The Complete Works of William Shakespeare - Israel Gollancz William Shakespeare [1916]
But what his head complotted gainst the state
My country's love commands me that to hate.
His sudden death I grieve for, not his fall,
Because he sought to work my country's thrall.
SUFFOLK.
Cromwell, the King shall hear of this thy duty,
Whom I assure my self will well reward thee;
My Lord let's go unto his Majesty,
And show these writings which he longs to see.
[Exit Norfolk and Suffolk.]
[Enter Bedford hastily.]
BEDFORD.
How now, who's this?
Cromwell, by my soul! welcome to England:
Thou once didst save my life, didst not Cromwell?
CROMWELL.
If I did so, 'tis greater glory for me,
That you remember it, than of my self
Vainly to report it.
BEDFORD.
Well, Cromwell, now is the time,
I shall commend thee to my Sovereign:
Cheer up thy self, for I will raise thy state.
A Russell yet was never found ingrate.
[Exit.]
HALES.
O how uncertain is the wheel of state.
Who lately greater than the Cardinal,
For fear, and love? and now who lower lies?
Gay honours are but Fortune's flatteries,
And whom this day pride and promotion swells,
To morrow envy and ambition quells.
MORE.
Who sees the Cob-web intangle the poor Fly,
May boldly say the wretches death is nigh.
GARDINER.
I knew his state and proud ambition
Was too too violent to last over-long.
HALES.
Who soars too near the sun with golden wings,
Melts them, to ruin his own fortune brings.
[Enter the Duke of Suffolk.]
SUFFOLK.
Cromwell, kneel down in King Henry's name.—
Arise sir Thomas Cromwell; thus begins thy fame.
[Enter the Duke of Norfolk.]
NORFOLK.
Cromwell, the majesty of England,
For the good liking he conceives of thee,
Makes thee master of the jewel house,
Chief Secretary to himself, and with all,
Creates thee one of his highness' privy Counsel.
[Enter the Earl of Bedford.]
BEDFORD.
Where is sir Thomas Cromwell? is he knighted?
SUFFOLK.
He is, my Lord.
BEDFORD.
Then to add honour to his name,
The King creates him Lord keeper of
His privy Seal, and master of the Rules,
Which you sir Christopher do now enjoy;
The King determines higher place for you.
CROMWELL.
My Lords,
These honors are too high for my desert.
MORE.
O content thee, man; who would not choose it?
Yet thou art wise in seeming to refuse it.
GARDINER.
Here's honors, titles, and promotions:
I fear this climbing will have a sudden fall.
NORFOLK.
Then come, my Lords; let's altogether bring
This new made Counselor to England's King.
[Exit all but Gardiner.]
GARDINER.
But Gardiner means his glory shall be dimmed.
Shall Cromwell live a greater man than I?
My envy with his honour now is bred;
I hope to shorten Cromwell by the head.
[Exit.]
ACT IV. SCENE II. London. A street before Cromwell's house.
[Enter Friskiball very poor.]
FRISKIBALL.
O Friskiball, what shall become of thee?
Where shalt thou go, or which way shalt thou turn
Fortune, that turns her too unconstant wheel,
Hath turned thy wealth and riches in the Sea.
All parts abroad where ever I have been
Grows weary of me, and denies me succour;
My debtors, they that should relieve my want,
Forswears my money, says they owe me none:
They know my state too mean to bear out law,
And here in London, where I oft have been,
And have done good to many a wretched man,
I am now most wretched here, despised my self.
In vain it is, more of their hearts to try;
Be patient, therefore, lay thee down and die.
[He lies down.]
[Enter good man Seely, and his wife Joan.]
SEELY.
Come, Joan, come; let's see what he'll do for us now. Iwis we have done for him, when many a time and often he might have gone a hungry to bed.
WIFE.
Alas, man, now he is made a Lord, he'll never look upon us; he'll fulfill the old Proverb: Set beggars a horse-back, and they'll ride.—A, welliday for my Cow! such as he hath made us come behind hand: we had never pawned our Cow else to pay our rent.
SEELY.
Well, Joan, he'll come this way: and by God's dickers, I'll tell him roundly of it, and if he were ten Lords: a shall know that I had not my Cheese and my Bacon for nothing.
WIFE.