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  • Title: Henry The Eighth (Modern)
  • Editor: Diane Jakacki

  • Copyright Diane Jakacki. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Editor: Diane Jakacki
    Not Peer Reviewed

    Henry The Eighth (Modern)

    35Enter the Duke of Norfolk at one door. At the other, the Duke of Buckingham, and the Lord Aburgavenny.
    Buckingham
    Good morrow, and well met. How have ye done
    40Since last we saw in France?
    Norfolk
    I thank your grace,
    Healthful, and ever since a fresh admirer
    Of what I saw there.
    Buckingham
    An untimely ague
    45Stayed me a prisoner in my chamber when
    Those suns of glory, those two lights of men,
    Met in the vale of Andres.
    Norfolk
    'Twixt Guînes and Ardes
    I was then present, saw them salute on horseback,
    50Beheld them when they lighted, how they clung
    In their Embracement, as they grew together,
    Which had they, what four throned ones could have weighed
    Such a compounded one?
    55Buckingham
    All the whole time
    I was my chamber's prisoner.
    Norfolk
    Then you lost
    The view of earthly glory. Men might say
    Till this time pomp was single, but now married
    60To one above itself. Each following day
    Became the next day's master, till the last
    Made former wonders its. Today the French,
    All clinquant, all in gold, like heathen gods,
    Shone down the English; and tomorrow they
    65Made Britain India: every man that stood
    Showed like a mine. Their dwarfish pages were
    As cherubim, all gilt. The madams too,
    Not used to toil, did almost sweat to bear
    The pride upon them, that their very labor
    70Was to them as a painting. Now this masque
    Was cried incomparable, and th’ensuing night
    Made it a fool and beggar. The two kings,
    Equal in luster, were now best, now worst,
    As presence did present them: him in eye,
    75Still 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 challenged
    The noble spirits to arms, they did perform
    80Beyond thought's compass, that former fabulous story
    Being now seen possible enough, got credit
    That Bevis was believed.
    Buckingham
    Oh, you go far.
    Norfolk
    As I belong to worship, and affect
    85In honor honesty, the tract of everything
    Would by a good discourser lose some life,
    Which action's self was tongue to.
    All was royal;
    To the disposing of it nought rebelled,
    90Order gave each thing view; the office did
    Distinctly his full function.
    Buckingham
    Who did guide --
    I mean, who set the body and the limbs
    Of this great sport together, as you guess?
    95Norfolk
    One, certes, that promises no element
    In such a business.
    Buckingham
    I pray you who, my lord?
    Norfolk
    All this was ordered by the good discretion
    Of the right reverend Cardinal of York.
    100Buckingham
    The devil speed him! No man's pie is freed
    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 up the rays o'th'beneficial sun
    105And keep it from the earth.
    Norfolk
    Surely, sir,
    There's in him stuff that puts him to these ends;
    For being not propped by ancestry, whose grace
    Chalks successors their way, nor called upon
    110For high feats done to th'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
    A gift that heaven gives for him, which buys
    115A place next to the king.
    Abergavenny
    I cannot tell
    What heaven hath given him -- let some grayer eye
    Pierce into that -- but I can see his pride
    Peep through each part of him; whence has he that,
    120If not from hell? The devil is a niggard,
    Or has given all before, and he begins
    A new hell in himself.
    Buckingham
    Why the devil,
    Upon this French going-out, took he upon him,
    125Without the privity o'th'king, t'appoint
    Who should attend on him? He makes up the file
    Of all the gentry; for the most part such
    To whom as great a charge, as little honor
    He meant to lay upon; and his own letter,
    130The honorable board of council, out
    Must fetch him in, he papers.
    Abergavenny
    I do know
    Kinsmen of mine, three at the least, that have
    By this so sickened their estates that never
    135They shall abound as formerly.
    Buckingham
    Oh, many
    Have broke their backs with laying manors on 'em
    For this great journey. What did this vanity
    But minister communication of
    140A most poor issue?
    Norfolk
    Grievingly, I think
    The peace between the French and us not values
    The cost that did conclude it.
    Buckingham
    Every man,
    145After the hideous storm that followed, was
    A thing inspired, and not consulting, broke
    Into a general prophesy: that this tempest,
    Dashing the garment of this peace, aboded
    The sudden breach on't.
    150Norfolk
    Which is budded out,
    For France hath flawed the league, and hath attached
    Our merchants' goods at Bordeaux.
    Abergavenny
    Is it therefore
    Th'ambassador is silenced?
    155Norfolk
    Marry, is't.
    Abergavenny
    A proper title of a peace, and purchased
    At a superfluous rate.
    Buckingham
    Why, all this business
    Our reverend cardinal carried
    160Norfolk
    Like it your grace,
    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
    Honor and plenteous safety -- that you read
    165The 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
    170Hath 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,
    You'l find it wholesome. Lo, where comes that rock
    That I advise your shunning.
    175Enter 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 Buckham, and Buckingham on him, both full of disdain.
    180Wolsey
    The Duke of Buckingham's surveyor, ha?
    Where's his examination?
    Secretary
    Here so please you.
    Wolsey
    Is he in person ready?
    Secretary
    Ay, please your grace.
    185Wolsey
    Well, we shall then know more, and Buckingham
    Shall lessen this big look.
    Exeunt Cardinal and his train.
    Buckingham
    This butcher's cur is venom-mouthed, and I
    Have not the power to muzzle him: therefore best
    190Not wake him in his slumber. A beggar's book
    Outworths a noble's blood.
    Norfolk
    What, are you chafed?
    Ask God for temperance: that's th'appliance oney
    Which your disease requires.
    195Buckingham
    I read in's looks
    Matter against me, and his eye reviled
    Me as his abject obiect at this instant
    He bores me with some trick; he's gone to'th'king.
    I'll follow, and out-stare him.
    200Norfolk
    Stay, my lord,
    And let your reason with your choler question
    What 'tis you go about. To climb steep hills
    Requires slow pace at first. Anger is like
    A full hot horse, who being allowed his way,
    205Self-mettle tires him. Not a man in England
    Can advise me like you. Be to yourself
    As you would to your friend.
    Buckingham
    I'll to the king,
    And from a mouth of honor quite cry down
    210This Ipswich fellow's insolence, or proclaim
    There's difference in no persons.
    Norfolk
    Be advised:
    Heat not a furnace for your foe so hot
    That it do singe yourself. We may outrun
    215By violent swiftness that which we run at,
    And lose by ouer-running. Know you not
    The fire that mounts the liquor till't run o'er,
    In seeming to augment it, wastes it? Be advised:
    I say again there is no English soul
    220More stronger to direct you than yourself,
    If with the sap of reason you would quench
    Or but allay the fire of passion.
    Buckingham
    Sir,
    I am thankful to you and I'll go along
    225By your prescription: but this top-proud fellow,
    Whom from the flow of gall I name not, but
    From sincere motions, by intelligence
    And proofs as clear as founts in July when
    We see each grain of gravel, I do know
    230To be corrupt and treasonous.
    Norfolk
    Say not treasonous.
    Buckingham
    To th'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
    235As he is subtle, and as prone to mischief
    As able to perform't) his mind and place
    Infecting one another, yea reciprocally,
    Only to show his pomp as well in France
    As here at home, suggests the king our master
    240To this last costly treaty, th'interview,
    That swallowed so much treasure, and like a glass
    Did break ith'wrenching.
    Norfolk
    Faith, and so it did.
    Buckingham
    Pray give me favor, sir. This cunning cardinal
    245The articles o'th'combination drew
    As himself pleased, and they were ratified
    As he cried 'Thus let be', to as much end
    As give a crutch to th'dead. But our count-cardinal
    Has done this, and 'tis well; for worthy Wolsey
    250(Who cannot err) he did it. Now this follows
    (Which, as I take it, is a kind of puppy
    To th'old dam treason) Charles the emperor,
    Under pretence to see the queen his aunt,
    (For 'twas indeed his color, but he came
    255To 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. Privily
    260Deals 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
    265That he would please to alter the king's course
    And break the aforesaid peace. Let the king know
    (As soon he shall by me) that thus the cardinal
    Does buy and sell his honor as he pleases,
    And for his own advantage.
    270Norfolk
    I am sorry
    To hear this of him, and could wish he were
    Somthing mistaken in't.
    Buckingham
    No, not a syllable.
    I do pronounce him in that very shape
    275He shall appear in proof.
    Brandon
    Your office, sergeant: execute it.
    Sergeant
    Sir,
    280My lord the Duke of Buckingham, and Earl
    Of Hertford, Stafford and Northampton, I
    Arrest thee of high treason, in the name
    Of our most sovereign king.
    Buckingham
    Lo you, my lord,
    285The net has fallen upon me. I shall perish
    Under device and practise.
    Brandon
    I am sorry
    To see you ta'en from liberty to look on
    The busines present. 'Tis his highness' pleasure
    290You shall to th'Tower.
    Buckingham
    It will help me nothing
    To plead mine innocence, for that dye is on me
    Which makes my whit'st part, black. The will of heav'n
    Be done in this and all things: I obey.
    295O my Lord Abergavenny, fare you well.
    Brandon
    Nay, he must bear you company. The king
    Is pleased you shall to th'Tower, till you know
    How he determines further.
    Abergavenny
    As the duke said,
    300The will of heaven be done, and the king's pleasure
    By me obeyed.
    Brandon
    Here is a warrant from
    The king, t'attach Lord Montague and the Bodies
    Of the duke's confessor, John de la Car,
    305One Gilbert Peck, his chancellor.
    Buckingham
    So, so;
    These are the limbs o'th'plot. No more, I hope.
    Brandon
    A Monk o'th'Chartreux.
    Buckingham
    O, Nicholas Hopkins?
    310Brandon
    He.
    Buckingham
    My surveyor is false. The o'er-great cardinal
    Hath showed him gold. My life is spanned already;
    I am the shadow of poor Buckingham,
    Whose figure even this instant cloud puts on,
    315By dark'ning my clear sun. My lords farewell.