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- $Unique_ID{SSP03806}
- $Title{King Henry VIII: Act II, Scene I}
- $Author{Shakespeare, William}
- $Subject{}
- $Log{Dramatis Personae*03800.txt}
-
- Portions copyright (c) CMC ReSearch, Inc., 1989
-
- The Complete Works of William Shakespeare
-
- KING HENRY VIII
-
-
- ACT II
- ................................................................................
-
-
- SCENE I: Westminster. A street.
- . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
-
- {Enter two Gentlemen, meeting.}
-
- First Gentleman: Whither away so fast?
-
- Second Gentleman: O, God save ye!
- Even to the hall, to hear what shall become
- Of the great Duke of Buckingham.
-
- First Gentleman: I'll save you
- That labour, sir. All's now done, but the ceremony
- Of bringing back the prisoner.
-
- Second Gentleman: Were you there?
-
- First Gentleman: Yes, indeed, was I.
-
- Second Gentleman: Pray, speak what has happen'd.
-
- First Gentleman: You may guess quickly what.
-
- Second Gentleman: Is he found guilty?
-
- First Gentleman: Yes, truly is he, and condemn'd upon't.
-
- Second Gentleman: I am sorry for't.
-
- First Gentleman: So are a number more. 10
-
- Second Gentleman: But, pray, how pass'd it?
-
- First Gentleman: I'll tell you in a little. The great duke
- Came to the bar; where to his accusations
- He pleaded still not guilty and alleged
- Many sharp reasons to defeat the law.
- The king's attorney on the contrary
- Urged on the examinations, proofs, confessions
- Of divers witnesses; which the duke desired
- To have brought viva voce to his face:
- At which appear'd against him his surveyor; 20
- Sir Gilbert Peck his chancellor; and John Car,
- Confessor to him; with that devil-monk,
- Hopkins, that made this mischief.
-
- Second Gentleman: That was he
- That fed him with his prophecies?
-
- First Gentleman: The same.
- All these accused him strongly; which he fain
- Would have flung from him, but, indeed, he could not:
- And so his peers, upon this evidence,
- Have found him guilty of high treason. Much
- He spoke, and learnedly, for life; but all
- Was either pitied in him or forgotten. 30
-
- Second Gentleman: After all this, how did he bear himself?
-
- First Gentleman: When he was brought again to the bar, to hear
- His knell rung out, his judgment, he was stirr'd
- With such an agony, he sweat extremely,
- And something spoke in choler, ill, and hasty:
- But he fell to himself again, and sweetly
- In all the rest show'd a most noble patience.
-
- Second Gentleman: I do not think he fears death.
-
- First Gentleman: Sure, he does not:
- He never was so womanish; the cause
- He may a little grieve at.
-
- Second Gentleman: Certainly 40
- The cardinal is the end of this.
-
- First Gentleman: 'Tis likely,
- By all conjectures: first, Kildare's attainder,
- Then deputy of Ireland; who removed,
- Earl Surrey was sent thither, and in haste too,
- Lest he should help his father.
-
- Second Gentleman: That trick of state
- Was a deep envious one.
-
- First Gentleman: At his return
- No doubt he will requite it. This is noted,
- And generally, whoever the king favours,
- The cardinal instantly will find employment,
- And far enough from court too.
-
- Second Gentleman: All the commons 50
- Hate him perniciously, and, o' my conscience,
- Wish him ten fathom deep: this duke as much
- They love and dote on; call him bounteous Buckingham,
- The mirror of all courtesy;--
-
- First Gentleman: Stay there, sir,
- And see the noble ruin'd man you speak of.
-
- {Enter BUCKINGHAM from his arraignment; tip-staves
- before him; the axe with the edge towards him;
- halberds on each side: accompanied with LOVELL,
- VAUX, SANDS, and common people.}
-
- Second Gentleman: Let's stand close, and behold him.
-
- BUCKINGHAM: All good people,
- You that thus far have come to pity me,
- Hear what I say, and then go home and lose me.
- I have this day received a traitor's judgment,
- And by that name must die: yet, heaven bear witness, 60
- And if I have a conscience, let it sink me,
- Even as the axe falls, if I be not faithful!
- The law I bear no malice for my death;
- 'T has done, upon the premises, but justice:
- But those that sought it I could wish more Christians:
- Be what they will, I heartily forgive 'em:
- Yet let 'em look they glory not in mischief,
- Nor build their evils on the graves of great men;
- For then my guiltless blood must cry against 'em.
- For further life in this world I ne'er hope, 70
- Nor will I sue, although the king have mercies
- More than I dare make faults. You few that loved me,
- And dare be bold to weep for Buckingham,
- His noble friends and fellows, whom to leave
- Is only bitter to him, only dying,
- Go with me, like good angels, to my end;
- And, as the long divorce of steel falls on me,
- Make of your prayers one sweet sacrifice,
- And lift my soul to heaven. Lead on, o' God's name.
-
- LOVELL: I do beseech your grace, for charity, 80
- If ever any malice in your heart
- Were hid against me, now to forgive me frankly.
-
- BUCKINGHAM: Sir Thomas Lovell, I as free forgive you
- As I would be forgiven: I forgive all;
- There cannot be those numberless offences
- 'Gainst me, that I cannot take peace with:
- no black envy
- Shall mark my grave. Commend me to his grace;
- And if he speak of Buckingham, pray, tell him
- You met him half in heaven: my vows and prayers
- Yet are the king's; and, till my soul forsake, 90
- Shall cry for blessings on him: may he live
- Longer than I have time to tell his years!
- Ever beloved and loving may his rule be!
- And when old time shall lead him to his end,
- Goodness and he fill up one monument!
-
- LOVELL: To the water side I must conduct your grace;
- Then give my charge up to Sir Nicholas Vaux,
- Who undertakes you to your end.
-
- VAUX: Prepare there,
- The duke is coming: see the barge be ready;
- And fit it with such furniture as suits 100
- The greatness of his person.
-
- BUCKINGHAM: Nay, Sir Nicholas,
- Let it alone; my state now will but mock me.
- When I came hither, I was lord high constable
- And Duke of Buckingham; now, poor Edward Bohun:
- Yet I am richer than my base accusers,
- That never knew what truth meant: I now seal it;
- And with that blood will make 'em one day groan for't.
- My noble father, Henry of Buckingham,
- Who first raised head against usurping Richard,
- Flying for succor to his servant Banister, 110
- Being distress'd, was by that wretch betray'd,
- And without trial fell; God's peace be with him!
- Henry the Seventh succeeding, truly pitying
- My father's loss, like a most royal prince,
- Restored me to my honours, and, out of ruins,
- Made my name once more noble. Now his son,
- Henry the Eighth, life, honour, name and all
- That made me happy at one stroke has taken
- For ever from the world. I had my trial,
- And, must needs say, a noble one; which makes me, 120
- A little happier than my wretched father:
- Yet thus far we are one in fortunes: both
- Fell by our servants, by those men we loved most;
- A most unnatural and faithless service!
- Heaven has an end in all: yet, you that hear me,
- This from a dying man receive as certain:
- Where you are liberal of your loves and counsels
- Be sure you be not loose; for those you make friends
- And give your hearts to, when they once perceive
- The least rub in your fortunes, fall away 130
- Like water from ye, never found again
- But where they mean to sink ye. All good people,
- Pray for me! I must now forsake ye: the last hour
- Of my long weary life is come upon me. Farewell:
- And when you would say something that is sad,
- Speak how I fell. I have done; and God forgive me!
-
- [Exeunt BUCKINGHAM and Train].
-
- First Gentleman: O, this is full of pity! Sir, it calls,
- I fear, too many curses on their beads
- That were the authors.
-
- Second Gentleman: If the duke be guiltless,
- 'Tis full of woe: yet I can give you inkling 140
- Of an ensuing evil, if it fall,
- Greater than this.
-
- First Gentleman: Good angels keep it from us!
- What may it be? You do not doubt my faith, sir?
-
- Second Gentleman: This secret is so weighty, 'twill require
- A strong faith to conceal it.
-
- First Gentleman: Let me have it;
- I do not talk much.
-
- Second Gentleman: I am confident,
- You shall, sir: did you not of late days hear
- A buzzing of a separation
- Between the king and Katharine?
-
- First Gentleman: Yes, but it held not:
- For when the king once heard it, out of anger 150
- He sent command to the lord mayor straight
- To stop the rumor, and allay those tongues
- That durst disperse it.
-
- Second Gentleman: But that slander, sir,
- Is found a truth now: for it grows again
- Fresher than e'er it was; and held for certain
- The king will venture at it. Either the cardinal,
- Or some about him near, have, out of malice
- To the good queen, possess'd him with a scruple
- That will undo her: to confirm this too,
- Cardinal Campeius is arrived, and lately; 160
- As all think, for this business.
-
- First Gentleman: 'Tis the cardinal;
- And merely to revenge him on the emperor
- For not bestowing on him, at his asking,
- The archbishopric of Toledo, this is purposed.
-
- Second Gentleman: I think you have hit the mark: but is't not cruel
- That she should feel the smart of this? The cardinal
- Will have his will, and she must fall.
-
- First Gentleman: 'Tis woful.
- We are too open here to argue this;
- Let's think in private more.
-
- [Exeunt.]
-
