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 ruined pillars, out of pity, taken

A load would sink a navy—too much honour.

O, ’tis a burden, Cromwell, ’tis a burden

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 learnèd 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 him.

What more?

CROMWELL

That Cranmer is returned with welcome,

Installed 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 viewed in open as his queen,

Going to chapel, and the voice is now

Only about her coronation.

CARDINAL WOLSEY

There was the weight that pulled 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 ⌈weeping⌉

O, my lord,

Must I then leave you? Must I needs forgo

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 (weeping)

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 missed it.

Mark but my fall, and that that ruined 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,

Had I but served my God with half the zeal

I served my King, He would not in mine age

Have left me naked to mine enemies.

CROMWELL

Good sir, have patience.

CARDINAL WOLSEY So I have. Farewell

The hopes of court; my hopes in heaven do dwell.

Exeunt

4.1 Enter the two Gentlemen meeting one another. The first holds a paper

FIRST GENTLEMAN

You’re well met once again.

SECOND GENTLEMAN

So are you.

FIRST GENTLEMAN

You come to take your stand here and behold

The Lady Anne pass from her coronation?

SECOND GENTLEMAN

’Tis all my business. At our last encounter

The Duke of Buckingham came from his trial.

FIRST GENTLEMAN

’Tis very true. But that time offered sorrow,

This, general joy.

SECOND GENTLEMAN ’Tis well. The citizens,

I am sure, have shown at full their royal minds—

As, let ’em have their rights, they are ever forward—

In celebration of this day with shows,