And when he falls, he falls like Lucifer, Never to hope again.
Enter CROMWELL, and stands amazed Why, how now, Cromwell! CROMWELL I have no power to speak, sir. CARDINAL WOLSEY What, amazed At my misfortunes? can thy spirit wonder A great man should decline? Nay, an you weep, I am fall'n indeed. CROMWELL How does your grace? CARDINAL WOLSEY Why, well;Never so truly happy, my good Cromwell.
I know myself now; and I feel within me A peace above all earthly dignities, A still and quiet conscience. The king has cured me, I humbly thank his grace; and from these shoulders, These ruin'd pillars, out of pity, taken A load would sink a navy, too much honour:
O, 'tis a burthen, Cromwell, 'tis a burthen Too heavy for a man that hopes for heaven! CROMWELL I am glad your grace has made that right use of it. CARDINAL WOLSEY I hope I have: I am able now, methinks, Out of a fortitude of soul I feel, To endure more miseries and greater far Than my weak-hearted enemies dare offer.
What news abroad? CROMWELL The heaviest and the worst Is your displeasure with the king. CARDINAL WOLSEY God bless him! CROMWELL The next is, that Sir Thomas More is chosen Lord chancellor in your place. CARDINAL WOLSEY That's somewhat sudden:
But he's a learned man. May he continue Long in his highness' favour, and do justice For truth's sake and his conscience; that his bones, When he has run his course and sleeps in blessings, May have a tomb of orphans' tears wept on em!
What more? CROMWELL That Cranmer is return'd with welcome, Install'd lord archbishop of Canterbury. CARDINAL WOLSEY That's news indeed. CROMWELL Last, that the Lady Anne, Whom the king hath in secrecy long married, This day was view'd in open as his queen, Going to chapel; and the voice is now Only about her coronation. CARDINAL WOLSEY There was the weight that pull'd me down.
O Cromwell, The king has gone beyond me: all my glories In that one woman I have lost for ever:
No sun shall ever usher forth mine honours, Or gild again the noble troops that waited Upon my smiles. Go, get thee from me, Cromwell;I am a poor fall'n man, unworthy now To be thy lord and master: seek the king;That sun, I pray, may never set! I have told him What and how true thou art: he will advance thee;Some little memory of me will stir him--I know his noble nature--not to let Thy hopeful service perish too: good Cromwell, Neglect him not; make use now, and provide For thine own future safety. CROMWELL O my lord, Must I, then, leave you? must I needs forego So good, so noble and so true a master?
Bear witness, all that have not hearts of iron, With what a sorrow Cromwell leaves his lord.
The king shall have my service: but my prayers For ever and for ever shall be yours. CARDINAL WOLSEY Cromwell, I did not think to shed a tear In all my miseries; but thou hast forced me, Out of thy honest truth, to play the woman.
Let's dry our eyes: and thus far hear me, Cromwell;And, when I am forgotten, as I shall be, And sleep in dull cold marble, where no mention Of me more must be heard of, say, I taught thee, Say, Wolsey, that once trod the ways of glory, And sounded all the depths and shoals of honour, Found thee a way, out of his wreck, to rise in;A sure and safe one, though thy master miss'd it.
Mark but my fall, and that that ruin'd me.
Cromwell, I charge thee, fling away ambition:
By that sin fell the angels; how can man, then, The image of his Maker, hope to win by it?
Love thyself last: cherish those hearts that hate thee;Corruption wins not more than honesty.
Still in thy right hand carry gentle peace, To silence envious tongues. Be just, and fear not:
Let all the ends thou aim'st at be thy country's, Thy God's, and truth's; then if thou fall'st, O Cromwell, Thou fall'st a blessed martyr! Serve the king;And,--prithee, lead me in:
There take an inventory of all I have, To the last penny; 'tis the king's: my robe, And my integrity to heaven, is all I dare now call mine own. O Cromwell, Cromwell!
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