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PROLOGUE

I come no more to make you
laugh:-things now

That bear a weighty and a serious brow,
Sad, high, and working, full of state and woe,
Such noble scenes as draw the eye to flow,
We now present. Those that can pity, here
May, if they think it well, let fall a tear:
The subject will deserve it. Such as give
Their money out of hope they may believe,
May here find truth too. Those that come to see
Only a show or two, and so agree

The play may pass,-if they be still and willing,
I'll undertake may see away their shilling
Richly in two short hours. Only they
That come to hear a merry, bawdy play,
A noise of targets, or to see a fellow
In a long motley coat guarded with yellow,
Will be deceived: for, gentle hearers, know,
To rank our chosen truth with such a show
As fool and fight is, beside forfeiting
Our own brains and the opinion that we bring
(To make that only true we now intend),
Will leave us never an understanding friend.
Therefore, for goodness sake, as you are known
The first and happiest hearers of the town.
Be sad as we would make ye. Think ye see
The very persons of our noble story

As they were living; think you see them great,
And followed with the general throng and sweat,
Of thousand friends: then, in a moment, see
How soon this mightiness meets misery:
And if you can be merry then, I'll say
A man may weep upon his wedding
day.

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The madams too,

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
Shewed like a mine. Their dwarfish pages were
As cherubim, all gilt.
Not used to toil, did almost sweat to bear
The pride upon them, that their very labour
Was to them as a painting. Now this mask
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 them) by their heralds
challenged

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 believed.

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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 't will not extend,

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Buck. To the King I'll say 't; and make my vouch as strong

As shore of rock. Attend:-This holy fox,
Or wolf, or both (for he is equal ravenous
As he is subtle, and as prone to mischief
As able to perform it; his mind and place
Infecting one another, yea reciprocally),
Only to shew his pomp as well in France
As here at home, suggests the King our master
To this last costly treaty, the interview,
That swallowed so much treasure, and like a glass
Did break i' the rinsing.

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Has done this, and 't is well: for worthy Wolsey,
Who cannot err, he did it. Now this follows
(Which, as I take it, is a kind of puppy
To the old dam treason) :-Charles the emperor
Under pretence to see the queen his aunt
(For 't was indeed his colour, but he came
To whisper Wolsey) here makes visitation.
His fears were that the interview betwixt
England and France might, through their amity,
Breed him some prejudice; for from this league
Peeped harms that menaced him. He privily
Deals with our cardinal; and as I trow,-
Which I do well; for I am sure the emperor
Paid ere he promised; whereby his suit was
granted

Ere it was asked;-but when the way was made,
And paved with gold, the emperor thus desired :
That he would please to alter the King's course
And break the foresaid peace. Let the King know
(As soon he shall by me) that thus the cardinal
Does buy and sell his honour as he pleases,
And for his own advantage.

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