The Prologue
[Enter Prologue]
I come no more to make you laugh: things now
That bear a weighty and a serious brow,
Sad, high, and working, full of state3 and woe:
Such noble scenes as draw the eye to flow
We now present. Those that can pity here
May, if they think it well, let fall a tear:
The subject will deserve it. Such as give
Their money out of hope they may believe,
May here find truth too. Those that come to see
Only a show10 or two, and so agree
The play may pass, if they be still, and willing11,
I'll undertake may see away their shilling12
Richly in two short hours13. Only they
That come to hear a merry, bawdy play,
A noise of targets15, or to see a fellow
In a long motley coat guarded with yellow16,
Will be deceived. For, gentle hearers, know17
To rank our chosen truth with such a show
As fool and fight is, beside forfeiting19
Our own brains, and the opinion that we bring20
To make that only true we now intend,
Will leave us never an understanding22 friend.
Therefore, for goodness' sake, and as you are known
The first and happiest24 hearers of the town,
Be sad25, as we would make ye. Think ye see
The very persons of our noble story
As they were living: think you see them great27,
And followed with the general throng and sweat
Of thousand friends: then, in a moment, see
How soon this mightiness meets misery:
And if you can be merry then, I'll say
A man may weep upon his wedding day.
[Exit]
Act 1 Scene 1
running scene 1
Enter the Duke of Norfolk at one door. At the other, the Duke of Buckingham and the Lord Abergavenny
BUCKINGHAM Good morrow, and well met. How have ye done
Since last we saw2 in France?
NORFOLK I thank your grace:
Healthful, and ever since a fresh4 admirer
Of what I saw there5.
BUCKINGHAM An untimely ague6
Stayed7 me a prisoner in my chamber when
Those suns of glory, those two lights of men,
Met in the vale of Andres.
NORFOLK 'Twixt Guines and Ardres10:
I was then present, saw them salute on horseback,
Beheld them when they lighted12, how they clung
In their embracement as13 they grew together,
Which had they, what four throned ones could have weighed14
Such a compounded one?
BUCKINGHAM All the whole time
I was my chamber's prisoner.
NORFOLK Then you lost
The view of earthly glory: men might say
Till this time pomp20 was single, but now married
To one above itself. Each following day21
Became the next day's master22, till the last
Made former wonders its23. Today the French,
All clinquant24, all in gold, like heathen gods
Shone down the English; and tomorrow they25
Made Britain India26: every man that stood
Showed27 like a mine. Their dwarfish pages were
As cherubins, all gilt: the madams28 too,
Not used to toil, did almost sweat to bear
The pride upon them, that their very labour30
Was to them as a painting. Now this masque31
Was cried incomparable, and th'ensuing night32
Made it a fool and beggar33. The two kings,
Equal in lustre, were now best, now worst34,
As presence did present them: him in eye35,
Still him in praise, and being present both36,
'Twas said they saw but one, and no discerner37
Durst wag his tongue in censure38. When these suns --
For so they phrase39 'em -- by their heralds challenged
The noble spirits to arms, they did perform40
Beyond thought's compass, that former fabulous story41,
Being now seen possible enough, got credit,
That Bevis43 was believed.
BUCKINGHAM O, you go far44.
NORFOLK As I belong to worship, and affect45
In honour honesty, the tract46 of ev'rything
Which action's self was tongue to. All was royal:
To the disposing of it nought rebelled49:
Order gave each thing view. The office did50
Distinctly his full function.
BUCKINGHAM Who did guide --
I mean, who set the body and the limbs
Of this great sport54 together, as you guess?
NORFOLK One, certes, that promises no element55
In such a business.
BUCKINGHAM I pray you who, my lord?
NORFOLK All this was ordered by the good discretion58
Of the right reverend Cardinal of York59.
BUCKINGHAM The devil speed60 him! No man's pie is freed
From his ambitious finger. What had he
To do in these fierce vanities62? I wonder
That such a keech63 can with his very bulk
Take up the rays o'th'beneficial sun64
And keep it from the earth.
NORFOLK Surely, sir,
There's in him stuff that puts67 him to these ends:
For being not propped by ancestry, whose grace68
Chalks69 successors their way, nor called upon
For high feats70 done to th'crown, neither allied
To eminent assistants71, but spider-like,
Out of his self-drawing web, a gives us note72,
The force of his own merit makes his way
A gift that heaven gives for him, which buys
A place next to75 the king.
ABERGAVENNY I cannot tell
What heaven hath given him -- let some graver77 eye
Pierce into that -- but I can see his pride
Peep through each part of him: whence has he that,
If not from hell? The devil is a niggard80,
Or has given all before, and he81 begins
A new hell in himself.
BUCKINGHAM Why the devil,
Upon this French going out84, took he upon him,
Without the privity85 o'th'king, t'appoint
Who should attend on him? He makes up the file86
Of all the gentry: for the most part such87
To whom as great a charge as little honour
He meant to lay upon: and his own letter89,
The honourable board of council out90,
Must fetch him in, he papers91.
ABERGAVENNY I do know
Kinsmen of mine, three at the least, that have
By this so sickened94 their estates, that never
They shall abound95 as formerly.
BUCKINGHAM O, many
Have broke their backs with laying manors on 'em97
For this great journey. What did this vanity98
But minister communication of99
A most poor issue?
NORFOLK Grievingly101 I think
The peace between the French and us not values102
The cost that did conclude it.
BUCKINGHAM Every man,
After the hideous storm that followed, was
A thing inspired, and, not consulting106, broke
Into a general107 prophecy: that this tempest,
Dashing the garment of this peace, aboded108
The sudden breach on't109.
NORFOLK Which is budded out110,
For France hath flawed the league, and hath attached111
Our merchants' goods at Bordeaux.
ABERGAVENNY Is it therefo
re113
Th'ambassador is silenced114?
NORFOLK Marry115, is't.
ABERGAVENNY A proper title of116 a peace, and purchased
At a superfluous rate117.
BUCKINGHAM Why, all this business
Our reverend cardinal carried119.
NORFOLK Like it120 your grace,
The state takes notice of the private difference121
Betwixt you and the cardinal. I advise you --
And take it from a heart that wishes towards you
Honour and plenteous safety -- that you read124
The cardinal's malice and his potency125
Together: to consider further that
What his high hatred would effect wants127 not
A minister128 in his power. You know his nature,
That he's revengeful: and I know his sword
Hath a sharp edge: it's long and't may be said,
It reaches far, and where 'twill not extend,
Thither he darts it. Bosom up132 my counsel,
You'll find it wholesome. Lo133, where comes that rock
That I advise your shunning.
Enter Cardinal Wolsey, the purse borne 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
CARDINAL WOLSEY The Duke of Buckingham's surveyor135, ha?
Where's his examination136?
SECRETARY Here, so please you.
CARDINAL WOLSEY Is he in person ready?
SECRETARY Ay, please your grace.
CARDINAL WOLSEY Well, we shall then know more, and Buckingham
Shall lessen this big141 look.
Exeunt Cardinal and his train
BUCKINGHAM This butcher's cur142 is venom-mouthed, and I
Have not the power to muzzle him: therefore best
Not wake him in his slumber. A beggar's book144
Outworths a noble's blood.
NORFOLK What, are you chafed146?
Ask God for temp'rance: that's th'appliance only147
Which your disease requires.
BUCKINGHAM I read in's looks
Matter150 against me, and his eye reviled
Me as his abject object151: at this instant
He bores152 me with some trick: he's gone to th'king:
I'll follow, and outstare him.
NORFOLK Stay, my lord,
And let your reason with your choler155 question
What 'tis you go about: to climb steep hills
Requires slow pace at first. Anger is like
A full hot158 horse, who being allowed his way,
Self-mettle159 tires him: not a man in England
Can advise me like you: be to yourself
As you would to your friend.
BUCKINGHAM I'll to the king,
And from a mouth of honour quite163 cry down
This Ipswich164 fellow's insolence, or proclaim
There's difference165 in no persons.
NORFOLK Be advised166:
Heat not a furnace for your foe so hot
That it do singe yourself. We may outrun,
By violent swiftness, that which we run at,
And lose by overrunning170: know you not
The fire that mounts171 the liquor till't run o'er,
In seeming to augment it wastes it? Be advised:
I say again there is no English soul
More stronger to direct you than yourself,
If with the sap of reason you would quench
Or but allay176 the fire of passion.
BUCKINGHAM Sir,
I am thankful to you, and I'll go along
By your prescription: but this top-proud179 fellow --
Whom from the flow of gall180 I name not, but
From sincere motions -- by intelligence181,
And proofs as clear as founts182 in July when
We see each grain of gravel, I do know
To be corrupt and treasonous.
NORFOLK Say not 'treasonous'.
BUCKINGHAM To th'king I'll say't, and make my vouch186 as strong
As shore of rock: attend. This holy fox,
Or wolf, or both -- for he is equal188 rav'nous
As he is subtle189, and as prone to mischief
As able to perform't, his mind and place190
Infecting one another, yea, reciprocally --
Only to show his pomp192 as well in France
As here at home, suggests193 the king our master
To this last costly treaty, th'interview194
That swallowed so much treasure195, and like a glass
Did break i'th'wrenching196.
NORFOLK Faith, and so it did.
BUCKINGHAM Pray give me favour198, sir: this cunning cardinal
The articles o'th'combination drew199
As himself pleased: and they were ratified
As he cried 'Thus let be', to as much end201
As give a crutch to th'dead. But our count-cardinal202
Has done this, and 'tis well: for worthy Wolsey,
Who cannot err, he did it. Now this follows --
Which, as I take it, is a kind of puppy
To th'old dam treason -- Charles the Emperor206,
Under pretence to see the queen his aunt --
For 'twas indeed his colour208, but he came
To whisper209 Wolsey -- here makes visitation:
His fears were that the interview betwixt
England and France might through their amity
Breed him some prejudice, for from this league
Peeped harms that menaced him. He privily213
Deals with our cardinal, and as I trow214 --
Which I do well, for I am sure the emperor
Paid ere216 he promised, whereby his suit was granted
Ere it was asked -- but217 when the way was made
And paved with gold, the emperor thus desired
That he219 would please to alter the king's course,
And break the foresaid peace. Let the king know,
As soon he shall by me, that thus the cardinal
Does buy and sell his honour as he222 pleases,
And for his own advantage.
NORFOLK I am sorry
To hear this of him, and could wish he were
Something mistaken226 in't.
BUCKINGHAM No, not a syllable:
I do pronounce him in that very shape
He shall appear in proof229.
Enter Brandon, a Sergeant-at-Arms before him, and two or three of the Guard
BRANDON Your office230, sergeant: execute it.
To Buckingham
SERGEANT Sir,
My lord the Duke of Buckingham, and Earl
Of Hertford233, Stafford and Northampton, I
Arrest thee of high treason, in the name
Of our most sovereign king.
BUCKINGHAM Lo you, my lord,
The net has fall'n upon me: I shall perish
Under device and practice238.
BRANDON I am sorry
To see you ta'en from liberty, to look on240
The business present. 'Tis his highness' pleasure241
You shall to th'Tower242.
BUCKINGHAM It will help me nothing243
To plead mine innocence, for that dye is on me
Which makes my whit'st part black. The will of heav'n
Be done in this and all things: I obey.
O my Lord Aberga'nny, fare you well.
To Abergavenny
BRANDON Nay, he must bear you company.-- The king
Is pleased you shall to th'Tower, till you know
How he determines further.
ABERGAVENNY As the duke said,
The will of heaven be done, and the king's pleasure
By me obeyed.
BRANDON Here is a warrant from
The king t'attach Lord Montague and the bodies255
Of the duke's conf
essor, John de la Car,
One Gilbert Perk, his chancellor--
BUCKINGHAM So, so;
These are the limbs o'th'plot: no more, I hope.
BRANDON A monk o'th'Chartreux260.
BUCKINGHAM O, Nicholas Hopkins?
BRANDON He.
BUCKINGHAM My surveyor is false263: the o'er-great cardinal
Hath showed him gold: my life is spanned264 already:
I am the shadow of poor Buckingham265,
Whose figure even this instant cloud puts on267,
By dark'ning my clear sun. My lord, farewell.
Exeunt
Act 1 Scene 2
running scene 2
Cornets. Enter King Henry [VIII], leaning on the Cardinal [Wolsey]'s shoulder, the Nobles, [Wolsey's Secretary] and Sir Thomas Lovell: the Cardinal places himself under the King's feet on his right side
KING HENRY VIII My life itself, and the best heart1 of it,
Thanks you for this great care: I stood i'th'level2
Of a full-charged confederacy3, and give thanks
To you that choked it. Let be called before us
That gentleman of Buckingham's: in person
I'll hear him his confessions justify6,
And point by point the treasons of his master
He shall again relate.
A noise within crying 'Room for the Queen, ushered by the Duke of Norfolk'. Enter the Queen [Katherine], Norfolk and Suffolk: she kneels. [The] King riseth from his state, takes her up, kisses and placeth her by him
QUEEN KATHERINE Nay, we must longer kneel: I am a suitor9.
KING HENRY VIII Arise, and take place10 by us: half your suit
The Queen moves to his side
Never name to us: you have half our power:
The other moiety12 ere you ask is given:
Repeat your will13 and take it.
QUEEN KATHERINE Thank14 your majesty.
That you would love yourself, and in that love
Not unconsidered leave your honour, nor
The dignity17 of your office, is the point
Of my petition.