The LIFE of

K. HENRY VIII.

ACTI.

SCENE, An Antechamber in the Palace.

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

G

BUCKINGHAM.

OOD morrow, and well met. How have

you done,

Since last we saw in France?

Nor. I thank your Grace:

Healthful, and ever since a fresh admirer

Of what I saw there.

Buck. An untimely ague

Staid me a prisoner in my chamber, when
Those suns of glory, those two lights of men,
Met in the vale of Arde.

Nor. 'Twixt Guynes and Arde :

I was then present, faw 'em falute on horfe-back,
Beheld them when they lighted, how they clung

In their embracement, as they grew together;
Which had they, what four thron'd ones could have

Such a compounded one?

Buck. All the whole time,

I was my chamber's prifoner.
Nor. Then you loft

[weigh'd

The view of earthly glory: men might say,
'Till this time Pomp was single, but now marry'd
To one above it self. Each following day
Became the next day's master, 'till the last
Made former wonders, its. To day the French,
All clinquant, all in gold, like heathen gods,
Shone down the English ; and to morrow they
Made Britain, India: every man that stood,
Shew'd like a mine. Their dwarfish pages were
As Cherubins, 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, incomparable; and th' ensuing night
Made it a fool and beggar. The two Kings,
Equal in luftre, were now best, now worst,
As prefence did present them; him in eye,
Still him in praise; and being present both,
'Twas faid, they saw but one; and no difcerner
Durst wag his tongue in censure. When these suns
(For fo they phrafe 'em) by their heralds challeng'd
The noble fpirits to arms, they did perform
Beyond thought's compass; that old fabulous story
(Being now feen poffible enough) got credit;
That't Bevis was believ'd.

1

Nor. As I belong to worship, and affect

Buck. Oh, you go far.,

:

In honour, honesty; the tract of every thing

Would by a good discourser lose some life,

Which Action's self was tongue to. All was royal; (3)

+ The old romantic legend of Bevis of Southampton.

(3) Which Action's self was Tongue to.

Buck. All was royal.

To the diffofing of it Nought rebelled s

:

Ta

...

Order

To the disposing of it nought rebell'd;
Order gave each thing view: The office did
Distinctly his full function.

Buck. Who did guide,

I mean, who set the body and the limbs
Of this great sport together, as you guess?
Nor. One, fure, that promises no element
In such a business.

Buck. Pray you, who, my lord?
Nor. All this was order'd by the good difcretion
Of the right rev'rend Cardinal of York.

Buck. The devil speed him! no man's pye is freed
From his ambitious finger. What had he
To do in these fierce vanities ? I wonder,
That such a ketch can with his very bulk
Take up the rays o'th' beneficial fun,
And keep it from the earth.

Nor. Yet, surely, Sir,
There's in him stuff that puts him to these ends.
For being not propt by ancestry, whose grace
Chalks successors their way; nor call'd upon
For high feats done to th' Crown; neither ally'd
To eminent assistants; but spider like

Out of his felf-drawn web; - this gives us note,
The force of his own merit makes his way;
A gift that heaven gives for him, which buys
A place next to the King.

Aber, I cannot tell

What heav'n hath giv'n him; let fome graver eye
Pierce into that: but I can see his pride

Peep through each part of him; whence has he that? (4)

A 4

Order gave each Thing View. The Office did

Distinctly his full Function. Who did, &c.]

If

Thus hitherto these Speeches have been regulated : but, I think, mistakingly. Buckingham could not with any Propriety say This; for he wanted Information as to the Magnificence, having kept his Chamber with an Ague during the Solemnity. I have therefore ventur'd to split the Speeches, so as to give them Probability, from the Persons speaking; without hazarding the Author's Sense by this new Regulation.

(4)

whence has he that,

If not from hell? the Devil] Thus has this Passage been pointed in all

the

If not from hell, the devil is a niggard,
Or has given all before; and he begins
A new hell in himself.

Buck. Why the devil,.
Upon this French going out, took he upon him,
Without the privity o'th' King, t'appoint
Who should attend him? he makes up the file
Of all the gentry: for the most part such,
To whom as great a charge as little honour
He meant to lay upon : And his own letter
(The honourable board of council out)
Muft fetch in him he papers.

Aber. I do know

Kinsmen of mine, three at the least, that have

By this so sicken'd their estates, that never

They shall abound as formerly.

Buck. O, many

Have broke their backs with laying mannors on 'em

For this great journey.

What did this vanity

But minister communication of

A most poor issue ?

Nor. Grievingly, I think,

The peace between the French and us not values

The cost, that did conclude it.

Buck. Every man,

After the hideous storm that follow'd, was
A thing inspir'd; and not confulting, broke
Into a general prophefie, that this tempeft,
Dashing the garment of this peace, aboaded
The fudden breach on't.

Nor. Which is budded out:

:

For France hath flaw'd the league, and hath attach'd
Our merchants goods at Bourdeaux.
Aber. Is it therefore.

Th' ambassador is filenc'd?

Nor. Marry, is't.

Aber. A proper title of a peace, and purchas'd At a fuperfluous rate !

Buck. Why all this business
Our rev'rend 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 tow'rds 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 pow'r. You know his nature,
That he's revengeful; and, I know, his sword
Hath a sharp edge: it's long, and't may be faid,
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 Wolfey, the purse born 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 ?

Secr. Here, so please you.

Wol. Is he in person ready?

Secr. Ay, an't please your Grace.

Wol. Well, we shall then know more;

And Buckingham shall lessen this big look.

[Exeunt Cardinal and his train.

Buck. This butcher's cur is venom-mouth'd, and I
Have not the pow'r 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 temp'rance; that's th'appliance only,
Which your disease requires.