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Henry VIII - Act 3, scene 2
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Henry VIII - Act 3, scene 2Act 3, scene 2
Scene 2
Synopsis:
Courtiers assemble to discuss Wolsey’s sudden fall from Henry’s favor, Henry’s marriage to Anne Bullen, and plans for her coronation. Wolsey enters, unaware of the courtiers but observed by them as he seems troubled in his thoughts. When the king enters and returns to Wolsey some papers that reveal Wolsey’s duplicity and greed, the cardinal realizes that he can never restore himself in the king’s favor. Wolsey, grieving over his fall and repenting his bad behavior, advises Cromwell about how to secure himself in the king’s service.
Enter the Duke of Norfolk, Duke of Suffolk, Lord Surrey,and Lord Chamberlain.
NORFOLK
1741 If you will now unite in your complaints
1742 And force them with a constancy, the Cardinal
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1743
Cannot stand under them. If you omit1744 The offer of this time, I cannot promise
1745 5 But that you shall sustain more new disgraces
1746 With these you bear already.
SURREY 1747 I am joyful
1748 To meet the least occasion that may give me
1749 Remembrance of my father-in-law the Duke,
1750 10 To be revenged on him.
SUFFOLK 1751 Which of the peers
1752 Have uncontemned gone by him, or at least
1753 Strangely neglected? When did he regard
1754 The stamp of nobleness in any person
1755 15 Out of himself?
CHAMBERLAIN 1756 My lords, you speak your pleasures;
1757 What he deserves of you and me I know;
1758 What we can do to him—though now the time
1759 Gives way to us—I much fear. If you cannot
1760 20 Bar his access to th’ King, never attempt
1761 Anything on him, for he hath a witchcraft
1762 Over the King in ’s tongue.
NORFOLK 1763 O, fear him not.
1764 His spell in that is out. The King hath found
1765 25 Matter against him that forever mars
1766 The honey of his language. No, he’s settled,
1767 Not to come off, in his displeasure.
SURREY 1768 Sir,
1769 I should be glad to hear such news as this
1770 30 Once every hour.
NORFOLK 1771 Believe it, this is true.
1772 In the divorce his contrary proceedings
1773 Are all unfolded, wherein he appears
1774 As I would wish mine enemy.
SURREY 1775 35 How came
1776 His practices to light?
SUFFOLK 1777 Most strangely.
SURREY 1778 O, how, how?
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SUFFOLK 1779 The Cardinal’s letters to the Pope miscarried
1780 40 And came to th’ eye o’ th’ King, wherein was read
1781 How that the Cardinal did entreat his Holiness
1782 To stay the judgment o’ th’ divorce; for if
1783 It did take place, “I do,” quoth he, “perceive
1784 My king is tangled in affection to
1785 45 A creature of the Queen’s, Lady Anne Bullen.”
SURREY
1786 Has the King this?
SUFFOLK 1787 Believe it.
SURREY 1788 Will this work?
CHAMBERLAIN
1789 The King in this perceives him how he coasts
1790 50 And hedges his own way. But in this point
1791 All his tricks founder, and he brings his physic
1792 After his patient’s death: the King already
1793 Hath married the fair lady.
SURREY 1794 Would he had!
SUFFOLK
1795 55 May you be happy in your wish, my lord,
1796 For I profess you have it.
SURREY 1797 Now, all my joy
1798 Trace the conjunction!
SUFFOLK 1799 My amen to ’t.
NORFOLK 1800 60 All men’s.
SUFFOLK
1801 There’s order given for her coronation.
1802 Marry, this is yet but young and may be left
1803 To some ears unrecounted. But, my lords,
1804 She is a gallant creature and complete
1805 65 In mind and feature. I persuade me, from her
1806 Will fall some blessing to this land which shall
1807 In it be memorized.
SURREY 1808 But will the King
1809 Digest this letter of the Cardinal’s?
1810 70 The Lord forbid!
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NORFOLK
1811
Marry, amen!SUFFOLK 1812 No, no.
1813 There be more wasps that buzz about his nose
1814 Will make this sting the sooner. Cardinal Campeius
1815 75 Is stol’n away to Rome, hath ta’en no leave,
1816 Has left the cause o’ th’ King unhandled, and
1817 Is posted as the agent of our cardinal
1818 To second all his plot. I do assure you
1819 The King cried “Ha!” at this.
CHAMBERLAIN 1820 80 Now God incense him,
1821 And let him cry “Ha!” louder.
NORFOLK 1822 But, my lord,
1823 When returns Cranmer?
SUFFOLK
1824 He is returned in his opinions, which
1825 85 Have satisfied the King for his divorce,
1826 Together with all famous colleges
1827 Almost in Christendom. Shortly, I believe,
1828 His second marriage shall be published, and
1829 Her coronation. Katherine no more
1830 90 Shall be called queen, but princess dowager
1831 And widow to Prince Arthur.
NORFOLK 1832 This same Cranmer’s
1833 A worthy fellow, and hath ta’en much pain
1834 In the King’s business.
SUFFOLK 1835 95 He has, and we shall see him
1836 For it an archbishop.
NORFOLK 1837 So I hear.
SUFFOLK 1838 ’Tis so.
Enter Wolsey and Cromwell, ⌜meeting.⌝
1839 The Cardinal!
NORFOLK
1840 100 Observe, observe; he’s moody.⌜They stand aside.⌝
WOLSEY 1841 The packet, Cromwell;
1842 Gave ’t you the King?
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CROMWELL
1843
To his own hand, in ’s bedchamber.WOLSEY
1844 Looked he o’ th’ inside of the paper?
CROMWELL 1845 105 Presently
1846 He did unseal them, and the first he viewed,
1847 He did it with a serious mind; a heed
1848 Was in his countenance. You he bade
1849 Attend him here this morning.
WOLSEY 1850 110 Is he ready
1851 To come abroad?
CROMWELL 1852 I think by this he is.
WOLSEY 1853 Leave me awhile.Cromwell exits.
1854 ⌜Aside.⌝ It shall be to the Duchess of Alençon,
1855 115 The French king’s sister; he shall marry her.
1856 Anne Bullen? No, I’ll no Anne Bullens for him.
1857 There’s more in ’t than fair visage. Bullen?
1858 No, we’ll no Bullens. Speedily I wish
1859 To hear from Rome. The Marchioness of Pembroke!
NORFOLK
1860 120 He’s discontented.
SUFFOLK 1861 Maybe he hears the King
1862 Does whet his anger to him.
SURREY 1863 Sharp enough,
1864 Lord, for thy justice!
WOLSEY, ⌜aside⌝
1865 125 The late queen’s gentlewoman, a knight’s daughter,
1866 To be her mistress’ mistress? The Queen’s queen?
1867 This candle burns not clear. ’Tis I must snuff it;
1868 Then out it goes. What though I know her virtuous
1869 And well-deserving? Yet I know her for
1870 130 A spleeny Lutheran, and not wholesome to
1871 Our cause that she should lie i’ th’ bosom of
1872 Our hard-ruled king. Again, there is sprung up
1873 An heretic, an arch-one, Cranmer, one
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1874
Hath crawled into the favor of the King1875 135 And is his oracle.
NORFOLK 1876 He is vexed at something.
SURREY
1877 I would ’twere something that would fret the string,
1878 The master-cord on ’s heart.
SUFFOLK 1879 The King, the King!
Enter King, reading of a schedule, ⌜with Lovell
and Attendants.⌝
KING
1880 140 What piles of wealth hath he accumulated
1881 To his own portion! And what expense by th’ hour
1882 Seems to flow from him! How i’ th’ name of thrift
1883 Does he rake this together? ⌜Seeing the nobles.⌝ Now,
1884 my lords,
1885 145 Saw you the Cardinal?
NORFOLK, ⌜indicating Wolsey⌝ 1886 My lord, we have
1887 Stood here observing him. Some strange commotion
1888 Is in his brain. He bites his lip, and starts,
1889 Stops on a sudden, looks upon the ground,
1890 150 Then lays his finger on his temple, straight
1891 Springs out into fast gait, then stops again,
1892 Strikes his breast hard, and anon he casts
1893 His eye against the moon. In most strange postures
1894 We have seen him set himself.
KING 1895 155 It may well be
1896 There is a mutiny in ’s mind. This morning
1897 Papers of state he sent me to peruse,
1898 As I required, and wot you what I found?
1899 There—on my conscience, put unwittingly—
1900 160 Forsooth, an inventory, thus importing
1901 The several parcels of his plate, his treasure,
1902 Rich stuffs and ornaments of household, which
1903 I find at such proud rate that it outspeaks
1904 Possession of a subject.
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NORFOLK
1905
165 It’s heaven’s will!1906 Some spirit put this paper in the packet
1907 To bless your eye withal.
KING, ⌜studying Wolsey⌝ 1908 If we did think
1909 His contemplation were above the Earth
1910 170 And fixed on spiritual object, he should still
1911 Dwell in his musings, but I am afraid
1912 His thinkings are below the moon, not worth
1913 His serious considering.
King takes his seat, whispers Lovell,
who goes to the Cardinal.
WOLSEY 1914 Heaven forgive me!
1915 175 Ever God bless your Highness.
KING 1916 Good my lord,
1917 You are full of heavenly stuff and bear the inventory
1918 Of your best graces in your mind, the which
1919 You were now running o’er. You have scarce time
1920 180 To steal from spiritual leisure a brief span
1921 To keep your earthly audit. Sure, in that
1922 I deem you an ill husband, and am glad
1923 To have you therein my companion.
WOLSEY 1924 Sir,
1925 185 For holy offices I have a time; a time
1926 To think upon the part of business which
1927 I bear i’ th’ state; and Nature does require
1928 Her times of preservation, which perforce
1929 I, her frail son, amongst my brethren mortal,
1930 190 Must give my tendance to.
KING 1931 You have said well.
WOLSEY
1932 And ever may your Highness yoke together,
1933 As I will lend you cause, my doing well
1934 With my well saying.
KING 1935 195 ’Tis well said again,
1936 And ’tis a kind of good deed to say well.
1937 And yet words are no deeds. My father loved you;
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1938
He said he did, and with his deed did crown1939 His word upon you. Since I had my office
1940 200 I have kept you next my heart, have not alone
1941 Employed you where high profits might come home,
1942 But pared my present havings to bestow
1943 My bounties upon you.
WOLSEY, ⌜aside⌝ 1944 What should this mean?
SURREY, ⌜aside⌝
1945 205 The Lord increase this business!
KING 1946 Have I not made you
1947 The prime man of the state? I pray you tell me
1948 If what I now pronounce you have found true;
1949 And, if you may confess it, say withal
1950 210 If you are bound to us or no. What say you?
WOLSEY
1951 My sovereign, I confess your royal graces,
1952 Showered on me daily, have been more than could
1953 My studied purposes requite, which went
1954 Beyond all man’s endeavors. My endeavors
1955 215 Have ever come too short of my desires,
1956 Yet ⌜filed⌝ with my abilities. Mine own ends
1957 Have been mine so, that evermore they pointed
1958 To th’ good of your most sacred person and
1959 The profit of the state. For your great graces
1960 220 Heaped upon me, poor undeserver, I
1961 Can nothing render but allegiant thanks,
1962 My prayers to heaven for you, my loyalty,
1963 Which ever has and ever shall be growing
1964 Till death—that winter—kill it.
KING 1965 225 Fairly answered.
1966 A loyal and obedient subject is
1967 Therein illustrated. The honor of it
1968 Does pay the act of it, as, i’ th’ contrary,
1969 The foulness is the punishment. I presume
1970 230 That, as my hand has opened bounty to you,
1971 My heart dropped love, my power rained honor, more
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1972
On you than any, so your hand and heart,1973 Your brain, and every function of your power
1974 Should—notwithstanding that your bond of duty
1975 235 As ’twere in love’s particular—be more
1976 To me, your friend, than any.
WOLSEY 1977 I do profess
1978 That for your Highness’ good I ever labored
1979 More than mine own, that am, have, and will be—
1980 240 Though all the world should crack their duty to you
1981 And throw it from their soul, though perils did
1982 Abound as thick as thought could make ’em, and
1983 Appear in forms more horrid—yet my duty,
1984 As doth a rock against the chiding flood,
1985 245 Should the approach of this wild river break,
1986 And stand unshaken yours.
KING 1987 ’Tis nobly spoken.—
1988 Take notice, lords: he has a loyal breast,
1989 For you have seen him open ’t.
⌜He hands Wolsey papers.⌝
1990 250 Read o’er this,
1991 And after, this; and then to breakfast with
1992 What appetite you have.
King exits, frowning upon the Cardinal;
the nobles throng after him smiling
and whispering, ⌜and exit.⌝
WOLSEY 1993 What should this mean?
1994 What sudden anger’s this? How have I reaped it?
1995 255 He parted frowning from me, as if ruin
1996 Leaped from his eyes. So looks the chafèd lion
1997 Upon the daring huntsman that has galled him,
1998 Then makes him nothing. I must read this paper—
1999 I fear, the story of his anger.
⌜He reads one of the papers.⌝
2000 260 ’Tis so.
2001 This paper has undone me. ’Tis th’ accompt
2002 Of all that world of wealth I have drawn together
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143
2003
For mine own ends—indeed, to gain the popedom2004 And fee my friends in Rome. O negligence,
2005 265 Fit for a fool to fall by! What cross devil
2006 Made me put this main secret in the packet
2007 I sent the King? Is there no way to cure this?
2008 No new device to beat this from his brains?
2009 I know ’twill stir him strongly; yet I know
2010 270 A way, if it take right, in spite of fortune
2011 Will bring me off again.⌜He looks at another paper.⌝
2012 What’s this? “To th’ Pope”?
2013 The letter, as I live, with all the business
2014 I writ to ’s Holiness. Nay then, farewell!
2015 275 I have touched the highest point of all my greatness,
2016 And from that full meridian of my glory
2017 I haste now to my setting. I shall fall
2018 Like a bright exhalation in the evening
2019 And no man see me more.
Enter to Wolsey the Dukes of Norfolk and Suffolk, the
Earl of Surrey, and the Lord Chamberlain.
NORFOLK
2020 280 Hear the King’s pleasure, cardinal, who commands
2021 you
2022 To render up the great seal presently
2023 Into our hands, and to confine yourself
2024 To Asher House, my Lord of Winchester’s,
2025 285 Till you hear further from his Highness.
WOLSEY 2026 Stay.
2027 Where’s your commission, lords? Words cannot carry
2028 Authority so weighty.
SUFFOLK 2029 Who dare cross ’em,
2030 290 Bearing the King’s will from his mouth expressly?
WOLSEY
2031 Till I find more than will or words to do it—
2032 I mean your malice—know, officious lords,
2033 I dare and must deny it. Now I feel
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2034
Of what coarse metal you are molded, envy;2035 295 How eagerly you follow my disgraces,
2036 As if it fed you, and how sleek and wanton
2037 You appear in everything may bring my ruin.
2038 Follow your envious courses, men of malice;
2039 You have Christian warrant for ’em, and no doubt
2040 300 In time will find their fit rewards. That seal
2041 You ask with such a violence, the King,
2042 Mine and your master, with his own hand gave me;
2043 Bade me enjoy it, with the place and honors,
2044 During my life; and to confirm his goodness,
2045 305 Tied it by letters patents. Now, who’ll take it?
SURREY
2046 The King that gave it.
WOLSEY 2047 It must be himself, then.
SURREY
2048 Thou art a proud traitor, priest.
WOLSEY 2049 Proud lord, thou liest.
2050 310 Within these forty hours Surrey durst better
2051 Have burnt that tongue than said so.
SURREY 2052 Thy ambition,
2053 Thou scarlet sin, robbed this bewailing land
2054 Of noble Buckingham, my father-in-law.
2055 315 The heads of all thy brother cardinals,
2056 With thee and all thy best parts bound together,
2057 Weighed not a hair of his. Plague of your policy!
2058 You sent me Deputy for Ireland,
2059 Far from his succor, from the King, from all
2060 320 That might have mercy on the fault thou gav’st him,
2061 Whilst your great goodness, out of holy pity,
2062 Absolved him with an ax.
WOLSEY 2063 This, and all else
2064 This talking lord can lay upon my credit,
2065 325 I answer, is most false. The Duke by law
2066 Found his deserts. How innocent I was
2067 From any private malice in his end,
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2068
His noble jury and foul cause can witness.—2069 If I loved many words, lord, I should tell you
2070 330 You have as little honesty as honor,
2071 That in the way of loyalty and truth
2072 Toward the King, my ever royal master,
2073 Dare mate a sounder man than Surrey can be,
2074 And all that love his follies.
SURREY 2075 335 By my soul,
2076 Your long coat, priest, protects you; thou shouldst feel
2077 My sword i’ th’ life blood of thee else.—My lords,
2078 Can you endure to hear this arrogance?
2079 And from this fellow? If we live thus tamely,
2080 340 To be thus jaded by a piece of scarlet,
2081 Farewell, nobility. Let his Grace go forward
2082 And dare us with his cap, like larks.
WOLSEY 2083 All goodness
2084 Is poison to thy stomach.
SURREY 2085 345 Yes, that goodness
2086 Of gleaning all the land’s wealth into one,
2087 Into your own hands, card’nal, by extortion;
2088 The goodness of your intercepted packets
2089 You writ to th’ Pope against the King. Your goodness,
2090 350 Since you provoke me, shall be most notorious.—
2091 My Lord of Norfolk, as you are truly noble,
2092 As you respect the common good, the state
2093 Of our despised nobility, our issues,
2094 Whom, if he live, will scarce be gentlemen,
2095 355 Produce the grand sum of his sins, the articles
2096 Collected from his life.—I’ll startle you
2097 Worse than the sacring bell when the brown wench
2098 Lay kissing in your arms, Lord Cardinal.
WOLSEY
2099 How much, methinks, I could despise this man,
2100 360 But that I am bound in charity against it!
NORFOLK
2101 Those articles, my lord, are in the King’s hand;
2102 But thus much, they are foul ones.
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WOLSEY
2103
So much fairer2104 And spotless shall mine innocence arise
2105 365 When the King knows my truth.
SURREY 2106 This cannot save you.
2107 I thank my memory I yet remember
2108 Some of these articles, and out they shall.
2109 Now, if you can blush and cry “Guilty,” cardinal,
2110 370 You’ll show a little honesty.
WOLSEY 2111 Speak on, sir.
2112 I dare your worst objections. If I blush,
2113 It is to see a nobleman want manners.
SURREY
2114 I had rather want those than my head. Have at you:
2115 375 First, that without the King’s assent or knowledge,
2116 You wrought to be a legate, by which power
2117 You maimed the jurisdiction of all bishops.
NORFOLK
2118 Then, that in all you writ to Rome, or else
2119 To foreign princes, “ego et rex meus”
2120 380 Was still inscribed, in which you brought the King
2121 To be your servant.
SUFFOLK 2122 Then, that without the knowledge
2123 Either of king or council, when you went
2124 Ambassador to the Emperor, you made bold
2125 385 To carry into Flanders the great seal.
SURREY
2126 Item, you sent a large commission
2127 To Gregory de Cassado, to conclude,
2128 Without the King’s will or the state’s allowance,
2129 A league between his Highness and Ferrara.
SUFFOLK
2130 390 That out of mere ambition you have caused
2131 Your holy hat to be stamped on the King’s coin.
SURREY
2132 Then, that you have sent innumerable substance—
2133 By what means got I leave to your own conscience—
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2134
To furnish Rome and to prepare the ways2135 395 You have for dignities, to the mere undoing
2136 Of all the kingdom. Many more there are
2137 Which, since they are of you, and odious,
2138 I will not taint my mouth with.
CHAMBERLAIN 2139 O, my lord,
2140 400 Press not a falling man too far! ’Tis virtue.
2141 His faults lie open to the laws; let them,
2142 Not you, correct him. My heart weeps to see him
2143 So little of his great self.
SURREY 2144 I forgive him.
SUFFOLK
2145 405 Lord Cardinal, the King’s further pleasure is—
2146 Because all those things you have done of late
2147 By your power legative within this kingdom
2148 Fall into th’ compass of a praemunire—
2149 That therefore such a writ be sued against you,
2150 410 To forfeit all your goods, lands, tenements,
2151 ⌜Chattels,⌝ and whatsoever, and to be
2152 Out of the King’s protection. This is my charge.
NORFOLK
2153 And so we’ll leave you to your meditations
2154 How to live better. For your stubborn answer
2155 415 About the giving back the great seal to us,
2156 The King shall know it and, no doubt, shall thank
2157 you.
2158 So, fare you well, my little good Lord Cardinal.
WOLSEY
2159 So, farewell to the little good you bear me.
All but Wolsey exit.
2160 420 Farewell? A long farewell to all my greatness!
2161 This is the state of man: today he puts forth
2162 The tender leaves of hopes; tomorrow blossoms
2163 And bears his blushing honors thick upon him;
2164 The third day comes a frost, a killing frost,
2165 425 And when he thinks, good easy man, full surely
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2166
His greatness is a-ripening, nips his root,2167 And then he falls, as I do. I have ventured,
2168 Like little wanton boys that swim on bladders,
2169 This many summers in a sea of glory,
2170 430 But far beyond my depth. My high-blown pride
2171 At length broke under me and now has left me,
2172 Weary and old with service, to the mercy
2173 Of a rude stream that must forever hide me.
2174 Vain pomp and glory of this world, I hate you.
2175 435 I feel my heart new opened. O, how wretched
2176 Is that poor man that hangs on princes’ favors!
2177 There is betwixt that smile we would aspire to,
2178 That sweet aspect of princes, and their ruin,
2179 More pangs and fears than wars or women have;
2180 440 And when he falls, he falls like Lucifer,
2181 Never to hope again.
Enter Cromwell, standing amazed.
2182 Why, how now, Cromwell?
CROMWELL
2183 I have no power to speak, sir.
WOLSEY 2184 What, amazed
2185 445 At my misfortunes? Can thy spirit wonder
2186 A great man should decline? Nay, an you weep,
2187 I am fall’n indeed.
CROMWELL 2188 How does your Grace?
WOLSEY 2189 Why, well.
2190 450 Never so truly happy, my good Cromwell.
2191 I know myself now, and I feel within me
2192 A peace above all earthly dignities,
2193 A still and quiet conscience. The King has cured me—
2194 I humbly thank his Grace—and from these shoulders,
2195 455 These ruined pillars, out of pity, taken
2196 A load would sink a navy: too much honor.
2197 O, ’tis a burden, Cromwell, ’tis a burden
2198 Too heavy for a man that hopes for heaven.
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CROMWELL 2199 I am glad your Grace has made that right use of it.
WOLSEY
2200 460 I hope I have. I am able now, methinks,
2201 Out of a fortitude of soul I feel,
2202 To endure more miseries and greater far
2203 Than my weak-hearted enemies dare offer.
2204 What news abroad?
CROMWELL 2205 465 The heaviest and the worst
2206 Is your displeasure with the King.
WOLSEY 2207 God bless him.
CROMWELL
2208 The next is that Sir Thomas More is chosen
2209 Lord Chancellor in your place.
WOLSEY 2210 470 That’s somewhat sudden.
2211 But he’s a learnèd man. May he continue
2212 Long in his Highness’ favor and do justice
2213 For truth’s sake and his conscience, that his bones,
2214 When he has run his course and sleeps in blessings,
2215 475 May have a tomb of orphans’ tears wept on him.
2216 What more?
CROMWELL 2217 That Cranmer is returned with welcome,
2218 Installed Lord Archbishop of Canterbury.
WOLSEY
2219 That’s news indeed.
CROMWELL 2220 480 Last, that the Lady Anne,
2221 Whom the King hath in secrecy long married,
2222 This day was viewed in open as his queen,
2223 Going to chapel, and the voice is now
2224 Only about her coronation.
WOLSEY
2225 485 There was the weight that pulled me down.
2226 O Cromwell,
2227 The King has gone beyond me. All my glories
2228 In that one woman I have lost forever.
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2229
No sun shall ever usher forth mine honors,2230 490 Or gild again the noble troops that waited
2231 Upon my smiles. Go, get thee from me, Cromwell.
2232 I am a poor fall’n man, unworthy now
2233 To be thy lord and master. Seek the King;
2234 That sun, I pray, may never set! I have told him
2235 495 What and how true thou art. He will advance thee;
2236 Some little memory of me will stir him—
2237 I know his noble nature—not to let
2238 Thy hopeful service perish too. Good Cromwell,
2239 Neglect him not. Make use now, and provide
2240 500 For thine own future safety.
CROMWELL, ⌜weeping⌝ 2241 O, my lord,
2242 Must I then leave you? Must I needs forgo
2243 So good, so noble, and so true a master?
2244 Bear witness, all that have not hearts of iron,
2245 505 With what a sorrow Cromwell leaves his lord.
2246 The King shall have my service, but my prayers
2247 Forever and forever shall be yours.
WOLSEY, ⌜weeping⌝
2248 Cromwell, I did not think to shed a tear
2249 In all my miseries, but thou hast forced me,
2250 510 Out of thy honest truth, to play the woman.
2251 Let’s dry our eyes. And thus far hear me, Cromwell,
2252 And when I am forgotten, as I shall be,
2253 And sleep in dull cold marble, where no mention
2254 Of me more must be heard of, say I taught thee;
2255 515 Say Wolsey, that once trod the ways of glory
2256 And sounded all the depths and shoals of honor,
2257 Found thee a way, out of his wrack, to rise in,
2258 A sure and safe one, though thy master missed it.
2259 Mark but my fall and that that ruined me.
2260 520 Cromwell, I charge thee, fling away ambition!
2261 By that sin fell the angels; how can man, then,
2262 The image of his maker, hope to win by it?
p.
159
2263
Love thyself last; cherish those hearts that hate thee.2264 Corruption wins not more than honesty.
2265 525 Still in thy right hand carry gentle peace
2266 To silence envious tongues. Be just, and fear not.
2267 Let all the ends thou aim’st at be thy country’s,
2268 Thy God’s, and truth’s. Then if thou fall’st, O Cromwell,
2269 Thou fall’st a blessèd martyr.
2270 530 Serve the King. And, prithee, lead me in.
2271 There take an inventory of all I have
2272 To the last penny; ’tis the King’s. My robe
2273 And my integrity to heaven is all
2274 I dare now call mine own. O Cromwell, Cromwell,
2275 535 Had I but served my God with half the zeal
2276 I served my king, He would not in mine age
2277 Have left me naked to mine enemies.
CROMWELL
2278 Good sir, have patience.
WOLSEY 2279 So I have. Farewell,
2280 540 The hopes of court! My hopes in heaven do dwell.
They exit.