And without trial fell; God's peace be with him!
Henry the seventh succeeding, truly pitying
My father's loss, like a most royal prince,
Restor❜d me to my honours, and, out of ruins,
Made my name once more noble. Now his son,
Henry the eighth, life, honour, name, and all
That made me happy, at one stroke has taken
For ever from the world. I had my trial,
And, must needs say, a noble one; which makes me
A little happier than my wretched father:
Yet thus far we are one in fortunes,-Both
Fell by our servants, by those men we lov'd most ;
A most unnatural and faithless service!

Heaven has an end in all: Yet, you that hear me,
This from a dying man receive as certain :

Where you are liberal of your loves, and counsels,
Be sure, you be not loose; for those you make friends,
And give your hearts to, when they once perceive
The least rub in your fortunes, fall away

Like water from ye, never found again

But where they mean to sink ye. All good people,
Pray for me! I must now forsake ye; the last hour
Of my long weary life is come upon me.

Farewell:

And when you would say something that is sad,

Speak how I fell.—I have done, and God forgive me!

[Exeunt BUCKINGHAM and Train.

1 Gen. O, this is full of pity!--Sir, it calls,

I fear, too many curses on their heads,

That were the authors.

2 Gen. If the duke be guiltless,

'Tis full of woe: Yet I can give you inkling Of an ensuing evil, if it fall,

Greater than this.

1 Gen. Good angels keep it from us!

Where may it be? You do not doubt my faith, sir? 2 Gen. This secret is so weighty, 'twill require A strong faith to conceal it.

1 Gen. Let me have it;

I do not talk much.

2 Gen. I am confident;

You shall, sir: Did you not of late days hear
A buzzing, of a separation

Between the king and Katharine ?

[6] Strong faith, is great fidelity.

JOHNSON

1 Gen. Yes, but it held not;

For when the king once heard it, out of anger
He sent command to the lord mayor, straight
To stop the rumour, and allay those tongues
That durst disperse it.

2 Gen. But that slander, sir,

Is found a truth now: for it grows again
Fresher than e'er it was; and held for certain,
The king will venture at it. Either the cardinal,
Or some about him near, have, out of malice
To the good queen, possess'd him with a scruple
That will undo her: To confirm this too,
Cardinal Campeius is arriv'd, and lately;
As all think, for this business.

1 Gen. 'Tis the cardinal;

And merely to revenge him on the emperor,
For not bestowing on him, at his asking,

The archbishoprick of Toledo, this is purpos'd.

2 Gen. I think you have hit the mark: But is't not cruel, That she should feel the smart of this? The cardinal Will have his will, and she must fall.

1 Gen. 'Tis woful.

We are too open here to argue this;
Let's think in private more.

SCENE II.

[Exeunt.

An Ante-chamber in the Palace. Enter the Lord Chamberlain, reading a letter.

Cham. My lord,―The horses your lordship sent for, with all the care I had, I saw well chosen, ridden, and furnished. They were young, and handsome; and of the best breed in the north. When they were ready to set out for London, a man of my lord cardinal's, by commission, and main power, took 'em from me; with this reason, His master would be served before a subject, if not be fore the king: which stopped our mouths, sir.

I fear, he will, indeed: Well, let him have them:
He will have all, I think.

Enter the Dukes of NORFOLK and SUFFOLK.
Nor. Well met, my good lord chamberlain.
Cham. Good day to both your graces.
Suff. How is the king employ'd?

Cham. I left him private,

Full of sad thoughts and troubles.

Nor. What's the cause?

Cham. It seems, the marriage with his brother's wife Has crept too near his conscience.

Suff. No, his conscience

Has crept too near another lady.
Nor. 'Tis so ;

This is the cardinal's doing, the king-cardinal:
That blind priest, like the eldest son of fortune,

Turns what he lists. The king will know him one day.
Suf. Pray God, he do! he'll never know himself else.
Nor. How holily he works in all his business!
And with what zeal! For, now he has crack'd the league
Between us and the emperor, the queen's great nephew,
He dives into the king's soul; and there scatters
Dangers, doubts, wringing of the conscience,
Fears, and despairs, and all these for his marriage
And, out of all these to restore the king,
He counsels a divorce: a loss of her,
That, like a jewel, has hung twenty years
About his neck, yet never lost her lustre ;
Of her, that loves him with that excellence
That angels love good men with; even of her
That, when the greatest stroke of fortune falls,
Will bless the king: And is not this course pious?

Cham. Heaven keep me from such counsel! 'Tis most

These news are every where; every tongue speaks them, And every true heart weeps for't: All, that dare

Look into these affairs, see this main end,

The French king's sister. Heaven will one day open

The king's eyes, that so long have slept upon

This bold bad man.

Suf. And free us from his slavery.
Nor. We had need pray,

And heartily, for our deliverance;

Or this imperious man will work us all

From princes into pages: all men's honours

Lie in one lump before him, to be fashion'd

Into what pitch he please."

Suf. For me, my lords,

[7] This may allude to the retinue of the cardinal, who had several of the nobility among his menial servants.

JOHNSON.

[8] The allusion seems to be to the 21st verse of the 9th chapter of the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans: "Hath not the potter power over the clay of the same Jump, to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?" COLLINS.

I love him not, nor fear him; there's my creed:
As I am made without him, so I'll stand,

If the king please; his curses and his blessings
Touch me alike, they are breath I not believe in.
I knew him, and I know him; so I leave him
To him that made him proud, the pope.

Nor. Let's in;

And, with some other business, put the king

From these sad thoughts, that work too much upon him: -My lord, you'll bear us company?

Cham. Excuse me ;

The king hath sent me other-where

besides

You'll find a most unfit time to disturb him:

Health to your lordships.

Nor. Thanks, my good lord chamberlain.

[Exit Lord Chamberlain.

NORFOLK opens a folding door. The King is discovered sitting, and reading pensively.

Suf. How sad he looks! sure, he is much afflicted.
K. Hen. Who is there? ha?

Nor. 'Pray God, he be not angry.

K. Hen. Who's there, I say? How dare you thrust yourselves

Into my private meditations?

Who am I? ha?

Nor. A gracious king, that pardons all offences Malice ne'r meant: Our breach of duty, this way, Is business of estate; in which, we come

To know your royal pleasure.

K. Hen. You are too bold;

Go to; I'll make ye know your times of business :
Is this an hour for temporal affairs? ha?

Enter WOLSEY and CAMPEIUS.

Who's there? my good lord cardinal ?--O my Wolsey,
The quiet of my wounded conscience,

Thou art a cure fit for a king.-You're welcome,

[TO CAMPEIUS.

Most learned reverend sir, into our kingdom;
Use us, and it :-My good lord, have great care
I be not found a talker.9

[TO WOLSEY.

Wol. Sir, you cannot.

[9] I take the meaning to be, Let care be taken that my promise be performed, that my professions of welcome be not found empty talk. JOHNSON.

I would, your grace would give us but an hour

Of private conference.

K. Hen. We are busy; go.

[To NORF. and Sur.

Nor. This priest has no pride in him?
Suf. Not to speak of;

I would not be so sick though, for his place :1
But this cannot continue.

Nor. If it do,

I'll venture one heave at him.

Suf. I another.

Aside.

[Exeunt NORF. and SUF.

Wol. Your grace has given a precedent of wisdom Above all princes, in committing freely

Your scruple to the voice of Christendom:

Who can be angry now? what envy reach you?
The Spaniard, ty'd by blood and favour to her,
Must now confess, if they have any goodness,
The trial just and noble. All the clerks,

I mean, the learned ones, in christian kingdoms,
Have their free voices :' Rome, the nurse of judgment,
Invited by your noble self, hath sent

One general tongue unto us, this good man,

This just and learned priest, cardinal Campeius;
Whom, once more, I present unto your highness.

K.Hen. And, once more, in mine arms I bid him welcome, And thank the holy conclave for their loves;

They have sent me such a man I would have wish'd for.
Cam. Your grace must needs deserve all strangers' loves,
You are so noble: To your highness' hand

I tender my commission; by whose virtue,-
(The court of Rome commanding,) you, my lord
Cardinal of York, are join'd with me their servant,
In the unpartial judging of this business.

K. Hen. Two equal men. The queen shall be acquainted Forthwith, for what you come :-Where's Gardiner ? Wol. I know, your majesty has always lov'd her

So dear in heart, not to deny her that

A woman of less place might ask by law,

Scholars, allow'd freely to argue for her.

K. Hen. Ay, and the best, she shall have; and my favour To him that does best; God forbid else. Cardinal,

Pr'ythee, call Gardiner to me, my new secretary ;

I find him a fit fellow.

[Exit WOLSEY.

That is, so sick as he is proud. JOHNSON.
The construction is, have sent their free voices. MALONE.