按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
did it with a serious mind； a heed Was in his countenance。 You he bade
Attend him here this morning。 WOLSEY。 Is he ready To come abroad？
CROMWELL。 I think by this he is。 WOLSEY。 Leave me awhile。 Exit
CROMWELL ＇Aside＇ It shall be to the Duchess of Alencon； The French
King's sister； he shall marry her。 Anne Bullen！ No； I'll no Anne Bullens for
him； There's more in't than fair visage。 Bullen！ No； we'll no Bullens。
Speedily I wish To hear from Rome。 The Marchioness of Pembroke！
NORFOLK。 He's discontented。 SUFFOLK。 May be he hears the King
45
… Page 46…
KING HENRY THE EIGHTH
Does whet his anger to him。 SURREY。 Sharp enough； Lord； for thy justice！
WOLSEY。 ＇Aside＇ The late Queen's gentlewoman； a knight's daughter； To
be her mistress' mistress！ The Queen's queen！ This candle burns not clear。
'Tis I must snuff it； Then out it goes。 What though I know her virtuous And
well deserving？ Yet I know her for A spleeny Lutheran； and not
wholesome to Our cause that she should lie i' th' bosom of Our hard…rul'd
King。 Again； there is sprung up An heretic； an arch one； Cranmer； one
Hath crawl'd into the favour of the King； And is his oracle。 NORFOLK。
He is vex'd at something。
Enter the KING； reading of a schedule； and LOVELL
SURREY。 I would 'twere something that would fret the string； The
master…cord on's heart！ SUFFOLK。 The King； the King！ KING。 What piles
of wealth hath he accumulated To his own portion！ And what expense 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？ NORFOLK。 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； straight Springs out into fast
gait； then stops again； Strikes his breast hard； and anon he casts His eye
against the moon。 In most strange postures We have 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
household； which I find at such proud rate that it outspeaks Possession of
a subject。 NORFOLK。 It's heaven's will； Some spirit put this paper in the
packet To bless your eye withal。 KING。 If we did think His contemplation
were above the earth And fix'd on spiritual object； he should still Dwell in
his musings； but I am afraid His thinkings are below the moon； not worth
His serious considering。 ＇The KING takes his seat and whispers LOVELL；
who goes to the CARDINAL＇ WOLSEY。 Heaven forgive me！ Ever God
bless your Highness！ KING。 Good； my lord； You are full of heavenly 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
46
… Page 47…
KING HENRY THE EIGHTH
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。 WOLSEY。 Sir；
For holy offices I have a time； a time To think upon the part of business
which 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。 WOLSEY。 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
have kept you next my heart； have not alone Employ'd you where high
profits might come home； But par'd my present havings to bestow My
bounties upon you。 WOLSEY。 ＇Aside＇ What should this mean？ SURREY。
＇Aside＇ The Lord increase this business！ KING。 Have I not made you The
prime man of the state？ I pray you 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？ WOLSEY。 My sovereign； I confess your royal
graces； Show'r'd on me daily； have been more than could My studied
purposes requite； which went Beyond all man's endeavours。 My
endeavours； Have ever come too short of my desires； Yet fil'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 undeserver； I Can nothing render but
allegiant thanks； My pray'rs to heaven 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； i' 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；
notwithstanding that your bond of duty； As 'twere in love's particular； be
more To me； your friend； than any。 WOLSEY。 I do profess That for your
Highness' good I ever labour'd More than mine own； that am； have； and
will be Though all the world should crack their duty to you； And throw it
47
… Page 48…
KING HENRY THE EIGHTH
from their soul； though perils did Abound as thick as thought could make
'em； and Appear in forms more horridyet 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 have。
Exit the KING； frowning upon the CARDINAL； the NOBLES throng after
him； smiling and whispering WOLSEY。 What should this mean？ What
sudden anger's this？ How have I reap'd it？ He parted frowning from me； as
if ruin Leap'd from his eyes； so looks the chafed lion Upon the daring
huntsman that has gall'd him Then makes him nothing。 I must read this
paper； I fear； the story of his anger。 'Tis so； This paper has undone me。 'Tis
th' account Of all that world of wealth I have drawn together For mine
own ends； indeed to gain the popedom； And fee my friends in Rome。 O
negligence； Fit for a fool to fall by！ What cross devil Made me put this
main secret in the packet I sent the King？ Is there no way to cure this？ No
new device to beat this from his brains？ I know 'twill stir him strongly； yet
I know A way； if it take right； in spite of fortune； Will bring me off again。
What's this？ 'To th' Pope。' The letter； as I live； with all the business I writ
to's Holiness。 Nay then； farewell！ I have touch'd the highest point of all my
greatness； And from that full meridian of my glory I haste now to my
setting。 I shall fall Like a bright exhalation in the evening； And no man see
me more。
Re…enter to WOLSEY the DUKES OF NORFOLK and SUFFOLK；
the EARL OF SURREY； and the LORD CHAMBERLAIN
NORFOLK。 Hear the King's pleasure； Cardinal； who commands you
To render up the great seal presently Into our hands； and to confine
yourself To Asher House； my Lord of Winchester's； Till you hear further
from his Highness。 WOLSEY。 Stay： Where's your commission； lords？
Words cannot carry Authority so weighty。 SUFFOLK。 Who dares cross
'em； Bearing the King's will from his mouth expressly？ WOLSEY。 Till I
find more than will or words to do it I mean your maliceknow；
officious lords； I dare and must deny it。 Now I feel Of what coarse metal
ye are mouldedenvy； How eagerly ye follow my disgraces； As if it fed ye；
48
… Page 49…