书城公版King Henry VIII
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第6章 ACT I(4)

Enter SURVEYOR

QUEEN KATHARINE.I am sorry that the Duke of Buckingham Is run in your displeasure.KING.It grieves many.The gentleman is learn'd and a most rare speaker;To nature none more bound;his training such That he may furnish and instruct great teachers And never seek for aid out of himself.Yet see,When these so noble benefits shall prove Not well dispos'd,the mind growing once corrupt,They turn to vicious forms,ten times more ugly Than ever they were fair.This man so complete,Who was enroll'd 'mongst wonders,and when we,Almost with ravish'd list'ning,could not find His hour of speech a minute--he,my lady,Hath into monstrous habits put the graces That once were his,and is become as black As if besmear'd in hell.Sit by us;you shall hear--This was his gentleman in trust--of him Things to strike honour sad.Bid him recount The fore-recited practices,whereof We cannot feel too little,hear too much.WOLSEY.Stand forth,and with bold spirit relate what you,Most like a careful subject,have collected Out of the Duke of Buckingham.KING.Speak freely.SURVEYOR.First,it was usual with him--every day It would infect his speech--that if the King Should without issue die,he'll carry it so To make the sceptre his.These very words I've heard him utter to his son-in-law,Lord Aberga'ny,to whom by oath he menac'd Revenge upon the Cardinal.WOLSEY.Please your Highness,note This dangerous conception in this point:Not friended by his wish,to your high person His will is most malignant,and it stretches Beyond you to your friends.QUEEN KATHARINE.My learn'd Lord Cardinal,Deliver all with charity.

KING.Speak on.How grounded he his title to the crown Upon our fail?To this point hast thou heard him At any time speak aught?SURVEYOR.He was brought to this By a vain prophecy of Nicholas Henton.KING.What was that Henton?SURVEYOR.Sir,a Chartreux friar,His confessor,who fed him every minute With words of sovereignty.KING.How know'st thou this?SURVEYOR.Not long before your Highness sped to France,The Duke being at the Rose,within the parish Saint Lawrence Poultney,did of me demand What was the speech among the Londoners Concerning the French journey.I replied Men fear'd the French would prove perfidious,To the King's danger.Presently the Duke Said 'twas the fear indeed and that he doubted 'Twould prove the verity of certain words Spoke by a holy monk 'that oft'says he 'Hath sent to me,wishing me to permit John de la Car,my chaplain,a choice hour To hear from him a matter of some moment;Whom after under the confession's seal He solemnly had sworn that what he spoke My chaplain to no creature living but To me should utter,with demure confidence This pausingly ensu'd:"Neither the King nor's heirs,Tell you the Duke,shall prosper;bid him strive To gain the love o'th'commonalty;the Duke Shall govern England."'QUEEN KATHARINE.If I know you well,You were the Duke's surveyor,and lost your office On the complaint o'th'tenants.Take good heed You charge not in your spleen a noble person And spoil your nobler soul.I say,take heed;Yes,heartily beseech you.KING.Let him on.Go forward.SURVEYOR.On my soul,I'll speak but truth.I told my lord the Duke,by th'devil's illusions The monk might be deceiv'd,and that 'twas dangerous for him To ruminate on this so far,until It forg'd him some design,which,being believ'd,It was much like to do.He answer'd 'Tush,It can do me no damage';adding further That,had the King in his last sickness fail'd,The Cardinal's and Sir Thomas Lovell's heads Should have gone off.KING.Ha!what,so rank?Ah ha!There's mischief in this man.Canst thou say further?SURVEYOR.I can,my liege.KING.Proceed.SURVEYOR.Being at Greenwich,After your Highness had reprov'd the Duke About Sir William Bulmer--KING.I remember Of such a time:being my sworn servant,The Duke retain'd him his.But on:what hence?SURVEYOR.'If'quoth he 'I for this had been committed--As to the Tower I thought--I would have play'd The part my father meant to act upon Th'usurper Richard;who,being at Salisbury,Made suit to come in's presence,which if granted,As he made semblance of his duty,would Have put his knife into him.'KING.A giant traitor!WOLSEY.Now,madam,may his Highness live in *******,And this man out of prison?QUEEN KATHARINE.God mend all!KING.There's something more would out of thee:what say'st?SURVEYOR.After 'the Duke his father'with the 'knife,'He stretch'd him,and,with one hand on his dagger,Another spread on's breast,mounting his eyes,He did discharge a horrible oath,whose tenour Was,were he evil us'd,he would outgo His father by as much as a performance Does an irresolute purpose.KING.There's his period,To sheath his knife in us.He is attach'd;Call him to present trial.If he may Find mercy in the law,'tis his;if none,Let him not seek't of us.By day and night!He's traitor to th'height.Exeunt

SCENE 3.London.The palace

Enter the LORD CHAMBERLAIN and LORD SANDYS

CHAMBERLAIN.Is't possible the spells of France should juggle Men into such strange mysteries?SANDYS.New customs,Though they be never so ridiculous,Nay,let 'em be unmanly,yet are follow'd.CHAMBERLAIN.As far as I see,all the good our English Have got by the late voyage is but merely A fit or two o'th'face;but they are shrewd ones;For when they hold 'em,you would swear directly Their very noses had been counsellors To Pepin or Clotharius,they keep state so.SANDYS.They have all new legs,and lame ones.One would take it,That never saw 'em pace before,the spavin Or springhalt reign'd among 'em.CHAMBERLAIN.Death!my lord,Their clothes are after such a pagan cut to't,That sure th'have worn out Christendom.