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. |