Original Text |
Translated Text |
| Source: Folger Shakespeare Library |
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Enter the Duke of Norfolk at one door; at the other, the
Duke of Buckingham and the Lord Abergavenny. BUCKINGHAM
Good morrow, and well met. How have you done
Since last we saw in France? NORFOLK I thank your Grace,
Healthful, and ever since a fresh admirer
Of what I saw there. 5 BUCKINGHAM An untimely ague
Stayed me a prisoner in my chamber when
Those suns of glory, those two lights of men,
Met in the vale of Andren. NORFOLK ’Twixt Guynes and Arde. 10
I was then present, saw them salute on horseback,
Beheld them when they lighted, how they clung
In their embracement, as they grew together—
Which had they, what four throned ones could have
weighed 15
Such a compounded one? BUCKINGHAM All the whole time
I was my chamber’s prisoner. NORFOLK Then you lost
The view of earthly glory. Men might say 20
Till this time pomp was single, but now married
To one above itself. Each following day
Became the next day’s master, till the last
Made former wonders its. Today the French,
All clinquant, all in gold, like heathen gods, 25
Shone down the English, and tomorrow they
Made Britain India: every man that stood
Showed like a mine. Their dwarfish pages were
As cherubins, all gilt. The madams too,
Not used to toil, did almost sweat to bear 30
The pride upon them, that their very labor
Was to them as a painting. Now this masque
Was cried incomparable; and th’ ensuing night
Made it a fool and beggar. The two kings,
Equal in luster, were now best, now worst, 35
As presence did present them: him in eye
Still him in praise; and being present both,
’Twas said they saw but one, and no discerner
Durst wag his tongue in censure. When these suns—
For so they phrase ’em—by their heralds challenged 40
The noble spirits to arms, they did perform
Beyond thought’s compass, that former fabulous story,
Being now seen possible enough, got credit
That Bevis was believed. BUCKINGHAM O, you go far. 45 NORFOLK
As I belong to worship, and affect
In honor honesty, the tract of everything
Would by a good discourser lose some life
Which action’s self was tongue to. All was royal;
To the disposing of it naught rebelled. 50
Order gave each thing view. The office did
Distinctly his full function. | Norfolk, Buckingham, and Abergavenny all greet one another. Buckingham asks Norfolk how he's been since they last saw each other in France. Last time they hung out, Buckingham had a fever and had to stay in his tent while everyone else was partying. The king of England and the king of France put on a show for everyone. It was a-freakin'-mazing. |
BUCKINGHAM Who did guide,
I mean who set the body and the limbs
Of this great sport together, as you guess? 55 NORFOLK
One, certes, that promises no element
In such a business. BUCKINGHAM I pray you who, my lord? NORFOLK
All this was ordered by the good discretion
Of the right reverend Cardinal of York. 60 BUCKINGHAM
The devil speed him! No man’s pie is freed
From his ambitious finger. What had he
To do in these fierce vanities? I wonder
That such a keech can with his very bulk
Take up the rays o’ th’ beneficial sun 65
And keep it from the Earth. | Naturally, Buckingham wants to know the party planner's name. It sounds so cool. Norfolk tells him it was Cardinal Wolsey who planned the whole thing. He did what? Buckingham goes off the handle at this news. He thinks Wolsey is "ambitious" and a "devil," and he wants nothing to do with the guy. |
NORFOLK Surely, sir,
There’s in him stuff that puts him to these ends;
For, being not propped by ancestry, whose grace
Chalks successors their way, nor called upon 70
For high feats done to th’ crown, neither allied
To eminent assistants, but spiderlike,
Out of his self-drawing web, he gives us note
The force of his own merit makes his way—
A gift that heaven gives for him which buys 75
A place next to the King. ABERGAVENNY I cannot tell
What heaven hath given him—let some graver eye
Pierce into that—but I can see his pride
Peep through each part of him. Whence has he that 80
If not from hell, the devil is a niggard,
Or has given all before, and he begins
A new hell in himself. | Norfolk doesn't agree. He defends Wolsey and thinks the dude was just planning a fun time. But Abergavenny takes Buckingham's side: Wolsey is way too extravagant with money, he says. In fact, his lavish ways have cost a lot of nobles… literally. People have to sell their homes to keep up with Wolsey. It's not fair. |
BUCKINGHAM Why the devil,
Upon this French going-out, took he upon him, 85
Without the privity o’ th’ King, t’ 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 honor
He meant to lay upon; and his own letter, 90
The honorable board of council out,
Must fetch him in he papers. ABERGAVENNY I do know
Kinsmen of mine, three at the least, that have
By this so sickened their estates that never 95
They shall abound as formerly. BUCKINGHAM O, many
Have broke their backs with laying manors on ’em
For this great journey. What did this vanity
But minister communication of 100
A most poor issue? | Why is Wolsey so hell-bent on burning through the dough? He wants to
make sure England stays on par with France, so he's spending money left
and right to keep up appearances—and, more importantly, to keep the
peace with them. If France thinks they have more money and resources
than England, then who knows what could happen? |
NORFOLK Grievingly I think
The peace between the French and us not values
The cost that did conclude it. BUCKINGHAM Every man, 105
After the hideous storm that followed, 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. 110 NORFOLK Which is budded out,
For France hath flawed the league and hath attached
Our merchants’ goods at Bordeaux. ABERGAVENNY Is it therefore
Th’ ambassador is silenced? 115 NORFOLK Marry, is ’t. ABERGAVENNY
A proper title of a peace, and purchased
At a superfluous rate! BUCKINGHAM Why, all this business
Our reverend cardinal carried. 120 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
Honor and plenteous safety—that you read 125
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 130
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. 135 | After listening to his two pals, Norfolk agrees that peace with France
is coming at a pretty penny… but he also warns them not to go against
the Cardinal: he's dangerous and malicious. Don't say they weren't
warned. |
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, aside to a Secretary
The Duke of Buckingham’s surveyor, ha?
Where’s his examination? SECRETARY Here, so please you.
He hands Wolsey a paper. WOLSEY
Is he in person ready? SECRETARY Ay, please your Grace. 140 WOLSEY
Well, we shall then know more, and Buckingham
Shall lessen this big look. Cardinal Wolsey and his train exit. | Just then, Wolsey enters and gets right to business. He wants to know if
Buckingham's land surveyor is ready to witness against Buckingham. With
that, Wolsey leaves as quickly as he arrived. |
BUCKINGHAM
This butcher’s cur is venomed-mouthed, and I
Have not the power to muzzle him; therefore best
Not wake him in his slumber. A beggar’s book 145
Outworths a noble’s blood. NORFOLK What, are you chafed?
Ask God for temp’rance. That’s th’ appliance only
Which your disease requires. BUCKINGHAM I read in ’s looks 150
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 th’ King.
I’ll follow and outstare him. | This doesn't sit too well with Buckingham: he thinks Wolsey is up to
something. He does have the king's ear, so he's probably off talking
smack about Buckingham to the king. |
NORFOLK Stay, my lord, 155
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 allowed his way,
Self-mettle tires him. Not a man in England 160
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 honor quite cry down
This Ipswich fellow’s insolence, or proclaim 165
There’s difference in no persons. NORFOLK 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 170
And lose by overrunning. Know you not
The fire that mounts the liquor till ’t run o’er
In seeming to augment it wastes it? Be advised.
I say again there is no English soul
More stronger to direct you than yourself, 175
If with the sap of reason you would quench
Or but allay the fire of passion. | Norfolk tells Buckingham to cool it. He doesn't want to act out of anger. |
BUCKINGHAM Sir,
I am thankful to you, and I’ll go along
By your prescription. But this top-proud fellow— 180
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. 185 NORFOLK Say not “treasonous.” BUCKINGHAM
To th’ 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 rav’nous
As he is subtle, and as prone to mischief 190
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, th’ interview 195
That swallowed so much treasure and like a glass
Did break i’ th’ rinsing. NORFOLK Faith, and so it did. BUCKINGHAM
Pray give me favor, sir. This cunning cardinal
The articles o’ th’ combination drew 200
As himself pleased; and they were ratified
As he cried “Thus let be,” to as much end
As give a crutch to th’ dead. But our Count Cardinal
Has done this, and ’tis well, for worthy Wolsey,
Who cannot err, he did it. Now this follows— 205
Which, as I take it, is a kind of puppy
To th’ old dam treason: Charles the Emperor,
Under pretense to see the Queen his aunt—
For ’twas indeed his color, but he came
To whisper Wolsey—here makes visitation; 210
His fears were that the interview betwixt
England and France might through their amity
Breed him some prejudice, for from this league
Peeped harms that menaced him; privily
Deals with our cardinal and, as I trow— 215
Which I do well, for I am sure the Emperor
Paid ere he promised, whereby his suit was granted
Ere it was asked. But when the way was made
And paved with gold, the Emperor thus desired
That he would please to alter the King’s course 220
And break the foresaid peace. Let the King know—
As soon he shall by me—that thus the Cardinal
Does buy and sell his honor as he pleases
And for his own advantage. NORFOLK I am sorry 225
To hear this of him, and could wish he were
Something mistaken in ’t. BUCKINGHAM No, not a syllable.
I do pronounce him in that very shape
He shall appear in proof. 230 | When Buckingham calms down, he still thinks Wolsey is bad news. He then goes through a laundry list of Wolsey's mistakes: he's just out to help himself; he deals with Charles V (King of Spain) behind the king's back; he's clumsy and unfair; oh, and did Buckingham mention that Wolsey sells honor to the highest bidder? Norfolk thinks there must be some mistake. How could Wolsey do all those things? Still, Buckingham insists that that's what's going down. |
Enter Brandon, a Sergeant-at-Arms before him, and two
or three of the Guard. BRANDON
Your office, Sergeant: execute it. SERGEANT, to Buckingham Sir,
My lord the Duke of Buckingham and Earl
Of Hertford, Stafford, and Northampton, I
Arrest thee of high treason, in the name 235
Of our most sovereign king. BUCKINGHAM, to Norfolk Lo you, my lord,
The net has fall’n upon me. I shall perish
Under device and practice. BRANDON I am sorry 240
To see you ta’en from liberty, to look on
The business present. ’Tis his Highness’ pleasure
You shall to th’ Tower. | Before the men can talk any further, Brandon enters with orders to
arrest Buckingham. The change? High treason. Buckingham knows it's a
waste of his breath to plead innocent and promises to follow God's will
instead. |
BUCKINGHAM It will help me nothing
To plead mine innocence, for that dye is on me 245
Which makes my whit’st part black. The will of heaven
Be done in this and all things. I obey.
O my Lord Abergavenny, fare you well. BRANDON
Nay, he must bear you company.—The King
Is pleased you shall to th’ Tower, till you know 250
How he determines further. ABERGAVENNY As the Duke said,
The will of heaven be done, and the King’s pleasure
By me obeyed. BRANDON Here is a warrant from 255
The King t’ attach Lord Mountacute, and the bodies
Of the Duke’s confessor, John de la Car,
One Gilbert Peck, his counselor— BUCKINGHAM So, so;
These are the limbs o’ th’ plot. No more, I hope. 260 BRANDON
A monk o’ th’ Chartreux. BUCKINGHAM O, Michael Hopkins? BRANDON He. BUCKINGHAM
My surveyor is false. The o’ergreat cardinal
Hath showed him gold. My life is spanned already. 265
I am the shadow of poor Buckingham,
Whose figure even this instant cloud puts on
By dark’ning my clear sun. To Norfolk. My lord,
farewell. They exit. | Buckingham says goodbye to Abergavenny, but Brandon arrests Abergavenny, too. And he's only getting started—he's got a list of names to get through by lunch. Buckingham tells Norfolk that this is Wolsey's doing and bids him farewell. He's already his own shadow. |