The Life of Henry the Eighth. Уильям Шекспир

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      Whither away so fast?

      O, God save ye!

      Even to the hall, to hear what shall become

      Of the great Duke of Buckingham.

      I'll save you

      That labour, sir. All's now done, but the ceremony

      Of bringing back the prisoner.

      Were you there?

      Yes, indeed, was I.

      Pray, speak what has happen'd.

      You may guess quickly what.

      Is he found guilty?

      Yes, truly is he, and condemn'd upon't.

      I am sorry for't.

      So are a number more.

      But, pray, how pass'd it?

      I'll tell you in a little. The great Duke

      Came to the bar; where to his accusations

      He pleaded still not guilty and alleged

      Many sharp reasons to defeat the law.

      The King's attorney on the contrary

      Urg'd on the examinations, proofs, confessions

      Of divers witnesses; which the Duke desir'd

      To have brought viva voce to his face;

      At which appear'd against him his surveyor;

      Sir Gilbert Peck his chancellor; and John Car,

      Confessor to him, with that devil-monk,

      Hopkins, that made this mischief.

      That was he

      That fed him with his prophecies?

      The same.

      All these accus'd him strongly; which he fain

      Would have flung from him, but, indeed, he could not.

      And so his peers, upon this evidence,

      Have found him guilty of high treason. Much

      He spoke, and learnedly, for life; but all

      Was either pitied in him or forgotten.

      After all this, how did he bear himself?

      When he was brought again to the bar, to hear

      His knell rung out, his judgment, he was stirr'd

      With such an agony, he sweat extremely,

      And something spoke in choler, ill, and hasty.

      But he fell to himself again, and sweetly

      In all the rest show'd a most noble patience.

      I do not think he fears death.

      Sure, he does not;

      He never was so womanish. The cause

      He may a little grieve at.

      Certainly

      The Cardinal is the end of this.

      'Tis likely,

      By all conjectures: first, Kildare's attainder,

      Then deputy of Ireland; who remov'd,

      Earl Surrey was sent thither, and in haste too,

      Lest he should help his father.

      That trick of state

      Was a deep envious one.

      At his return

      No doubt he will requite it. This is noted,

      And generally, whoever the King favours,

      The Cardinal instantly will find employment,

      And far enough from court too.

      All the commons

      Hate him perniciously, and, o' my conscience,

      Wish him ten fathom deep. This duke as much

      They love and dote on; call him bounteous Buckingham,

      The mirror of all courtesy, —

      Stay there, sir,

      And see the noble ruin'd man you speak of.

      Let's stand close, and behold him.

      All good people,

      You that thus far have come to pity me,

      Hear what I say, and then go home and lose me.

      I have this day receiv'd a traitor's judgement,

      And by that name must die; yet, Heaven bear witness,

      And if I have a conscience, let it sink me,

      Even as the axe falls, if I be not faithful!

      The law I bear no malice for my death;

      'T has done, upon the premises, but justice;

      But those that sought it I could wish more Christians.

      Be what they will, I heartily forgive 'em;

      Yet let 'em look they glory not in mischief,

      Nor build their evils on the graves of great men,

      For then my guiltless blood must cry against 'em.

      For further life in this world I ne'er hope,

      Nor will I sue, although the King have mercies

      More than I dare make faults. You few that lov'd me

      And dare be bold to weep for Buckingham,