It has done upon the premises but justice; But those that sought it I could wish more Christians: Yet let them look they glory not in mischief, Nor build their evils on the graves of great men ; For then my guiltless blood must cry against them. Nor will I sue, although the king have mercies More than I dare make faults. You few that lov'd me, And dare be bold to weep for Buckingham, His noble friends and fellows, whom to leave Is only bitter to him, only dying, Go with me, like good angels, to my end; And, as the long divorce of steel falls on me, Make of your prayers one sweet sacrifice, And lift my soul to heaven.-Lead on, o' God's name. If ever any malice in your heart Were hid against me, now to forgive me frankly. Buck. Sir Thomas Lovell, I as free forgive you, As I would be forgiven: I forgive all ; There cannot be those numberless offences 'Gainst me, that I can not take peace with no black envy Shall make my grave. Commend me to his grace; And, if he speak of Buckingham, pray, tell him, Ever belov'd, and loving, may his rule be! And when old time shall lead him to his end, Goodness and he fill up one monument! Lov. To the water side I must conduct your grace; Vaux. Prepare there! The duke is coming: see, the barge be ready; The greatness of his person. Buck. Nay, sir Nicholas, Let it alone my state now will but mock me. When I came hither, I was lord high constable, And duke of Buckingham; now, poor Edward Bohun : That never knew what truth meant. I now seal it; My noble father, Henry of Buckingham, Who first rais'd head against usurping Richard, Flying for succour to his servant Banister, And, must needs say, a noble one; which makes me A little happier than my wretched father: Yet thus far we are one in fortunes, both Fell by our servants, by those men we lov'd most : Where you are liberal of your loves and counsels, Like water from ye, never found again, But when they mean to sink ye. All good people, Of my long weary life is come upon me. Farewell and when you would say something that is sad, Speak how I fell.-I have done, and God forgive me! [Exeunt BUCKINGHAM, LOVELL, etc. First Gent. O! this is full of pity.-Sir, it calls, I fear, too many curses on their heads That were the authors. Second Gent. If the duke be guiltless, 'Tis full of woe: yet I can give you inkling Of an ensuing evil, if it fall, Greater than this. First Gent. Good angels keep it from us! What may it be? You do not doubt my faith, sir? First Gent. I do not talk much. Second Gent. Let me have it : I am confident: You shall, sir. Did you not of late days hear A buzzing of a separation Between the king and Katharine ? 6 Yes, but it held not; First Gent. Second Gent. But that slander, sir, Is found a truth now; for it grows again First Gent. 'Tis the cardinal; And merely to revenge him on the emperor, For not bestowing on him, at his asking, The archbishopric of Toledo, this is purpos'd. Second Gent. I think you have hit the mark: but is 't not cruel, That she should feel the smart of this? The cardinal Will have his will, and she must fall. First Gent. We are too open here to argue this; 'Tis woful. [Exeunt. SCENE II.-An Ante-Chamber in the Palace. Enter the Lord Chamberlain, reading a letter. My lord,-The horses your lordship sent for, with all the care I had I saw well chosen, ridden, and furnished. They were young, and handsome, and of the best breed in the north. When they were ready to set out for London, a man of my lord cardinal's, by commission and main power, took them from me; with this reason,—his master would be served before a subject, if not before the king; which stopped our mouths, sir.' I fear he will, indeed. Well, let him have them : Enter the Dukes of NORFOLK and SUffolk. Nor. Well met, my lord chamberlain. Cham. Good day to both your graces. Suf. How is the king employ'd? Full of sad thoughts and troubles. Nor. I left him private, What's the cause? Cham. It seems the marriage with his brother's wife Has crept too near his conscience. Suf. Has crept too near another lady. Nor. No; his conscience 'Tis so. This is the cardinal's doing, the king-cardinal : Suf. Pray God, he do! he 'll never know himself else. And with what zeal; for, now he has crack'd the league Between us and the emperor, the queen's great nephew. He dives into the king's soul; and there scatters '-which stopped our mouths, sir.] Some modern critics, resolved, as it were, to do their worst by the old text, have even chopped up this prose letter into what they consider verse! |