The force of his own merit makes his

way;

A gift that heaven gives for him, which buys
A place next to the king.

What heaven hath given him; let some graver eye

65

Pierce into that; but I can see his pride

Peep through each part of him: whence has he that?

If not from hell, the devil is a niggard,

70

Buck.

Or has given all before, and he begins.
A new hell in himself.

Why the devil,

Upon this French going out, took he upon him,

Without the privity o' the king, to 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 honour
He meant to lay upon: and his own letter,
The honourable board of council out,

Must fetch him in he papers.

Kinsmen of mine, three at the least, that have
By this so sicken'd their estates that never

They shall abound as formerly.

Have broke their backs with laying manors on 'em

O! it gives us note Singer. web,—O!

give us note!- Knight. web. O! this gives us note, Hunter conj. web,— Oh, give it note! Keightley.

65. gives for him, which buys] gives, which for him buys Hanmer. gives; which buys for him Warburton. gives to him, which buys Johnson conj. has given him buys for him Hunter conj. gives him, and which buys Collier MS. gives: for him which buys Jervis conj. 69, 70. that?......hell,] Theobald (Warburton). that,...hell? Ff.

72. himself] himself now Keightley. Why] But why Hanmer. And

why Capell.

76, 77. such To whom] such On

75

80

For this great journey. What did this vanity
But minister communication of

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

Every man,

Buck.
After the hideous storm that follow'd, was
A thing inspired, and not consulting broke
Into a general prophecy: That this tempest,
Dashing the garment of this peace, aboded
The sudden breach on't.

Nor.

Which is budded out;

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

The ambassador is silenced?

Aber.

Nor.

Is it therefore

Marry, is't.

Aber. A proper title of a peace, and purchased

At a superfluous rate!

Buck.

Our reverend cardinal carried.

Nor.

Why, all this business

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
Honour and plenteous safety-that you read
The 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
Hath a sharp edge; it's long and 't may be said
It reaches far, and where 'twill not extend,

85. What] And what Capell conj. vanity] great vanity Rowe (ed. 2). 86. communication] the consummation Collier MS. consummation Collier (ed. 2).

96. Bourdeaux] F4. Burdeux F1,

Burdeaux F2F 3.
98. a peace] peace F4.

100.

103.

Like it] Like 't Hanmer.
towards you] F..

your F2F3F4. you Pope.

towards

107. effect affect Rowe (ed. 2).

Thither he darts it. Bosom up my counsel;

You'll find it wholesome. Lo, where comes that rock
That I advise your shunning.

Enter 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 BUCKINGHAM, and BUCKINGHAM on
him, both full of disdain.

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

First Sec.

Here, so please you.

Wol. Is he in person ready?

Ay, please your grace.

First Sec.
Wol. Well, we shall then know more; and Buckingham
Shall lessen this big look. [Exeunt Wolsey and his Train.
Buck. This butcher's cur is venom-mouth'd, and I
Have not the power to muzzle him; therefore best
Not wake him in his slumber. A beggar's book
Outworths a noble's blood.

Nor.

What, are you chafed?

Ask God for temperance; that's the appliance only
Which your disease requires.

Buck.

I read in's looks

Matter against me, and his eye reviled

Me as his abject object: at this instant

He bores me with some trick: he's gone to the king;
I'll follow and outstare him.

And let your reason with your choler question
What 'tis you go about: to climb steep hills

115

I 20

125

130

Requires slow pace at first: anger is like
A full-hot horse, who being allow'd his way,
Self-mettle tires him. Not a man in England
Can advise me like you: be to yourself

As you would to your friend.

Buck.

I'll to the king;

And from a mouth of honour quite cry down
This Ipswich fellow's insolence, or proclaim
There's difference in no persons.

Nor.

Be advised;
Heat not a furnace for your foe so hot
That it do singe yourself: we may outrun,
By violent swiftness, that which we run at,
And lose by over-running. Know you not,
The fire that mounts the liquor till't run o'er

135

140

In seeming to augment it wastes it? Be advised:
I say again, there is no English soul

145

More stronger to direct you than yourself,

If with the sap of reason you would quench,
Or but allay, the fire of passion.

Buck.

Sir,

I am thankful to you; and I'll go along

150

By 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

To be corrupt and treasonous.

Nor.

Say not 'treasonous.'

Buck. To the 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

As he is subtle, and as prone to mischief

133. full-hot] F4. full hot FF2F3. 143. by] by our F4.

145. In seeming to] Seeming t S. Walker conj.

147. More] om. Pope, ending 145, 146 at be...English.

154. July] Inly F..

when] where Long MS. 159-162. for...reciprocally] Put in parentheses by Capell. (for......perlines_form't)...reciprocally, Ff.

152. name] blame Johnson conj.

159. ravenous] ray'nous F2.

155

160

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
To this last costly treaty, the interview,

That swallow'd so much treasure, and like a glass
Did break i' the rinsing.

Buck. Pray, give me favour, sir. This cunning cardinal The articles o' the combination drew

As himself pleased; and they were ratified

As he cried 'Thus let be,' to as much end

As give a crutch to the dead: but our count-cardinal
Has done this, and 'tis well; for worthy Wolsey,
Who cannot err, he did it. Now this follows-
Which, as I take it, is a kind of puppy

165

170

175

To the old dam, treason-Charles the emperor,
Under pretence to see the queen his aunt—
For 'twas indeed his colour, but he came
To 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
Peep'd harms that menaced him: he privily
Deals with our cardinal; and, as I trow-
Which I do well, for I am sure the emperor

180

185

Paid ere he promised; whereby his suit was granted
Ere it was ask'd-but when the way was made
And paved with gold, the emperor thus desired,
That he would please to alter the king's course
And break the foresaid peace. Let the king know,
As soon he shall by me, that thus the cardinal
Does buy and sell his honour as he pleases

And for his own advantage.

190