A C T I.

SCENE, An Antechamber in the Palace.

Enter the Duke of Norfolk, at one door: at the other, the Duke of Buckingham, and the Lord Aberga

venny.

G

BUCKINGHAM.

OOD morrow, and well met. How have you done,

Since laft we faw in France?

Nor. I thank your Grace:

Healthful, and ever fince a fresh admirer
Of what I faw there.

Buck. An untimely ague

Staid me a prifoner in my chamber, when
Thofe funs of glory, thofe two lights of men,
Met in the vale of Arde.

Nor. 'Twixt Guynes and Arde:

I was then prefent, faw 'em falute on horse-back,
Beheld them when they lighted, how they clung

In their embracement, as they grew together;
Which had they, what four thron'd ones could have
Such a compounded one?
Buck. All the whole time,
I was my chamber's prifoner.
Nor. Then you loft

(weigh'd

The view of earthly glory: men might say,
'Till this time Pomp was fingle, but now marry'd
To one above it self. Each following day
Became the next day's mafter, '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,
Shew'd like a mine. Their dwarfish pages were
As Cherubins, all gilt; the Madams too,
Not us'd to toil, did almoft fweat to bear
The pride upon them; that their very labour
Was to them as a painting. Now this mask
Was cry'd, incomparable; and th' enfuing night
Made it a fool and beggar. The two Kings,
Equal in luftre, were now beft, now worst,
As prefence did present them; him in eye,
Still him in praife; and being present both,
'Twas faid, they faw but one; and no difcerner
Durft wag his tongue in cenfure. When thefe funs
(For fo they phrafe 'em) by their heralds challeng'd
The noble fpirits to arms, they did perform
Beyond thought's compafs; that old fabulous story
(Being now feen poffible enough) got credit;
That Bevis was believ'd.

Buck. Oh, you go far.,

Nor. As I belong to worship, and affect In honour, honesty; the tract of every thing Would by a good difcourfer lofe fome life, Which Action's felf was tongue to. All was royal; (3)

Ta

+ The old romantic legend of Bevis of Southampton.

(3) Which Action's felf was Tongue to. Buck. All was royal.

B-M

To the diffofing of it Nought rebelled

Order

To the difpofing of it nought rebell'd;
Order gave each thing view: The office did
Diftinctly his full function.

Buck. Who did guide,

I mean, who set the body and the limbs
Of this great sport together, as you guess?
Nor. One, fure, that promifes no element
In fuch a bufinefs.

Buck. Pray you, who, my lord?

Nor. All this was order'd by the good difcretion
Of the right rev'rend Cardinal of York.

Buck. The devil speed him! no man's pye is freed
From his ambitious finger. What had he
To do in these fierce vanities? I wonder,
That fuch a ketch can with his very bulk
Take up
the rays o'th' beneficial fun,
And keep it from the earth.
Nor. Yet, furely, Sir,

There's in him stuff that puts him to these ends.
For being not propt by ancestry, whofe grace
Chalks fucceffors their way; nor call'd upon
For high feats done to th' Crown; neither ally'd
To eminent affiftants; but spider like
Out of his felf-drawn web;- this gives us note,
The force of his own merit makes his way;
A gift that heaven gives for him, which buys
A place next to the King.

Aber. I cannot tell

What heav'n hath giv'n him; let fome graver eye
Pierce into that but I can fee his pride

Peep through each part of him; whence has he that? (4)
If

A 4

Order gave each Thing View. The Office did
Diftinctly his full Function. Who did, &c.]

Thus hitherto thefe Speeches have been regulated: but, I think, mistak-
ingly. Buckingham could not with any Propriety fay This; for he wanted
Information as to the Magnificence, having kept his Chamber with an
Ague during the Solemnity. I have therefore ventur'd to split the
Speeches, fo as to give them Probability, from the Persons speaking;
without hazarding the Author's Senfe by this new Regulation.

(4)

whence has he that,

If not from hell? the Devil] Thus has this Paffage been pointed in all

the

If not from hell, the devil is a niggard,
Or has given all before; and he begins
A new hell in himself.

Buck. Why the devil,

Upon this French going out, took he upon him,
Without the privity o'th' King, t'appoint
Who fhould attend him? he makes up the file
Of all the gentry: for the moft part fuch,
To whom as great a charge as little honour
He meant to lay upon And his own letter
(The honourable board of council out)
Muft fetch in him he papers.

Aber. I do know

Kinsmen of mine, three at the least, that have
By this fo ficken'd their eftates, that never
They shall abound as formerly.

Buck. O, many

Have broke their backs with laying mannors on 'em
For this great journey. What did this vanity
But minifter communication of
A moft poor iffue?

Nor. Grievingly, I think,

The peace between the French and us not values
The coft, that did conclude it.

Buck. Every man,

After the hideous ftorm that follow'd, was
A thing infpir'd; and not confulting, broke
Into a general prophefie, that this tempeft,
Dafhing the garment of this peace, aboaded
The fudden breach on't.

Nor. Which is budded out:

For France hath flaw'd the league, and hath attach'd
Our merchants goods at Bourdeaux.

Aber. Is it therefore.

Th' ambaffador is filenc'd?
Nor. Marry, is't.

the Editions; but the very Inference, which is made upon it, directs the Stops as I have regulated them; and as Mr. Warburton likewise communicated to Me, they fhould be.

Aber.

Aber. A proper title of a peace, and purchas'd At a fuperfluous rate!

Buck. Why all this business
Our rev'rend Cardinal carried.
Nor. 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 tow'rds you
Honour and plenteous fafety ;) that you read
The Cardinal's malice and his potency
Together: to confider further, that
What his high hatred would effect, wants not
A minifter in his pow'r. You know his nature,
That he's revengeful; and, I know, his fword
Hath a fharp edge: it's long, and't may be faid,
It reaches far; and where 'twill not extend,
Thither he darts it. Bofom up my counsel,
You'll find it wholefome. Lo, where comes that rock,
That I advise your shunning.

Enter Cardinal Wolfey, the purfe born before him, certain of the guard, and two fecretaries with papers; the Cardinal in his passage fixeth his eye on Buckingham, and Buckingham on him, both full of difdain.

Wol. The Duke of Buckingham's furveyor? ha? Where's his examination ?

Secr. Here, so please you.

Wol. Is he in perfon ready?
Secr. Ay, an't please your Grace.
Wol. Well, we fhall then know more;

And Buckingham fhall leffen this big look.

[Exeunt Cardinal and his train. Buck. This butcher's cur is venom-mouth'd, and I Have not the pow'r to muzzle him; therefore best Not wake him in his flumber. A beggar's book Out-worths a noble's blood.

Nor. What, are you chaf'd?

Ask God for temp'rance; that's th'appliance only,
Which your disease requires.

Buck.