But minister communication of

A most poor issue? 5

Nor.

Grievingly I think,

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.

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?6

Nor.

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. 8

Nor.

Why, all this business

'Like it your grace,

The state takes notice of the private difference
Betwixt you and the cardinal. I advise you,
(And take it from a heart that wishes towards you
Honour and plenteous safety,) that you read
The cardinal's malice and his potency
Together: to consider further, that

What his high hatred would effect, wants not

5

What did this vanity,

But minister, &c.] What effect had this pompous show, but the production of a wretched conclusion. JOHNSON.

6 The ambassador is silenc'd?] I understand this of the French ambassador residing in England, who, by being refused an audience, may be said to be silenc'd. JOHNSON.

7 A proper title of a peace;] A fine name of a peace. Ironically.

JOHNSON.

8 Our reverend cardinal carried.] To carry a business was at this time a current phrase for to conduct or manage it.

A minister in his power: You know his nature,
That he's revengeful; and I know, his sword
Hath a sharp edge: it's long, and, it may be said,
It reaches far; and where 'twill not extend,

Thither he darts it. Bosom up my counsel,
You'll find it wholesome. Lo, where comes that rock,
That I advise your shunning.

Enter Cardinal WOLSEY, (the Purse borne before him,) certain of the Guard, and two Secretaries with Papers. The Cardinal in his passage fixeth his eye on BUCKINGHAM, and BUCKINGHAM on him, both full of disdain.

Wol. The duke of Buckingham's surveyor? ha? Where's his examination?

1 Secr.

Here, so please you.

Wol. Is he in person ready?

1 Secr.

Ay, please your grace.

Wol. Well, we shall then know more; and Buck

ingham

Shall lessen this big look.

[Exeunt WOLSEY and Train. Buck. This butcher's cur9 is venom-mouth'd, and I Have not the power to muzzle him; therefore, best Not wake him in his slumber. A beggar's book li Out-worths a noble's blood.1

Nor.

What, are you chaf'd?

Ask God for temperance; that's the appliance only,'
Which your disease requires.

9 · butcher's cur — ] Wolsey is said to have been the son of a butcher.

A beggar's book

Out-worths a noble's blood.] That is, the literary qualifications of a bookish beggar are more prized than the high descent of hereditary greatness. This is a contemptuous exclamation very naturally put into the mouth of one of the ancient, unlettered, martial nobility. JOHNSON.

Buck.

I read in his looks

Matter against me; and his eye revil'd

Me, as his abject object: at this instant

He bores me with some trick2: He's gone to the king;
I'll follow, and out-stare him.

Nor.
Stay, my lord,
And let your reason with your choler question
What 'tis 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.

3

I'll to the king:

Buck.
And from a mouth of honour quite cry down
This Ipswich fellow's insolence; or proclaim,
There's difference in no persons.

Nor.

Be advis'd:
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 it 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.

I am thankful to you: and I'll go along

By your prescription :
:- but this top-proud fellow,
(Whom from the flow of gall I name not, but

He bores me with some trick:] He stabs or wounds me by some artifice or fiction.

3 from a mouth of honour -] I will crush this base-born fellow, by the due influence of my rank, or say that all distinction of persons is at an end. JOHNSON.

From sincere motions*,) by intelligence,
And proofs as clear as founts in Júly, when
We see each grain of gravel, I do know
To be corrupt and treasonous.

Nor.

Say not, treasonous.

Buck. To the king I'll say't; and make my vouch as

strong

Attend.

As shore of rock.
This holy fox,
Or wolf, or both, (for he is equal ravenous,
As he is subtle; and as prone to mischief,
As able to perform it: his mind and place
Infecting one another, yea, reciprocally,)
Only to show his pomp as well in France
As here at home, suggests the king our master
To this last costly treaty, the interview,

5

That swallow'd so much treasure, and like a glass
Did break i' the rinsing.

Nor.

'Faith, and so it did.

Buck. Pray, give me favour, sir. This cunning car

dinal

The articles o' the combination drew,

As himself pleas'd; and they were ratified,

As he cried, Thus let be: to as much end,

As give a crutch to the dead: But our count-cardinal
Has done this, and 'tis well; for worthy Wolsey,
Who cannot err, he did it. Now this follows,
(Which, as I take it, is a kind of puppy
To the old dam, treason,)- Charles the emperor,
Under pretence to see the queen his aunt,
(For 'twas, indeed, his colour; but he came
To whisper Wolsey,) here makes visitation:
His fears were, that the interview, betwixt
England and France, might, through their amity,
Breed him some prejudice; for from this league

Peep'd harms that menac'd him: He privily
Deals with our cardinal; and, as I trow,
Which I do well; for, I am sure, the emperor
Paid ere he promis'd; whereby his suit was granted,
Ere it was ask'd; but when the way was made,
And pav'd with gold, the emperor thus desir'd; -
That he would please to alter the king's course,
And break the foresaid peace. Let the king know,
(As soon he shall by me,) that thus the cardinal
Does buy and sell his honour as he pleases,
And for his own advantage.

Nor.

I am sorry

To hear this of him; and could wish, he were
Something mistaken in't."

Buck.

No, not a syllable;

I do pronounce him in that very shape,

He shall appear in proof.

Enter BRANDON; a Sergeant at Arms before him, and two or three of the Guard.

Bran. Your office, sergeant; execute it.
Serg.
My lord the duke of Buckingham, and earl
Of Hereford, Stafford, and Northampton, I
Arrest thee of high treason, in the name
Of our most sovereign king.

Buck.

The net has fall'n upon me;

Under device and practice.7

Bran.

Sir,

Lo you, my lord,
I shall perish

I am sorry

To see you ta'en from liberty, to look on

The business present: 'Tis his highness' pleasure,
You shall to the Tower.

- he were

Something mistaken in't.] That is, that he were something different from what he is taken or supposed by you to be.