Lov. I do beseech your grace, for charity, If ever any malice in your heart Were hid against me, now to forgive me frankly. There cannot be those numberless offences And if he speak of Buckingham, pray tell him, Lov. To the water side I must conduct your grace; Vaux. Prepare there, The duke is coming; see the barge be ready; The greatness of his person. Buck. Nay, sir Nicholas, Let it alone; my state now will but mock me. When I came hither I was lord high constable, And duke of Buckingham; now, poor Edward Bohun; That never knew what truth meant: I now seal it; for 't. My noble father, Henry of Buckingham, Who first rais'd head against usurping Richard, Henry the seventh succeeding, truly pitying Heaven has an end in all: Yet, you that hear me, Where you are liberal of your loves and counsels, Like water from ye, never found again But where they mean to sink ye. All good people, 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 Gent. O, this is full of pity!-Sir, it calls, I fear, too many curses on their heads That were the authors. 2 Gent. If the duke be guiltless, 'T is full of woe: yet I can give you inkling Of an ensuing evil, if it fall, Greater than this. 1 Gent. Good angels keep it from us! What may it be? You do not doubt my faith, sir? 2 Gent. This secret is so weighty, 't will require A strong faith to conceal it. 1 Gent. Let me have it: I do not talk much. 2 Gent. I am confident; You shall, sir: Did you not of late days hear A buzzing, of a separation Between the king and Katharine? 1 Gent. anger Yes, but it held not: For when the king once heard it, out of a He sent command to the lord mayor, straight To stop the rumour, and allay those tongues That durst disperse it. 2 Gent. Fresher than e'er it was; and held for certain 1 1 Gent. 'T is the cardinal And merely to revenge him on the emperor, For not bestowing on him, at his asking, The archbishopric of Toledo, this is purpos'd. 2 Gent. 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 Gent. We are too open here to argue this; T is woful. [Excunt. SCENE II.-An Antechamber 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; aud of the best breed in the nortli. 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 serv'd before a subject, if not before the king; which stopped our months, sir." I fear, he will, indeed: Well, let him have them: Enter the DUKES OF NORFOLK and SUFFOLK. Cham. Full of sad thoughts and troubles. I left him private, What's the canse? Nor. Has crept too near his conscience. No, his conscience 'Tis so: This is the cardinal's doing, the king-cardinal: 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! 'T is most true These news are everywhere; every tongue speaks them, And every true heart weeps for 't: All that dare The French king's sister. Heaven will one day open This bold bad man. Suf. And free us from Iris slavery. Nor. We had need pray, And heartily, for our deliverance; Or this imperious man will work us all Suf 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? Excuse me Cham. Nor. Thanks, my good lord chamberlain. [Exit Lord Chamberlain. |