The play may pass, if they be still and willing, I'll undertake may see away their shilling In a long motley coat guarded with yellow, Our own brains and the opinion that we bring The first and happiest hearers of the town, As they were living; think you see them great, And follow'd with the general throng and sweat Of thousand friends; then, in a moment, see ACT I. SCENE I. London. An ante-chamber in the palace. Enter the DUKE of NORFOLK at one door; at the other, the DUKE of BUCKINGHAM and the LORD ABERGAVENNY. Buck. Good morrow, and well met. How have ye done Since last we saw in France? Nor. I thank your grace, Healthful, and ever since a fresh admirer Of what I saw there. Buck. An untimely ague Stay'd me a prisoner in my chamber, when Those suns of glory, those two lights of men, Met in the vale of Andren. Nor. "Twixt Guynes and Arde: I was then present, saw them salute on horseback; Beheld them, when they 'lighted, how they clung In their embracement, as they grew to gether; Which had they, what four throned ones could have weigh'd Such a compounded one? Buck. All the whole time I was my chamber's prisoner. Nor. Then you lost The view of earthly glory: men might say, Till this time pomp was single, but now married To one above itself. Each following day Became the next day's master, till the last Made former wonders its. 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 Show'd like a mine. Their dwarfish pages were As cherubins, all gilt: the madams too, Was to them as a painting: now this masque Was cried incomparable; and the ensuing night Made it a fool and beggar. The two kings, Equal in lustre, were now best, now worst, As presence did present them; him in eye Still him in praise; and being present both, 'Twas said they saw but one, and no dis cerner Durst wag his tongue in censure. When these suns For so they phrase 'em-by their heralds challenged The noble spirits to arms, they did perform Beyond thought's compass; that former fabulous story, Being now seen possible enough, got credit, That Bevis was believed. Buck. O, you go far. Nor. As I belong to worship, and affect In honour honesty, the tract of every thing Would by a good discourser lose some life, Which action's self was tongue to. All was royal; To the disposing of it nought rebell'd; Order gave each thing view; the office did Distinctly his full function. Buck. Who did guide, I mean, who set the body and the limbs Of this great sport together, as you guess? Nor. One, certes, that promises no ele ment In such a business. Buck. I pray you, who, my lord? Nor. All this was order'd by the good discretion Of the right reverend Cardinal of York. Buck. The devil speed him! no man's pie is freed From his ambitious finger. What had he |