No great offence belongs to't, give your friend Some touch of your late business: Affairs, that walk (As, they say, spirits do,) at midnight, have In them a wilder nature, than the business Lov. My lord, I love you; And durst commend a secret to your ear Much weightier than this work. The queen's in labour, They say, in great extremity; and fear'd, She'll with the labour end. Gar. The fruit, she goes with, I pray for heartily; that it may find Good time, and live: but for the stock, sir Thomas, I wish it grubb'd up now. Lov. Methinks, I could Cry the amen; and yet my conscience says She's a good creature, and, sweet lady, does Deserve our better wishes. Gar. But, sir, sir,Hear me, sir Thomas: You are a gentleman Of mine own way; I know you wise, religious; And, let me tell you, it will ne'er be well,"Twill not, sir Thomas Lovell, take't of me, Till Cranmer, Cromwell, her two hands, and she, Sleep in their graves. Lov. Now, sir, you speak of two The most remark'd i'the kingdom. As for Crom well, Beside that of the jewel-house, he's made master 6 Some touch of your late business:] Some hint of the business that keeps you awake so late. 7 mine own way;] Mine own opinion in religion. 8 Stands in the gap and trade of more preferments,] Trade is the practised method, the general course. With which the time will load him: The archbishop Is the king's hand, and tongue; And who dare speak One syllable against him? Gar. Yes, yes, sir Thomas, There are that dare; and I myself have ventur'd To speak my mind of him: and, indeed, this day, Incens'd the lords o'the council, that he is That does infect the land: with which they moved, He be convented. He's a rank weed, sir Thomas, servant. As LOVELL is going out, enter the King, and the Duke of SUFFOlk. K. Hen. Charles, I will play no more to-night; My mind's not on't, you are too hard for me. you before. Suf. Sir, I did never win of K. Hen. But little, Charles; Nor shall not, when my fancy's on my play.— I have Incens'd the lords o'the council, that he is, &c. A most arch heretick,] This passage, according to the old elliptical mode of writing, may mean-I have incens'd the lords of the council, for that he is, i. e. because. — broken with the king;] They have broken silence: told their minds to the king. 2 He be convented.] Convented is summoned, convened. Now, Lovell, from the queen what is the news? Το K. Hen. What say'st thou? ha! pray for her? what, is she crying out? Lov. So said her woman; and that her sufferance made Almost each pang a death. K. Hen. Alas, good lady! Suf. God safely quit her of her burden, and With gentle travail, to the gladding of Your highness with an heir! K. Hen. 'Tis midnight, Charles, Pr'ythee, to bed; and in thy prayers remember The estate of my poor queen. Leave me alone; For I must think of that, which company Will not be friendly to. Suf. A quiet night, and my good mistress will K. Hen. I wish your highness Charles, good night.— Exit SUFFOLK. Enter Sir ANTHONY DENNY. Well, sir, what follows? Den. Sir, I have brought my lord the archbishop, As you commanded me. Lov. This is about that which the bishop spake; I am happily come hither. Re-enter DENNY, with CRANMER K. Hen. [Aside. Ha! I have said.-Be gone. What!— Exeunt LovELL and DENNY. Cran. I am fearful:-Wherefore frowns he thus? 'Tis his aspect of terror. All's not well. K. Hen. How now, my lord? You do desire to know Wherefore I sent for you. Cran. It is my duty, To attend your highness' pleasure. K. Hen. 'Pray you, arise, My good and gracious lord of Canterbury. Come, you and I must walk a turn together; I have news to tell you: Come, come, give me your hand. Ah, my good lord, I grieve at what I speak, And am right sorry to repeat what follows: Grievous complaints of you; which, being consider'd, Have mov'd us and our council, that you shall To make your house our Tower: You a brother of us,' 3 You a brother of us, &c.] You being one of the council, it is necessary to imprison you, that the witnesses against you may not be deterred. It fits we thus proceed, or else no witness Cran. I humbly thank your highness; And am right glad to catch this good occasion Most throughly to be winnow'd, where my chaff And corn shall fly asunder: for, I know, There's none stands under more calumnious tongues, Than I myself, poor man. K. Hen. Stand up, good Canterbury; Thy truth, and thy integrity, is rooted In us, thy friend: Give me thy hand, stand up; Cran. Will triumph o'er my person; which I weigh not,' Being of those virtues vacant. What can be said against me. K. Hen. I fear nothing Know you not how Your state stands i'the world, with the whole world? Are many, and not small; their practices +-- indurance,] i. e. confinement, or perhaps, delay, procrastination. 6 I weigh not,] i. e. have no value for. and not ever -] Not ever is an uncommon expression, and does not mean never, but not always. |