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James Boswell [1821], The plays and poems of William Shakspeare, with the corrections and illustrations of various commentators: comprehending A Life of the Poet, and an enlarged history of the stage, by the late Edmond Malone. With a new glossarial index (J. Deighton and Sons, Cambridge) [word count] [S10201].
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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 Abergavenny1 note.

Buck.
Good morrow, and well met. How have you done,
Since last we saw in France?

Nor.
I thank your grace
Healthful; and ever since a fresh admirer2 note
Of what I saw there.

Buck.
An untimely ague
Stay'd me a prisoner in my chamber, when
Those suns of glory3 note


, those two lights of men,
Met in the vale of Arde.

-- 312 --

Nor.
'Twixt Guynes and Arde4 note:
I was then present, saw them salute on horseback;
Beheld them, when they lighted, how they clung
In their embracement, as they grew together5 note



;
Which had they, what four thron'd 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 itself6 note

. Each following day

-- 313 --


Became the next day's master, till the last
Made former wonders it's7 note
: To-day, the French,
All clinquant8 note


, 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,
Not us'd to toil, did almost sweat to bear
The pride upon them, that their very labour
Was to them as a painting: now this mask
Was cry'd 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 praise9 note


: and, being present both,
'Twas said, they saw but one; and no discerner

-- 314 --


Durst wag his tongue in censure1 note. When these suns
(For so they phrase them,) by their heralds challeng'd
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 believ'd2 note.

Buck.
O, you go far.

Nor.
As I belong to worship, and affect
In honour honesty, the tract of every thing3 note
Would by a good discourser lose some life,
Which action's self was tongue to. All was royal4 note

;
To the disposing of it nought rebell'd,
Order gave each thing view; the office did
Distinctly his full function5 note
.

Buck.
Who did guide,
I mean, who set the body and the limbs

-- 315 --


Of this great sport together, as you guess?

Nor.
One, certes6 note


, that promises no element7 note
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 free'd
From his ambitious finger8 note
. What had he
To do in these fierce vanities9 note



? I wonder,
That such a keech1 note

can with his very bulk

-- 316 --


Take up the rays o' the beneficial sun,
And keep it from the earth.

Nor.
Surely, sir,
There's in him stuff that puts him to these ends;
For, being not propp'd by ancestry, (whose grace
Chalks successors their way,) nor call'd upon
For high feats done to the crown; neither allied
To eminent assistants, but, spider-like,
Out of his self-drawing web2 note
, he gives us note3 note,
The force of his own merit makes his way;
A gift that heaven gives for him, which buys
A place next to the king4 note







.

Aber.
I cannot tell
What heaven hath given him, let some graver eye
Pierce into that; but I can see his pride

-- 317 --


Peep through each part of him5 note


: Whence has he that?
If not from hell, the devil is a niggard;
Or has given all before, and he begins
A new hell in himself.

Buck.
Why the devil,
Upon this French going-out, took he upon him,
Without the privity o' the king, to appoint
Who should attend on him? He makes up the file6 note




Of all the gentry; for the most part such
Too, whom as great a charge as little honour
He meant to lay upon: and his own letter,
The honourable board of council out7 note

,
Must fetch him in he papers8 note

.

-- 318 --

Aber.
I do know
Kinsmen of mine, three at the least, that have
By this so sicken'd their estates, that never
They shall abound as formerly.

Buck.
O, many
Have broke their backs with laying manors on them
For this great journey9 note












. What did this vanity,
But minister communication of
A most poor issue1 note
?

-- 319 --

Nor.
Grievingly I think,
The peace between the French and us not values
The cost that did conclude it.

Buck.
Every man,
After the hideous storm that follow'd2 note
, was
A thing inspir'd; and, not consulting, broke
Into a general prophecy,—That this tempest,
Dashing the garment of this peace, aboded
The sudden breach on't.

Nor.
Which is budded out;
For France hath flaw'd the league, and hath attach'd
Our merchants' goods at Bourdeaux.

Aber.
Is it therefore
The ambassador is silenc'd3 note

?

Nor.
Marry, is't.

Aber.
A proper title of a peace4 note



; and purchas'd
At a superfluous rate!

Buck.
Why, all this business

-- 320 --


Our reverend cardinal carried5 note


.

Nor.
'Like it your grace,
The state takes notice of the private difference
Betwixt you and the cardinal. I advise you,
(And take it from a heart that wishes towards you
Honour and plenteous safety,) that you read
The cardinal's malice and his potency
Together: to consider further, that
What his high hatred would effect, wants not
A minister in his power: You know his nature,
That he's revengeful; and I know, his sword
Hath a sharp edge: it's long, and, it may be said,
It reaches far; and where 'twill not extend,
Thither he darts it. Bosom up my counsel,
You'll find it wholesome. Lo, where comes that rock6 note,
That I advise your shunning.
Enter Cardinal Wolsey, (the Purse borne before him,) certain of the Guard, and two Secretaries with Papers. The Cardinal in his Passage fixeth his Eye on Buckingham, and Buckingham on him, both full of Disdain.

Wol.
The duke of Buckingham's surveyor? ha?
Where's his examination?

1 Secr.
Here, so please you.

Wol.
Is he in person ready?

1 Secr.
Ah, please your grace.

-- 321 --

Wol.
Well, we shall then know more; and Buckingham
Shall lessen this big look.
[Exeunt Wolsey, and Train.

Buck.
This butcher's cur7 note



is venom-mouth'd, and I
Have not the power to muzzle him; therefore, best
Not wake him in his slumber. A beggar's book
Out-worths a noble's blood8 note

.

Nor.
What, are you chaf'd?
Ask God for temperance; that's the appliance only,
Which your disease requires.

Buck.
I read in's looks
Matter against me; and his eye revil'd
Me, as his abject object: at this instant
He bores me with some trick9 note


: He's gone to the king;
I'll follow, and out-stare him.

-- 322 --

Nor.
Stay, my lord,
And let your reason with your choler question
What 'tis you go about: To climb steep hills,
Requires slow pace at first: Anger is like
A full-hot horse1 note




; who being allow'd his way.
Self-mettle tires him. Not a man in England
Can advise me like you: be to yourself
As you would to your friend.

Buck.
I'll to the king;
And from a mouth of honour2 note quite cry down
This Ipswich fellow's insolence; or proclaim,
There's difference in no persons.

Nor.
Be advis'd;
Heat not a furnace for your foe so hot
That it do singe yourself3 note: We may outrun,
By violent swiftness, that which we run at,
And lose by over-running. Know you not,
The fire, that mounts the liquor till't run o'er,
In seeming to augment it, wastes it? Be advis'd:
I say again, there is no English soul
More stronger to direct you than yourself;
If with the sap of reason you would quench,

-- 323 --


Or but allay, the fire of passion4 note


.

Buck.
Sir,
I am thankful to you; and I'll go along
By your prescription:—but this top-proud fellow,
(Whom from the flow of gall I name not, but
From sincere motions5 note
,) by intelligence,
And proofs as clear as founts in Júly, when
We see each grain of gravel, I do know
To be corrupt and treasonous.

Nor.
Say not, treasonous.

Buck.
To the king I'll say't; and make my vouch as strong
As shore of rock. Attend. This holy fox,
Or wolf, or both, (for he is equal ravenous6 note,
As he is subtle; and as prone to mischief,
As able to perform't: his mind and place
Infecting one another7 note
, yea, reciprocally,)
Only to show his pomp as well in France
As here at home, suggests the king our master8 note



To this last costly treaty, the interview,
That swallow'd so much treasure, and like a glass

-- 324 --


Did break i' the rinsing.* note

Nor.
'Faith, and so it did.

Buck.
Pray, give me favour, sir. This cunning cardinal
The articles o'the combination drew,
As himself pleas'd; and they were ratified,
As he cried, Thus let be: to as much end,
As give a crutch to the dead: But our count-cardinal9 note
Has done this, and 'tis well; for worthy Wolsey,
Who cannot err, he did it. Now this follows,
(Which, as I take it, is a kind of puppy
To the old dam, treason,)—Charles the emperor,
Under pretence to see the queen his aunt,
(For 'twas, indeed, his colour; but he came
To whisper Wolsey,) here makes visitation:
His fears were, that the interview, betwixt
England and France, might, through their amity,
Breed him some prejudice; for from this league,
Peep'd harms that menac'd him: He privily1 note
Deals with our cardinal; and, as I trow,—
Which I do well; for, I am sure, the emperor
Paid ere he promis'd: whereby his suit was granted,
Ere it was ask'd;—but when the way was made,
And pav'd with gold, the emperor thus desir'd;—
That he would please to alter the king's course,
And break the foresaid peace. Let the king know,
(As soon he shall by me,) that thus the cardinal
Does buy and sell his honour as he pleases2 note


,

-- 325 --


And for his own advantage.

Nor.
I am sorry
To hear this of him; and could wish, he were
Something mistaken in't3 note
.

Buck.
No, not a syllable;
I do pronounce him in that very shape,
He shall appear in proof.
Enter Brandon; a Sergeant at Arms before him, and two or three of the Guard.

Bran.
Your office, sergeant; execute it.

Serg.
Sir,
My lord the duke of Buckingham, and earl
Of Hereford, Stafford, and Northampton, I
Arrest thee of high treason, in the name
Of our most sovereign king.

Buck.
Lo, you, my lord,
The net has fall'n upon me; I shall perish
Under device and practice4 note



.

Bran.
I am sorry
To see you ta'en from liberty, to look on
The business, present5 note

: 'Tis his highness' pleasure,
You shall to the Tower.

-- 326 --

Buck.
It will help me nothing,
To plead mine innocence; for that die is on me,
Which makes my whitest part black. The will of heaven
Be done in this and all things!—I obey.—
O my lord Aberga'ny, fare you well.

Bran.
Nay, he must bear you company;—The king [To Abergavenny.
Is pleas'd, you shall to the Tower, till you know
How he determines further.

Aber.
As the duke said
The will of heaven be done, and the king's pleasure
By me obey'd.

Brand.
Here is a warrant from
The king, to attach lord Montacute6 note; and the bodies
Of the duke's confessor, John de la Car7 note

,
One Gilbert Peck, his chancellor8 note



,—

Buck.
So, so;
These are the limbs of the plot: No more, I hope.

Bran.
A monk o' the Chartreux.

Buck.
O, Nicholas Hopkins9 note?

-- 327 --

Bran.
He.

Buck.
My surveyor is false; the o'er-great cardinal
Hath show'd him gold: my life is spann'd already1 note

:
I am the shadow of poor Buckingham2 note
;
Whose figure even this instant cloud puts on,
By darkening my clear sun3 note





























.—My lord, farewell. [Exeunt.

-- 328 --

Next section


James Boswell [1821], The plays and poems of William Shakspeare, with the corrections and illustrations of various commentators: comprehending A Life of the Poet, and an enlarged history of the stage, by the late Edmond Malone. With a new glossarial index (J. Deighton and Sons, Cambridge) [word count] [S10201].
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