Original Text |
Translated Text |
| Source: Folger Shakespeare Library |
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Enter Lord Chamberlain, reading this letter. CHAMBERLAIN My lord, the horses your Lordship sent
for, with all the care I had I saw well chosen, ridden,
and furnished. They were young and handsome and
of the best breed in the north. When they were ready
to set out for London, a man of my Lord Cardinal’s, 5
by commission and main power, took ’em from me
with this reason: his master would be served before
a subject, if not before the King, which stopped our
mouths, sir.
I fear he will indeed; well, let him have them. 10
He will have all, I think. | Mail call: Lord Chamberlain reads a letter about his horses. It turns out Wolsey took a bunch of them, claiming they were for the king. Chamberlain might have wanted them and all, but he doesn't have them anymore. Lord Chamberlain thinks about this. He decides that Wolsey will end up taking everything he has and then some. He's also sure that Wolsey will take and take from the nobles until nothing is left. (Foreshadowing, much?) |
Enter to the Lord Chamberlain, the Dukes
of Norfolk and Suffolk. NORFOLK Well met, my Lord Chamberlain. CHAMBERLAIN Good day to both your Graces. SUFFOLK
How is the King employed? CHAMBERLAIN I left him private, 15
Full of sad thoughts and troubles. NORFOLK What’s the cause? CHAMBERLAIN
It seems the marriage with his brother’s wife
Has crept too near his conscience. SUFFOLK No, his conscience 20
Has crept too near another lady. NORFOLK ’Tis so;
This is the Cardinal’s doing. The king-cardinal,
That blind priest, like the eldest son of Fortune,
Turns what he list. The King will know him one day. 25 | As Chamberlain is deep in thought, Suffolk and Norfolk come in and begin gossiping about the king. Norfolk has heard that Henry is worried that his marriage to Katherine hasn't been up to scratch; it seems that there's something questionable about its legality. If their marriage were illegal, then Henry would have to divorce Katherine—you know, to placate his conscience. Right. Suffolk thinks it's more likely that Henry just has a new honey and is trying to make an excuse to be with her. Yep, it was Wolsey's idea, Norfolk reports. |
SUFFOLK
Pray God he do! He’ll never know himself else. NORFOLK
How holily he works in all his business,
And with what zeal! For, now he has cracked the
league
Between us and the Emperor, the Queen’s 30
great-nephew,
He dives into the King’s soul and there scatters
Dangers, doubts, wringing of the conscience,
Fears and despairs—and all these for his marriage.
And out of all these to restore the King, 35
He counsels a divorce, a loss of her
That like a jewel has hung twenty years
About his neck, yet never lost her luster;
Of her that loves him with that excellence
That angels love good men with; even of her 40
That, when the greatest stroke of fortune falls,
Will bless the King. And is not this course pious? | Wolsey suggested to Henry that his first marriage should be annulled. Never mind that this would mean war with Spain, and never mind that Katherine has been a supportive and loving wife for twenty years: Katherine was previously married to Henry VII (Henry VIII's bro), so that might make the marriage illegal. Well, how convenient. |
CHAMBERLAIN
Heaven keep me from such counsel! ’Tis most true:
These news are everywhere, every tongue speaks ’em,
And every true heart weeps for ’t. All that dare 45
Look into these affairs see this main end,
The French king’s sister. Heaven will one day open
The King’s eyes, that so long have slept upon
This bold bad man. SUFFOLK And free us from his slavery. 50 NORFOLK We had need pray,
And heartily, for our deliverance,
Or this imperious man will work us all
From princes into pages. All men’s honors
Lie like one lump before him, to be fashioned 55
Into what pitch he please. SUFFOLK For me, my lords,
I love him not nor fear him; there’s my creed.
As I am made without him, so I’ll stand,
If the King please. His curses and his blessings 60
Touch me alike: they’re breath I not believe in.
I knew him and I know him; so I leave him
To him that made him proud, the Pope. NORFOLK Let’s in,
And with some other business put the King 65
From these sad thoughts that work too much upon
him.—
My lord, you’ll bear us company? CHAMBERLAIN Excuse me;
The King has sent me otherwhere. Besides, 70
You’ll find a most unfit time to disturb him.
Health to your Lordships. NORFOLK Thanks, my good Lord
Chamberlain. | Lord Chamberlain is shocked. He doesn't want to have anything to do with such a man, and he hopes Henry can see the real Wolsey soon, before it's too late. |
Lord Chamberlain exits; and the King draws
the curtain and sits reading pensively. SUFFOLK, to Norfolk
How sad he looks! Sure he is much afflicted. 75 KING
Who’s there? Ha? NORFOLK, to Suffolk Pray God he be not angry. KING
Who’s there, I say? How dare you thrust yourselves
Into my private meditations? Who am I, ha? NORFOLK
A gracious king that pardons all offenses 80
Malice ne’er meant. Our breach of duty this way
Is business of estate, in which we come
To know your royal pleasure. KING You are too bold.
Go to; I’ll make you know your times of business. 85
Is this an hour for temporal affairs, ha? | Chamberlain leaves, and Norfolk and Suffolk pay a little visit to Henry.
He's reading, and he isn't happy that they've interrupted him in the
middle of his private meditations. |
Enter Wolsey and Campeius, with a commission. Who’s there? My good Lord Cardinal? O my Wolsey,
The quiet of my wounded conscience,
Thou art a cure fit for a king. To Campeius. You’re
welcome, 90
Most learnèd reverend sir, into our kingdom.
Use us and it.—My good lord, have great care
I be not found a talker. WOLSEY Sir, you cannot.
I would your Grace would give us but an hour 95
Of private conference. KING, to Norfolk and Suffolk We are busy. Go. NORFOLK, aside to Suffolk
This priest has no pride in him? SUFFOLK, aside to Norfolk Not to speak of.
I would not be so sick, though for his place. 100
But this cannot continue. NORFOLK, aside to Suffolk If it do,
I’ll venture one have-at-him. SUFFOLK, aside to Norfolk I another. Norfolk and Suffolk exit. | When Wolsey and Cardinal Campeius enter, Henry tells Suffolk and Norfolk
to beat it. They do, but they whisper to each other as they're leaving
that they don't trust Wolsey—or Campeius, either. |
WOLSEY
Your Grace has given a precedent of wisdom 105
Above all princes in committing freely
Your scruple to the voice of Christendom.
Who can be angry now? What envy reach you?
The Spaniard, tied by blood and favor to her,
Must now confess, if they have any goodness, 110
The trial just and noble; all the clerks—
I mean the learnèd ones in Christian kingdoms—
Have their free voices; Rome, the nurse of judgment,
Invited by your noble self, hath sent
One general tongue unto us, this good man, 115
This just and learnèd priest, Cardinal Campeius,
Whom once more I present unto your Highness. KING
And once more in mine arms I bid him welcome,
And thank the holy conclave for their loves.
They have sent me such a man I would have wished 120
for. He embraces Campeius. | Alone with Henry and Campeius, Wolsey makes a speech about how no one will get mad at Henry for leaving Katherine if the Pope says it's okay. |
CAMPEIUS, handing the King a paper
Your Grace must needs deserve all strangers’ loves,
You are so noble. To your Highness’ hand
I tender my commission—by whose virtue,
The court of Rome commanding, you, my Lord 125
Cardinal of York, are joined with me their servant
In the unpartial judging of this business. KING
Two equal men. The Queen shall be acquainted
Forthwith for what you come. Where’s Gardiner? WOLSEY
I know your Majesty has always loved her 130
So dear in heart not to deny her that
A woman of less place might ask by law:
Scholars allowed freely to argue for her. KING
Ay, and the best she shall have, and my favor
To him that does best. God forbid else. Cardinal, 135
Prithee call Gardiner to me, my new secretary.
I find him a fit fellow. Wolsey goes to the door. | Campeius seconds that. He's brought with him some papers declaring his
judgment on the marriage. Henry orders for these papers to be read later
on. |
Enter Gardiner to Wolsey. WOLSEY, aside to Gardiner
Give me your hand. Much joy and favor to you.
You are the King’s now. GARDINER, aside to Wolsey But to be commanded 140
Forever by your Grace, whose hand has raised me. KING Come hither, Gardiner.
The King and Gardiner walk and whisper. CAMPEIUSMy lord of York, was not one Doctor Pace
In this man’s place before him? WOLSEY Yes, he was. 145 CAMPEIUS
Was he not held a learnèd man? WOLSEY Yes, surely. CAMPEIUS
Believe me, there’s an ill opinion spread, then,
Even of yourself, Lord Cardinal. WOLSEY How? Of me? 150 | The king's secretary, Gardiner, used to be Wolsey's secretary. If you're thinking this is no coincidence, then you're right: Wolsey arranged for his man to be on the inside track with the king. As Gardiner exits, Wolsey reminds the secretary how much he's helped him. Hint, hint. Gardiner picks up on Wolsey's not-so-subtle hint and confirms his loyalty to the cardinal over the king.
Then Henry and Gardiner leave to have a chat. Meanwhile, Campeius and Wolsey discuss current events. Campeius reports that people all around town seem to have a bad vibe about Wolsey. |
CAMPEIUS
They will not stick to say you envied him
And, fearing he would rise—he was so virtuous—
Kept him a foreign man still, which so grieved him
That he ran mad and died. WOLSEY Heav’n’s peace be with him! 155
That’s Christian care enough. For living murmurers,
There’s places of rebuke. He was a fool,
For he would needs be virtuous. That good fellow
If I command him follows my appointment.
I will have none so near else. Learn this, brother: 160
We live not to be griped by meaner persons. KING, to Gardiner
Deliver this with modesty to th’ Queen. Gardiner exits. The most convenient place that I can think of
For such receipt of learning is Blackfriars.
There you shall meet about this weighty business. 165
My Wolsey, see it furnished. O, my lord,
Would it not grieve an able man to leave
So sweet a bedfellow? But, conscience, conscience!
O, ’tis a tender place, and I must leave her. They exit. | Wolsey is surprised by this, but Campeius confirms that people think he had a hand in Buckingham's execution. Gasp. Wolsey pretends to be offended by all this—even though he totally did have something to do with it. Henry reenters with news that he will announce his split from Katherine at Blackfriars. He orders Gardiner to deliver a letter to Katherine. He's really down about leaving "so sweet a bedfellow" (a good wife), but his conscience tells him he has to. We're pretty sure by conscience, he means Wolsey. |