The LIFE of

HENRY

VIII.

ACT I. SCENE I

An Antichamber 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

ye done

Since laft we faw y' in France?

Nor. I thank your Grace;

Healthful, and ever fince a fresh admirer

Of what I faw there.

Buck. An untimely ague

Staid me a prifoner in my chamber, when
'Thofe funs of glory, thofe two lights of men,
Met in the vale of Arde.

Nor. 'Twixt Guynes and Arde:

I was then prefent, faw 'em falute on horse-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 weigh'd
Such a compounded one?

Cc a

Buck.

Buck. All the whole time

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

The view of earthly glory: men might fay
'Till this time pomp was fingle, but now marry'd
To one above it felf. Each following day
Became the next day's mafter, 'till the last
Made former wonders his. 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' enfuing night
Made it a fool and beggar. The two Kings
Equal in luftre, were now beft, now worst,
As prefence did prefent them; him in eye,
Still him in praife; and being present both,
'Twas faid they faw but one, and no difcerner
Durft wag his tongue in cenfure. When thefe funs,
(For so they phrafe 'em) by their heralds, challeng'd
The noble spirits to arms, they did perform
Beyond thought's compafs, that old fabulous ftory
(Being now seen poffible enough) got credit;
That a Bevis was believ'd.

Buck. Oh, you go far.

Nor. As I belong to worship, and affect In honour, honesty; the tract of every thing Would by a good difcourfer lofe fome life, Which action's felf was tongue to.

'All was royal;

Το

Pope.

(a) The old romantic legend of Bevis of Southampton,

2 it's.

3 Buck.

All was royal.

To the difpofing of it nought rebell'd;

Order gave each thing view. The office did

Distinctly his full function. Who did, &c...old edit. Theob, emend.

To the difpofing of it nought rebell'd,
Order gave each thing view.
Distinctly his full function.

Buck. Who did guide,

The office did

I mean who set the body and the limbs
Of this great sport together, as you guess?
Nor. One fure, that promises no a element
In fuch 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 fuch a ketch can with his very bulk
Take up the rays o' th' beneficial fun,
And keep it from the earth.

Nor. Yet furely, Sir,

There's in him ftuff that puts him to thefe ends.
For being not propt by ancestry, whose grace
Chalks fucceffors their way; nor call'd upon
For high feats done to th' crown; neither ally'd
To eminent affiftants; 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, which for him buys
A place next to the King.

Aber. I cannot tell

4

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

Peep through each part of him; whence has he that?
If not from hell the devil is a niggard,

Or has giv'n all before; and he begins

A new hell in himself.

Buck. 'But why` the devil,

Upon this French going out, took he upon him,

Cc 3

Pope.

.

5 Why

(a) No rudiment or beginning.

4 which buy's

With

Without the privity o' th' King t' appoint
Who fhould attend him? He makes up the file
Of all the gentry; for the most part fuch

7

On whom as great a charge as little honour He meant to 'lay: And his own letter only (The honourable board of council out)

Muft fetch in him he a papers.

Aber. I do know

Kinsmen of mine, three at the least, that have
By this fo ficken'd their eftates, 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 great vanity
But minifter communication of "

A moft poor iffue?

Nor. Grievingly I think,

The peace between the French and us not values
The coft that did conclude it.

Buck. Every man,

After the hideous ftorm that follow'd, was
A thing infpir'd; and not confulting, broke
Into a gen'ral prophefie, that this tempeft,
Dafhing 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' ambaffador 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 bufinefs

Our rev'rend Cardinal carried.

Nor.

(a) He papers, a verb; His own letter, by his own fingle authority and without the concurrence of the Council, muft fetch in Him whom be papers down.

6 To

7 lay upon: And his own letter

Pope.

.

Nor. Like't your Grace,

The state takes notice of the private difference
Betwixt you
and the Cardinal. I advife you
(And take it from a heart that wishes you
Honour and plenteous fafety) that

you read The Cardinal's malice and his potency Together: to confider further, that

What his high hatred would effect, wants not
A minifter in his pow'r. You know his nature,
That he's revengeful; and I know his sword
Hath a fharp edge: it's long, and't may be faid,
It reaches far; and where 'twill not extend,
Thither he darts it. Bofom up my counsel,
You'll find it wholfome. Lo, where comes that rock
That I advise your shunning.

Enter Cardinal Wolfey, the purfe born before him, certain of the guard, and two Secretaries with papers; the Cardinal in bis paffage fixeth his eye on Buckingham, and Buckingham on bim, both full of difdain. ·

Wol. The Duke of Buckingham's furveyor? ha? Where's his examination?

Secr. Here, so please you,

Wol. Is he in perfon ready?
Secr. Ay, an't please

Your Grace.

8

Wol. 'It is well, we fhall then know more, And Buckingham fhall leffen this big look.

[Exeunt Cardinal and his Frain: 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 flumber. A beggar's book Out-worths a Noble's blood,

Nor. What, are you chaf'd?

8 Well,

CC4·

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