Shall shine at full upon them :-Some attend him. [Exit Cham. attended. All arise, and tables removed. You have now a broken banquet; but we'll mend it. A good digestion to you all: and, once more, I shower a welcome on you:-Welcome all. Hautboys. Enter the King, and twelve others, as Maskers, habited like Shepherds, with sixteen Torch-bearers; ushered by the Lord Chamberlain. They pass directly before the Cardinal, and gracefully salute him. A noble company! What are their pleasures? Cham. Because they speak no English, thus they pray'd This night to meet here, they could do no less, Wol. Say, lord chamberlain, fair conduct, fthem They have done my poor house grace; for which I pay A thousand thanks, and pray them take their pleasures. [Ladies chosen for the Dance. The King chooses ANNE BULLEN. K. Hen. The fairest hand I ever touch'd! O, beauty, Till now I never knew thee, Wol. My lord, Cham. Your grace? [Music. Dance. Wol. Pray, tell them thus much from me : There should be one amongst them, by his person, If I but knew him, with my love and duty I would surrender it. Cham. I will, my lord. [Chamberlain goes to the company and returns. Wol. What say they? Cham. Such a one, they all confess, There is, indeed; which they would have your grace Find out, and he will take it. Wol. Let me see then. [Comes from his state. By all your good leaves, gentlemen-Here I'll make My royal choice. K. Hen. You have found him, cardinal: [Unmasking. You hold a fair assembly; you do well, lord: You are a churchman, or, I'll tell you, cardinal, Wol. I am glad, Your grace is grown so pleasant. K. Hen. My lord chamberlain, Pr'ythee, come hither: What fair lady's that? Cham. An't please your grace, Sir Thomas Bullen s daughter, The viscount Rochford, one of her highness' women. And not to kiss you.'-A health, gentlemen, Let it go round. Wol. Sir Thomas Lovell, is the banquet ready I' th' privy chamber? Lov. Yes, my lord. Wol. Your grace, I fear, with dancing is a little heated. K. Hen. I fear, too much. Wol. There's fresher air, my lord, In the next chamber. K. Hen. Lead in your ladies, every one. -Sweet partner, I must not yet forsake you :-Let's be merry ;- ACT II. [Exeunt, with trumpets. SCENE I-A street. Enter two gentlemen, meeting 1 Gent. WHITHER away so fast? 2 Gen. 0,- -God save you! Even to the hall, to hear what shall become Of the great duke of Buckingham. 1 Gen. I'll save you That labour, sir. All's now done, but the ceremony A kiss was anciently the established fee of a lady's partner. STEEVEN SON. This custom is still prevalent, among the country people, in many, perhaps all parts of the kingdom. When the fiddler thinks his young couple have had music enough, he makes his instrument squeak out two notes which all understand to say-kiss her! RITSON. 2 Gen. Were you there? 1 Gen. Yes, indeed, was I. 2 Gen. Pray, speak, what has happen'd? 1 Gen. You may guess quickly what. 2 Gen. Is he found guilty? 1 Gen. Yes, truly is he, and condemn'd upon it. 2 Gen. I am sorry for❜t. 1 Gen. So are a number more. 2 Gen. But, pray, how pass'd it? 1 Gen. I'll tell you in a little. The great duke Came to the bar; where, to his accusations, At which appear'd against him, his surveyor; Hopkins, that made this mischief. 2 Gen. That was he, That fed him with his prophecies ? 1 Gen. The same. All these accus'd him strongly; which he fain Would have flung from him, but, indeed, he could not : And so his peers, upon this evidence, Have found him guilty of high treason. Much He spoke, and learnedly, for life; but all Was either pitied in him, or forgotten. 2 Gen. After all this, how did he bear himself? 1 Gen. When he was brought again to th' bar,-to hear His knell rung out, his judgment, he was stirr'd With such an agony, he sweat extremely, And something spoke in choler, ill, and hasty : He never was so womanish; the cause [2] This circumstance is taken from Holinshed: "After he was found guilty, the duke was brought to the bar, sore-chafing, and sweat marvelously. STEEVENS. 2 Gen. Certainly, The cardinal is the end of this. 1 Gen. 'Tis likely, By all conjectures: First, Kildare's attainder, Earl Surrey was sent thither, and in haste too, 2 Gen. That trick of state Was a deep envious one. 1 Gen. At his return, No doubt, he will requite it. This is noted, 2 Gen. All the commons Hate him perniciously, and, o' my conscience, 1 Gen. Stay there, sir, And see the noble ruin'd man you speak of. Enter BUCKINGHAM, from his arraignment; Tipstaves before him; the axe with the edge towards him; Halberds on each side: with him, Sir THOMAS LOVELL, Sir NICHOLAs Vaux, Sir WILLIAM SANDS, and common People. 2 Gen. Let's stand close, and behold him. Buck. All good people, You that thus far have come to pity me, Hear what I say, and then go home and lose me. I have this day receiv'd a traitor's judgment, And by that name must die; Yet, heaven bear witness, It has done, upon the premises, but justice : But those, that sought it, I could wish more christians : Be what they will, I heartily forgive them : Yet let them look they glory not in mischief, Nor build their evils on the graves of great men ; [3] These lines are remarkably tender and pathetick. JOHNSON. And dare be bold to weep for Buckingham, Go with me, like good angels, to my end; 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. There cannot be those numberless offences Lov. To th' water side I must conduct your grace; Vaux. Prepare there, The duke is coming: see, the barge be ready; And fit it with such furniture, as suits 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 : Yet I am richer than my base accusers, That never knew what truth meant: I now seal it ; And with that blood will make them one day groan for't. Who first rais'd head against usurping Richard, Flying for succour to his servant Banister, Being distress'd, was by that wretch betray'd, [4] Shakespeare, by this expression, meant no more than to make the duke action expressive of malice shall conclude my life. Envy by our author, is used for malice and hatred, in other places, and, perhaps, in this. STEEVENS. [5] I now seal my truth, my loyalty, with blood, which blood shall one day make them groan. JOHNSON. say, No |