Sur.
I would, 'twere something 'that would fret the string,
The master-cord of's heart!

Suf.
The King, the King.

King.
What piles of wealth hath he accumulated
To his own portion! what expence by th' hour
Seems to flow from him! how, i'th' name of thrift,

Does he rake this together!—Now, my Lords;
Saw you the Cardinal?

Nor.
My Lord, we have.
Stood here observing him; some strange Commotion
Is in his brain; he bites his lip, and starts,
Stops on a sudden, looks upon the ground,
Then lays his finger on his temple; strait,
Springs out into fast gait, then stops again,
Strikes his breast hard, and then anon he casts
His eye against the moon; in most strange postures
We've seen him set himself.

King.
It may well be,
There is a mutiny in's mind. This morning
Papers of state he sent me to peruse,
As I requir'd; and, wot you, what I found
There, on my conscience put unwittingly?
Forsooth, an inventory, thus importing,
The several parcels of his plate, his treasure,
Rich stuffs and ornaments of houshold, which
I find at such proud rate, that it out-speaks
Possession of a subject.

Nor.
It's heav'n's will;
Some spirit put this paper in the packet,
To bless your eye withal.

King.
If we did think,
His contemplations were above the earth,
And fix'd on spiritual objects, he should still
Dwell in his musings; but, I am afraid,
His thinkings are below the moon, nor worth
His serious considering. [He takes his seat, whispers Lovell, who goes to Wolsey.

Wol.
Heav'n forgive me—
Ever God bless your Highness!—

King.
Good my Lord,
You are full of heav'nly stuff, and bear the inventory
Of your best graces in your mind, the which
You were now running o'er; you have scarce time

To steal from spiritual leisure a brief span,
To keep your earthly audit; sure, in that
I deem you an ill husband, and am glad
To have you therein my companion.

Wol.
Sir,
For holy offices I have a time;
A time, to think upon the part of business
I bear i'th' state; and nature does require
Her times of preservation, which, perforce,
I her frail son, amongst my brethren mortal,
Must give my tendance to.

King.
You have said well.

Wol.
And ever may your Highness yoke together,
As I will lend you cause, my doing well
With my well saying!

King.
'Tis well said again;
And 'tis a kind of good deed to say well,
And yet words are no deeds. My father lov'd you;
He said, he did, and with his deed did crown
His word upon you. Since I had my office,
I've kept you next my heart; have not alone
Imploy'd you where high profits might come home,
But par'd my present havings, to bestow
My bounties upon you.

Wol.
What should this mean? [Aside.

Sur.
The Lord increase this business! [Aside.

King.
Have I not made you
The prime man of the state? I pray, tell me,
If what I now pronounce, you have found true;
And, if you may confess it, say withal,
If you are bound to us, or no. What say you?

Wol.
My Sovereign, I confess your royal graces
Showr'd on me daily have been more than could
My studied purposes requite, which went
^{6 note}

Have ever come too short of my desires,
^{7 note}Yet, fill'd with my abilities; mine own Ends
Have been mine so, that evermore they pointed
To th' good of your most sacred person, and
The profit of the state. For your great graces
Heap'd upon me, poor un-deserver, I
Can nothing render but allegiant thanks,
My prayers to heav'n for you; my loyalty,
Which ever has, and ever shall be growing,
'Till death, that winter, kill it.

King.
Fairly answer'd;
A loyal and obedient subject is
Therein illustrated; the honour of it
Does pay the act of it, as ^{8 note}
o'th' contrary
The foulness is the punishment. I presume,
That as my hand has open'd bounty to you,
My heart dropp'd love, my pow'r rain'd honour more
On you, than any; so your hand and heart,
Your brain, and every function of your power,
Should ^{9 note}notwithstanding that your bond of Duty,
As 'twere in love's particular, be more
To me, your friend, than any.

Wol.
I profess,
That for your Highness' good I ever labour'd,
More than mine own; that am I, have been, will be:

Though all the world should crack their duty to you,
And throw it from their soul; though perils did
Abound, as thick as thought could make 'em, and
Appear in forms more horrid; yet my duty,
As doth a rock against the chiding flood,
Should the approach of this wild river break,
And stand unshaken yours.

King.
'Tis nobly spoken;
Take notice, Lords, he has a loyal breast,
For you have seen him open't. Read o'er this, [Giving him papers.
And, after, this; and then to breakfast, with
What appetite you may. [Exit King, frowning upon Cardinal Wolsey; the Nobles throng after him, whispering and smiling.

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