King Henry VIII | Page 5

garment of this peace, aboded The
sudden breach on't.
NORFOLK. Which is budded out; For France hath flaw'd the league,
and hath attach'd Our merchants' goods at Bordeaux.
ABERGAVENNY. Is it therefore The ambassador is silenc'd?
NORFOLK. Marry, is't.
ABERGAVENNY. A proper title of a peace, and purchas'd At a
superfluous rate!
BUCKINGHAM. Why, all this business Our reverend Cardinal carried.
NORFOLK. 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 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, 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.]
WOLSEY. The Duke of Buckingham's surveyor, ha? Where's his
examination?
SECRETARY. Here, so please you.
WOLSEY. Is he in person ready?
SECRETARY. Ay, please your Grace.
WOLSEY. Well, we shall then know more; and Buckingham Shall
lessen this big look.
[Exeunt Wolsey and his train.]
BUCKINGHAM. 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.
NORFOLK. What, are you chaf'd? Ask God for temp'rance; that's the
appliance only Which your disease requires.
BUCKINGHAM. I read in 's looks Matter against me, and his eye
revil'd 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.
NORFOLK. Stay, my lord, And let your reason with your choler
question What 'tis you go about. To climb steep hills 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.
BUCKINGHAM. 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.
NORFOLK. Be advis'd; 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, In seeming to augment it wastes it? Be advis'd.
I say again, there is no English soul More stronger to direct you than
yourself, If with the sap of reason you would quench, Or but allay, the
fire of passion.
BUCKINGHAM. Sir, I am thankful to you; and I'll go along 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.
NORFOLK. Say not "treasonous."
BUCKINGHAM. 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 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
swallowed so much treasure, and like a glass Did break i' the rinsing.
NORFOLK. Faith, and so it did.
BUCKINGHAM. Pray, give me favour, sir. This cunning Cardinal The
articles o' the combination drew As himself pleas'd; 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 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 menac'd him. He privily Deals with our Cardinal; and, as I trow,--
Which I do