ABER.

I cannot tell

What heaven hath given him, let some graver eye Pierce into that; but I can see his pride

Peep through each part of him :5 Whence has he that?

If not from hell, the devil is a niggard;

Or has given all before, and he begins
A new hell in himself.

BUCK.

Why the devil,

Upon this French going-out, took he upon him,
Without the privity o' the king, to appoint
Who should attend on him? He makes
up the file
Of all the gentry; for the most part such

A gift that heaven gives; which buys for him
A place next to the king. WARBUrton.

It is full as likely that Shakspeare wrote:

-gives to him,

which will save any greater alteration. JOHNSON.

I am too dull to perceive the necessity of any change. What he is unable to give himself, heaven gives or deposits for him, and that gift, or deposit, buys a place, &c. STEEVENS.

I agree with Johnson that we should read:

A gift that heaven gives to him:

for Abergavenny says in reply,

"I cannot tell

"What heaven hath given him."

which confirms the justness of this amendment. I should otherwise have thought Steevens's explanation right. M. MASON.

5

I can see his pride

Peep through each part of him:] So, in Troilus and Cressida:

6

66

-her wanton spirits look out

"At every joint and motive of her body." STEEVENS.

the file-] That is, the list. JOHNSON.

So, in Measure for Measure: "The greater file of the subject held the duke for wise." Again, in Macbeth:

-I have a file "Of all the gentry

-" STEEVENS.

Too, whom as great a charge as little honour
He meant to lay upon: and his own letter,
The honourable board of council out,7

Must fetch him in he papers.s

ABER.

I do know

Kinsmen of mine, three at the least, that have
By this so sicken'd their estates, that never
They shall abound as formerly.

BUCK.

O, many

Have broke their backs with laying manors on them For this great journey." What did this vanity,

7

-council out,] Council not then sitting. JOHNSON. The expression rather means, "all mention of the board of council being left out of his letter." STEEVENS.

That is, left out, omitted, unnoticed, unconsulted with.

RITSON.

It appears from Holinshed, that this expression is rightly explained by Mr. Pope in the next note: without the concurrence of the council. "The peers of the realme receiving letters to prepare themselves to attend the king in this journey, and no apparent necessarie cause expressed, why or wherefore, seemed to grudge that such a costly journey should be taken in handwithout consent of the whole boarde of the Counsaille.”

MALONE.

8 Must fetch him in he papers.] He papers, a verb; his own letter, by his own single authority, and without the concurrence of the council, must fetch him in whom he papers down.-I don't understand it, unless this be the meaning.

POPE.

Wolsey published a list of the several persons whom he had appointed to attend on the King at this interview. See Hall's Chronicle, Rymer's Fœdera, Tom. XIII. &c. STEEvens.

9 Have broke their backs with laying manors on them

For this great journey.] In the ancient Interlude of Nature, bl. 1. no date, but apparently printed in the reign of King Henry VIII. there seems to have been a similar stroke aimed at this expensive expedition:

66

Pryde. I am unhappy, I se it well,

"For the expence of myne apparell

But minister communication of

A most poor issue?1

NOR.

Grievingly I think,

The peace between the French and us not values The cost that did conclude it.

BUCK.

Every man,

After the hideous storm that follow'd," was

"Towardys this vyage

"What in horses and other aray

"Hath compelled me for to lay
"All my land to mortgage."

Chapman has introduced the same idea into his version of the second Iliad:

"Proud-girle-like, that doth ever beare her dowre upon her backe." STEEVENS.

So, in King John:

"Rash, inconsiderate, fiery voluntaries,

"Have sold their fortunes at their native homes,

Bearing their birth-rights proudly on their backs, "To make a hazard of new fortunes here."

Again, in Camden's Remains, 1605: "There was a nobleman merrily conceited, and riotously given, that having lately sold a mannor of an hundred tenements, came ruffling into the court, saying, am not I a mighty man, that beare an hundred houses on my backe?" MALONE.

See also Dodsley's Collection of Old Plays, edit. 1780, Vol. V. p. 26; Vol. XII. p. 395. REED.

So also Burton, in his Anatomy of Melancholy:" "Tis an ordinary thing to put a thousand oakes, or an hundred oxen, into a sute of apparell, to weare a whole manor on his back." Edit. 1634, p. 482. WHALLEY.

1 What did this vanity,

But minister &c.] What effect had this pompous show, but the production of a wretched conclusion. JOHNSON.

2

Every man,

After the hideous storm that follow'd, &c.] From Holinshed: " Monday the xviii. of June was such an hideous storme of wind and weather, that many conjectured it did prognosticate trouble and hatred shortly after to follow between princes.". Dr. Warburton has quoted a similar passage from Hall, whom

-

A thing inspir'd; and, not consulting, broke
Into a general prophecy, That this tempest,
Dashing the garment of this
peace, aboded

The sudden breach on't.

NOR.

Which is budded out;

For France hath flaw'd the league, and hath attach'd Our merchants' goods at Bourdeaux.

ABER.

The ambassador is silenc'd?3

NOR.

Is it therefore

Marry, is't.

ABER. A proper title of a peace ;* and purchas❜d At a superfluous rate!

BUCK.

Our reverend cardinal carried.5

NOR.

Why, all this business

'Like it your grace,

he calls Shakspeare's author; but Holinshed, and not Hall, was his author: as is proved here by the words which I have printed in Italicks, which are not found so combined in Hall's Chronicle. This fact is indeed proved by various circumstances. MALONE.

s The ambassador is silenc'd?] Silenc'd for recalled. This being proper to be said of an orator; and an ambassador or publick minister being called an orator, he applies silenc'd to an ambassador. WARBURTON.

I understand it rather of the French ambassador residing in England, who, by being refused an audience, may be said to be silenc'd. JOHNSON.

A proper title of a peace ;] A fine name of a peace. Ironically. JOHNSON.

5

proper stuff!

"This is the very painting of your fear." STEEVENS.

this business

Our reverend cardinal carried.] To carry a business was at this time a current phrase for to conduct or manage it. So, in this Act:

The state takes notice of the private difference
Betwixt you and the cardinal. I advise you,
(And take it from a heart that wishes towards you
Honour and plenteous safety,) that you read
The cardinal's malice and his potency
Together: to consider further, that

What his high hatred would effect, wants not
A minister in his power: You know his nature,
That he's revengeful; and I know, his sword
Hath a sharp edge: it's long, and, it may be said,
It reaches far; and where 'twill not extend,
Thither he darts it. Bosom up my counsel,
You'll find it wholesome. Lo, where comes that
6
rock,

That I advise your shunning,

Enter Cardinal WOLSEY, (the Purse borne before him,) certain of the Guard, and two Secretaries with Papers. The Cardinal in his Passage fixeth his Eye on BUCKINGHAM, and Buckingham on him, both full of Disdain.

WOL. The duke of Buckingham's surveyor? ha? Where's his examination?

1 SECR.

Here, so please you.

WOL. Is he in person ready?

1 SECR.

Ay, please your grace.

WOL. Well, we shall then know more; and

Buckingham

Shall lessen this big look.

[Exeunt WOLSEY, and Train.

comes that rock,] To make the rock come, is not very

just. JOHNSON.