2 Gen. Certainly, The cardinal is the end of this. 1 Gen. 'Tis likely, By all conjectures: First, Kildare's attainder, Earl Surrey was sent thither, and in haste too, 2 Gen. That trick of state Was a deep envious one. 1 Gen. At his return, No doubt, he will requite it. This is noted, 2 Gen. All the commons Hate him perniciously, and, o' my conscience, 1 Gen. Stay there, sir, And see the noble ruin'd man you speak of. Enter BUCKINGHAM from his arraignment; Tipstaves before him; the axe with the edge towards him; Halberds on each side with him, Sir THOMAS LOVEL, Sir NICHOLAS VAUX, Sir WILLIAM SANDS, and common People. 2 Gen. Let's stand close, and behold him. Buck. All good people, You that thus far have come to pity me, Hear what I say, and then go home and lose me. I have this day receiv'd a traitor's judgment, And by that name must die; Yet, heaven bear witness, But those, that sought it, I could wish more christians: Yet let them look they glory not in mischief, 3 [3] These lines are remarkably tender and pathetic. JOHNS. And dare be bold to weep for Buckingham, Go with me, like good angels, to my end; And lift my soul to heaven.-Lead on, o'God's name If ever any malice in your heart Were hid against me, now to forgive me frankly. There cannot be those numberless offences Goodness and he fill up one monument ! Lov. To the water side I must conduct your grace; Then give my charge up to sir Nicholas Vaux, Who undertakes you to your end. 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 :Yet I am richer than my base accusers, That never knew what truth meant I now seal it ;5 Who first rais'd head against usurping Richard, [4] Shakspeare, by this expression, meant no more than to make the duke say, No action expressive of malice shall conclude my life. Enty by our au thor, is used for malice and hatred, in other places, and, perhaps, in this. STEEV. [5] I now seal my truth, my loyalty, with blood, which blood shall one day make them groan. JOHNS. And without trial fell; God's peace be with him? And, must needs say, a noble one; which makes me Fell by our servants, by those men we lov'd most ; 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, Farewel: 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 Gen. O, this is full of pity!—Sir, it calls, I fear, too many curses on their heads, That were the authors. 2 Gen. If the duke be guiltless, 'Tis full of woe: yet I can give you inkling Of an ensuing evil, if it fall, Greater than this. 1 Gen. Good angels keep it from us! Where may it be? You do not doubt my faith, sir? 2 Gen. This secret is so weighty, 'twill require A strong faith to conceal it. 1 Gen. Let me have it ; I do not talk much. 2 Gen. I am confident; You shall, sir Did you not of late days hear Between the king and Katharine ? 1 Gen. Yes, but it held not ; [6] Strong faith, is great fidelity. JOHNS. For when the king once heard it, out of anger 2 Gen. But that slander, sir, Is found a truth now: for it grows again 1 Gen. 'Tis the cardinal; And merely to revenge him on the emperor, The archbishopric of Toledo, this is purpos'd. 2 Gen. 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 Gen. 'Tis woful. We are too open here to argue this; SCENE II. [Exeunt. An Ante-chamber 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; and of the best breed in the north. 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 served before a subject, if not before the king : which stopped our mouths, sir. I fear, he will, indeed: Well, let him have them: He will have all, I think. Enter the Dukes of NORFOLK and SUFFOLK, Cham. I left him private, Full of sad thoughts and troubles. 4 VOL. VI. Nor. What's the cause? Cham. It seems, the marriage with his brother's wife Has crept too near his conscience. Suff. No, his conscience Has crept too near another lady. Nor. 'Tis so; This is the cardinal's doing, the king-cardinal: Turns what he lists. The king will know him one day. These news are every where; every tongue speaks them, This bold bad man. Suf. And free us from his slavery. And heartily, for our deliverance ; Or this imperious man will work us all From princes into pages:7 all men's honours Lie in one lump before him, to be fashion'd Suf. For me, my lords, [7] This may allude to the retinue of the cardinal, who had several of the nobility among his menial servants. JOHNS. [8] The allusion seems to be to the 21st verse of the 9th chapter of the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans: "Hath not the potter power over the clay of the same lump, to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishon COLLINS. |