And those of true condition, that your subjects Are in great grievance: there have been commissions My good lord cardinal, they vent reproaches Most bitterly on you, as putter-on Of these exactions, yet the king our master, (Whose honour Heaven shield from soil!) even he escapes not Language unmannerly, yea, such which breaks The sides of loyalty, and almost appears In loud rebellion. Nor. Not almost appears, K. Hen. Taxation! Wherein? and what taxation?—My lord cardinal, Know you of this taxation? Wol. Please you, sir, I know but of a single part, in aught Pertains to the state; and front but in that file b Where others tell steps with me. Q. Kath. No, my lord, You know no more than others: but But b Johnson explains this-"I am but first in the row of counsellors.” Wolsey disclaims any priority. He uses front as a verb;—he faces in that file, &c. The back is sacrifice to the load. They say The nature of it? In what kind, let's know, In tempting of your patience; but am bolden'd Is nam'd, your wars in France: This makes bold mouths; Live where their prayers did; and it's come to pass, To each incensed will. I would your highness Would give it quick consideration, for There is no primer baseness.a K. Hen. This is against our pleasure. Wol. By my life, And for me, I have no further gone in this, than by A single voice; and that not pass'd me, but By learned approbation of the judges. If I am b The chronicles of my doing,-let me say 'Tis but the fate of place, and the rough brake That virtue must go through. We must not stint Our necessary actions, in the fear Το cope malicious censurers; which ever, As ravenous fishes, do a vessel follow That is new trimm'd; but benefit no further a Baseness. So the original; Warburton changed it to business, which is the ordinary reading,--and a much feebler one. b To avoid the Alexandrine in this line Steevens leaves out "ignorant" in the next; and so we get a text. Than vainly longing. What we oft do best, For our best act. If we shall stand still, And with a care, exempt themselves from fear; Wol. A word with you. Let there be letters writ to every shire, [To the Secretary. Of the king's grace and pardon. The griev'd commons That through our intercession this revokement And pardon comes: I shall anon advise you Enter Surveyor. [Exit Secretary. Q. Kath. I am sorry that the duke of Buckingham Is run in your displeasure. K. Hen. It grieves many: The gentleman is learn'd, and a most rare speaker, To nature none more bound; his training such a Once is here used in the sense of sometimes. That he may furnish and instruct great teachers, Not well dispos'd, the mind growing once corrupt, As if besmear'd in hell. Sit by us; you shall hear Things to strike honour sad.-Bid him recount The fore-recited practices; whereof 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 Out of the duke of Buckingham. K. Hen. Speak freely. Surv. First, it was usual with him, every day To make the sceptre his: These very words. Wol. Please your highness, note This dangerous conception in this point. Not friended by his wish, to your high person Beyond you, to your friends. Q. Kath. Deliver all with charity. K. Hen. My learn'd lord cardinal, Speak on: How grounded he his title to the crown, Upon our fail? to this point hast thou heard him Surv. He was brought to this By a vain prophecy of Nicholas Henton.a Surv. Sir, a Chartreux friar, His confessor; who fed him every minute K. Hen. How know'st thou this? Surv. Not long before your highness sped to France, To me, should utter, with demure confidence This pausingly ensued-Neither the king, nor his heirs, (Tell you the duke,) shall prosper: bid him strive с To gain the love of the commonalty; the duke Shall govern England." Q. Kath. If I know you well, a See Note b, p. 147. b The confession's seal. In the original "the commission's seal "-evidently a mistake. The monk, according to Holinshed, bound the chaplain "under the seal of confession." c Gain is not in the original. It was first inserted in the fourth folio. |