书城公版King Henry VIII
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第11章 ACT II(3)

Tis most true

These news are everywhere;every tongue speaks 'em,And every true heart weeps for 't.All that dare 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.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 honours Lie like one lump before him,to be fashion'd 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 Touch me alike;th'are 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 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,You'll find a most unfit time to disturb him.Health to your lordships!NORFOLK.Thanks,my good Lord Chamberlain.Exit LORD CHAMBERLAIN;and the KING draws the curtain and sits reading pensively SUFFOLK.How sad he looks;sure,he is much afflicted.KING.Who's there,ha?NORFOLK.Pray God he be not angry.KING HENRY.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 offences Malice ne'er meant.Our breach of duty this way Is business of estate,in which we come To know your royal pleasure.KING.Ye are too bold.Go to;I'll make ye know your times of business.Is this an hour for temporal affairs,ha?

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,Most learned reverend sir,into our kingdom.Use us and it.[To WOLSEY]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 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.But this cannot continue.NORFOLK.[Aside to SUFFOLK]If it do,I'll venture one have-at-him.SUFFOLK.[Aside to NORFOLK]I another.Exeunt NORFOLK and SUFFOLK WOLSEY.Your Grace has given a precedent of wisdom 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 favour to her,Must now confess,if they have any goodness,The trial just and noble.All the clerks,I mean the learned 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,This just and learned 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 wish'd for.CAMPEIUS.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 Cardinal of York,are join'd 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 lov'd her So dear in heart not to deny her that A woman of less place might ask by law--Scholars allow'd freely to argue for her.KING.Ay,and the best she shall have;and my favour To him that does best.God forbid else.Cardinal,Prithee call Gardiner to me,my new secretary;I find him a fit fellow.Exit WOLSEY

Re-enter WOLSEY with GARDINER

WOLSEY.[Aside to GARDINER]Give me your hand:much joy and favour to you;You are the King's now.GARDINER.[Aside to WOLSEY]But to be commanded For ever by your Grace,whose hand has rais'd me.KING.Come hither,Gardiner.[Walks and whispers]CAMPEIUS.My Lord of York,was not one Doctor Pace In this man's place before him?WOLSEY.Yes,he was.CAMPEIUS.Was he not held a learned man?WOLSEY.Yes,surely.CAMPEIUS.Believe me,there's an ill opinion spread then,Even of yourself,Lord Cardinal.WOLSEY.How!Of me?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 griev'd him That he ran mad and died.WOLSEY.Heav'n's peace be with him!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,We live not to be grip'd by meaner persons.KING.Deliver this with modesty to th'Queen.Exit GARDINER The most convenient place that I can think of For such receipt of learning is Blackfriars;There ye shall meet about this weighty business--My Wolsey,see it furnish'd.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.Exeunt