Original Text |
Translated Text |
| Source: Folger Shakespeare Library |
|
Enter the Duke of Norfolk, Duke of Suffolk, Lord Surrey,
and Lord Chamberlain. NORFOLK
If you will now unite in your complaints
And force them with a constancy, the Cardinal
Cannot stand under them. If you omit
The offer of this time, I cannot promise
But that you shall sustain more new disgraces 5
With these you bear already. SURREY I am joyful
To meet the least occasion that may give me
Remembrance of my father-in-law the Duke,
To be revenged on him. 10 SUFFOLK Which of the peers
Have uncontemned gone by him, or at least
Strangely neglected? When did he regard
The stamp of nobleness in any person
Out of himself? 15 | Norfolk, Suffolk, Surrey, and Lord Chamberlain have a little meeting about Wolsey: he's become a problem, and they know it. They're just not sure what to do about it. Norfolk wants to present a united front. He thinks that Wolsey can't deny all their complaints if they join up. |
CHAMBERLAIN My lords, you speak your pleasures;
What he deserves of you and me I know;
What we can do to him—though now the time
Gives way to us—I much fear. If you cannot
Bar his access to th’ King, never attempt 20
Anything on him, for he hath a witchcraft
Over the King in ’s tongue. NORFOLK O, fear him not.
His spell in that is out. The King hath found
Matter against him that forever mars 25
The honey of his language. No, he’s settled,
Not to come off, in his displeasure. | Lord Chamberlain doesn't know if that will work. Wolsey's got private access to the king, so he can explain away anything he does when he's alone with Henry. They need to get Wolsey away from the king if they want to have a chance. Norfolk isn't so worried about that. Henry is already ticked at Wolsey; the divorce proceedings have shed some light on some of Wolsey's wheeling and dealing. |
SURREY Sir,
I should be glad to hear such news as this
Once every hour. 30 NORFOLK Believe it, this is true.
In the divorce his contrary proceedings
Are all unfolded, wherein he appears
As I would wish mine enemy. SURREY How came 35
His practices to light? SUFFOLK Most strangely. SURREY O, how, how? SUFFOLK
The Cardinal’s letters to the Pope miscarried
And came to th’ eye o’ th’ King, wherein was read 40
How that the Cardinal did entreat his Holiness
To stay the judgment o’ th’ divorce; for if
It did take place, “I do,” quoth he, “perceive
My king is tangled in affection to
A creature of the Queen’s, Lady Anne Bullen.” 45 | Suffolk fills us in on the deets: Henry found Wolsey's letters to the Pope. In them, Wolsey asked the Pope to deny Henry's right to divorce Katherine until he gets over Anne. Uh oh. This might explain why the Lord Chamberlain heard that Henry had already married Anne; it would mean that Henry had gone ahead with his own plans since Wolsey was double-crossing him. |
SURREY
Has the King this? SUFFOLK Believe it. SURREY Will this work? CHAMBERLAIN
The King in this perceives him how he coasts
And hedges his own way. But in this point 50
All his tricks founder, and he brings his physic
After his patient’s death: the King already
Hath married the fair lady. SURREY Would he had! SUFFOLK
May you be happy in your wish, my lord, 55
For I profess you have it. SURREY Now, all my joy
Trace the conjunction! SUFFOLK My amen to ’t. NORFOLK All men’s. 60 SUFFOLK
There’s order given for her coronation.
Marry, this is yet but young and may be left
To some ears unrecounted. But, my lords,
She is a gallant creature and complete
In mind and feature. I persuade me, from her 65
Will fall some blessing to this land which shall
In it be memorized. | Suffolk thinks this is good news, because Anne is virtuous. He's also heard that Cranmer will be back soon, and then Henry will officially announce his new bride. He'll also give Katherine the title "Princess Dowager." She's the widow of his brother, so it's only fitting. |
SURREY But will the King
Digest this letter of the Cardinal’s?
The Lord forbid! 70 NORFOLK Marry, amen! SUFFOLK No, no.
There be more wasps that buzz about his nose
Will make this sting the sooner. Cardinal Campeius
Is stol’n away to Rome, hath ta’en no leave, 75
Has left the cause o’ th’ King unhandled, and
Is posted as the agent of our cardinal
To second all his plot. I do assure you
The King cried “Ha!” at this. CHAMBERLAIN Now God incense him, 80
And let him cry “Ha!” louder. NORFOLK But, my lord,
When returns Cranmer? SUFFOLK
He is returned in his opinions, which
Have satisfied the King for his divorce, 85
Together with all famous colleges
Almost in Christendom. Shortly, I believe,
His second marriage shall be published, and
Her coronation. Katherine no more
Shall be called queen, but princess dowager 90
And widow to Prince Arthur. NORFOLK This same Cranmer’s
A worthy fellow, and hath ta’en much pain
In the King’s business. SUFFOLK He has, and we shall see him 95
For it an archbishop. NORFOLK So I hear. SUFFOLK ’Tis so. | That was a lot of gossip to get through, but now the men are all caught
up. They agree that Cranmer is a worthy guy, and that things are looking
up. |
Enter Wolsey and Cromwell, meeting. The Cardinal! NORFOLK
Observe, observe; he’s moody. They stand aside. 100 WOLSEY The packet, Cromwell;
Gave ’t you the King? CROMWELL To his own hand, in ’s bedchamber. WOLSEY
Looked he o’ th’ inside of the paper? CROMWELL Presently 105
He did unseal them, and the first he viewed,
He did it with a serious mind; a heed
Was in his countenance. You he bade
Attend him here this morning. WOLSEY Is he ready 110
To come abroad? CROMWELL I think by this he is. WOLSEY Leave me awhile. Cromwell exits.
Aside. It shall be to the Duchess of Alençon,
The French king’s sister; he shall marry her. 115
Anne Bullen? No, I’ll no Anne Bullens for him.
There’s more in ’t than fair visage. Bullen?
No, we’ll no Bullens. Speedily I wish
To hear from Rome. The Marchioness of Pembroke! NORFOLK
He’s discontented. 120 SUFFOLK Maybe he hears the King
Does whet his anger to him. SURREY Sharp enough,
Lord, for thy justice! WOLSEY, aside
The late queen’s gentlewoman, a knight’s daughter, 125
To be her mistress’ mistress? The Queen’s queen?
This candle burns not clear. ’Tis I must snuff it;
Then out it goes. What though I know her virtuous
And well-deserving? Yet I know her for
A spleeny Lutheran, and not wholesome to 130
Our cause that she should lie i’ th’ bosom of
Our hard-ruled king. Again, there is sprung up
An heretic, an arch-one, Cranmer, one
Hath crawled into the favor of the King
And is his oracle. 135 NORFOLK He is vexed at something. SURREY
I would ’twere something that would fret the string,
The master-cord on ’s heart. SUFFOLK The King, the King! | That's when Wolsey and Cromwell enter. Norfolk notices that Wolsey is moody: he's asking Cromwell about his letters, and then he asks to be left alone. He tells us that Henry will marry the French king's sister, and that this Anne business is just a whim. How can Wolsey get rid of Anne? Well, he'll say she's of the wrong religion—she's Lutheran. That ought to work. Wolsey tells us how much he hates that Cranmer has such favor with the king. The other men are still watching Wolsey, and Suffolk thinks that Wolsey is annoyed about something. |
Enter King, reading of a schedule, with Lovell
and Attendants. KING
What piles of wealth hath he accumulated 140
To his own portion! And what expense by th’ hour
Seems to flow from him! How i’ th’ name of thrift
Does he rake this together? Seeing the nobles. Now,
my lords,
Saw you the Cardinal? 145 NORFOLK, indicating Wolsey My lord, we have
Stood here observing him. Some strange commotion
Is in his brain. He bites his lip, and starts,
Stops on a sudden, looks upon the ground,
Then lays his finger on his temple, straight 150
Springs out into fast gait, then stops again,
Strikes his breast hard, and anon he casts
His eye against the moon. In most strange postures
We have seen him set himself. | Henry enters, ticked off at all the wealth Wolsey has. He asks the men
if they've seen the Wolsey, and Norfolk says they have… but he's in a
really weird mood, so the king should beware. |
KING It may well be 155
There is a mutiny in ’s mind. This morning
Papers of state he sent me to peruse,
As I required, and wot you what I found?
There—on my conscience, put unwittingly—
Forsooth, an inventory, thus importing 160
The several parcels of his plate, his treasure,
Rich stuffs and ornaments of household, which
I find at such proud rate that it outspeaks
Possession of a subject. NORFOLK It’s heaven’s will! 165
Some spirit put this paper in the packet
To bless your eye withal. KING, studying Wolsey If we did think
His contemplation were above the Earth
And fixed on spiritual object, he should still 170
Dwell in his musings, but I am afraid
His thinkings are below the moon, not worth
His serious considering. King takes his seat, whispers Lovell,
who goes to the Cardinal. | Henry figures that Wolsey is in a bad mood because he's misplaced a bunch of his papers. |
WOLSEY Heaven forgive me!
Ever God bless your Highness. 175 KING Good my lord,
You are full of heavenly stuff and bear the inventory
Of your best graces in your mind, the which
You were now running o’er. You have scarce time
To steal from spiritual leisure a brief span 180
To keep your earthly audit. Sure, in that
I deem you an ill husband, and am glad
To have you therein my companion. WOLSEY Sir,
For holy offices I have a time; a time 185
To think upon the part of business which
I bear i’ th’ state; and Nature does require
Her times of preservation, which perforce
I, her frail son, amongst my brethren mortal,
Must give my tendance to. 190 | Henry summons Wolsey and calls him a bad domestic manager: he must be too busy with praying and other spiritual stuff to worry about things here on earth. Don't worry, Wolsey replies. He can do cover both the spiritual and the earthly business. |
KING You have said well. WOLSEY
And ever may your Highness yoke together,
As I will lend you cause, my doing well
With my well saying. KING ’Tis well said again, 195
And ’tis a kind of good deed to say well.
And yet words are no deeds. My father loved you;
He said he did, and with his deed did crown
His word upon you. Since I had my office
I have kept you next my heart, have not alone 200
Employed you where high profits might come home,
But pared my present havings to bestow
My bounties upon you. WOLSEY, aside What should this mean? SURREY, aside
The Lord increase this business! 205 KING Have I not made you
The prime man of the state? I pray you tell me
If what I now pronounce you have found true;
And, if you may confess it, say withal
If you are bound to us or no. What say you? 210 | Excellent, says Henry. Then he gives us some backstory: his dad really loved Wolsey, and it was his dad who hired the guy. Since Henry has been king, he's been nice to Wolsey. It's clear that Henry isn't just interested in Wolsey's hiring process, but we're not sure what he's getting at. Neither is Wolsey, who mutters about his confusion to himself. Henry continues, this time trying to get Wolsey to admit that he's the king's number one guy, his right-hand man, and his most trusted adviser. |
WOLSEY
My sovereign, I confess your royal graces,
Showered on me daily, have been more than could
My studied purposes requite, which went
Beyond all man’s endeavors. My endeavors
Have ever come too short of my desires, 215
Yet filed with my abilities. Mine own ends
Have been mine so, that evermore they pointed
To th’ good of your most sacred person and
The profit of the state. For your great graces
Heaped upon me, poor undeserver, I 220
Can nothing render but allegiant thanks,
My prayers to heaven for you, my loyalty,
Which ever has and ever shall be growing
Till death—that winter—kill it. KING Fairly answered. 225
A loyal and obedient subject is
Therein illustrated. The honor of it
Does pay the act of it, as, i’ th’ contrary,
The foulness is the punishment. I presume
That, as my hand has opened bounty to you, 230
My heart dropped love, my power rained honor, more
On you than any, so your hand and heart,
Your brain, and every function of your power
Should—notwithstanding that your bond of duty
As ’twere in love’s particular—be more 235
To me, your friend, than any. WOLSEY I do profess
That for your Highness’ good I ever labored
More than mine own, that am, have, and will be—
Though all the world should crack their duty to you 240
And throw it from their soul, though perils did
Abound as thick as thought could make ’em, and
Appear in forms more horrid—yet my duty,
As doth a rock against the chiding flood,
Should the approach of this wild river break, 245
And stand unshaken yours. KING ’Tis nobly spoken.—
Take notice, lords: he has a loyal breast,
For you have seen him open ’t. He hands Wolsey papers. Read o’er this, 250
And after, this; and then to breakfast with
What appetite you have. King exits, frowning upon the Cardinal;
the nobles throng after him smiling
and whispering, and exit. | Finally, Wolsey gives in and admits it: he's a loyal subject, and he's been showered with gifts, all of which he's super grateful for. "Okay, then," Henry replies. "So what's the deal with these letters I found?" Henry hands over the letters and asks Wolsey to explain. Afterward, Henry says, they'll have breakfast together. Pancakes, anyone? Henry and the nobles leave Wolsey alone to read through the letters. |
WOLSEY What should this mean?
What sudden anger’s this? How have I reaped it?
He parted frowning from me, as if ruin 255
Leaped from his eyes. So looks the chafèd lion
Upon the daring huntsman that has galled him,
Then makes him nothing. I must read this paper—
I fear, the story of his anger. He reads one of the papers. ’Tis so. 260
This paper has undone me. ’Tis th’ accompt
Of all that world of wealth I have drawn together
For mine own ends—indeed, to gain the popedom
And fee my friends in Rome. O negligence,
Fit for a fool to fall by! What cross devil 265
Made me put this main secret in the packet
I sent the King? Is there no way to cure this?
No new device to beat this from his brains?
I know ’twill stir him strongly; yet I know
A way, if it take right, in spite of fortune 270
Will bring me off again. He looks at another paper. What’s this? “To th’ Pope”?
The letter, as I live, with all the business
I writ to ’s Holiness. Nay then, farewell!
I have touched the highest point of all my greatness, 275
And from that full meridian of my glory
I haste now to my setting. I shall fall
Like a bright exhalation in the evening
And no man see me more. | Wolsey is beyond confused. He wonders how the king can be so mad at him when he's done nothing wrong. Then Wolsey sees the letters and knows he's a goner. He's gone all the way to the top, and now he's gonna plummet so fast. His career is toast. |
Enter to Wolsey the Dukes of Norfolk and Suffolk, the
Earl of Surrey, and the Lord Chamberlain. NORFOLK
Hear the King’s pleasure, cardinal, who commands 280
you
To render up the great seal presently
Into our hands, and to confine yourself
To Asher House, my Lord of Winchester’s,
Till you hear further from his Highness. 285 WOLSEY Stay.
Where’s your commission, lords? Words cannot carry
Authority so weighty. SUFFOLK Who dare cross ’em,
Bearing the King’s will from his mouth expressly? 290 WOLSEY
Till I find more than will or words to do it—
I mean your malice—know, officious lords,
I dare and must deny it. Now I feel
Of what coarse metal you are molded, envy;
How eagerly you follow my disgraces, 295
As if it fed you, and how sleek and wanton
You appear in everything may bring my ruin.
Follow your envious courses, men of malice;
You have Christian warrant for ’em, and no doubt
In time will find their fit rewards. That seal 300
You ask with such a violence, the King,
Mine and your master, with his own hand gave me;
Bade me enjoy it, with the place and honors,
During my life; and to confirm his goodness,
Tied it by letters patents. Now, who’ll take it? 305 | Norfolk, Suffolk, Surrey, and Lord Chamberlain come back in and tell Wolsey that the king has ordered for him to give up his seal of office. Ouch. Never one to take anything lying down, Wolsey refuses. He won't do something just because one of them says he should; they're lower than him on the status scale, and they're just envious of him. |
SURREY
The King that gave it. WOLSEY It must be himself, then. SURREY
Thou art a proud traitor, priest. WOLSEY Proud lord, thou liest.
Within these forty hours Surrey durst better 310
Have burnt that tongue than said so. SURREY Thy ambition,
Thou scarlet sin, robbed this bewailing land
Of noble Buckingham, my father-in-law.
The heads of all thy brother cardinals, 315
With thee and all thy best parts bound together,
Weighed not a hair of his. Plague of your policy!
You sent me Deputy for Ireland,
Far from his succor, from the King, from all
That might have mercy on the fault thou gav’st him, 320
Whilst your great goodness, out of holy pity,
Absolved him with an ax. | Surrey calls Wolsey ambitious and says he's a plague to the country;
plus, Wolsey orchestrated his father-in-law's death. That's not cool,
man. |
WOLSEY This, and all else
This talking lord can lay upon my credit,
I answer, is most false. The Duke by law 325
Found his deserts. How innocent I was
From any private malice in his end,
His noble jury and foul cause can witness.—
If I loved many words, lord, I should tell you
You have as little honesty as honor, 330
That in the way of loyalty and truth
Toward the King, my ever royal master,
Dare mate a sounder man than Surrey can be,
And all that love his follies. SURREY By my soul, 335
Your long coat, priest, protects you; thou shouldst feel
My sword i’ th’ life blood of thee else.—My lords,
Can you endure to hear this arrogance?
And from this fellow? If we live thus tamely,
To be thus jaded by a piece of scarlet, 340
Farewell, nobility. Let his Grace go forward
And dare us with his cap, like larks. WOLSEY All goodness
Is poison to thy stomach. | But Wolsey just defends himself: he's completely innocent, and as for Buckingham, he got what was coming to him. |
SURREY Yes, that goodness 345
Of gleaning all the land’s wealth into one,
Into your own hands, card’nal, by extortion;
The goodness of your intercepted packets
You writ to th’ Pope against the King. Your goodness,
Since you provoke me, shall be most notorious.— 350
My Lord of Norfolk, as you are truly noble,
As you respect the common good, the state
Of our despised nobility, our issues,
Whom, if he live, will scarce be gentlemen,
Produce the grand sum of his sins, the articles 355
Collected from his life.—I’ll startle you
Worse than the sacring bell when the brown wench
Lay kissing in your arms, Lord Cardinal. WOLSEY
How much, methinks, I could despise this man,
But that I am bound in charity against it! 360 NORFOLK
Those articles, my lord, are in the King’s hand;
But thus much, they are foul ones. WOLSEY So much fairer
And spotless shall mine innocence arise
When the King knows my truth. 365 | This just angers Surrey, who starts listing Wolsey's wrongs, starting with taking lands away from nobles. Norfolk chimes in that he's got a whole laundry list of Wolsey's bad deeds. Again, Wolsey defends himself and says the king knows he's loyal. |
SURREY This cannot save you.
I thank my memory I yet remember
Some of these articles, and out they shall.
Now, if you can blush and cry “Guilty,” cardinal,
You’ll show a little honesty. 370 WOLSEY Speak on, sir.
I dare your worst objections. If I blush,
It is to see a nobleman want manners. SURREY
I had rather want those than my head. Have at you:
First, that without the King’s assent or knowledge, 375
You wrought to be a legate, by which power
You maimed the jurisdiction of all bishops. NORFOLK
Then, that in all you writ to Rome, or else
To foreign princes, “ego et rex meus”
Was still inscribed, in which you brought the King 380
To be your servant. SUFFOLK Then, that without the knowledge
Either of king or council, when you went
Ambassador to the Emperor, you made bold
To carry into Flanders the great seal. 385 SURREY
Item, you sent a large commission
To Gregory de Cassado, to conclude,
Without the King’s will or the state’s allowance,
A league between his Highness and Ferrara. SUFFOLK
That out of mere ambition you have caused 390
Your holy hat to be stamped on the King’s coin. SURREY
Then, that you have sent innumerable substance—
By what means got I leave to your own conscience—
To furnish Rome and to prepare the ways
You have for dignities, to the mere undoing 395
Of all the kingdom. Many more there are
Which, since they are of you, and odious,
I will not taint my mouth with. | Suffolk, Surrey, and Norfolk read out the following charges against Wolsey: 1) that he's scheming to be the Pope's rep without asking Henry; 2) that he's taking the royal seal to Flanders; 3) that he's starting up an alliance between Ferrara and England without the king's knowledge; 4) that he's putting his holy hat on the king's coin; 5) that he's bribing the Pope… and the list goes on. |
CHAMBERLAIN O, my lord,
Press not a falling man too far! ’Tis virtue. 400
His faults lie open to the laws; let them,
Not you, correct him. My heart weeps to see him
So little of his great self. SURREY I forgive him. SUFFOLK
Lord Cardinal, the King’s further pleasure is— 405
Because all those things you have done of late
By your power legative within this kingdom
Fall into th’ compass of a praemunire—
That therefore such a writ be sued against you,
To forfeit all your goods, lands, tenements, 410
Chattels, and whatsoever, and to be
Out of the King’s protection. This is my charge. NORFOLK
And so we’ll leave you to your meditations
How to live better. For your stubborn answer
About the giving back the great seal to us, 415
The King shall know it and, no doubt, shall thank
you.
So, fare you well, my little good Lord Cardinal. | Chamberlain steps in and says they shouldn't keep pressing on. It's not right to do it when Wolsey is already down. |
WOLSEY
So, farewell to the little good you bear me.
All but Wolsey exit.
Farewell? A long farewell to all my greatness! 420
This is the state of man: today he puts forth
The tender leaves of hopes; tomorrow blossoms
And bears his blushing honors thick upon him;
The third day comes a frost, a killing frost,
And when he thinks, good easy man, full surely 425
His greatness is a-ripening, nips his root,
And then he falls, as I do. I have ventured,
Like little wanton boys that swim on bladders,
This many summers in a sea of glory,
But far beyond my depth. My high-blown pride 430
At length broke under me and now has left me,
Weary and old with service, to the mercy
Of a rude stream that must forever hide me.
Vain pomp and glory of this world, I hate you.
I feel my heart new opened. O, how wretched 435
Is that poor man that hangs on princes’ favors!
There is betwixt that smile we would aspire to,
That sweet aspect of princes, and their ruin,
More pangs and fears than wars or women have;
And when he falls, he falls like Lucifer, 440
Never to hope again. Enter Cromwell, standing amazed. Why, how now, Cromwell? | All the men leave except for Wolsey, who delivers a speech about fate.
He thought he was on the right path to success, but he stood on pride
alone, and that couldn't hold him up. He curses the world and wishes he
didn't need the king's favor to do well in life. |
CROMWELL
I have no power to speak, sir. WOLSEY What, amazed
At my misfortunes? Can thy spirit wonder 445
A great man should decline? Nay, an you weep,
I am fall’n indeed. CROMWELL How does your Grace? WOLSEY Why, well.
Never so truly happy, my good Cromwell. 450
I know myself now, and I feel within me
A peace above all earthly dignities,
A still and quiet conscience. The King has cured me—
I humbly thank his Grace—and from these shoulders,
These ruined pillars, out of pity, taken 455
A load would sink a navy: too much honor.
O, ’tis a burden, Cromwell, ’tis a burden
Too heavy for a man that hopes for heaven. | Cromwell comes in and stands amazed for a while, unable to speak at the
sight of the forlorn Wolsey. Wolsey tells him not to worry and not to
pity him; he'll be okay. The king's done him favors before, after all. |
CROMWELL
I am glad your Grace has made that right use of it. WOLSEY
I hope I have. I am able now, methinks, 460
Out of a fortitude of soul I feel,
To endure more miseries and greater far
Than my weak-hearted enemies dare offer.
What news abroad? CROMWELL The heaviest and the worst 465
Is your displeasure with the King. WOLSEY God bless him. CROMWELL
The next is that Sir Thomas More is chosen
Lord Chancellor in your place. WOLSEY That’s somewhat sudden. 470
But he’s a learnèd man. May he continue
Long in his Highness’ favor and do justice
For truth’s sake and his conscience, that his bones,
When he has run his course and sleeps in blessings,
May have a tomb of orphans’ tears wept on him. 475
What more? CROMWELL That Cranmer is returned with welcome,
Installed Lord Archbishop of Canterbury. WOLSEY
That’s news indeed. CROMWELL Last, that the Lady Anne, 480
Whom the King hath in secrecy long married,
This day was viewed in open as his queen,
Going to chapel, and the voice is now
Only about her coronation. | Cromwell fills Wolsey in on the latest news: Henry promoted Sir Thomas
More to Wolsey's old job; Cranmer is finally back; and Anne is the new
queen. |
WOLSEY
There was the weight that pulled me down. 485
O Cromwell,
The King has gone beyond me. All my glories
In that one woman I have lost forever.
No sun shall ever usher forth mine honors,
Or gild again the noble troops that waited 490
Upon my smiles. Go, get thee from me, Cromwell.
I am a poor fall’n man, unworthy now
To be thy lord and master. Seek the King;
That sun, I pray, may never set! I have told him
What and how true thou art. He will advance thee; 495
Some little memory of me will stir him—
I know his noble nature—not to let
Thy hopeful service perish too. Good Cromwell,
Neglect him not. Make use now, and provide
For thine own future safety. 500 | Wolsey thinks it's all somewhat sudden, but he realizes that the king
has moved on from him now. He instructs Cromwell to seek the king so he
can profit from being close to him; he shouldn't get dragged down with
Wolsey. |
CROMWELL, weeping O, my lord,
Must I then leave you? Must I needs forgo
So good, so noble, and so true a master?
Bear witness, all that have not hearts of iron,
With what a sorrow Cromwell leaves his lord. 505
The King shall have my service, but my prayers
Forever and forever shall be yours. WOLSEY, weeping
Cromwell, I did not think to shed a tear
In all my miseries, but thou hast forced me,
Out of thy honest truth, to play the woman. 510
Let’s dry our eyes. And thus far hear me, Cromwell,
And when I am forgotten, as I shall be,
And sleep in dull cold marble, where no mention
Of me more must be heard of, say I taught thee;
Say Wolsey, that once trod the ways of glory 515
And sounded all the depths and shoals of honor,
Found thee a way, out of his wrack, to rise in,
A sure and safe one, though thy master missed it.
Mark but my fall and that that ruined me.
Cromwell, I charge thee, fling away ambition! 520
By that sin fell the angels; how can man, then,
The image of his maker, hope to win by it?
Love thyself last; cherish those hearts that hate thee.
Corruption wins not more than honesty.
Still in thy right hand carry gentle peace 525
To silence envious tongues. Be just, and fear not.
Let all the ends thou aim’st at be thy country’s,
Thy God’s, and truth’s. Then if thou fall’st, O Cromwell,
Thou fall’st a blessèd martyr.
Serve the King. And, prithee, lead me in. 530
There take an inventory of all I have
To the last penny; ’tis the King’s. My robe
And my integrity to heaven is all
I dare now call mine own. O Cromwell, Cromwell,
Had I but served my God with half the zeal 535
I served my king, He would not in mine age
Have left me naked to mine enemies. CROMWELL
Good sir, have patience. WOLSEY So I have. Farewell,
The hopes of court! My hopes in heaven do dwell. 540 They exit. | Cromwell is bummed to leave Wolsey, but he'll pray for him. In turn, Wolsey gives a heartfelt goodbye to Cromwell and reminds him not to be dishonest or dishonorable: those are the most important things Wolsey can teach him. Wolsey says Cromwell should serve the king with all his heart. With that, the men part ways. |