William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition (378 page)
Read William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition Online
Authors: William Shakespeare
Tags: #Drama, #Literary Criticism, #Shakespeare
BOOK: William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition
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From whence is he committed, who can tell?
FIRST WARDER
From Durham House, I hear.
SECOND WARDER
The guard were waiting there an hour ago.
THIRD WARDER
If he stay long, he’ll not get near the wharf,
There’s such a crowd of boats upon the Thames.
There’s such a crowd of boats upon the Thames.
FIRST WARDER
Well, be it spoken without offence to any,
A wiser or more virtuous gentleman
Was never bred in England.
A wiser or more virtuous gentleman
Was never bred in England.
SECOND WARDER
I think the poor will bury him in tears.
I never heard a man since I was born
So generally bewailed of everyone.
I never heard a man since I was born
So generally bewailed of everyone.
Enter a poor Woman
[
with others in a crowd
]
THIRD WARDER
What means this woman?—Whither dost thou press?
FIRST WARDER
This woman will be trod to death anon.
SECOND WARDER [
to the Woman
] What makest thou here?
to the Woman
] What makest thou here?
WOMAN
To speak with that good man Sir Thomas More.
FIRST WARDER
To speak with him? He’s not Lord Chancellor.
WOMAN
The more’s the pity, sir, if it pleased God.
FIRST WARDER
Therefore if thou hast a petition to deliver
Thou mayst keep it now, for anything I know.
Thou mayst keep it now, for anything I know.
WOMAN
I am a poor woman, and have had, God knows,
A suit this two year in the Chancery,
And he hath all the evidence I have,
Which should I lose I am utterly undone.
A suit this two year in the Chancery,
And he hath all the evidence I have,
Which should I lose I am utterly undone.
FIRST WARDER
Faith, and I fear thou‘It hardly come by ’em now.
I am sorry for thee even with all my heart.
I am sorry for thee even with all my heart.
Enter the Lords
[
of Shrewsbury and Surrey
],
with Sir Thomas More, and attendants; and enter Lieutenant and Gentleman Porter
SECOND WARDER
Woman, stand back. You must avoid this place.
The lords must pass this way into the Tower.
The lords must pass this way into the Tower.
MORE
I thank your lordships for your pains thus far
To my strong-house.
To my strong-house.
WOMAN
Now good Sir Thomas More, for Christ’s dear sake
Deliver me my writings back again
That do concern my title.
Deliver me my writings back again
That do concern my title.
MORE
What, my old client, art thou got hither too?
Poor silly wretch, I must confess indeed
I had such writings as concern thee near,
But the King
Has ta’en the matter into his own hand;
He has all I had. Then, woman, sue to him.
I cannot help thee. Thou must bear with me.
Poor silly wretch, I must confess indeed
I had such writings as concern thee near,
But the King
Has ta’en the matter into his own hand;
He has all I had. Then, woman, sue to him.
I cannot help thee. Thou must bear with me.
WOMAN
Ah, gentle heart, my soul for thee is sad.
Farewell, the best friend that the poor e’er had.
Farewell, the best friend that the poor e’er had.
Exit
GENTLEMAN PORTER
Before you enter through the Tower gate,
Your upper garment, sir, belongs to me.
Your upper garment, sir, belongs to me.
MORE
Sir, you shall have it. There it is.
He gives him his cap
GENTLEMAN PORTER
The upmost on your back, sir. You mistake me.
MORE
Sir, now I understand ye very well.
But that you name my back,
Sure else my cap had been the uppermost.
But that you name my back,
Sure else my cap had been the uppermost.
SHREWSBURY
Farewell, kind lord. God send us merry meeting.
MORE Amen, my lord.
SURREY
Farewell, dear friend. I hope your safe return.
MORE
My lord, and my dear fellow in the Muses,
Farewell. Farewell, most noble poet.
Farewell. Farewell, most noble poet.
LIEUTENANT
Adieu, most honoured lords. Exeunt Lords
MORE
Fair prison, welcome. Yet methinks
For thy fair building ‘tis too foul a name.
Many a guilty soul, and many an innocent,
Have breathed their farewell to thy hollow rooms.
I oft have entered into thee this way,
Yet, I thank God, ne’er with a clearer conscience
Than at this hour.
This is my comfort yet: how hard soe’er
My lodging prove, the cry of the poor suitor,
Fatherless orphan, or distressèd widow
Shall not disturb me in my quiet sleep.
On then, i’ God’s name, to our close abode.
God is as strong here as he is abroad.
For thy fair building ‘tis too foul a name.
Many a guilty soul, and many an innocent,
Have breathed their farewell to thy hollow rooms.
I oft have entered into thee this way,
Yet, I thank God, ne’er with a clearer conscience
Than at this hour.
This is my comfort yet: how hard soe’er
My lodging prove, the cry of the poor suitor,
Fatherless orphan, or distressèd widow
Shall not disturb me in my quiet sleep.
On then, i’ God’s name, to our close abode.
God is as strong here as he is abroad.
Exeunt
Sc. 15Enter Butler, Brewer, Porter, and Horse-keeper, several ways
BUTLER Robin Brewer, how now, man? What cheer, what cheer?
BREWER Faith, Ned Butler, sick of thy disease, and these our other fellows here, Ralph Horse-keeper and Giles Porter: sad, sad. They say my lord goes to his trial today.
HORSE-KEEPER To it, man? Why, he is now at it. God send him well to speed!
PORTER Amen. Even as I wish to mine own soul, so speed it with my honourable lord and master Sir Thomas More!
BUTLER I cannot tell—I have nothing to do with matters above my capacity—but, as God judge me, if I might speak my mind, I think there lives not a more harmless gentleman in the universal world.
BREWER Nor a wiser, nor a merrier, nor an honester. Go to, I’ll put that in upon mine own knowledge.
PORTER Nay, an ye bate him his due of his housekeeping, hang ye all! Ye have many lord chancellors comes in debt at the year’s end, and for very housekeeping!
HORSE-KEEPER Well, he was too good a lord for us, and therefore, I fear, God himself will take him. But I’ll be hanged if ever I have such another service.
BREWER Soft, man, we are not discharged yet. My lord may come home again, and all will be well.
BUTLER I much mistrust it. When they go to ’raigning once, there’s ever foul weather for a great while after.
Enter Gough and Catesby, with a paper
Enter Gough and Catesby, with a paper
But soft, here comes Master Gough and Master Catesby.
Now we shall hear more.
Now we shall hear more.
HORSE-KEEPER Before God, they are very sad. I doubt my lord is condemned.
PORTER God bless his soul, and a fig then for all worldly condemnation!
GOUGH
Well said, Giles Porter, I commend thee for it.
’Twas spoken like a well-affected servant
Of him that was a kind lord to us all.
’Twas spoken like a well-affected servant
Of him that was a kind lord to us all.
CATESBY
Which now no more he shall be, for, dear fellows,
Now we are masterless. Though he may live
So long as please the King, but law hath made him
A dead man to the world, and given the axe his head,
But his sweet soul to live among the saints.
Now we are masterless. Though he may live
So long as please the King, but law hath made him
A dead man to the world, and given the axe his head,
But his sweet soul to live among the saints.
GOUGH
Let us entreat ye to go call together
The rest of your sad fellows—by the roll
You’re just seven score—and tell them what ye hear
A virtuous, honourable lord hath done
Even for the meanest follower that he had.
This writing found my lady in his study
This instant morning, wherein is set down
Each servant’s name, according to his place
And office in the house. On every man
He frankly hath bestown twenty nobles,
The best and worst together, all alike,
Which Master Catesby hereforth will pay ye.
The rest of your sad fellows—by the roll
You’re just seven score—and tell them what ye hear
A virtuous, honourable lord hath done
Even for the meanest follower that he had.
This writing found my lady in his study
This instant morning, wherein is set down
Each servant’s name, according to his place
And office in the house. On every man
He frankly hath bestown twenty nobles,
The best and worst together, all alike,
Which Master Catesby hereforth will pay ye.
CATESBY
Take it as it is meant, a kind remembrance
Of a far kinder lord, with whose sad fall
He gives up house, and farewell to us all.
Thus the fair spreading oak falls not alone,
But all the neighbour plants and under-trees
Are crushed down with his weight. No more of this.
Come and receive your due, and after go
Fellow-like hence, co-partners of one woe.
Of a far kinder lord, with whose sad fall
He gives up house, and farewell to us all.
Thus the fair spreading oak falls not alone,
But all the neighbour plants and under-trees
Are crushed down with his weight. No more of this.
Come and receive your due, and after go
Fellow-like hence, co-partners of one woe.
Exeunt
Sc. 16Enter Sir Thomas More, the Lieutenant, and a Servant attending, as in his chamber in the Tower
MORE
Master Lieutenant, is the warrant come?
If it be so, i’ God’s name let us know it.
If it be so, i’ God’s name let us know it.
LIEUTENANT My lord, it is.
MORE
’Tis welcome, sir, to me with all my heart.
His blessèd will be done.
His blessèd will be done.
LIEUTENANT
Your wisdom, sir, hath been so well approved,
And your fair patience in imprisonment
Hath ever shown such constancy of mind
And Christian resolution in all troubles,
As warrants us you are not unprepared.
And your fair patience in imprisonment
Hath ever shown such constancy of mind
And Christian resolution in all troubles,
As warrants us you are not unprepared.
MORE
No, Master Lieutenant. I thank my God
I have peace of conscience, though the world and I
Are at a little odds. But we’ll be even now, I hope,
Ere long. When is the execution of your warrant?
I have peace of conscience, though the world and I
Are at a little odds. But we’ll be even now, I hope,
Ere long. When is the execution of your warrant?
LIEUTENANT
Tomorrow morning.
MORE
So, sir, I thank ye.
I have not lived so ill I fear to die.
Master Lieutenant,
I have had a sore fit of the stone tonight;
But the King hath sent me such a rare receipt,
I thank him, as I shall not need to fear it much.
Master Lieutenant,
I have had a sore fit of the stone tonight;
But the King hath sent me such a rare receipt,
I thank him, as I shall not need to fear it much.
LIEUTENANT
In life and death, still merry Sir Thomas More.
[
To Servant
] Sirrah fellow, reach me the urinal.
[
To Servant
] Sirrah fellow, reach me the urinal.
He gives it him
Ha, let me see. There’s gravel in the water.
And yet, in very sober truth I swear,
The man were likely to live long enough,
So pleased the King. Here, fellow, take it.
And yet, in very sober truth I swear,
The man were likely to live long enough,
So pleased the King. Here, fellow, take it.
SERVANT
Shall I go with it to the doctor, sir?
MORE
No, save thy labour. We’ll cozen him of a fee.
Thou shalt see me take a dram tomorrow morning
Shall cure the stone, I warrant, doubt it not.—
Master Lieutenant, what news of my lord of Rochester?
Thou shalt see me take a dram tomorrow morning
Shall cure the stone, I warrant, doubt it not.—
Master Lieutenant, what news of my lord of Rochester?
LIEUTENANT
Yesterday morning was he put to death.
MORE
The peace of soul sleep with him!
He was a learned and a reverend prelate,
And a rich man, believe me.
He was a learned and a reverend prelate,
And a rich man, believe me.
LIEUTENANT
If he were rich, what is Sir Thomas More,
That all this while hath been Lord Chancellor?
That all this while hath been Lord Chancellor?
MORE
Say ye so, Master Lieutenant? What do you think
A man that with my time had held my place
Might purchase?
A man that with my time had held my place
Might purchase?
LIEUTENANT
Perhaps, my lord, two thousand pound a year.
MORE
Master Lieutenant, I protest to you,
I never had the means in all my life
To purchase one poor hundred pound a year.
I think I am the poorest chancellor
That ever was in England, though I could wish,
For credit of the place, that my estate were better.
I never had the means in all my life
To purchase one poor hundred pound a year.
I think I am the poorest chancellor
That ever was in England, though I could wish,
For credit of the place, that my estate were better.
LIEUTENANT It’s very strange.
MORE
It will be found as true.
I think, sir, that with most part of my coin
I have purchased as strange commodities
As ever you heard tell of in your life.
I have purchased as strange commodities
As ever you heard tell of in your life.
LIEUTENANT Commodities, my lord?
Might I without offence enquire of them?
MORE
Crutches, Master Lieutenant, and bare cloaks,
For halting soldiers and poor needy scholars,
Have had my gettings in the Chancery.
To think but what acheat the crown shall have
By my attainder! I prithee, if thou beest a gentleman,
Get but a copy of my inventory.
That part of poet that was given me
Made me a very unthrift;
For this is the disease attends us all:
Poets were never thrifty, never shall.
For halting soldiers and poor needy scholars,
Have had my gettings in the Chancery.
To think but what acheat the crown shall have
By my attainder! I prithee, if thou beest a gentleman,
Get but a copy of my inventory.
That part of poet that was given me
Made me a very unthrift;
For this is the disease attends us all:
Poets were never thrifty, never shall.
Enter Lady More, mourning, Daughters,
[
one of them Roper’s Wife,
]
Master Roper
LIEUTENANT O noble More!
My lord, your wife, your son-in-law and daughters.
MORE
Son Roper, welcome. Welcome, wife and girls.
Why do you weep? Because I live at ease?
Did you not see, when I was Chancellor
I was so cloyed with suitors every hour
I could not sleep nor dine nor sup in quiet.
Here’s none of this. Here I can sit and talk
With my honest keeper half a day together,
Laugh and be merry. Why then should you weep?
Why do you weep? Because I live at ease?
Did you not see, when I was Chancellor
I was so cloyed with suitors every hour
I could not sleep nor dine nor sup in quiet.
Here’s none of this. Here I can sit and talk
With my honest keeper half a day together,
Laugh and be merry. Why then should you weep?
ROPER
These tears, my lord, for this your long restraint
Hope had dried up, with comfort that we yet,
Although imprisoned, might have had your life.
Hope had dried up, with comfort that we yet,
Although imprisoned, might have had your life.
MORE
To live in prison: what a life were that?
The King, I thank him, loves me more than so.
Tomorrow I shall be at liberty
To go even whither I can,
After I have dispatched my business.
The King, I thank him, loves me more than so.
Tomorrow I shall be at liberty
To go even whither I can,
After I have dispatched my business.
LADY MORE
Ah husband, husband, yet submit yourself.
Have care of your poor wife and children.
Have care of your poor wife and children.
MORE
Wife, so I have, and I do leave you all
To His protection hath the power to keep
You safer than I can,
The father of the widow and the orphan.
To His protection hath the power to keep
You safer than I can,
The father of the widow and the orphan.
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