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A still and quiet conscience. The king has cur'd me,
I humbly thank his grace; and from these shoulders,
These ruin'd pillars, out of pity, taken

A load would sink a navy, too much honor:
O, 'tis a burden, Cromwell, 'tis a burden,
Too heavy for a man that hopes for heaven.

Crom.-I am glad, your grace has made that right use

of it.

Wol.-I hope I have: I am able now, methinks,
(Out of a fortitude of soul I feel,)

To endure more miseries, and greater far,
Than my weak-hearted enemies dare offer.
What news abroad?

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Crom.-The next is, that Sir Thomas Moore is chosen

Lord Chancellor in your place.

Wol.-That's somewhat sudden:

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But he's a learned man.- May he continue
Long in his highness' favor, and do justice
For truth's sake, and his conscience; that his bones
May have a tomb of orphans' tears wept on
What more?

'em!

Crom.-That Cranmer is return'd with welcome,
Install'd lord archbishop of Canterbury,

Wol.-That's news indeed.

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Crom.

Last that the lady Anne,

Whom the king hath in secrecy long married,

This day was view'd in open, as his queen,

Going to chapel, and the voice is now

Only about her coronation.

Wol.-There was the weight that pull'd me down.
Cromwell,

The king has gone beyoud me; all my glories

In that one woman I have lost forever:

No sun shall ever usher forth mine honors,

Or gild again the noble troops that waited

Upon my smiles. Go, get thee from me, Cromwell,10 I am a poor fallen man, unworthy now

To be thy lord and master; seek the king;

That sun, I pray, may never set! I have told him

What and how true thou art: he will advance thee; Some little memory of me will stir him

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(I know his noble nature) not to let

Thy hopeful service perish too: good Cromwell,
Neglect him not; make usel now and provide
For thine own future safety.

Crom.

O my lord,

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Must I then leave you? must I needs forego
So good, so noble, and so true a master?
Bear witness, all that have not hearts of iron,
With what a sorrow Cromwell leaves his lord.
The king shall have my service; but my prayers
Forever, and forever, shall be yours.

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Wol.-Cromwell, I did not think to shed a tear

In all my miseries; but thou hast fore'd me

Out of thy honest truth to play the woman.

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Let's dry our eyes: and thus far hear me, Cromwell

And, when I am forgotten as I shall be ;

And sleep in dull cold marble, where no mention

Of me more must be heard of,—say, I taught thec.
Say Wolsey, that once trod the ways of glory,

And sounded all the depths and shoals of honor,
Found thee a way, out of his wreck, to rise in ;
A sure and safe one, though thy master miss'd it.
Mark but my fall, and that that ruin'd me.
Cromwell, I charge thee, fling away ambition;

By that sin fell the angels, how can man then,
The image of his maker, hope to win by't?

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Love thyself last: cherish those hearts that hate thee; Corruption wins not more than honesty.

Still in thy right hand carry gentle peace,

To silence envious tongues. Be just, and fear not;
Let all the ends thou aim'st at, be thy country's,

Thy God's, and truth's; then if thou fall'st, O Cromwell, '

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Thou fall'st a blessed martyr. Serve the king:

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And, -pr'ythee, lead me in:

There take an inventory of all I have,

To the last penny: 'tis the king's: my robe,

And my integrity to heaven, is all

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I dare now call my own. O Cromwell, Cromwell,
Had I but serv'd my God with half the zeal

I serv'd my king, he would not in miuc age
Have left me naked to mine enemies.

Crom. Good sir, have patience.

Wol.

So I have. Farewell

The hopes of court! my hopes in heaven do dwell.

THE DEATH OF CLEOPATRA.*

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Cleopatra, queen of Egypt, committed suicide by means of an

*This extract is introduced as an exercise on elliptical sentences. In analyzing, the learner should supply words necessary to complete the sentences.

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Cleopatra addresses her attendants, Charmian and Iras.

Cleo. Give me my robe; put on my crown; I have
Immortal longings in me. Now no more
The juice of Egypt's grape shall moist this lip.
Yare, yare, good Iras, quick-Methinks I hear
Anthony call; I see him rouse himself
To praise my noble act; I hear him mock
The luck of Caesar, which the gods give men
To excuse their after wrath. Husband,t I come.
Now to that name my courage proves my title!
I am fire, and air; my other elements
I give to baser life.—So,- have you done?
Come then and take the last warmth of my lips.
Farewell, kind Charmian:- Iras, long farewell.

[Cleopatra kisses her attendants; Iras dies.]

Have I the aspic in my lips? Dost fall?
If thou and nature can so gently part,

The stroke of death is as a lover's pinch,

Which hurts, and is desired. Dost thou lie still?
If thus thou vanishest, thou tell'st the world

It is not worth leave-taking.

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Charmian. Dissolve thick cloud, and rain; that I may

say,

The gods themselves do weep!

Cleo.

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This proves me base:

He'll make demand of her; and spend that kiss

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If she first meet the curled Antony,

Which is my heaven to have.

1 Yare, nimbly..

Antony was the husband of Cleopatra. He was already dead.

[She applies the asp, and says to it]

Come, mortal wretch,

With thy sharp teeth this knot intrinsicate

Of life, at once, untie: poor venomous fool,
Be angry and despatch.

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Dost thou not see my baby at my breast,

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That sucks the nurse asleep?

[Referring to the asp which lies upon her breast.

Char.

O, break! O, break!

Cleo. As sweet as balm, as soft as air, as gentle,

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O Antony!-Nay I will take thee too, [She applies another asp.] What should I stay

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[She falls and dies.]

Char. In this wild world? So, fare thee well.—
Now boast thee, death! in thy possession lies
A lass unparallel'd.- Downy windows, close;
And golden Phœbus never be beheld

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Of eyes again so royal! Your crown's awry;
I'll mend it, and then play.

1st Guard. Where is the queen?

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Char.

Too slow a messenger. [Applies the Asp,

O, come apace, despatch: I partly feel thee.

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1s: Guard. Approach, ho! All's not well: Cæsar's beguil'd. 2d Guard. There's Dolabella sent from Cæsar;-call him.

1st Guard. What work is here? Charmian, is this well done?

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