Abergavenny.
Buckingham.
Good morrow, and well met. How have you done,
Since last we saw in France?
Nor.
I thank your Grace,
Healthful, and ever since * notea fresh admirer
Of what I saw there.
Buck.
An untimely ague
Staid me a prisoner in my chamber, when
Those suns of glory, those two lights of men,
Met in the vale of Arde.
Nor.
'Twixt Guynes and Arde:
I was then present, saw 'em salute on horse-back,
Beheld them when they lighted, how they clung
In their embracement, as they grew together;
-- 376 --
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,
1 note
'Till this time Pomp was single, but now marry'd
To one above itself. 2 note
Each following day
Became the next day's master, 'till the last
Made former wonders, it's. To day the French,
3 noteAll clinquant, all in gold, like heathen gods,
Shone down the English; and to-morrow they
Made Britain, India, every man that stood,
Shew'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 th' ensuing night
Made it a fool and beggar. The two Kings,
Equal in lustre, were now best, now worst,
-- 377 --
As presence did present them; 4 note
him in eye,
Still him in praise; and being present both,
'Twas said, they saw but one; and no discerner
5 noteDurst wag his tongue in censure. When these suns,
For so they phrase 'em, by their heralds challeng'd
The noble spirits to arms, they did perform
Beyond thought's compass; that old fabulous story,
Being now seen possible enough, got credit;
That 6 noteBevis was believ'd.
Buck.
Oh, you go far.
Nor.
As I belong to worship, and affect
In honour, honesty, 7 notethe tract of every thing
Would by a good discourser lose some life,
Which Action's self was tongue to. 8 noteAll was royal,
To the disposing of it; nought rebell'd,
Order gave each thing view; 9 note
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?
-- 378 --
Nor.
One, certes, that promises no 1 noteelement
In such a business.
Buck.
Pray you, who, my Lord?
Nor.
All this was order'd by the good discretion
Of the right rev'rend Cardinal of York.
Buck.
The devil speed him! no man's pye is freed
From his ambitious finger. What had he
To do in these 2 notefierce vanities? I wonder,
3 note
That such a keech can with his very bulk
Take up the rays o'th' beneficial sun,
And keep it from the earth.
Nor.
Yet, surely, Sir,
There's in him stuff that puts him to these ends.
For being not propt by ancestry, whose grace
Chalks successors their way; nor call'd upon
For high feats done to th' Crown; neither ally'd
To eminent assistants; but spider-like
4 note
Out of his self drawing web;—this gives us note,
The force of his own merit makes his way;
5 note
A gift that heaven gives for him, which buys
-- 379 --
A place next to the King.
Aber.
I cannot tell
What heav'n hath giv'n him; let some graver eye
Pierce into that: but I can see his pride
Peep through each part of him; whence has he that?
If not from hell, the devil is a niggard,
Or has giv'n 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'th' King, t'appoint
Who should attend him? he makes up 6 notethe file
Of all the gentry; for the most part such,
To whom as great a charge as little honour
He meant to lay upon; And his own letter,
The honourable board of * notecouncil out,
7 noteMust fetch in him he papers.
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 manours on 'em
For this great journey. 8 note
What did this vanity
But minister communication of
A most poor issue?
Nor.
Grievingly, I think,
The peace between the French and us not values
The cost, that did conclude it.
-- 380 --
Buck.
9 note
Every man
After the hideous storm that follow'd, 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
1 note
Th' ambassador is silenc'd?
Nor.
Marry, is't.
Aber.
2 noteA proper title of a peace, and purchas'd
At a superfluous rate!
Buck.
Why, all this business
Our rev'rend Cardinal carried.
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 tow'rds 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 pow'r. You know his nature,
-- 381 --
That he's revengeful; and, I know, his sword
Hath a sharp edge, its long, and, 't 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 * notecomes that rock,
That I advise your shunning.
Samuel Johnson [1765], The plays of William Shakespeare, in eight volumes, with the corrections and illustrations of Various Commentators; To which are added notes by Sam. Johnson (Printed for J. and R. Tonson [and] C. Corbet [etc.], London) [word count] [S11001].
