Henry VIII E-Book

William Shakespeare

• Herausgeber: JH
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2019

Beschreibung

The Famous History of the Life of King Henry the Eighth is a history play by William Shakespeare, based on the life of Henry VIII of England. An alternative title, All is True, is recorded in contemporary documents, the title Henry VIII not appearing until the play's publication in the First Folio of 1623. Stylistic evidence indicates that the play was written by Shakespeare in collaboration with, or revised by, his successor, John Fletcher. It is also somewhat characteristic of the late romances in its structure.

Leseprobe

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THE PROLOGVE.

I Come no more to make you laugh, Things now,

That beare a Weighty, and a Serious Brow,

Sad, high, and working, full of State and Woe:

Such Noble Scoenes, as draw the Eye to flow

We now present. Those that can Pitty, heere

May (if they thinke it well) let fall a Teare,

The Subiect will deserue it. Such as giue

Their Money out of hope they may beleeue,

May heere finde Truth too. Those that come to see

Onely a show or two, and so agree,

The Play may passe: If they be still, and willing,

Ile vndertake may see away their shilling

Richly in two short houres. Onely they

That come to heare a Merry, Bawdy Play,

A noyse of Targets: Or to see a Fellow

In a long Motley Coate, garded with Yellow,

Will be deceyu'd. For gentle Hearers, know

To ranke our chosen Truth with such a show

As Foole, and Fight is, beside forfeyting

Our owne Braines, and the Opinion that we bring

To make that onely true, we now intend,

Will leaue vs neuer an vnderstanding Friend.

Therefore, for Goodnesse sake, and as you are knowne

The First and Happiest Hearers of the Towne,

Be sad, as we would make ye. Thinke ye see

The very Persons of our Noble Story,

As they were Liuing: Thinke you see them Great,

And follow'd with the generall throng, and sweat

Of thousand Friends: Then, in a moment, see

How soone this Mightinesse, meets Misery:

And if you can be merry then, Ile say,

A Man may weepe vpon his Wedding day.

Actus Primus. Scoena Prima.

Enter the Duke of Norfolke at one doore. At the other, the Duke of

Buckingham, and the Lord Aburgauenny.

Buckingham. Good morrow, and well met. How haue ye done

Since last we saw in France?

Norf. I thanke your Grace:

Healthfull, and euer since a fresh Admirer

Of what I saw there

Buck. An vntimely Ague

Staid me a Prisoner in my Chamber, when

Those Sunnes of Glory, those two Lights of Men

Met in the vale of Andren

Nor. 'Twixt Guynes and Arde,

I was then present, saw them salute on Horsebacke,

Beheld them when they lighted, how they clung

In their Embracement, as they grew together,

Which had they,

What foure Thron'd ones could haue weigh'd

Such a compounded one?

Buck. All the whole time

I was my Chambers Prisoner

Nor. Then you lost

The view of earthly glory: Men might say

Till this time Pompe was single, but now married

To one aboue it selfe. Each following day

Became the next dayes master, till the last

Made former Wonders, it's. To day the French,

All Clinquant all in Gold, like Heathen Gods

Shone downe the English; and to morrow, they

Made Britaine, India: Euery man that stood,

Shew'd like a Mine. Their Dwarfish Pages were

As Cherubins, all gilt: the Madams too,

Not vs'd to toyle, did almost sweat to beare

The Pride vpon them, that their very labour

Was to them, as a Painting. Now this Maske

Was cry'de incompareable; and th' ensuing night

Made it a Foole, and Begger. The two Kings

Equall in lustre, were now best, now worst

As presence did present them: Him in eye,

Still him in praise, and being present both,

'Twas said they saw but one, and no Discerner

Durst wagge his Tongue in censure, when these Sunnes

(For so they phrase 'em) by their Heralds challeng'd

The Noble Spirits to Armes, they did performe

Beyond thoughts Compasse, that former fabulous Storie

Being now seene, possible enough, got credit

That Beuis was beleeu'd

Buc. Oh you go farre

Nor. As I belong to worship, and affect

In Honor, Honesty, the tract of eu'ry thing,

Would by a good Discourser loose some life,

Which Actions selfe, was tongue too

Buc. All was Royall,

To the disposing of it nought rebell'd,

Order gaue each thing view. The Office did

Distinctly his full Function: who did guide,

I meane who set the Body, and the Limbes

Of this great Sport together?

Nor. As you guesse:

One certes, that promises no Element

In such a businesse

Buc. I pray you who, my Lord?

Nor. All this was ordred by the good Discretion

Of the right Reuerend Cardinall of Yorke

Buc. The diuell speed him: No mans Pye is freed

From his Ambitious finger. What had he

To do in these fierce Vanities? I wonder,

That such a Keech can with his very bulke

Take vp the Rayes o'th' beneficiall Sun,

And keepe it from the Earth

Nor. Surely Sir,

There's in him stuffe, that put's him to these ends:

For being not propt by Auncestry, whose grace

Chalkes Successors their way; nor call'd vpon

For high feats done to'th' Crowne; neither Allied

To eminent Assistants; but Spider-like

Out of his Selfe-drawing Web. O giues vs note,

The force of his owne merit makes his way

A guift that heauen giues for him, which buyes

A place next to the King

Abur. I cannot tell

What Heauen hath giuen him: let some Grauer eye

Pierce into that, but I can see his Pride

Peepe through each part of him: whence ha's he that,

If not from Hell? The Diuell is a Niggard,

Or ha's giuen all before, and he begins

A new Hell in himselfe

Buc. Why the Diuell,

Vpon this French going out, tooke he vpon him

(Without the priuity o'th' King) t' appoint

Who should attend on him? He makes vp the File

Of all the Gentry; for the most part such

To whom as great a Charge, as little Honor

He meant to lay vpon: and his owne Letter

The Honourable Boord of Councell, out

Must fetch him in, he Papers

Abur. I do know

Kinsmen of mine, three at the least, that haue

By this, so sicken'd their Estates, that neuer

They shall abound as formerly

Buc. O many

Haue broke their backes with laying Mannors on 'em

For this great Iourney. What did this vanity

But minister communication of

A most poore issue

Nor. Greeuingly I thinke,

The Peace betweene the French and vs, not valewes

The Cost that did conclude it

Buc. Euery man,

After the hideous storme that follow'd, was

A thing Inspir'd, and not consulting, broke

Into a generall Prophesie; That this Tempest

Dashing the Garment of this Peace, aboaded

The sodaine breach on't

Nor. Which is budded out,

For France hath flaw'd the League, and hath attach'd

Our Merchants goods at Burdeux

Abur. Is it therefore

Th' Ambassador is silenc'd?

Nor. Marry is't

Abur. A proper Title of a Peace, and purchas'd

At a superfluous rate

Buc. Why all this Businesse

Our Reuerend Cardinall carried

Nor. Like it your Grace,

The State takes notice of the priuate difference

Betwixt you, and the Cardinall. I aduise you

(And take it from a heart, that wishes towards you

Honor, and plenteous safety) that you reade

The Cardinals Malice, and his Potency

Together; To consider further, that

What his high Hatred would effect, wants not

A Minister in his Power. You know his Nature,

That he's Reuengefull; and I know, his Sword

Hath a sharpe edge: It's long, and't may be saide

It reaches farre, and where 'twill not extend,

Thither he darts it. Bosome vp my counsell,

You'l finde it wholesome. Loe, where comes that Rock

That I aduice your shunning.

Enter Cardinall Wolsey, the Purse borne before him, certaine of

the Guard,

and two Secretaries with Papers: The Cardinall in his passage,

fixeth his

eye on Buckingham, and Buckingham on him, both full of

disdaine.

Car. The Duke of Buckinghams Surueyor? Ha?

Where's his Examination?

Secr. Heere so please you

Car. Is he in person, ready?

Secr. I, please your Grace

Car. Well, we shall then know more, & Buckingham

Shall lessen this bigge looke.

Exeunt. Cardinall, and his Traine.

Buc. This Butchers Curre is venom'd-mouth'd, and I

Haue not the power to muzzle him, therefore best

Not wake him in his slumber. A Beggers booke,

Out-worths a Nobles blood

Nor. What are you chaff'd?

Aske God for Temp'rance, that's th' appliance onely

Which your disease requires

Buc. I read in's looks

Matter against me, and his eye reuil'd

Me as his abiect obiect, at this instant

He bores me with some tricke; He's gone to'th' King:

Ile follow, and out-stare him

Nor. Stay my Lord,

And let your Reason with your Choller question

What 'tis you go about: to climbe steepe hilles

Requires slow pace at first. Anger is like

A full hot Horse, who being allow'd his way

Selfe-mettle tyres him: Not a man in England

Can aduise me like you: Be to your selfe,

As you would to your Friend

Buc. Ile to the King,

And from a mouth of Honor, quite cry downe

This Ipswich fellowes insolence; or proclaime,

There's difference in no persons

Norf. Be aduis'd;

Heat not a Furnace for your foe so hot

That it do sindge your selfe. We may out-runne

By violent swiftnesse that which we run at;

And lose by ouer-running: know you not,

The fire that mounts the liquor til't run ore,

In seeming to augment it, wasts it: be aduis'd;

I say againe there is no English Soule

More stronger to direct you then your selfe;

If with the sap of reason you would quench,

Or but allay the fire of passion

Buck. Sir,

I am thankfull to you, and Ile goe along

By your prescription: but this top-proud fellow,

Whom from the flow of gall I name not, but

From sincere motions, by Intelligence,

And proofes as cleere as Founts in Iuly, when

Wee see each graine of grauell; I doe know

To be corrupt and treasonous

Norf. Say not treasonous

Buck. To th' King Ile say't, & make my vouch as strong

As shore of Rocke: attend. This holy Foxe,

Or Wolfe, or both (for he is equall rau'nous

As he is subtile, and as prone to mischiefe,

As able to perform't) his minde, and place

Infecting one another, yea reciprocally,

Only to shew his pompe, as well in France,

As here at home, suggests the King our Master

To this last costly Treaty: Th' enteruiew,

That swallowed so much treasure, and like a glasse

Did breake ith' wrenching

Norf. Faith, and so it did

Buck. Pray giue me fauour Sir: This cunning Cardinall

The Articles o'th' Combination drew

As himselfe pleas'd; and they were ratified

As he cride thus let be, to as much end,

As giue a Crutch to th' dead. But our Count-Cardinall

Has done this, and tis well: for worthy Wolsey

(Who cannot erre) he did it. Now this followes,

(Which as I take it, is a kinde of Puppie

To th' old dam Treason) Charles the Emperour,

Vnder pretence to see the Queene his Aunt,

(For twas indeed his colour, but he came

To whisper Wolsey) here makes visitation,

His feares were that the Interview betwixt

England and France, might through their amity

Breed him some preiudice; for from this League,

Peep'd harmes that menac'd him. Priuily

Deales with our Cardinal, and as I troa

Which I doe well; for I am sure the Emperour

Paid ere he promis'd, whereby his Suit was granted

Ere it was ask'd. But when the way was made

And pau'd with gold: the Emperor thus desir'd,

That he would please to alter the Kings course,

And breake the foresaid peace. Let the King know

(As soone he shall by me) that thus the Cardinall

Does buy and sell his Honour as he pleases,

And for his owne aduantage

Norf. I am sorry

To heare this of him; and could wish he were

Somthing mistaken in't

Buck. No, not a sillable:

I doe pronounce him in that very shape

He shall appeare in proofe.

Enter Brandon, a Sergeant at Armes before him, and two or three

of the

Guard.

Brandon. Your Office Sergeant: execute it

Sergeant. Sir,

My Lord the Duke of Buckingham, and Earle

Of Hertford, Stafford and Northampton, I

Arrest thee of High Treason, in the name

Of our most Soueraigne King

Buck. Lo you my Lord,

The net has falne vpon me, I shall perish

Vnder deuice, and practise

Bran. I am sorry,

To see you tane from liberty, to looke on

The busines present. Tis his Highnes pleasure

You shall to th' Tower

Buck. It will helpe me nothing

To plead mine Innocence; for that dye is on me

Which makes my whit'st part, black. The will of Heau'n

Be done in this and all things: I obey.

O my Lord Aburgany: Fare you well

Bran. Nay, he must beare you company. The King

Is pleas'd you shall to th' Tower, till you know

How he determines further

Abur. As the Duke said,

The will of Heauen be done, and the Kings pleasure

By me obey'd

Bran. Here is a warrant from

The King, t' attach Lord Mountacute, and the Bodies

Of the Dukes Confessor, Iohn de la Car,

One Gilbert Pecke, his Councellour

Buck. So, so;

These are the limbs o'th' Plot: no more I hope

Bra. A Monke o'th' Chartreux

Buck. O Michaell Hopkins?

Bra. He

Buck. My Surueyor is falce: The oregreat Cardinall

Hath shew'd him gold; my life is spand already:

I am the shadow of poore Buckingham,

Whose Figure euen this instant Clowd puts on,

By Darkning my cleere Sunne. My Lords farewell.

Exe.

Scena Secunda.

Cornets. Enter King Henry, leaning on the Cardinals shoulder, the Nobles, and Sir Thomas Louell: the Cardinall places himselfe vnder the Kings feete on his right side.

King. My life it selfe, and the best heart of it,

Thankes you for this great care: I stood i'th' leuell

Of a full-charg'd confederacie, and giue thankes

To you that choak'd it. Let be cald before vs

That Gentleman of Buckinghams, in person,

Ile heare him his confessions iustifie,

And point by point the Treasons of his Maister,

He shall againe relate.

A noyse within crying roome for the Queene, vsher'd by the Duke

of

Norfolke. Enter the Queene, Norfolke and Suffolke: she kneels.