Some of these articles; and out they shall. Now, if you can blush, and cry guilty, cardinal, Wol. Speak on, sir; I dare your worst objections: if I blush, It is, to see a nobleman want manners. Sur. I'd rather want those, than my head. Have at you. First, that, without the king's assent, or knowledge, Nor. Then, that, in all you writ to Rome, or else To foreign princes, Ego et Rex meus Was still inscrib'd; in which you brought the king To be your servant. Suf. Then, that, without the knowledge Either of king or council, when you went Ambassador to the emperor, you made bold To carry into Flanders the great seal. Sur. Item, you sent a large commission Without the king's will, or the state's allowance, Suf. That, out of mere ambition, you have caus'd (By what means got, I leave to your own conscience,) 8 Your holy hat to be stamp'd on the king's coin,] This was certainly one of the articles exhibited against Wolsey, but rather with a view to swell the catalogue, than from any serious cause of accusation; inasmuch as the Archbishops Cranmer, Bainbrigge, and Warham, were indulged with the same privilege. — to the mere undoing-] Mere is absolute. Which, since they are of you, and odious, Cham. O my lord, Press not a falling man too far; 'tis virtue: His faults lie open to the laws; let them, Not you, correct him. My heart weeps to see him So little of his great self. Sur. I forgive him. Suf. Lord cardinal, the king's further pleasure is,- Because all those things, you have done of late Out of the king's protection:-This is my charge. The king shall know it, and, no doubt, shall thank you. So fare you well, my little good lord cardinal. [Exeunt all but WOLSEY. Wol. So farewell to the little good you bear me. Farewell, a long farewell, to all my greatness! This is the state of man; To-day he puts forth The tender leaves of hope, to-morrow blossoms, And bears his blushing honours thick upon him: The third day, comes a frost, a killing frost; And,-when he thinks, good easy man, full surely His greatness is a ripening,-nips his root, And then he falls, as I do. I have ventur'd, Like little wanton boys that swim on bladders, - of a præmunire,] It is almost unnecessary to observe that præmunire is a barbarous word used instead of præmonere, This many summers in a sea of glory; But far beyond my depth: my high-blown pride Of a rude stream, that must for ever hide me. Never to hope again. Enter CROMWELL, amazedly. Why, how now, Cromwell? What, amaz'd Crom. I have no power to speak, sir. Wol. At my misfortunes? can thy spirit wonder, A great man should decline? Nay, an you weep, I am fallen indeed. Crom. Wol. How does your grace? Why, well; Never so truly happy, my good Cromwell. A still and quiet conscience. The king has cur'd me, A load would sink a navy, too much honour: Too heavy for a man that hopes for heaven. Crom. I am glad, your grace has made that right use of it. — and their ruin,] Their ruin is their displeasure, producing the downfall and ruin ofhim on whom it lights. Wol. I hope, I have: I am able now, methinks, (Out of a fortitude of soul I feel,) To endure more miseries, and greater far, Crom. The heaviest, and the worst, Is your displeasure with the king. Wol. God bless him! Crom. The next is, that sir Thomas More is chosen Lord chancellor in your place. That's somewhat sudden: Wol. For truth's sake, and his conscience; that his bones, Crom. That Cranmer is return'd with welcome, Install'd lord archbishop of Canterbury. Wol. That's news indeed. Crom. Last, that the lady Anne, Whom the king hath in secrecy long married, This day was view'd in open, as his queen, Going to chapel; and the voice is now Only about her coronation. 3 Wol. There was the weight that pull'd me down. The king has gone beyond me, all my glories No sun shall ever usher forth mine honours, Upon my smiles. Go, get thee from me, Cromwell; in open,] i, e. in a place exposed on all sides to view. That sun, I pray, may never set! I have told him What, and how true thou art: he will advance thee; Some little memory of me will stir him, (I know his noble nature,) not to let Thy hopeful service perish too: Good Cromwell, Crom. Wol. Cromwell, I did not think to shed a tear And sleep in dull cold marble, where no mention Corruption wins not more than honesty. Still in thy right hand carry gen le peace, To silence envious tongues. Be just, and fear not: Let all the ends, thou aim'st at, be thy country's, make use] i. e. make interest. |