Henry VIII: Act 2, Scene 1 Translation

Enter two Gentlemen at several doors.

FIRST GENTLEMAN
Whither away so fast?

SECOND GENTLEMAN O, God save you.
E’en to the Hall to hear what shall become
Of the great Duke of Buckingham.

FIRST GENTLEMAN I’ll save you 5
That labor, sir. All’s now done but the ceremony
Of bringing back the prisoner.

SECOND GENTLEMAN Were you there?

FIRST GENTLEMAN
Yes, indeed was I.

SECOND GENTLEMAN Pray speak what has happened. 10

FIRST GENTLEMAN
You may guess quickly what.

SECOND GENTLEMAN Is he found guilty?

FIRST GENTLEMAN
Yes, truly, is he, and condemned upon ’t.

SECOND GENTLEMAN
I am sorry for ’t.

FIRST GENTLEMAN So are a number more. 15

SECOND GENTLEMAN But pray, how passed it?

FIRST GENTLEMAN
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. 20
The King’s attorney on the contrary
Urged on the examinations, proofs, confessions
Of divers witnesses, which the Duke desired
To him brought viva voce to his face;
At which appeared against him his surveyor, 25
Sir Gilbert Peck his chancellor, and John Car,
Confessor to him, with that devil monk,
Hopkins, that made this mischief.

SECOND GENTLEMAN That was he
That fed him with his prophecies? 30

FIRST GENTLEMAN The same.
All these accused 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 35
He spoke, and learnèdly, for life, but all
Was either pitied in him or forgotten.

SECOND GENTLEMAN
After all this, how did he bear himself?

FIRST GENTLEMAN
When he was brought again to th’ bar to hear
His knell rung out, his judgment, he was stirred 40
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 showed a most noble patience.

SECOND GENTLEMAN
I do not think he fears death. 45

FIRST GENTLEMAN Sure he does not;
He never was so womanish. The cause
He may a little grieve at.

SECOND GENTLEMAN Certainly
The Cardinal is the end of this. 50

FIRST GENTLEMAN ’Tis likely,
By all conjectures; first, Kildare’s attainder,
Then Deputy of Ireland, who, removed,
Earl Surrey was sent thither, and in haste too,
Lest he should help his father. 55

SECOND GENTLEMAN That trick of state
Was a deep envious one.

FIRST GENTLEMAN At his return
No doubt he will requite it. This is noted,
And generally: whoever the King favors, 60
The Card’nal instantly will find employment,
And far enough from court too.

SECOND GENTLEMAN All the commons
Hate him perniciously and, o’ my conscience,
Wish him ten fathom deep. This duke as much 65
They love and dote on, call him bounteous
Buckingham,
The mirror of all courtesy.

FIRST GENTLEMAN Stay there, sir,
And see the noble ruined man you speak of. 70

Enter Buckingham from his arraignment, Tipstaves before
him, the ax with the edge towards him, Halberds on each
side, accompanied with Sir Thomas Lovell, Sir Nicholas
Vaux, Sir Walter Sands, and Common People, etc.

SECOND GENTLEMAN
Let’s stand close and behold him.

BUCKINGHAM 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 received a traitor’s judgment, 75
And by that name must die. Yet heaven bear witness,
And if I have a conscience, let it sink me
Even as the ax falls, if I be not faithful!
The law I bear no malice for my death;
’T has done, upon the premises, but justice. 80
But those that sought it I could wish more Christian.
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. 85
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 loved me
And dare be bold to weep for Buckingham,
His noble friends and fellows, whom to leave 90
Is only bitter to him, only dying,
Go with me like good angels to my end,
And as the long divorce of steel falls on me,
Make of your prayers one sweet sacrifice,
And lift my soul to heaven.—Lead on, a’ God’s name. 95

LOVELL
I do beseech your Grace, for charity,
If ever any malice in your heart
Were hid against me, now to forgive me frankly.

BUCKINGHAM
Sir Thomas Lovell, I as free forgive you
As I would be forgiven. I forgive all. 100
There cannot be those numberless offenses
’Gainst me that I cannot take peace with. No black
envy
Shall make my grave. Commend me to his Grace.
And if he speak of Buckingham, pray tell him 105
You met him half in heaven. My vows and prayers
Yet are the King’s and, till my soul forsake,
Shall cry for blessings on him. May he live
Longer than I have time to tell his years.
Ever beloved and loving may his rule be; 110
And when old Time shall lead him to his end,
Goodness and he fill up one monument!

LOVELL
To th’ waterside I must conduct your Grace,
Then give my charge up to Sir Nicholas Vaux,
Who undertakes you to your end. 115

VAUX, calling as to Officers offstage Prepare there!
The Duke is coming. See the barge be ready,
And fit it with such furniture as suits
The greatness of his person.

BUCKINGHAM Nay, Sir Nicholas, 120
Let it alone. My state now will but mock me.
When I came hither, I was Lord High Constable
And Duke of Buckingham; now, poor Edward Bohun.
Yet I am richer than my base accusers,
That never knew what truth meant. I now seal it, 125
And with that blood will make ’em one day groan for ’t.
My noble father, Henry of Buckingham,
Who first raised head against usurping Richard,
Flying for succor to his servant Banister,
Being distressed, was by that wretch betrayed, 130
And, without trial, fell. God’s peace be with him.
Henry the Seventh, succeeding, truly pitying
My father’s loss, like a most royal prince
Restored me to my honors and out of ruins
Made my name once more noble. Now his son, 135
Henry the Eighth, life, honor, name, and all
That made me happy at one stroke has taken
Forever from the world. I had my trial,
And must needs say a noble one, which makes me
A little happier than my wretched father. 140
Yet thus far we are one in fortunes: both
Fell by our servants, by those men we loved most—
A most unnatural and faithless service.
Heaven has an end in all; yet, you that hear me,
This from a dying man receive as certain: 145
Where you are liberal of your loves and counsels
Be sure you be not loose; for those you make friends
And give your hearts to, when they once perceive
The least rub in your fortunes, fall away
Like water from you, never found again 150
But where they mean to sink you. All good people,
Pray for me. I must now forsake you. The last hour
Of my long weary life is come upon me.
Farewell. And when you would say something that
is sad, 155
Speak how I fell. I have done; and God forgive me.

Duke and train exit.

FIRST GENTLEMAN
O, this is full of pity, sir! It calls,
I fear, too many curses on their heads
That were the authors.

SECOND GENTLEMAN If the Duke be guiltless, 160
’Tis full of woe. Yet I can give you inkling
Of an ensuing evil, if it fall,
Greater than this.

FIRST GENTLEMAN Good angels keep it from us!
What may it be? You do not doubt my faith, sir? 165

SECOND GENTLEMAN
This secret is so weighty ’twill require
A strong faith to conceal it.

FIRST GENTLEMAN Let me have it.
I do not talk much.

SECOND GENTLEMAN I am confident; 170
You shall, sir. Did you not of late days hear
A buzzing of a separation
Between the King and Katherine?

FIRST GENTLEMAN Yes, but it held not;
For when the King once heard it, out of anger 175
He sent command to the Lord Mayor straight
To stop the rumor and allay those tongues
That durst disperse it.

SECOND GENTLEMAN But that slander, sir,
Is found a truth now, for it grows again 180
Fresher than e’er it was, and held for certain
The King will venture at it. Either the Cardinal,
Or some about him near, have, out of malice
To the good queen, possessed him with a scruple
That will undo her. To confirm this too, 185
Cardinal Campeius is arrived, and lately,
As all think, for this business.

FIRST GENTLEMAN ’Tis the Cardinal;
And merely to revenge him on the Emperor
For not bestowing on him at his asking 190
The archbishopric of Toledo this is purposed.

SECOND GENTLEMAN
I think you have hit the mark. But is ’t not cruel
That she should feel the smart of this? The Cardinal
Will have his will, and she must fall.

FIRST GENTLEMAN ’Tis woeful. 195
We are too open here to argue this.
Let’s think in private more.

They exit.