K. Hen. The fairest hand I ever touch'd! O, beauty, Till now I never knew thee. Wol. My lord. Cham. Your grace? [Music, Dance. Wol. Pray, tell them thus much from me: Cham. I will, my lord. [Cham. goes to the company, and returns. Wol. What say they? Cham. Such a one, they all confess," There is, indeed; which they would have your grace Find out, and he will take it. Wol. Let me see then. [Comes from his state. By all your good leaves, gentlemen; Here I 'll make My royal choice. You have found him, cardinal: [Unmasking. You hold a fair assembly; you do well, lord: I should judge now unhappily. I am glad Your grace grown so pleasant. K. Hen. My lord chamberlain, Prithee, come hither: What fair lady 's that? Cham. An 't please your grace, sir Thomas Bullen's daughter, The viscount Rochford, one of her highness' women. K. Hen. By heaven, she is a dainty one.-Sweetheart, I were unmannerly to take you out, And not to kiss you.-A health, gentlemen, Let it go round. Wol. Sir Thomas Lovell, is the banquet ready I' the privy chamber? Your grace, I fear, with dancing is a little heated. Wol. There's fresher air, my lord, In the next chamber. K. Hen. Lead in your ladies, every one.-Sweet partner, I must not yet forsake you.-Let's be merry -- ACT II. SCENE I.-A Street. Enter Two Gentlemen, meeting. 1 Gent. Whither away so fast? 2 Gent. 0,-God save you! Even to the hall, to hear what shall become Of the great duke of Buckingham. 1 Gent. I'll save you That labour, sir. All's now done, but the ceremony Of bringing back the prisoner. 2 Gent. Were you there? 1 Gent. Yes, indeed, was I. 2 Gent. Pray speak what has happen'd. 1 Gent. You may guess quickly what. 2 Gent. Is he found guilty? 1 Gent. Yes, truly is he, and condemn'd upon it. 2 Gent. I am sorry for 't. 1 Gent. So are a number more. 2 Gent. But, pray, how pass'd it? 1 Gent. I'll tell you in a little. The great duke Came to the bar; where to his accusations He pleaded still, not guilty, and alleg'd a In the original, "to him brought." 2 Gent. That fed him with his prophecies? 1 Gent. That was he The same. All these accus'd him strongly ; which he fain Would have flung from him, but, indeed, he could not: Have found him guilty of high treason. Much Was either pitied in him, or forgotten. 2 Gent. After all this, how did he bear himself? 1 Gent. When he was brought again to the bar, to hear His knell rung out, his judgment, he was stirr'd He never was so womanish; the cause 2 Gent. The cardinal is the end of this. 1 Gent. Sure, he does not, Certainly T is likely, By all conjectures: First, Kildare's attainder, Eail Surrey was sent thither, and in haste too, 2 Gent. Was a deep envious one. 1 Gent. That trick of state At his return, No doubt he will requite it. This is noted, All the commons 2 Gent. Hate him perniciously, and, o' my conscience, Wish him ten fathom deep: this duke as much They love and dote on; call him bounteous Bucking Enter BUCKINGHAM from his arraignment; Tipstaves before him; the axe with the edge towards him; halberds on each side; accompanied with SIR Tuo MAS LOVELL, SIR NICHOLAS VAUX, SIR WILLIAM SANDS, and common people. 1 Gent. Stay there, sir, And see the noble ruin'd man you speak of. 2 Gent. Let's stand close, and behold him. Buck. All good people, You that thus far have come to pity me, Hear what I say, and then go home and lose me. I have this day receiv'd a traitor's judgment, And by that name must die: Yet, heaven bear witness, Even as the axe falls, if I be not faithful! But those that sought it I could wish more christians: Yet let them look they glory not in mischief, For then my guiltless blood must cry against them. Nor will I sue, although the king have mercies More than I dare make faults. You few that lov'd me, And dare be bold to weep for Buckingham, His noble friends, and fellows, whom to leave Is only bitter to him, only dying, Go with me, like good angels, to my end; And lift my soul to heaven.-Lead on, o' God's name. |