Wol. Is he ready To come abroad? Crom. I think, by this he is. Wol. Leave me a while. 310 [Exit CROMWELL. It shall be to the dutchess of Alençon, The French king's sister: he shall marry her.Anne Bullen! No; I'll no Anne Bullens for him: There's more in't than fair visage.-Bullen 1 No, we'll no Bullens !-Speedily I wish To hear from Rome.-The marchioness of Pembroke I Nor. He's discontented. Suf. May be, he hears the king Does whet his anger to him. Sur. Sharp enough, Lord, for thy justice! 320 Wol. The late queen's gentlewoman; a knight's daughter, To be her mistress' mistress! the queen's queen !This candle burns not clear: 'tis I must snuff it; Then, out it goes.-What though I know her vir tuous, And well-deserving ? yet I know her for A spleeny Lutheran; and not wholesome to Our hard-rul'd king. Again, there is sprung up An heretick, an arch one, Cranmer; one Nor. He is vex'd at something. H 331 Sur Sur. I would, 'twere something that would fret the string, The master cord of his heart! Enter the King, reading a Schedule; and LovEL. Suf. The king, the king! King. What piles of wealth hath he accumulated To his own portion! and what expence by the hour Seems to flow from him! How, i' the name of thrift, Does he rake this together!-Now, my lords; Saw you the cardinal ? Nor. My lord, we have 341 Stood here observing him: Some strange commotion His eye against the moon: in most strange postures King. It may well be; There is a mutiny in his mind. This morning As I requir'd; And, wot you, what I found 351 360 Nor. Nor. It is heaven's will; Some spirit put this paper in the packet, King. If we did think His contemplations were above the earth, 370 [He takes his Seat; and whispers LOVEL, who goes to WOLSEY. 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 best graces in your mind; the which You were now running o'er: you have scarce time Wol. Sir; For holy offices I have a time; a time King. You have said well. 380 Wol. And ever may your highness yoke together, As I will lend you cause, my doing well With my well saying! King. 'Tis well said again; And 'tis a kind of good deed, to say well: 390 And yet words are no deeds. My father lov'd you: My bounties upon you. Wol. What should this mean? Sur. The Lord increase this, business ! King. Have I not made you 400 [Aside. [Aside. The prime man of the state? I pray you, tell me, If you are bound to us, or no. 410 What say you? Wol. My sovereign, I confess, your royal graces, Shower'd on me daily, have been more, than could My studied purposes requite; which went Beyond all man's endeavours: my endeavours Have ever come too short of my desires, Yet, fill'd with my abilities: Mine own ends Have been mine so, that evermore they pointed To the good of your most sacred person, and The profit of the state. For your great graces Heap'd upon me, poor undeserver, I Can nothing render but allegiant thanks; My My prayers to heaven for you; my loyalty, Which ever has, and ever shall be growing, 420 'Till death, that winter, kill it. King. Fairly answer'd; A loyal and obedient subject is Does pay the act of it; as, i' the contrary, My heart dropp'd love, my power rain'd honour, more To me, your friend, than any. Wol. I do profess, That for your highness' good I ever labour'd King. 'Tis nobly spoken : Take notice, lords, he has a loyal breast, For you have seen him open't.-Read o'er this ; 440 |