Which had they, what four thron'd ones could have

weigh'd

Such a compounded one?

Buck.

All the whole time

12

Then you lost

I was my chamber's prisoner.

Nor.

16

20

24

The view of earthly glory: men might say,
Till this time pomp was single, but now married
To one above itself. Each following day
Became the next day's master, till the last
Made former wonders its. To-day the French
All clinquant, all in gold, like heathen gods,
Shone down the English; and to-morrow they
Made Britain India: every man that stood
Show'd like a mine. Their dwarfish pages were
As cherubins, all gilt: the madams, too,
Not us'd to toil, did almost sweat to bear
The pride upon them, that their very labour
Was to them as a painting. Now this masque
Was cried incomparable; and the ensuing night
Made it a fool and beggar. The two kings,
Equal in lustre, were now best, now worst,
As presence did present them; him in eye
Still him in praise; and, being present both,
'Twas said they saw but one; and no discerner
Durst wag his tongue in censure. When these suns-
For so they phrase 'em-by their heralds challeng'd
The noble spirits to arms, they did perform
Beyond thought's compass; that former fabulous
story,

Being now seen possible enough, got credit,

That Bevis was believ'd.

12 All the whole time; cf. n.

19 clinquant: glittering

38 That: so that Bevis; cf. n.

28

32

36

18 its; cf. n.

30 him in eye: the one present

Buck.

O, you go far!

Nor. As I belong to worship, and affect In honour honesty, the tract of everything Would by a good discourser lose some life, Which action's self was tongue to.

Buck.

All was royal;

To the disposing of it nought rebell'd,
Order gave each thing view; the office did
Distinctly his full function. Who did guide,
I mean, who set the body and the limbs
Of this great sport together?

Nor.

As you guess.
One certes, that promises no element
In such a business.

Buck.

I pray you, who, my lord? Nor. All this was order'd by the good discretion Of the right reverend Cardinal of York.

40

44

48

Buck. The devil speed him! no man's pie is freed 52 From his ambitious finger. What had he To do in these fierce vanities? I wonder That such a keech can with his very bulk Take o' the beneficial sun, up the rays And keep it from the earth.

Surely, sir,

Nor.
There's in him stuff that puts him to these ends;
For, being not propp'd by ancestry, whose grace
Chalks successors their way, nor call'd upon
For high feats done to the crown; neither allied
To eminent assistants; but, spider-like,
Out of his self-drawing web, a' gives us note,
The force of his own merit makes his way;

56

60

64

40 tract: course presented even by a

skilful narrator with the vividness which the reality expressed

42-47 Cf. n.
55 keech: Jump of fat

63 Out,

54 fierce: extravagant web; cf. n. a': he

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

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: 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

68

72

Who should attend on him? He makes up the file
Of all the gentry; for the most part such

76

To whom as great a charge as little honour He meant to lay upon,—and his own letter (The honourable board of council out)

Must fetch him in,-he papers.

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

80

Have broke their backs with laying manors on 'em 84 For this great journey. What did this vanity

But minister communication of

A most poor issue?

Nor.

Grievingly I think,

The peace between the French and us not values

The cost that did conclude it.

Buck.

74 privi y: knowledge

80 fetch him in: cheat

84 with

papers: lists

88

Every man,

76-80 Cf. n.

on 'em: by selling manorial estates in order to buy 86 minister communication; cf. n

personal equipment

After the hideous storm that follow'd, was
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 Bordeaux.

Aber.

Th' ambassador is silenc'd?

Nor.

Is it therefore 96

Marry, is 't.

Aber. A proper title of a peace; and purchas'd

At a superfluous rate!

Buck.

Our reverend cardinal carried.

Nor.

you

Why, all this business

Like it your Grace, 100

The state takes notice of the private difference
Betwixt 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 't may be said,
It reaches far; and where 'twill not extend,
Thither he darts it. Bosom up my counsel,

104

108

112

You'll find it wholesome. Lo where comes that rock That I advise your shunning.

90 hideous storm; cf. n.

97 Th' ambassador is silenc'd; cf. n.

100 Like... Grace: may it please your Grace

95 For... league; cf. n.

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.

Car. The Duke of Buckingham's surveyor, ha? Where's his examination?

Secr.

Car. Is he in person ready?

Secr.

Here, so please you. 116

Ay, please your Grace.

Car. Well, we shall then know more; and Bucking

ham

Shall lessen this big look.

120

[Exeunt Cardinal and his Train.] Buck. This butcher's cur is venom'd-mouth'd, and I Have not the power to muzzle him; therefore best Not wake him in his slumber. A beggar's book Outworths a noble's blood.

Nor.

What! are you chaf'd?

Ask God for temperance; that's th' appliance only 124 Which your disease requires.

Buck.

I read in's looks

Matter against me; and his eye revil'd
Me as his abject object: at this instant
He bores me with some trick.

king:

I'll follow, and outstare him.

Nor.

And let your reason with your

He's gone to the

128

Stay, my lord,

choler question

What 'tis you go about. To climb steep hills