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 25
Was to them as a painting. Now this masque
Was cried 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 praise; and, being present both,
'Twas said they saw but one; and no dis-

cerner

30

What heaven hath given 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 given all before, and he begins A new hell in himself.

70

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
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 council out,
Must fetch him in he papers.

70

80

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. O, many

Buck.

Have broke their backs with laying manors on

'em

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

Buck. 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.

90

Which is budded out; For France hath flaw'd the league, and hath

attach'd

Our merchants' goods at Bourdeaux.

Aber.

The ambassador is silenc'd?

Nor.

95

Is it therefore

Marry, is 't.

Aber. A proper title of a peace, and purchas'd At a superfluous rate!

Buck.

Our reverend Cardinal carried.

Nor.

Why, all this business

Like it your Grace, 100

The state takes notice of the private differ

King;

I'll follow and outstare him.

Nor. Stay, my lord, 129 And let your reason with your choler question What 't is you go about. To climb steep hills Requires slow pace at first. Anger is like A full hot horse, 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 honour quite cry down This Ipswich fellow's insolence, or proclaim There's difference in no persons.

Nor.

135

Be advis'd;

140

Heat not a furnace for your foe so hot
That it do singe yourself. 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,
Or but allay, the fire of passion.

Buck.

Sir,

145

150

I am thankful to you; and I'll go along
By your prescription; but this top-proud fel-
low,

Whom from the flow of gall I name not, but
From sincere motions, by intelligence,
And proofs as clear as founts in July when
We e see each grain of gravel, I do know
To be corrupt and treasonous.
Nor.

66

155

Say not treasonous."

already.

I am the shadow of poor Buckingham, Whose figure even this instant cloud puts on, By dark ning my clear sun. My lord, farewell. [Exeunt. 226 SCENE II. [The same. The council-chamber.] Cornets. Enter the KING, leaning on the CARDINAL'S shoulder, the Nobles, and SIR THOMAS LOVELL; the Cardinal places himself under the King's feet on his right side.

King. My life itself, and the best heart of it, Thanks you for this great care. I stood i' the level

Of a full-charg'd confederacy, and give thanks To you that chok'd it. Let be call'd before us That gentleman of Buckingham's; in person 5 I'll hear him his confessions justify,

And point by point the treasons of his master He shall again relate.

A noise within, crying, "Room for the Queen!" Enter QUEEN KATHERINE, ushered by the DUKE OF NORFOLK, and the DUKE OF SUFFOLK: she kneels. The King riseth from his state, takes her up, kisses and placeth her by him.

Q. Kath. Nay, we must longer kneel; I am a suitor.

King. Arise, and take place by us. Half your suit

Never name to us, you have half our power;

10

Please you, sir, 40 I know but of a single part, in aught Pertains to the state; and front but in that

file

74

My faculties nor person, yet will be
The chronicles of my doing, let me say
'Tis but the fate of place, and the rough brake
That virtue must go through. We must not stint
Our necessary actions, in the fear

To cope malicious censurers; which ever,
As ravenous fishes, do a vessel follow
That is new-trimm'd, but benefit no further 80
Than vainly longing. What we oft do best,
By sick interpreters, once weak ones, is
Not ours, or not allow'd; what worst, as oft,
Hitting a grosser quality, is cried up
For our best act. If we shall stand still,
In fear our motion will be mock'd or carp'd at,
We should take root here where we sit, or sit
State-statues only.

85

King. Things done well, And with a care, exempt themselves from fear; Things done without example, in their issue 90 Are to be fear'd. Have you a precedent Of this commission? I believe, not any. We must not rend our subjects from our laws, And stick them in our will. Sixth part of each? A trembling contribution! Why, we take From every tree, lop, bark, and part o' the timber;

95

The gentleman is learn'd, and a most rare speaker;

To nature none more bound; his training such That he may furnish and instruct great teach

ers,

118

And never seek for aid out of himself. Yet see,
When these so noble benefits shall prove
Not well dispos'd, the mind growing once cor-
rupt,

They turn to vicious forms, ten times more ugly Than ever they were fair. This man so complete,

Who was enroll'd 'mongst wonders, and when we,
Almost with ravish'd list'ning, could not find
His hour of speech a minute; he, my lady,
Hath into monstrous habits put the graces
That once were his, and is become as black
As if besmear'd in hell. Sit by us; you shall

hear

We cannot feel too little, hear too much.
Wol. Stand forth, and with bold spirit relate
what you,

Most like a careful subject, have collected
Out of the Duke of Buckingham.

King.

130

Speak freely.

Surv. First, it was usual with him, every day It would infect his speech, that if the King Should without issue die, he 'll carry it so To make the sceptre his. These very words 135 I've heard him utter to his son-in-law, Lord Abergavenny; to whom by oath he menac'd

Revenge upon the Cardinal.

Wol.

Please your Highness, note This dangerous conception in this point. Not friended by his wish, to your high person 140 His will is most malignant; and it stretches Beyond you, to your friends.

Q. Kath.

My learn'd Lord Cardinal, Deliver all with charity.

King.

Speak on.

How grounded he his title to the crown?

Upon our fail? To this point hast thou heard

him

At any time speak aught?
Surv.

By a vain prophecy of Nicholas Henton.
King. What was that Henton?

Surv.

145

He was brought to this

Sir, a Chartreux friar,

How know'st thou this?

His confessor; who fed him every minute With words of sovereignty.

King.

Surv. Not long before your Highness sped to France,

152

The Duke being at the Rose, within the parish
Saint Lawrence Poultney, did of me demand
What was the speech among the Londoners
Concerning the French journey. I repli'd,
Men fear the French would prove perfidious,
To the King's danger. Presently the Duke
Said, 'twas the fear, indeed; and that he

doubted

'T would prove the verity of certain words Spoke by a holy monk, "that oft," says he, 180