Rich ftuffs, and ornaments of houfhold; which Nor. It is heaven's will; Some spirit put this paper in the packet, King. If we did think His contemplation were above the earth, His thinkings are below the moon, not worth [He takes his feat; and whispers Lovel, who goes to Wolfey. Wol. Heaven forgive me! Ever God bless your highness! King. Good my lord, You are full of heavenly stuff, and bear the inventory Of your beft graces in your mind; the which You were now running o'er: you have scarce time To keep your earthly audit: Sure, in that For holy offices I have a time; a time King. You have faid well. Wol. And ever may your highnefs yoke together, As I will lend you caufe, my doing well With my well faying! King. 'Tis well faid again; And 'tis a kind of good deed, to say well: And yet words are no deeds. My father lov'd you: I have kept you next my heart; have not alone Employ'd Employ'd you where high profits might come home, But par'd my prefent havings, to bestow My bounties upon you. Wol. What should this mean? Sur. The Lord increafe this business! King. Have I not made you The prime man of the ftate? I pray you, tell me, [Afide. If you are bound to us, or no. What say you? Can nothing render but allegiant thanks; A loyal and obedient fubject is My heart dropp'd love, my power rain'd honour, more 8 Beyond all man's endeavours:] The fenfe, is, my purposes went beyond all human endeavour. I purpofed for your honour more than it falls within the compafs of man's nature to attempt. JOHNSON. I am rather inclined to think, that which refers to "royal graces"; which, fays Wolfey, no human endeavour could requite. MALONE. 9 Yet, fil'd with my abilities:] My endeavours, though less than my defires, have fil'd, that is, have gone an equal pace with my abilities. JOHNSON. So, in a preceding scene: -front but in that file "Where others tell steps with me." STEEVENS, On you, than any; fo your hand, and heart, Wol. I do profefs, That for your highness' good I ever labour'd King. 'Tis nobly spoken: Take notice, lords, he has a loyal breast, [Giving him papers. And, after, this: and then to breakfast, with What appetite you have. [Exit King, frowning upon Cardinal Wolfey: the Nobles throng after him, whispering and smiling. - notwithstanding that your bond of duty,] Befides the general bond of duty, by which you are obliged to be a loyal and obedient fubje&t, you owe a particular devotion of yourself to me, as your particular benefactor. JOHNSON. 2- that am, bave, and will be.] I fuppofe, the meaning is, that, or fuch a man, I am, have been, and will ever be. Our author has many hard and forced expreffions in his plays; but many of the hardneffes in the piece before us appear to me of a different colour from those of Shakspeare. Perhaps, however, a line following this has been loft; for in the old copy there is no ftop at the end of this line; and indeed I have fome doubt whether a comma ought not to be placed at it, rather than a full point. MALONE. 3 As doth a rock against the chiding flood,] So, in our author's 116th Sonnet: 66 it is an ever-fixed mark, "That looks on tempefts, and is never shaken." The chiding flood is the refounding flood. So, in the verses in commendation of our author, by J. M. S. prefixed to the folio, 1632: there plays a fair "But chiding fountain." See alfo Vol. V. p. 502, n. 7. MALONE. Ille, velur pelagi rupes immota, refiftit." Æn. VII. 586. S. W. Wol. Wol. What should this mean? What fudden anger's this? how have I reap'd it? Leap'd from his eyes: So looks the chafed lion This paper has undone me :-'Tis the account I writ to his holinefs. Nay then, farewel! I hafte now to my fetting: I fhall fall Like a bright exhalation in the evening, Re-enter the Dukes of NORFOLK and SUFFOLK, the Earl of SURREY, and the Lord Chamberlain. Nor. Hear the king's pleasure, cardinal: who commands you To render up the great feal presently Into our hands; and to confine yourself To Asher house, my lord of Winchester's ", 4 To Ather bouse,] This, as Mr. Warner has obferved, was the ancient name of Eber; as appears from Holinfbed: "—and everie man took their horfes and rode ftrait to Aber." Holinfhed, Vol. II. p. 909. MALONE. 5-my lord of Winchester's,] Shakspeare forgot that Wolfey was himself bishop of Winchefter: unless he meant to fay, you must confine yourself to that house which you poflefs as bishop of Winchester. Asher, near Hampton Court, was one of the houfes belonging to that bifhoprick. MALONE. G. 3 Wol. Wol. Stay, Where's your commiffion, lords? words cannot carry Suf. Who dare cross them? Bearing the king's will from his mouth expressly? Wel. Till I find more than will, or words, to do it, (I mean, your malice,) know, officious lords, dare, and must deny it. Now I feel envy. Of what coarfe metal ye are moulded, You have chriftian warrant for them, and, no doubt, That feal, You afk with fuch a violence, the king, (Mine, and your mafter,) with his own hand gave me : Ty'd it by letters patents: Now, who'll take it? Wol. It must be himself then. Sur. Thou art a proud traitor, priest. Within these forty hours Surrey durft better Thou scarlet fin, robb'd this bewailing land The heads of all thy brother cardinals, -fo weighty.] The editor of the third folio changed weighty to mighty, and all the fubfequent editors adopted his capricious alteration. 6 Till I find more than will, or words, to do it, (I mean, your malice,) know, &c.] Wolfey had faid: qwords cannot carry Authority fo mighty. To which they reply: Who dare cross them? &c. MALONE. Wolfey, answering them, continues his own speech: Till I find more than will or words, (I mean more than your malicious will and words,) to do it; that is, to carry authority fo mighty; I will deny to return what the king has given me. JoHNSON. (With |