an arch one, Cranmer; one

  Hath crawl’d into the favour of the king,

  And is his oracle.

  Norfolk

  He is vex’d at something.

  Surrey

  I would ’twere something that would fret the string,

  The master-cord on’s heart!

  Enter King Henry VIII, reading of a schedule, and Lovell

  Suffolk

  The king, the king!

  King Henry VIII

  What piles of wealth hath he accumulated

  To his own portion! and what expense by the hour

  Seems to flow from him! How, i’ the name of thrift,

  Does he rake this together! Now, my lords,

  Saw you the cardinal?

  Norfolk

  My lord, we have

  Stood here observing him: some strange commotion

  Is in his brain: he bites his lip, and starts;

  Stops on a sudden, looks upon the ground,

  Then lays his finger on his temple, straight

  Springs out into fast gait; then stops again,

  Strikes his breast hard, and anon he casts

  His eye against the moon: in most strange postures

  We have seen him set hims
elf.

  King Henry VIII

  It may well be;

  There is a mutiny in’s mind. This morning

  Papers of state he sent me to peruse,

  As I required: and wot you what I found

  There,— on my conscience, put unwittingly?

  Forsooth, an inventory, thus importing;

  The several parcels of his plate, his treasure,

  Rich stuffs, and ornaments of household; which

  I find at such proud rate, that it out-speaks

  Possession of a subject.

  Norfolk

  It’s heaven’s will:

  Some spirit put this paper in the packet,

  To bless your eye withal.

  King Henry VIII

  If we did think

  His contemplation were above the earth,

  And fix’d on spiritual object, he should still

  Dwell in his musings: but I am afraid

  His thinkings are below the moon, not worth

  His serious considering.

  King Henry VIII takes his seat; whispers Lovell, who goes to Cardinal Wolsey

  Cardinal Wolsey

  Heaven forgive me!

  Ever God bless your highness!

  King Henry VIII

  Good my lord,

  You are full of heavenly stuff, and bear the inventory

  Of your best graces in your mind; the which

  You were now running o’er: you have scarce time

  To steal from spiritual leisure a brief span

  To keep your earthly audit: sure, in that

  I deem you an ill husband, and am glad

  To have you therein my companion.

  Cardinal Wolsey

  Sir,

  For holy offices I have a time; a time

  To think upon the part of business which

  I bear i’ the state; and nature does require

  Her times of preservation, which perforce

  I, her frail son, amongst my brethren mortal,

  Must give my tendence to.

  King Henry VIII

  You have said well.

  Cardinal Wolsey

  And ever may your highness yoke together,

  As I will lend you cause, my doing well

  With my well saying!

  King Henry VIII

  ’Tis well said again;

  And ’tis a kind of good deed to say well:

  And yet words are no deeds. My father loved you:

  His said he did; and with his deed did crown

  His word upon you. Since I had my office,

  I have kept you next my heart; have not alone

  Employ’d you where high profits might come home,

  But pared my present havings, to bestow

  My bounties upon you.

  Cardinal Wolsey

  [Aside] What should this mean?

  Surrey

  [Aside] The Lord increase this business!

  King Henry VIII

  Have I not made you,

  The prime man of the state? I pray you, tell me,

  If what I now pronounce you have found true:

  And, if you may confess it, say withal,

  If you are bound to us or no. What say you?

  Cardinal Wolsey

  My sovereign, I confess your royal graces,

  Shower’d on me daily, have been more than could

  My studied purposes requite; which went

  Beyond all man’s endeavours: my endeavours

  Have ever come too short of my desires,

  Yet filed with my abilities: mine own ends

  Have been mine so that evermore they pointed

  To the good of your most sacred person and

  The profit of the state. For your great graces

  Heap’d upon me, poor undeserver, I

  Can nothing render but allegiant thanks,

  My prayers to heaven for you, my loyalty,

  Which ever has and ever shall be growing,

  Till death, that winter, kill it.

  King Henry VIII

  Fairly answer’d;

  A loyal and obedient subject is

  Therein illustrated: the honour of it

  Does pay the act of it; as, i’ the contrary,

  The foulness is the punishment. I presume

  That, as my hand has open’d bounty to you,

  My heart dropp’d love, my power rain’d honour, more

  On you than any; so your hand and heart,

  Your brain, and every function of your power,

  Should, notwithstanding that your bond of duty,

  As ’twere in love’s particular, be more

  To me, your friend, than any.

  Cardinal Wolsey

  I do profess

  That for your highness’ good I ever labour’d

  More than mine own; that am, have, and will be —

  Though all the world should crack their duty to you,

  And throw it from their soul; though perils did

  Abound, as thick as thought could make ’em, and

  Appear in forms more horrid,— yet my duty,

  As doth a rock against the chiding flood,

  Should the approach of this wild river break,

  And stand unshaken yours.

  King Henry VIII

  ’Tis nobly spoken:

  Take notice, lords, he has a loyal breast,

  For you have seen him open’t. Read o’er this;

  Giving him papers

  And after, this: and then to breakfast with

  What appetite you have.

  Exit King Henry VIII, frowning upon Cardinal Wolsey: the Nobles throng after him, smiling and whispering

  Cardinal Wolsey

  What should this mean?

  What sudden anger’s this? how have I reap’d it?

  He parted frowning from me, as if ruin

  Leap’d from his eyes: so looks the chafed lion

  Upon the daring huntsman that has gall’d him;

  Then makes him nothing. I must read this paper;

  I fear, the story of his anger. ’Tis so;

  This paper has undone me: ’tis the account

  Of all that world of wealth I have drawn together

  For mine own ends; indeed, to gain the popedom,

  And fee my friends in Rome. O negligence!

  Fit for a fool to fall by: what cross devil

  Made me put this main secret in the packet

  I sent the king? Is there no way to cure this?

  No new device to beat this from his brains?

  I know ’twill stir him strongly; yet I know

  A way, if it take right, in spite of fortune

  Will bring me off again. What’s this? ‘To the Pope!’

  The letter, as I live, with all the business

  I writ to’s holiness. Nay then, farewell!

  I have touch’d the highest point of all my greatness;

  And, from that full meridian of my glory,

  I haste now to my setting: I shall fall

  Like a bright exhalation m the evening,

  And no man see me more.

  Re-enter to Cardinal Wolsey, Norfolk and Suffolk, Surrey, and the Chamberlain

  Norfolk

  Hear the king’s pleasure, cardinal: who commands you

  To render up the great seal presently

  Into our hands; and to confine yourself

  To Asher House, my Lord of Winchester’s,

  Till you hear further from his highness.

  Cardinal Wolsey

  Stay:

  Where’s your commission, lords? words cannot carry

  Authority so weighty.

  Suffolk

  Who dare cross ’em,

  Bearing the king’s will from his mouth expressly?

  Cardinal Wolsey

  Till I find more than will or words to do it,

  I mean your malice, know, officious lords,

  I dare and must deny it. Now I feel

 
Of what coarse metal ye are moulded, envy:

  How eagerly ye follow my disgraces,

  As if it fed ye! and how sleek and wanton

  Ye appear in every thing may bring my ruin!

  Follow your envious courses, men of malice;

  You have Christian warrant for ’em, and, no doubt,

  In time will find their fit rewards. That seal,

  You ask with such a violence, the king,

  Mine and your master, with his own hand gave me;

  Bade me enjoy it, with the place and honours,

  During my life; and, to confirm his goodness,

  Tied it by letters-patents: now, who’ll take it?

  Surrey

  The king, that gave it.

  Cardinal Wolsey

  It must be himself, then.

  Surrey

  Thou art a proud traitor, priest.

  Cardinal Wolsey

  Proud lord, thou liest:

  Within these forty hours Surrey durst better

  Have burnt that tongue than said so.

  Surrey

  Thy ambition,

  Thou scarlet sin, robb’d this bewailing land

  Of noble Buckingham, my father-in-law:

  The heads of all thy brother cardinals,

  With thee and all thy best parts bound together,

  Weigh’d not a hair of his. Plague of your policy!

  You sent me deputy for Ireland;

  Far from his succor, from the king, from all

  That might have mercy on the fault thou gavest him;

  Whilst your great goodness, out of holy pity,

  Absolved him with an axe.

  Cardinal Wolsey

  This, and all else

  This talking lord can lay upon my credit,

  I answer is most false. The duke by law

  Found his deserts: how innocent I was

  From any private malice in his end,

  His noble jury and foul cause can witness.

  If I loved many words, lord, I should tell you

  You have as little honesty as honour,

  That in the way of loyalty and truth

  Toward the king, my ever royal master,

  Dare mate a sounder man than Surrey can be,

  And all that love his follies.

  Surrey

  By my soul,

  Your long coat, priest, protects you; thou shouldst feel

  My sword i’ the life-blood of thee else. My lords,

  Can ye endure to hear this arrogance?

  And from this fellow? if we live thus tamely,

  To be thus jaded by a piece of scarlet,

  Farewell nobility; let his grace go forward,

  And dare us with his cap like larks.

  Cardinal Wolsey

  All goodness

  Is poison to thy stomach.

  Surrey

  Yes, that goodness

  Of gleaning all the land’s wealth into one,

  Into your own hands, cardinal, by extortion;

  The goodness of your intercepted packets

  You writ to the pope against the king: your goodness,

  Since you provoke me, shall be most notorious.

  My Lord of Norfolk, as you are truly noble,

  As you respect the common good, the state

 

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