King Henry the Eighth E-Book

William Shakespeare

• Herausgeber: Phoemixx Classics Ebooks
• Kategorie: Geisteswissenschaft
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2021

Seitenzahl: 131

Beschreibung

King Henry the Eighth William Shakespeare - King Henry the Eighth is a history play generally believed to be a collaboration between William Shakespeare and John Fletcher, based on the life of Henry VIII of England. The play implies, without stating it directly, that the treason charges against the Duke of Buckingham were false and trumped up; and it maintains a comparable ambiguity about other sensitive issues. The disgrace and beheading of Anne Boleyn (here spelled Bullen) is carefully avoided, and no indication of the succeeding four wives of Henry VIII can be found in the play. However, Catherine of Aragon's plea to Henry before the Legatine Court seems to have been taken straight from historical record.

Leseprobe

William Shakespeare

King Henry the Eighth

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Prologue

I come no more to make you laugh: things now,That bear a weighty and a serious brow,Sad, high, and working, full of state and woe,Such noble scenes as draw the eye to flow,We now present. Those that can pity, hereMay, if they think it well, let fall a tear;The subject will deserve it. Such as giveTheir money out of hope they may believe,May here find truth too. Those that come to seeOnly a show or two, and so agreeThe play may pass, if they be still and willing,I'll undertake may see away their shillingRichly in two short hours. Only theyThat come to hear a merry bawdy play,A noise of targets, or to see a fellowIn a long motley coat guarded with yellow,Will be deceived; for, gentle hearers, know,To rank our chosen truth with such a showAs fool and fight is, beside forfeitingOur own brains, and the opinion that we bring,To make that only true we now intend,Will leave us never an understanding friend.Therefore, for goodness' sake, and as you are knownThe first and happiest hearers of the town,Be sad, as we would make ye: think ye seeThe very persons of our noble storyAs they were living; think you see them great,And follow'd with the general throng and sweatOf thousand friends; then in a moment, seeHow soon this mightiness meets misery:And, if you can be merry then, I'll sayA man may weep upon his wedding-day.

ACT 1

Scene 1

London. An ante-chamber in the palace.

Enter NORFOLK at one door; at the other, BUCKINGHAM and ABERGAVENNY

BUCKINGHAM

Good morrow, and well met. How have ye doneSince last we saw in France?

NORFOLK

I thank your grace,Healthful; and ever since a fresh admirerOf what I saw there.

BUCKINGHAM

An untimely agueStay'd me a prisoner in my chamber whenThose suns of glory, those two lights of men,Met in the vale of Andren.

NORFOLK

'Twixt Guynes and Arde:I was then present, saw them salute on horseback;Beheld them, when they lighted, how they clungIn their embracement, as they grew together;Which had they, what four throned ones could have weigh'dSuch a compounded one?

BUCKINGHAM

All the whole timeI was my chamber's prisoner.

NORFOLK

Then you lostThe view of earthly glory: men might say,Till this time pomp was single, but now marriedTo one above itself. Each following dayBecame the next day's master, till the lastMade former wonders its. To-day the French,All clinquant, all in gold, like heathen gods,Shone down the English; and, to-morrow, theyMade Britain India: every man that stoodShow'd like a mine. Their dwarfish pages wereAs cherubins, all guilt: the madams too,Not used to toil, did almost sweat to bearThe pride upon them, that their very labourWas to them as a painting: now this masqueWas cried incomparable; and the ensuing nightMade it a fool and beggar. The two kings,Equal in lustre, were now best, now worst,As presence did present them; him in eye,Still him in praise: and, being present both'Twas said they saw but one; and no discernerDurst wag his tongue in censure. When these suns--For so they phrase 'em--by their heralds challengedThe noble spirits to arms, they did performBeyond thought's compass; that former fabulous story,Being now seen possible enough, got credit,That Bevis was believed.

BUCKINGHAM

O, you go far.

NORFOLK

As I belong to worship and affectIn honour honesty, the tract of every thingWould by a good discourser lose some life,Which action's self was tongue to. All was royal;To the disposing of it nought rebell'd.Order gave each thing view; the office didDistinctly his full function.

BUCKINGHAM

Who did guide,I mean, who set the body and the limbsOf this great sport together, as you guess?

NORFOLK

One, certes, that promises no elementIn such a business.

BUCKINGHAM

I pray you, who, my lord?

NORFOLK

All this was order'd by the good discretionOf the right reverend Cardinal of York.

BUCKINGHAM

The devil speed him! no man's pie is freedFrom his ambitious finger. What had heTo do in these fierce vanities? I wonderThat such a keech can with his very bulkTake up the rays o' the beneficial sunAnd keep it from the earth.

NORFOLK

Surely, sir,There's in him stuff that puts him to these ends;For, being not propp'd by ancestry, whose graceChalks successors their way, nor call'd uponFor high feats done to the crown; neither alliedFor eminent assistants; but, spider-like,Out of his self-drawing web, he gives us note,The force of his own merit makes his wayA gift that heaven gives for him, which buysA place next to the king.

ABERGAVENNY

I cannot tellWhat heaven hath given him,--let some graver eyePierce into that; but I can see his pridePeep through each part of him: whence has he that,If not from hell? the devil is a niggard,Or has given all before, and he beginsA new hell in himself.

BUCKINGHAM

Why the devil,Upon this French going out, took he upon him,Without the privity o' the king, to appointWho should attend on him? He makes up the fileOf all the gentry; for the most part suchTo whom as great a charge as little honourHe meant to lay upon: and his own letter,The honourable board of council out,Must fetch him in the papers.

ABERGAVENNY

I do knowKinsmen of mine, three at the least, that haveBy this so sickened their estates, that neverThey shall abound as formerly.

BUCKINGHAM

O, manyHave broke their backs with laying manors on 'emFor this great journey. What did this vanityBut minister communication ofA most poor issue?

NORFOLK

Grievingly I think,The peace between the French and us not valuesThe cost that did conclude it.

BUCKINGHAM

Every man,After the hideous storm that follow'd, wasA thing inspired; and, not consulting, brokeInto a general prophecy; That this tempest,Dashing the garment of this peace, abodedThe sudden breach on't.

NORFOLK

Which is budded out;For France hath flaw'd the league, and hath attach'dOur merchants' goods at Bourdeaux.

ABERGAVENNY

Is it thereforeThe ambassador is silenced?

NORFOLK

Marry, is't.

ABERGAVENNY

A proper title of a peace; and purchasedAt a superfluous rate!

BUCKINGHAM

Why, all this businessOur reverend cardinal carried.

NORFOLK

Like it your grace,The state takes notice of the private differenceBetwixt you and the cardinal. I advise you--And take it from a heart that wishes towards youHonour and plenteous safety--that you readThe cardinal's malice and his potencyTogether; to consider further thatWhat his high hatred would effect wants notA minister in his power. You know his nature,That he's revengeful, and I know his swordHath 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 rockThat I advise your shunning.

Enter CARDINAL WOLSEY, the purse borne before him, certain of the Guard, and two Secretaries with papers. CARDINAL WOLSEY in his passage fixeth his eye on BUCKINGHAM, and BUCKINGHAM on him, both full of disdain

CARDINAL WOLSEY

The Duke of Buckingham's surveyor, ha?Where's his examination?

First Secretary

Here, so please you.

CARDINAL WOLSEY

Is he in person ready?

First Secretary

Ay, please your grace.

CARDINAL WOLSEY

Well, we shall then know more; and BuckinghamShall lessen this big look.

Exeunt CARDINAL WOLSEY and his Train

BUCKINGHAM

This butcher's cur is venom-mouth'd, and IHave not the power to muzzle him; therefore bestNot wake him in his slumber. A beggar's bookOutworths a noble's blood.

NORFOLK

What, are you chafed?Ask God for temperance; that's the appliance onlyWhich your disease requires.

BUCKINGHAM

I read in's looksMatter against me; and his eye reviledMe, as his abject object: at this instantHe bores me with some trick: he's gone to the king;I'll follow and outstare him.

NORFOLK

Stay, my lord,And let your reason with your choler questionWhat 'tis you go about: to climb steep hillsRequires slow pace at first: anger is likeA full-hot horse, who being allow'd his way,Self-mettle tires him. Not a man in EnglandCan advise me like you: be to yourselfAs you would to your friend.

BUCKINGHAM

I'll to the king;And from a mouth of honour quite cry downThis Ipswich fellow's insolence; or proclaimThere's difference in no persons.

NORFOLK

Be advised;Heat not a furnace for your foe so hotThat it do singe yourself: we may outrun,By violent swiftness, that which we run at,And lose by over-running. Know you not,The fire that mounts the liquor til run o'er,In seeming to augment it wastes it? Be advised:I say again, there is no English soulMore stronger to direct you than yourself,If with the sap of reason you would quench,Or but allay, the fire of passion.

BUCKINGHAM

Sir,I am thankful to you; and I'll go alongBy your prescription: but this top-proud fellow,Whom from the flow of gall I name not butFrom sincere motions, by intelligence,And proofs as clear as founts in July whenWe see each grain of gravel, I do knowTo be corrupt and treasonous.

NORFOLK

Say not 'treasonous.'

BUCKINGHAM

To the king I'll say't; and make my vouch as strongAs shore of rock. Attend. This holy fox,Or wolf, or both,--for he is equal ravenousAs he is subtle, and as prone to mischiefAs able to perform't; his mind and placeInfecting one another, yea, reciprocally--Only to show his pomp as well in FranceAs here at home, suggests the king our masterTo this last costly treaty, the interview,That swallow'd so much treasure, and like a glassDid break i' the rinsing.

NORFOLK

Faith, and so it did.

BUCKINGHAM

Pray, give me favour, sir. This cunning cardinalThe articles o' the combination drewAs himself pleased; and they were ratifiedAs he cried 'Thus let be': to as much endAs give a crutch to the dead: but our count-cardinalHas done this, and 'tis well; for worthy Wolsey,Who cannot err, he did it. Now this follows,--Which, as I take it, is a kind of puppyTo the old dam, treason,--Charles the emperor,Under pretence to see the queen his aunt--For 'twas indeed his colour, but he cameTo whisper Wolsey,--here makes visitation:His fears were, that the interview betwixtEngland and France might, through their amity,Breed him some prejudice; for from this leaguePeep'd harms that menaced him: he privilyDeals with our cardinal; and, as I trow,--Which I do well; for I am sure the emperorPaid ere he promised; whereby his suit was grantedEre it was ask'd; but when the way was made,And paved with gold, the emperor thus desired,That he would please to alter the king's course,And break the foresaid peace. Let the king know,As soon he shall by me, that thus the cardinalDoes buy and sell his honour as he pleases,And for his own advantage.

NORFOLK

I am sorryTo hear this of him; and could wish he wereSomething mistaken in't.

BUCKINGHAM

No, not a syllable:I do pronounce him in that very shapeHe shall appear in proof.

Enter BRANDON, a Sergeant-at-arms before him, and two or three of the Guard

BRANDON

Your office, sergeant; execute it.

Sergeant

Sir,My lord the Duke of Buckingham, and EarlOf Hereford, Stafford, and Northampton, IArrest thee of high treason, in the nameOf our most sovereign king.

BUCKINGHAM

Lo, you, my lord,The net has fall'n upon me! I shall perishUnder device and practise.

BRANDON

I am sorryTo see you ta'en from liberty, to look onThe business present: 'tis his highness' pleasureYou shall to the Tower.

BUCKINGHAM

It will help me nothingTo plead mine innocence; for that dye is on meWhich makes my whitest part black. The will of heavenBe done in this and all things! I obey.O my Lord Abergavenny, fare you well!

BRANDON

Nay, he must bear you company. The king

To ABERGAVENNY

Is pleased you shall to the Tower, till you knowHow he determines further.

ABERGAVENNY

As the duke said,The will of heaven be done, and the king's pleasureBy me obey'd!

BRANDON

Here is a warrant fromThe king to attach Lord Montacute; and the bodiesOf the duke's confessor, John de la Car,One Gilbert Peck, his chancellor--

BUCKINGHAM

So, so;These are the limbs o' the plot: no more, I hope.

BRANDON

A monk o' the Chartreux.

BUCKINGHAM

O, Nicholas Hopkins?

BRANDON

He.

BUCKINGHAM

My surveyor is false; the o'er-great cardinalHath show'd him gold; my life is spann'd already:I am the shadow of poor Buckingham,Whose figure even this instant cloud puts on,By darkening my clear sun. My lord, farewell.

Exeunt

Scene 2

The same. The council-chamber.

Cornets. Enter KING HENRY VIII, leaning on CARDINAL WOLSEY's shoulder, the Nobles, and LOVELL; CARDINAL WOLSEY places himself under KING HENRY VIII's feet on his right side

KING HENRY VIII

My life itself, and the best heart of it,Thanks you for this great care: I stood i' the levelOf a full-charged confederacy, and give thanksTo you that choked it. Let be call'd before usThat gentleman of Buckingham's; in personI'll hear him his confessions justify;And point by point the treasons of his masterHe shall again relate.

A noise within, crying 'Room for the Queen!' Enter QUEEN KATHARINE, ushered by NORFOLK, and SUFFOLK: she kneels. KING HENRY VIII riseth from his state, takes her up, kisses and placeth her by him

QUEEN KATHARINE

Nay, we must longer kneel: I am a suitor.

KING HENRY VIII

Arise, and take place by us: half your suitNever name to us; you have half our power:The other moiety, ere you ask, is given;Repeat your will and take it.

QUEEN KATHARINE

Thank your majesty.That you would love yourself, and in that loveNot unconsider'd leave your honour, norThe dignity of your office, is the pointOf my petition.

KING HENRY VIII

Lady mine, proceed.

QUEEN KATHARINE

I am solicited, not by a few,And those of true condition, that your subjectsAre in great grievance: there have been commissionsSent down among 'em, which hath flaw'd the heartOf all their loyalties: wherein, although,My good lord cardinal, they vent reproachesMost bitterly on you, as putter onOf these exactions, yet the king our master--Whose honour heaven shield from soil!--even heescapes notLanguage unmannerly, yea, such which breaksThe sides of loyalty, and almost appearsIn loud rebellion.

NORFOLK

Not almost appears,It doth appear; for, upon these taxations,The clothiers all, not able to maintainThe many to them longing, have put offThe spinsters, carders, fullers, weavers, who,Unfit for other life, compell'd by hungerAnd lack of other means, in desperate manner