William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition (575 page)
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Authors: William Shakespeare
Tags: #Drama, #Literary Criticism, #Shakespeare
BOOK: William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition
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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 th’ King, never attempt
Anything on him, for he hath a witchcraft
Over the King in’s tongue.
What we can do to him—though now the time
Gives way to us—I much fear. If you cannot
Bar his access to th’ King, never attempt
Anything 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.
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.
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.
Are all unfolded, wherein he appears
As I would wish mine enemy.
SURREY
How came
His practices to light?
SUFFOLK Most strangely.
SURREY
O, how, how?
SUFFOLK
The Cardinal’s letters to the Pope miscarried,
And came to th’eye o’th’ King, wherein was read
How that the Cardinal did entreat his holiness
To stay the judgement o‘th’ 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 Boleyn’.
And came to th’eye o’th’ King, wherein was read
How that the Cardinal did entreat his holiness
To stay the judgement o‘th’ 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 Boleyn’.
SURREY
Has the King this?
SUFFOLK
Believe it.
SURREY
Will this work?
LORD 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.
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.
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 memorized.
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 memorized.
SURREY
But will the King
Digest this letter of the Cardinal’s?
The Lord forbid!
The Lord forbid!
NORFOLK
Marry, amen.
SUFFOLK
No, no—
There be more 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’th’ 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.
Will make this sting the sooner. Cardinal Campeius
Is stol’n away to Rome; hath ta’en no leave;
Has left the cause o’th’ 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.
LORD CHAMBERLAIN
Now God incense him,
And let him cry ‘Ha!’ louder.
NORFOLK
But, my lord,
When returns Cranmer?
SUFFOLK
He is returned 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 published, and
Her coronation. Katherine no more
Shall be called ‘Queen’, but ‘Princess Dowager’,
And ‘widow to Prince Arthur’.
Have satisfied the King for his divorce,
Together with all famous colleges,
Almost, in Christendom. Shortly, I believe,
His second marriage shall be published, and
Her coronation. Katherine no more
Shall be called ‘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.
In the King’s business.
SUFFOLK
He has, and we shall see him
For it an archbishop.
NORFOLK
So I hear.
SUFFOLK
’Tis so.
Enter Cardinal Wolsey and Cromwell
The Cardinal.
NORFOLK
Observe, observe—he’s moody.
They stand apart and observe Wolsey and
Cromwell
CARDINAL WOLSEY (to
Cromwell
)
Cromwell
)
The packet, Cromwell—gave’t you the King?
CROMWELI,
To his own hand, in’s bedchamber.
CARDINAL WOLSEY
Looked he
O’th’ inside of the paper?
CROMWELL,
Presently
He did unseal them, and the first he viewed
He did it with a serious mind; a heed
Was in his countenance. You he bade
Attend him here this morning.
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 a while.
Exit Cromwell
(
Aside
) It shall be to the Duchess of Alençon,
The French King’s sister—he shall marry her.
Anne Boleyn? No, I’ll no Anne Boleyns for him.
There’s more in’t than fair visage. Boleyn?
No, we’ll no Boleyns. Speedily I wish
To hear from Rome. The Marchioness of Pembroke?
Aside
) It shall be to the Duchess of Alençon,
The French King’s sister—he shall marry her.
Anne Boleyn? No, I’ll no Anne Boleyns for him.
There’s more in’t than fair visage. Boleyn?
No, we’ll no Boleyns. Speedily I wish
To hear from Rome. The Marchioness of Pembroke?
The nobles speak among themselves
NORFOLK
He’s discontented.
SUFFOLK
Maybe he hears the King
Does whet his anger to him.
SURREY
Sharp enough,
Lord, for thy justice.
CARDINAL WOLSEY (
aside
)
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’th’ bosom of
Our hard-ruled King. Again, there is sprung up
An heretic, an arch-one, Cranmer, one
Hath crawled into the favour of the King
And is his oracle.
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’th’ bosom of
Our hard-ruled King. Again, there is sprung up
An heretic, an arch-one, Cranmer, one
Hath crawled into the favour of the King
And is his oracle.
The nobles speak among themselves
NORFOLK
He is vexed at something.
Enter King Henry reading a schedule, and Lovell with him
SURREY
I would ’twere something that would fret the string,
The master-cord on’s heart!
The master-cord on’s heart!
SUFFOLK
The King, the King!
KING HENRY ⌈
aside
⌉
aside
⌉
What piles of wealth hath he accumulated
To his own portion? And what expense by th’ hour
Seems to flow from him? How i’th’ name of thrift
Does he rake this together? (
To the nobles
) Now, my lords,
Saw you the Cardinal?
To his own portion? And what expense by th’ hour
Seems to flow from him? How i’th’ name of thrift
Does he rake this together? (
To the nobles
) 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 himself.
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 himself.
KING HENRY
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 outspeaks
Possession of a subject.
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 outspeaks
Possession of a subject.
NORFOLK
It’s heaven’s will.
Some spirit put this paper in the packet
To bless your eye withal.
To bless your eye withal.
KING HENRY If we did think
His contemplation were above the earth
And fixed 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.
And fixed 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.
The King takes his seat and whispers with Lovell, who then goes to the Cardinal
CARDINAL WOLSEY
Heaven forgive me!
⌈
To the King
⌉ Ever God bless your highness!
To the King
⌉ Ever God bless your highness!
KING HENRY
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.
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’th’ state; and nature does require
Her times of preservation which, perforce,
I, her frail son, amongst my brethren mortal,
Must give my tendance to.
To think upon the part of business which
I bear i’th’ state; and nature does require
Her times of preservation which, perforce,
I, her frail son, amongst my brethren mortal,
Must give my tendance to.
KING HENRY
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.
As I will lend you cause, my doing well
With my well-saying.
KING HENRY
’Tis well said again,
And ’tis a kind of good deed to say well—
And yet words are no deeds. My father loved you.
He 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
Employed you where high profits might come home,
But pared my present havings to bestow
My bounties upon you.
And yet words are no deeds. My father loved you.
He 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
Employed 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?
aside
) What should this mean?
SURREY ⌈
aside
⌉
aside
⌉
The Lord increase this business!
KING HENRY
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?
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
Showered 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 th’ good of your most sacred person and
The profit of the state. For your great graces
Heaped 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.
Showered 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 th’ good of your most sacred person and
The profit of the state. For your great graces
Heaped 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
Fairly answered.
A loyal and obedient subject is
Therein illustrated. The honour of it
Does pay the act of it, as, i‘th’ contrary,
The foulness is the punishment. I presume
That as my hand has opened bounty to you,
My heart dropped love, my power rained 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.
Therein illustrated. The honour of it
Does pay the act of it, as, i‘th’ contrary,
The foulness is the punishment. I presume
That as my hand has opened bounty to you,
My heart dropped love, my power rained 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 laboured
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.
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
’Tis nobly spoken.
Take notice, lords, he has a loyal breast,
For you have seen him open’t. (
To Wolsey
) Read o’er this,
For you have seen him open’t. (
To Wolsey
) Read o’er this,
He gives him a paper
And after this (
giving him another paper
), and then to
breakfast with
What appetite you have.
giving him another paper
), and then to
breakfast with
What appetite you have.
Exit King Henry, frowning upon the
Cardinal. The nobles throng after
the King, smiling and whispering
Cardinal. The nobles throng after
the King, smiling and whispering
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