The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 6 of 9]

Q. Kath. I am sorry that the Duke of Buckingham [127]
Is run in your displeasure.

King. It grieves many:[128] 110
The gentleman is learn'd and a most rare speaker;[129]
To nature none more bound; his training such
That he may furnish and instruct great teachers
And never seek for aid out of himself. Yet see,[130]
When these so noble benefits shall prove [131] 115
Not well disposed, the mind growing once corrupt,
They turn to vicious forms, ten times more ugly
Than ever they were fair. This man so complete,[132]
Who was enroll'd 'mongst wonders, and when we,[133]
Almost with ravish'd listening, could not find[133][134] 120
His hour of speech a minute; he, my lady,
Hath into monstrous habits put the graces
That once were his, and is become as black
As if besmear'd in hell. Sit by us; you shall hear—[135]
This was his gentlemen in trust—of him 125
Things to strike honour sad. Bid him recount
The fore-recited practices; whereof [136]
We cannot feel too little, hear too much.

Wol. Stand forth, and with bold spirit relate what you,
Most like a careful subject, have collected 130
Out of the Duke of Buckingham.

King. Speak freely.

Surv. First, it was usual with him, every day [137]
It would infect his speech, that if the king
Should without issue die, he'll carry it so [138]
To make the sceptre his: these very words 135
I've heard him utter to his son-in-law,
Lord Abergavenny, to whom by oath he menaced [139]
Revenge upon the cardinal.

Wol. Please your highness, note [140]
This dangerous conception in this point.[141][142]
Not friended by his wish, to your high person[142] 140
His will is most malignant, and it stretches
Beyond you to your friends.

Q. Kath. My learn'd lord cardinal,
Deliver all with charity.

King. Speak on:
How grounded he his title to the crown
Upon our fail? to this point hast thou heard him 145
At any time speak aught?

Surv. He was brought to this [143]
By a vain prophecy of Nicholas Henton.[144]

King. What was that Henton?[145]

Surv. Sir, a Chartreux friar,
His confessor, who fed him every minute
With words of sovereignty.

King. How know'st thou this? 150

Surv. Not long before your highness sped to France,
The duke being at the Rose, within the parish
Saint Lawrence Poultney, did of me demand
What was the speech among the Londoners
Concerning the French journey: I replied, 155
Men fear'd the French would prove perfidious,[146]
To the king's danger. Presently the duke
Said, 'twas the fear indeed, and that he doubted
'Twould prove the verity of certain words
Spoke by a holy monk; 'that oft,' says he, 160
'Hath sent to me, wishing me to permit
John de la Car, my chaplain, a choice hour [147]
To hear from him a matter of some moment:
Whom after under the confession's seal [148][149]
He solemnly had sworn that what he spoke[148] 165
My chaplain to no creature living but[148]
To me should utter, with demure confidence[148][150]
This pausingly ensued: Neither the king nor's heirs,[151]
Tell you the duke, shall prosper: bid him strive
To gain the love o' the commonalty: the duke [152] 170
Shall govern England.'[153]

Q. Kath. If I know you well,
You were the duke's surveyor and lost your office
On the complaint o' the tenants: take good heed
You charge not in your spleen a noble person
And spoil your nobler soul: I say, take heed;[154] 175
Yes, heartily beseech you.[155]

King. Let him on.[156]
Go forward.[156]

Surv. On my soul, I'll speak but truth.
I told my lord the duke, by the devil's illusions
The monk might be deceived; and that 'twas dangerous for him [157]
To ruminate on this so far, until[157] 180
It forged him some design, which, being believed,
It was much like to do: he answer'd 'Tush,
It can do me no damage;' adding further,
That, had the king in his last sickness fail'd,
The cardinal's and Sir Thomas Lovell's heads 185
Should have gone off.

King. Ha! what, so rank? Ah, ha!
There's mischief in this man: canst thou say further?

Surv. I can, my liege.

King. Proceed.

Surv. Being at Greenwich,
After your highness had reproved the duke
About Sir William Blomer—[158]

King. I remember [159] 190
Of such a time: being my sworn servant,[159][160]
The duke retain'd him his. But on; what hence?

Surv. 'If' quoth he 'I for this had been committed,
As to the Tower I thought, I would have play'd [161]
The part my father meant to act upon 195
The usurper Richard; who, being at Salisbury,
Made suit to come in's presence; which if granted,[162]
As he made semblance of his duty, would [163]
Have put his knife into him.'

King. A giant traitor!

Wol. Now, madam, may his highness live in freedom, 200
And this man out of prison?[164]

Q. Kath. God mend all!

King. There's something more would out of thee; what say'st?

Surv. After 'the duke his father,' with the 'knife,'[165]
He stretch'd him, and with one hand on his dagger,
Another spread on's breast, mounting his eyes, 205
He did discharge a horrible oath, whose tenour
Was, were he evil used, he would outgo
His father by as much as a performance
Does an irresolute purpose.

King. There's his period, 210
To sheathe his knife in us. He is attach'd;
Call him to present trial: if he may
Find mercy in the law, 'tis his; if none,
Let him not seek't of us: by day and night![166]
He's traitor to the height. [Exeunt.[167]

Cham. Is't possible the spells of France should juggle [169]
Men into such strange mysteries?[170]

Sands. New customs,
Though they be never so ridiculous,
Nay, let 'em be unmanly, yet are follow'd.[171]

Cham. As far as I see, all the good our English 5
Have got by the late voyage is but merely [172]
A fit or two o' the face; but they are shrewd ones;
For when they hold 'em, you would swear directly
Their very noses had been counsellors
To Pepin or Clotharius, they keep state so. 10

Sands. They have all new legs, and lame ones: one would take it,[173]
That never saw 'em pace before, the spavin [174]
Or springhalt reign'd among 'em.[175]

Cham. Death! my lord,
Their clothes are after such a pagan cut too,[176]
That, sure, they've worn out Christendom.

How now! 15
What news, Sir Thomas Lovell?

Lov. Faith, my lord,
I hear of none but the new proclamation
That's clapp'd upon the court-gate.

Cham. What is't for?

Lov. The reformation of our travell'd gallants,
That fill the court with quarrels, talk, and tailors. 20

Cham. I'm glad 'tis there: now I would pray our monsieurs [178]
To think an English courtier may be wise,
And never see the Louvre.[179]

Lov. They must either,
For so run the conditions, leave those remnants
Of fool and feather that they got in France, 25
With all their honourable points of ignorance
Pertaining thereunto, as fights and fireworks,[180]
Abusing better men than they can be
Out of a foreign wisdom, renouncing clean [181]
The faith they have in tennis and tall stockings, 30
Short blister'd breeches and those types of travel,[182]
And understand again like honest men,
Or pack to their old playfellows: there, I take it,
They may, 'cum privilegio,' wear away [183]
The lag end of their lewdness, and be laugh'd at. 35

Sands. 'Tis time to give 'em physic, their diseases [184]
Are grown so catching.

Cham. What a loss our ladies
Will have of these trim vanities!

Lov. Ay, marry,
There will be woe indeed, lords: the sly whoresons
Have got a speeding trick to lay down ladies; 40
A French song and a fiddle has no fellow.

Sands. The devil fiddle 'em! I am glad they are going,[185]
For, sure, there's no converting of 'em: now [186]
An honest country lord, as I am, beaten
A long time out of play, may bring his plain-song, 45
And have an hour of hearing; and, by'r lady,
Held current music too.[187]

Cham. Well said, Lord Sands;
Your colt's tooth is not cast yet.[188]

Sands. No, my lord;
Nor shall not, while I have a stump.[189]

Cham. Sir Thomas,
Whither were you a-going?[190]

Lov. To the cardinal's: 50
Your lordship is a guest too.

Cham. O, 'tis true:
This night he makes a supper, and a great one,
To many lords and ladies; there will be
The beauty of this kingdom, I'll assure you.

Lov. That churchman bears a bounteous mind indeed,[191] 55
A hand as fruitful as the land that feeds us;
His dews fall every where.[192]

Cham. No doubt he's noble;
He had a black mouth that said other of him.

Sands. He may, my lord; has wherewithal: in him [193]
Sparing would show a worse sin than ill doctrine: 60
Men of his way should be most liberal;[194]
They are set here for examples.[195]

Cham. True, they are so;
But few now give so great ones. My barge stays;[196]
Your lordship shall along. Come, good Sir Thomas,
We shall be late else; which I would not be, 65
For I was spoke to, with Sir Henry Guildford
This night to be comptrollers.

Sands. I am your lordship's. [Exeunt.

Guild. Ladies, a general welcome from his grace [198]
Salutes ye all; this night he dedicates
To fair content and you: none here, he hopes,
In all this noble bevy, has brought with her
One care abroad; he would have all as merry [199] 5
As, first, good company, good wine, good welcome,[200]
Can make good people.

O, my lord, you're tardy:
The very thought of this fair company
Clapp'd wings to me.

Cham. You are young, Sir Harry Guildford.[202]

Sands. Sir Thomas Lovell, had the cardinal 10
But half my lay thoughts in him, some of these
Should find a running banquet ere they rested,
I think would better please 'em: by my life,
They are a sweet society of fair ones.

Lov. O, that your lordship were but now confessor 15
To one or two of these!

Sands. I would I were;
They should find easy penance.

Lov. Faith, how easy?

Sands. As easy as a down-bed would afford it.

Cham. Sweet ladies, will it please you sit? Sir Harry,
Place you that side; I'll take the charge of this: 20
His grace is entering. Nay, you must not freeze;
Two women placed together makes cold weather:[203]
My Lord Sands, you are one will keep 'em waking;
Pray, sit between these ladies.

Sands. By my faith,
And thank your lordship. By your leave, sweet ladies:[204] 25
If I chance to talk a little wild, forgive me;
I had it from my father.

Anne. Was he mad, sir?

Sands. O, very mad, exceeding mad, in love too:
But he would bite none; just as I do now,
He would kiss you twenty with a breath. [Kisses her.[205]

Cham. Well said, my lord. 30
So, now you're fairly seated. Gentlemen,[206]
The penance lies on you, if these fair ladies
Pass away frowning.

Sands. For my little cure,[207]
Let me alone.

Wol. You're welcome, my fair guests: that noble lady [208] 35
Or gentleman that is not freely merry,
Is not my friend: this, to confirm my welcome;[209]
And to you all, good health. [Drinks.[210]

Sands. Your grace is noble:
Let me have such a bowl may hold my thanks,
And save me so much talking.

Wol. My Lord Sands, 40
I am beholding to you: cheer your neighbours.[211]
Ladies, you are not merry: gentlemen,
Whose fault is this?

Sands. The red wine first must rise
In their fair cheeks, my lord; then we shall have 'em
Talk us to silence.

Anne. You are a merry gamester,[212] 45
My Lord Sands.[212][213]

Sands. Yes, if I make my play.
Here's to your ladyship: and pledge it, madam,
For 'tis to such a thing—[214]

Anne. You cannot show me.

Sands. I told your grace they would talk anon.

Wol. What's that?

Cham. Look out there, some of ye. [Exit Servant.[216]

Wol. What warlike voice, 50
And to what end, is this? Nay, ladies, fear not;
By all the laws of war you're privileged.[208]

Cham. How now! what is't?

Serv. A noble troop of strangers;
For so they seem: they've left their barge, and landed;[218]
And hither make, as great ambassadors 55
From foreign princes.

Wol. Good lord chamberlain,
Go, give 'em welcome; you can speak the French tongue;[219][220]
And, pray, receive 'em nobly and conduct 'em[219]
Into our presence, where this heaven of beauty
Shall shine at full upon them. Some attend him. 60

You have now a broken banquet; but we'll mend it.[222]
A good digestion to you all: and once more [223]
I shower a welcome on ye; welcome all.

A noble company! what are their pleasures?

Cham. Because they speak no English, thus they pray'd [225] 65
To tell your grace, that, having heard by fame
Of this so noble and so fair assembly
This night to meet here, they could do no less,
Out of the great respect they bear to beauty,
But leave their flocks, and under your fair conduct 70
Crave leave to view these ladies and entreat
An hour of revels with 'em.[226]

Wol. Say, lord chamberlain,[226]
They have done my poor house grace; for which I pay 'em[226][227][228]
A thousand thanks and pray 'em take their pleasures.[226][227]

King. The fairest hand I ever touch'd! O beauty, 75
Till now I never knew thee! [Music. Dance.

Wol. My lord![230]

Cham. Your grace?

Wol. Pray, tell 'em thus much from me:[231][232]
There should be one amongst 'em, by his person,[231]
More worthy this place than myself; to whom,
If I but knew him, with my love and duty 80
I would surrender it.

Cham. I will, my lord.

Scene III. An antechamber in the palace.

Scene IV. A Hall in York Place.