Being of those virtues vacant. I fear nothing
What can be said against me.

King. Know you not

[world? How your state stands i' the world, with the whole Your enemies are many, and not small; their 5 practices

Must bear the same proportion: and not ever
The justice and the truth o' the question carries
The due o' the verdict with it: At what ease
Might corrupt minds procure knaves as corrupt
To swear against you? Such things have been done.
You are potently oppos'd; and with a malice
Of as great size. Ween' you of better luck,
I mean, in perjur'd witness, than your Master,
Whose minister you are, whiles here he liv'd
Upon this naughty earth? Go to, go to;
You take a precipice for no leap of danger,
And woo your own destruction.

Cran. God, and your majesty,

Protect mine innocence, or I fall into
The trap is laid for me!

King. Be of good cheer;

y to.

10

15

20

They shall no more prevail, than we give way t
Keep comfort to you; and this morning see
You do appear before them: if they shall chance, 25
In charging you with matters, to commit you,
The best persuasions to the contrary
Fail not to use, and with what vehemency
The occasion shall instruct you: if entreaties
Will render you no remedy, this ring
Deliver them, and your appeal to us
There make before them.-Look, the good man
weeps!

He's honest, on mine honour. God's blest mother!
I swear, he is true-hearted; and a soul
None better in my kingdom. Get you gone,
And do as I have bid you.-He has strangled
His language in his tears.
[Exit Cranmer.

[Exit Butts. The king's physician: As he pass'd along, How earnestly he cast his eyes upon me! 30 Pray heaven he sound not my disgrace! For certain, This is of purpose lay'd, by some that hate me, (God turn their hearts! I never sought theirmalice) To quench mine honour: they would shame to make me

[sures

35 Wait else at door; a fellow counsellor,
Among boys, grooms, and lackeys. But their plea-
Must be fulfill'd, and I attend with patience.
Enter the King, and Butts, at a rvindow aboze.
Butts, I'll shew your grace the strangest sight,→
King. What's that, Butts?

Enter an Old Lady.
Gent. [within.] Come back; what mean you? 40
Lady. I'll not come back; the tidings that I
[angels

bring
Will make my boldness manners. Now, good
Fly o'er thy royal head, and shade thy person
Under their blessed wings!

King. Now, by thy looks

I guess thy message. Is the queen deliver'd?
Say, ay; and of a boy.

Lady. Ay, ay, my liege;

And of a lovely boy: The God of heaven
Both now and ever bless her! 'tis a girl,
Promises boys hereafter. Sir, your queen
Desires your visitation, and to be

Acquainted with this stranger; 'tis as like you,
As cherry is to cherry.

King. Lovel,

Lov. Sir.

queen.

Enter Lovel.

Butts. I think, your highness saw this many a day.
King. Body o' me, where is it?

Butts. There, my lord:

The high promotion of his grace of Canterbury; 45 Who holds his state at door,'mongst pursuivants, Pages, and foot-boys.

King. Ha! 'Tis he, indeed:

Is this the honour they do one another?

'Tis well, there's one above 'em yet. I had thought, 50 They had parted so much honesty among 'em, (At least, good manners) as not thus to suffer A man of his place, and so near our favour, To dance attendance on their lordships' pleasures, And at the door too, like a post with packets. 55 By holy Mary, Butts, there's knavery:

King. Give her an hundred marks. I'll to the
[Exit King. 60
Lady. An hundred marks! by this light, I'll
have more.

Let 'em alone, and draw the curtain close:
We shall hear more anon.—

Enter the Lord Chancellor, places himself at the up-
per end of the table on the left hand; a seat being
left void above him, as for the Archbishop of Can-
terbury. Duke of Suffolk, Duke of Norfolk,Sur-
rey, Lord Chamberlain, and Gardiner, seat them-

! Toween is to think, to imagine. Obsolete,

Nor. Who waits there?

D. Keep. Without, my noble lords?
Gard. Yes.

D. Keep. My lord archbishop:

And has done half an hour, to know your pleasures.
Chan. Let him come in.

D. Keep. Your grace may enter now.

[Cranm r approaches the council table.
Chan. My good lord archbishop, I am very sorry
To sit here at this present, and behold
That chair stand empty: But we all are men,
In our own natures frail; and capable

And, by that virtue, no man dare accuse you. Gard. Mylord, because we have business of more moment, [pleasure, We will be short with you. "Tis his highness' 5 And our consent, for better trial of you, From hence you be committed to the Tower; Where, being but a private man again,

You shall know many dare accuse you boldly,
More than, I fear, you are provided for. [thank you,
10 Cran. Ah, my good lord of Winchester,
You are always my good friend; if your will pass,
I shall both find your lordship judge and juror,
You are so merciful; I see your end,

Tis my undoing: Love, and meekness, lord,
15 Become a churchman better than ambition;
Win straying souls with modesty again,
Cast none away. That I shall clear myself,
Lay all the weight ye can upon my patience,
I make as little doubt, as you do conscience
20 In doing daily wrongs. I could say more,
But reverence to your calling makes me modest,

Of our flesh, few are angels: out of which frailty,
And want of wisdom, you, that best should teach us,
Have misdemean'd yourself, and not a little,
Toward the king first, then his laws, in filling [lains',
The whole realm, by your teaching, and your chap-25
(For so we are inform'd) with new opinions,
Divers, and dangerous; which are heresies,
And, not reform'd, may prove pernicious.

Gard. Which reformation must be sudden too,
My noble lords: for those, that tame wild horses, 30
Pace'em not in their hands to make 'em gentle;
But stop their mouths with stubborn bits, and spur
'Till they obey the manage. If we suffer ['em,
(Out of our easiness, and childish pity

To one man's honour) this contagious sickness,
Farewell all physic: And what follows then?
Commotions, uproars, with a general taint
Of the whole state: as, of late days, our neighbours,
The upper Germany, can dearly witness,
Yet freshly pitied in our memories.

Cran. My good lords, hitherto, in all the progress
Both of my life and office, I have labour'd,
And with no little study, that my teaching,
And the strong course of my authority,
Might go one way, and safely; and the end
Was ever, to do well: nor is there living
(I speak it with a single heart, my lords,)
A man, that more detests, more stirs against,
Both in his private conscience, and his place,
Defacers of a public peace, than I do.
Pray heaven, the king may never find a heart
With less allegiance in it! Men, that make
Envy, and crooked malice, nourishment,

Dare bite the best. I do beseech your lordships,
That, in this case of justice, my accusers,
Be what they will, may stand forth face to face,
And freely urge against me.

Suf. Nay, my lord,

That cannot be; you are a counsellor,

Gard. My lord, my lord, you are a sectary,
That's the plain truth; yourpaintedgloss 'discovers,
To men that understand you, words and weakness.

Crom. My lord of Winchester, you are a little,
By your good favour, too sharp; men so noble,
However faulty, yet should find respect
For what they have been: 'tis a cruelty,
To load a falling man.

I

Gard. Good master Secretary,

cry your honour mercy; you may, worst Of all this table, say so.

Crom. Why, my lord?

Gard. Do not I know you for a favourer

35 Of this new sect? ye are not sound.
Crom. Not sound?

40

45

Gard. Not sound, I say.

Crom. 'Would you were half so honest! Men's prayers then would seek you, not their fears. Gard. I shall remember this bold language.

Crom. Do:

Chan. Then thus for you, my lord,-It stands
I take it, by all voices, that forthwith
You be conveyed to the Tower a prisoner;
50 There to remain, 'till the king's further pleasure
Be known unto us: Are you all agreed, lords?
All. We are.

551

Cran. Is there no other way of mercy,
But I must needs to the Tower, my lords?
Gard. What other
[some:
Would you expect? You are strangely trouble-
Let some o' the guard be ready there.
Enter Guard.

Cran. For me?

'This lord chancellor, though a character, has hitherto had no place in the Dramatis Persona. In the last scene of the fourth act, we heard that Sir Thomas More was appointed lord chancellor: but it is not he, whom the poet here introduces. Wolsey, by command, delivered up the seals on the 18th of November, 1529; on the 25th of the same month, they were delivered to Sir Thomas More, who surrender'd them on the 16th of May, 1532. Now the conclusion of this scene taking notice of queen Elizabeth's birth (which brings it down to the year 1534), Sir Thomas Audlie must necessarily be our poet's chancellor; who succeeded Sir Thomas More, and held the seals many years. Meaning, perhaps, Few are perfect, while they remain in their mortal capacity. 3i. e. your fair outside.

Must

I have a little yet to say. Look there, my lords; 5
By virtue of that ring, I take my cause
Out of the gripes of cruel men, and give it
To a most noble judge, the king my master.
Cham. This is the king's ring.

Sur. 'Tis no counterfeit.

Suf. 'Tis the right ring, by heaven: I told ye all, When we first put this dangerous stone a-rolling, 'Twould fall upon ourselves.

Nor. Do you think, my lords,
The king will suffer but the little finger
Of this man to be vex'd?

Cham. 'Tis now too certain:

How much more is his life in value with him?
'Would I were fairly out on 't.

Crom. My mind gave me,
In seeking tales, and informations,
Against this man, (whose honesty the devil
And his disciples only envy at,)

Ye blew the fire that burns ye: Now have at ye.
Enter King, frowning on them; takes his scat.
Gard. Dread sovereign,how much are we bound
to heaven

Not as a groom: There's some of ye, I see,
More out of malice than integrity,
Would try him to the utmost, had ye mean;
Which ye shall never have, while I live.

Chan. Thus far,

My most dread sovereign, may it like your grace
Tolet my tongue excuse all. What was purpos'd,
Concerning his imprisonment, was rather

(If there be faith in men) meant for his trial,
10 And fair purgation to the world, than malice:
I am sure, in me.

King. Well, well, my lords, respect him;
Take him and use him well, he's worthy of it.
I will say thus much for him, If a prince
15 May be beholden to a subject, I

Am, for his love and service, so to him.
Make me no more ado, but all embrace him;
Be friends, for shame, my lords.-My lord of Can-
terbury,

20I have a suit which you must not deny me:
There is a fair young maid, that yet wants baptism;
You must be godfather, and answer for her.

25

Cran. The greatest monarch now alivemay glory
In such an honour; How may I deserve it,
That am a poor and humble subject to you?
King. Come, come, my lord, you'd spare your

spoons: you shall have [Norfolk, Two noble partners with you: the old dutchess of And lady marquis Dorset; Willthese please you?— 30 Once more, my lord of Winchester, I charge you, Embrace and love this man.

In daily thanks, that gave us such a prince ;
Not only good and wise, but most religious:
One that, in all obedience, makes the church
The chief aim of his honour; and, to strengthen
That holy duty, out of dear respect,
His royal self in judgement comes to hear
The cause betwixt her and this great offender!
King. You were ever good at sudden com-35
mendations,

Bishop of Winchester. But know, I come not
To hear such flatteries now, and in my presence ;|
They are too thin and base to hide offences.
To me you cannot reach: You play the spaniel, 40
And think with wagging of your tongue to win me;
But, whatsoe'er thou tak'st me for, I'm sure,
Thou hast a cruel nature, and a bloody.-
Good man, sit down. Now let me see the proudest
[To Cranmer. 45
He, that dares most, but wag his finger at thee:
By all that's holy, he had better starve,
Than but once think this place becomes thee not.
Sur. May it please your grace,-
King. No, sir, it does not please me.
I had thought, I had men of some understanding
And wisdom, of my council; but I find none.
Was it discretion, lords, to let this man,
This good man, (few of you deserve that title)
This honest man, wait like a lowsy foot-boy
At chamber door? and one as great as you are?
Why, what a shame was this! Did my commission
Bid ye so far forget yourselves? I gave ye
Power as he was a counsellor to try him,

50

Gard. With a true heart,
And brother's love, I do it.

Cran. And let heaven

Witness how dear I hold this confirmation.

King. Good man, those joyful tears shew thy
The common voice, I see, is verified [true heart.
Ofthee, which says thus, Do my lord of Canterbury
A shrewd turn, and he is your friend for ever.—
Come, lords, we trifle time away; I long
To have this young one made a christian.
As I have made ye one, lords, one remain ;
So I grow stronger, you more honour gain.[Exeunt.
SCENE III.

The Palace Yard.
Noise and tumult within: Enter Porter and his Man.
Port. You'll leave your noise anon, ye rascals:
Do you take the court for Paris-garden? ye rude
slaves, leave your gaping.

Within. Good master porter, I belong to the larder.

Port. Belong to the gallows, and be hang'd, you rogue. Is this a place to roar in? — Fetch me a dozen crab-tree staves, and strong ones; these are 55 but switches to 'em.-I'll scratch your heads; You must be seeing christenings? Do you look for ale and cakes here, you rude rascals?

Man. Pray, sir, be patient; 'tis as much impossible

'Mr. Steevens says, "It was the custom, long before the time of Shakspeare, for the sponsors at christenings to offer gilt spoons as a present for the child. These spoons were called apostle spoons, because the figures of the apostles were carved on the tops of the handles. Such as were at once opulent and generous, gave the whole twelve; those who were either more moderately rich or liberal, escaped at the expence of the four evangelists; or even sometimes contented themselves with presenting one spoon only, which exhibited the figure of any saint in honour of whom the child received its name." The bear-garden of that time, and in a line with Bridewell.

(Unless

(Unless we sweepthem fromthedoor with cannons)
To scatter 'em, as 'tis to make 'em sleep
On May-day morning'; which will never be:
We may as well push against Paul's, as stir 'em.
Port. How got they in, and be hang'd?
Man. Alas, I know not; How gets the tide in?
As much as one sound cudgel of four foot
(You see the poor remainder) could distribute,
made no spare, sir.

Port. You did nothing, sir.

5

10

Man. I am not Sampson, nor Sir Guy, nor Colbrand2, tó mow 'em down before me: but, if] spar'd any, that had a head to hit, either young or old, he or she, cuckold or cuckold-maker, let me never hope to see a chine again; and that I would 15 not for a cow, God save her.

Within. Do you hear, master Porter? Port. I shall be with you presently, good master puppy. Keep the door close, sirrah.

(to endure. I have some of 'em in Limbo Patrum, and there they are like to dance these three days besides the running banquet of two beadles, that

20

Man. What would you have me do? Port. What should you do, but knock 'em down by the dozens? Is this Morefields to muster in? or have we some strange Indian with the great tool come to court, the women so besiege us? Bless me, what a cry of fornication is at door! 25 O' my christian conscience, this one christening will beget a thousand: here will be father, godfather, and all together.

is to come.

Enter the Lord Chamberlain.

Cham. Mercy o' nie, what a multitude are here!
They grow still too; from all parts theyare coming,
As if we kept a fair! Where are these porters,
These lazy knaves ?Ye have made a fine hand,
fellows.

There's a trim rabble let in: Are all these [have
Your faithful friends o' the suburbs? We shall
Great store of room, no doubt, left for the ladies,
When they pass back from the christening.

Port. Please your honour,

We are but men; and what so many may do,`
Not being torn a-pieces, we have done :
An army cannot rule 'em.

Man. The spoons will be the bigger, sir. There is a fellow somewhat near the door, he should be 30 a brasier by his face, for, o' my conscience, twenty of the dog-days now reign in's nose; all that stand about him are under the line, they need no other penance: that fire-drake did I hit three times on the head, and three times was his nose 35 discharg'd against me; he stands there like a mortar-piece,to blow us up. There was a haberdasher's wife of small wit near him, that rail'd upon me 'till her pink'd porringer fell off her head, for kindling such a combustion in the state. I miss'd 40 the meteor' once, and hit that woman, who cry'd out, clubs ! when I might see from far some forty trunchioneers draw to her succour, which were the hope of the strand, where she was quarter'd. They fell on; I made good my place; at length 45 they came to the broomstaff with me, I defy'd'em still; when suddenly a file of boys behind 'em, loose shot, deliver'd such a shower of pebbles, that 1 was fain to draw mine honour in, and let 'em winf the work: the devil was amongst 'em, I think, 50 surely.

Port.These are the youths thatthunder at a playhouse, and fight for bitten apples; that no audience, but the tribulation of Tower-hill', or the

Cham. As I live,

If the king blame me for 't, I'll lay ye all
By the heels, and suddenly; and on your heads
Clap round fines,for neglect: You are lazy knaves;
And here ye lie baiting of bumbards', when
Ye should do service. Hark, the trumpets sound;
They are come already from the christening:
Go, break among the press, and find a way out
To let the troop pass fairly; or I'll find
AMarshalsea,shall holdyou play thesetwo months.-
Port. Make way there for the princess!
Man. You great fellow, stand close up, or I'll
make your head ake.

Port. You i' the camblet, get up o'the rail; I'll
peck you o'er the pales else.
[Exeunt.

SCENE IV. The Palace. EnterTrumpets, sounding; then two Aldermen, Lord Major, Garter, Cranmer, Duke of Norfolk with his Marshal's staff, Duke of Suffolk, two Noblemen bearing two great standing bowls for the christening gifts; then four Noblemen bearing a canopy, under which the Dutchess of Norfolk, godmother, bearing the child richly Labited in a mantle, c. Train borne by a Lady: then follow the Marchioness of Dorset, the other godmother, and Ladies. The troop pass once about the stage, and Garter speaks.

Gar. Heaven, from thy endless goodness, send prosperous life, long, and ever happy, to the high and mighty princess of England, Elizabeth!

Flourish. Enter King, and Train. Cran. [Kneeling]. And to your royal grace, and the good queen,

4

My noble partners, and myself, thus pray;All comfort, joy, in this most gracious lady, limbs of Limehouse, their dear brothers, are able 55 Heaven ever laid up to make parents happy, It was anciently the custom for all ranks of people to go out a-maying on the first of May. 2 Of Guy of Warwick every one has heard.-Colbrand was the Danish giant, whom Guy subdued at Winchester. A brasier signifies a man that manufactures brass, and a reservoir for charcoal occasionally heated to convey warmth. Both these senses are here understood. A fire-drake is both a serpent, anciently called a brenning-drake, or dipsas, and a name formerly givento a Willo' th' Wisp, or ignis fatuus. A fire-drake was likewise an artificial firework. i.e. the brasier. The prices of seats for the vulgar in our ancient theatres were so very low (viz. a penny, two-pence, and six-pence, each, for the ground, gallery, and rooms:-the boxes were somewhat higher, being a shilling and half-a-crown), that we cannot wonder if they were filled with the tumultuous company described by Shakspeare in this scene; espe cially when it is added, that tobacco was smoaked, and ale drunk in them. "Dr. Johnson suspects the Tribulation to have been a puritanical meeting-house. A public whipping. To bait bumbards is to tipple, to lie at the spigot. Bumbards were large vessels in which the beer was carried to soldiers apon duty: they resembled black jacks of leather.

6

9

May

5

[As great in admiration as herself;

So shali she leave her blessedness to one,

(When heaven shall call her from this cloud of
darkness)

Who, from the sacred ashes of her honour,
Shall star-like rise, as great in fame as she was,
And so standfix'd: Peace,plenty,love,truth,terror,
That were the servants to this chosen infant,
Shall then be his, and like a vine grow to him;
10 Wherever the bright sun of heaven shall shine,
His honour, and the greatness of his name,
Shall be, and make new nations: He shall flourish,
And, like a mountain cedar, reach his branches
To all the plains about him:-Our children's chil-
Shall see this, and bless heaven.
[dren

For heaven now bids me; and the words I utter
Let none think flattery, for they'll find 'em truth.
This royal infant, (heaven still move about her!)15
Though in her cradle, yet now promises
Upon this land a thousand thousand blessings,
Which time shall bring to ripeness: She shall be
(But few now living can behold that goodness)
A pattern to all princes living with her,

King. Thou speakest wonders.]
Cran. She shall be, to the happiness of England,
An aged princess; many days shall see her,
And yet no day without a deed to crown it.
20 Would I had known no more! but she must die,
She must, the saints must have her ; yet a virgin,
A most unspotted lily shall she pass

And all that shall succeed: Sheba was never
More covetous of wisdom, and fair virtue,
Than this pure soul shall be: all princely graces,
That mould up such a mighty piece as this is,
With all the virtues that attend the good,
Shall still be doubled on her : truth shall nurse her,
Holy and heavenly thoughts still counsel her:
She shall be lov'd, and fear'd: Her own shall bless
Her foes shake like a field of beaten corn, [her,|
And hang their heads with sorrow: Good grows 30
with her:

To the ground, and all the world shall mourn her.
King. O lord archbishop,

25 Thou hast made me now a man; never, before
This happy child, did I get any thing:
This oracle of comfort has so pleas'd me,
That, when I am in heaven, I shall desire
Toseewhat this child does, andpraise my Maker.—
I thank ye all.-To you, my good lord mayor,
And your good brethen, I am much beholden;
I have receiv'd much honour by your presence,
And ye
shall find me thankful. Lead the way
lords-

In her days, every man shall eat in safety,
Under his own vine, what he plants; and sing
The merry songs of peace to all his neighbours:
God shall be truly known; and those about her 35
From her shall read the perfect way of honour,
And by those claim their greatness, not by blood.
[Nor shall this peacesleep with her: But as when
The bird of wonder dies, the maiden phœnix,
Her ashes new create another heir,

40

Ye must all see the queen, and she must thank ye,
She will be sick else. This day, no man think
He has business at his house; for all shall stay,
This little one shall make it holy-day.

[Exeunt

EPILOGUE.3

TIS ten to one this play can never please

All that are here: Some come to take their ease,
And sleep an act or two; but those, we fear,
We've frighted with our trumpets; 80, 'tis clear,
They'll say, 'tis naught: others, to hear the city
Abus'd extremely, and to cry,-that's witty!
Which we have not done neither: that, I fear,
All the expected good we are like to hear

For this play at this time, is only in
The merciful construction of good women;
For such a one we shew'd 'em: If they smile,
50 And say, 'twill do, I know, within a while
All the best men are ours; for 'tis ill hap,
If they hold, when their ladies bid 'em clap.

These lines, to the interruption by the king, seem to have been inserted at some revisal of the play, after the accession of king James. "Theobald remarks, that the transition here from the complimentary address to king James the first is so abrupt, that it seems to him, that compliment was inserted after the accession of that prince. If this play was written, as in his opinion it was, in the reign of queen Elizabeth, we may easily determine where Cranmer's eulogium of that princess concluded. He makes no question but the poet rested here:

And claim by those their greatness, not by blood.

All that the bishop says after this, was an occasional homage paid to her successor, and evidently inserted after her demise. Dr. Johnson is of opinion, with other Critics, that both the Prologue and Epilogue to Henry VIII. were written by Ben Jonson. In the character of Katharine.

CORIOLANUS.