Nor. What's the cause? Cham. It seems, the marriage with his brother's wife Has crept too near his conscience. Suff. No, his conscience Has crept too near another lady. Nor. 'Tis so ; This is the cardinal's doing, the king-cardinal: That blind priest, like the eldest son of fortune, Turns what he lists. The king will know him one day. These news are every where; every tongue speaks them, This bold bad man. Suf. And free us from his slavery. Nor. We had need pray, And heartily, for our deliverance; Or this imperious man will work us all Suf. For me, my lords, 8 [7] This may allude to the retinue of the cardinal, who had several of the nobility among his menial servants. JOHNS. [8] The allusion seems to be to the 21st verse of the 9th chapter of the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans: "Hath not the potter power over the clay of the same lump, to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishon Out? COLLINS. I love him not, nor fear him; there's my creed : If the king please; his curses and his blessings Nor. Let's in ; And, with some other business, put the king From these sad thoughts, that work too much upon him: -My lord, you'll bear us company? Cham. Excuse me ; The king hath sent me other-where besides You'll find a most unfit time to disturb him: Health to your lordships. Nor. Thanks, my good lord chamberlain. [Exit Lord Chamberlain. NORFOLK opens a folding-door. The King is discovered sitting, and reading pensively. Suf. How sad he looks! sure, he is much afflicted. Nor. 'Pray God, he be not angry. K.Hen. Who's there, I say? How dare you thrust yourselves Into my private meditations? Who am I? ha? Nor. A gracious king, that pardons all offences Malice ne'er meant: Our breach of duty, this way, Is business of estate; in which, we come To know your royal pleasure. K.Hen. You are too bold; Go to; I'll make ye know your times of business : Enter WOLSEY and CAMPEIUS. Who's there? my good lord cardinal ?-O my Wolsey, The quiet of my wounded conscience, Thou art a cure fit for a king.-You're welcome, [To CAMPEIUS. Most learned reverend sir, into our kingdom; Use us, and it :-My good lord, have great care I be not found a talker.9 Wol. Sir, you cannot. [TO WOLSEY. [9] I take the meaning to be, Let care be taken that my promise be performed, that my professions of welcome be not found empty talk. JOHNS. I would, your grace would give us but an hour Of private conference. K.Hen. We are busy; go. [To NORF. and Suf. Nor. This priest has no pride in him? I would not be so sick though, for his place :' But this cannot continue. Nor. If it do, I'll venture one heave at him. Suf. I another. Aside. [Exeunt NORF. and SUF. Wol. Your grace has given a precedent of wisdom Above all princes, in committing freely Your scruple to the voice of Christendom : Who can be angry now? what envy reach you? I mean, the learned ones, in christian kingdoms, One general tongue unto us, this good man, This just and learned priest, cardinal Campeius; K.Hen. And, once more, in mine arms I bid him welcome, And thank the holy conclave for their loves ; They have sent me such a man I would have wish'd for. I tender my commission; by whose virtue,- K.Hen. Twoequal men. The queen shall be acquainted A woman of less place might ask by law, Scholars, allow'd freely to argue for her. K.Hen. Ay,and the best, she shall have; and my favour To him that does best; God forbid else. Cardinal, Pr'ythee, call Gardiner to me, my new secretary ; I find him a fit fellow. [1] That is, so sick as he is proud. JOHNS. [Exit WOLSEY. MALS Re-enter WOLSEY, with GARDINER.. Wol. Give me your hand: much joy and favour to you; You are the king's now. Gard. But to be commanded Forever by your grace, whose hand has rais'd me. [Aside. Wol. Yes, he was. Cam. Was he not held a learned man? Wol. Yes, surely. Cam. Believe me, there's an ill opinion spread then Even of yourself, lord cardinal. Wol. How! of me? Cam. They will not stick to say, you envy'd him ; And, fearing he would rise, he was so virtuous, Kept him a foreign man still ;3 which so griev'd him, That he run mad, and dy'd. Wol. Heaven's peace be with him! That's Christian care enough for living murmurers, For he would needs be virtuous: That good fellow, I will have none so near else. Learn this, brother, The most convenient place that I can think of, So sweet a bed-fellow? But, conscience, conscience,- SCENE III. [Exeunt. An Ante-chamber in the Queen's Apartments. Enter ANNE BULLEN, and an old Lady. Anne. Not for that neither ;-Here's the pang that pinches : His highness having liv'd so long with her; and she Pronounce dishonour of her,by my life, [3] Kept him out of the king's presence, employed in foreign embassies. VOL. VI. JOHNS. She never knew harm-doing ;-O now, after Still growing in a majesty and pomp,-the which Would move a monster. Old L. Hearts of most hard temper Melt and lament for her. Anne. O, God's will! much better, She ne'er had known pomp: though it be temporal, It from the bearer, it is a sufferance, panging Old L. Alas, poor lady! Must pity drop upon her. Verily, Old L. Our content Is our best having.7 Anne. By my troth, and maidenhead, I would not be a queen. Old L. Beshrew me, I would, And venture maidenhead for't; and so would you, For all this spice of your hypocrisy : You, that have so fair parts of woman on you, Have too a woman's heart; which ever yet Affected eminence, wealth, sovereignty; Which, to say sooth, are blessings and which gifts Of your soft cheveril conscience would receive, Anne. Nay, good troth, Old L. Yes,troth, and troth,-You would not be a queen? 14] To send her away contemptuously: to pronounce against her a sentence of ejection. JOHNS. [5] She calls Fortune a quarrel or arrow, from her striking so deep and suddenly. Quarrel was a large arrow so called. Thus Fairfax: " -twang'd the string, out flew the quarrel long." WARE. [6] Again an alien; not only no longer queen, but no longer an English woman. JOHNS. 17] That is, our best possession. In Spanish, hazienda. 8] Cheveril is kid-skin, soft leather. JOHNS. JOHN'S. |