Buck. It will help me nothing, To plead mine innocence; for that die is on me, O my lord Aberga'ny, fare you well. Bran. Nay, he must bear you company:-The king [To ABERGAVENNY, Is pleas'd, you shall to the Tower, till you know How he determines further. Aber. As the duke said, The will of heaven be done, and the king's pleasure The king, to attach lord Montacute; and the bodies Buck. So, so; These are the limbs of the plot: no more, I hope. Buck. Brand. O, Nicholas Hopkins? He Buck. My surveyor is false; the o'er-great cardinal Hath show'd him gold: my life is spann'd already: I am the shadow of poor Buckingham; Whose figure even this instant cloud puts on, By dark'ning my clear sun. — -My lord, farewell. [Exeunt. + "de la Car," - MALONE. 8 my life is spann'd already:] My time is measured, the length of my life is now determined. SCENE II. The Council-Chamber. Cornets. Enter King HENRY, Cardinal WOLSEY, the Lords of the Council, Sir THOMAS LOVELL, Officers, and Attendants. The King enters, leaning on the Cardinal's shoulder. K. Hen. My life itself, and the best heart of it,9 And point by point the treasons of his master The King takes his State. The Lords of the Council take their several places. The Cardinal places himself under the King's feet, on his right side. A Noise within, crying, Room for the Queen. Enter the Queen, ushered by the Dukes of NORFOLK and SUFFOLK: she kneels. The King riseth from his State, takes her up, kisses, and placeth her by him. Q. Kath. Nay, we must longer kneel; I am a suitor. K. Hen. Arise, and take place by us :- Half your suit Never name to us; you have half our power; The other moiety, ere you ask, is given; Repeat your will, and take it. 91 and the best heart of it,] Heart is not here taken for the great organ of circulation and life, but, in a common and popular sense, for the most valuable or precious part. stood the level,] To stand in the level of a gun is to stand in a line with its mouth, so as to be hit by the shot. Q. Kath. Thank your majesty. That you would love yourself; and, in that love, Not unconsider'd leave your honour, nor The dignity of your office, is the point Of my petition. K. Hen. Lady mine, proceed. Q. Kath. I am solicited, not by a few, And those of true condition, that your subjects Are in great grievance: there have been commissions Most bitterly on you, as putter-on Of these exactions, yet the king our master, (Whose honour heaven shield from soil!) even he escapes not Language unmannerly, yea, such which breaks In loud rebellion. Nor. Not almost appears, It doth appear: for, upon these taxations, K. Hen. Wherein? and what taxation? Taxation! My lord cardinal, You that are blam'd for it alike with us, Wol. Please you, sir, I know but of a single part, in aught Pertains to the state; and front but in that file2 2 — front but in that file—] i. e. I am merely on a level with the rest, and step in the same line with them. Q. Kath. No, my lord, you You know no more than others: but frame Things, that are known alike3; which are not wholesome K. Hen. Still exaction! The nature of it? In what kind, let's know, Q. Kath. I am much too venturous In tempting of your patience; but am bolden'd Is nam'd, your wars in France: This makes bold mouths: Live where their prayers did; and it's come to pass, 4 To each incensed will. I would, your highness There is no primer business. 5 K. Hen. This is against our pleasure. Wol. By my life, And for me, I have no further gone in this, than by 3 You know no more than others: &c.] That is, you know no more than other counsellors, but you are the person who frame those things which are afterwards proposed, and known equally by all. tractable obedience, &c.] i. e. Things are now in such a situation, that resentment and indignation predominate in every man's breast over duty and allegiance. 4 5 There is no primer business.] No matter of state more urgent. A single voice; and that not pass'd me, but will be If I am traduc'd by tongues +, which neither know That is new trimm'd; but benefit no further In fear our motion will be mock'd or carp'd at, K. Hen. Things done well, And with a care, exempt themselves from fear; Traduced by ignorant tongues," &c. MALONE. • We must not stint —] To stint is here to stop, to retard. 7 To cope-] To engage with, to encounter. The word is still used in some counties. - once weak ones,] Once is here used for sometime, or at one time or other. Hitting a grosser quality,] The worst actions of great men are commended by the vulgar, as more accommodated to the grossness .of their notions. JOHNSON. |