And yet words are no deeds. My father love

you;

He said he did, and with his deed did crown

His word upon you. Since I had my office,

I have kept you next my heart; have not alone Employ'd you where high profits might come home But pared my present havings to bestow

My bounties upon you.

Wol.

What should this mean?

[aside.

Have I not made you

Sur. The Lord increase this business!

K. Hen.

The prime man of the state? I pray you, tell me, If what I now pronounce you have found true ; And, if you may confess it, say withal,

If you are bound to us or no.

What say you?

Wol. My sovereign, I confess, your royal graces,
Shower'd on me daily, have been more than could
My studied purposes requite, which went
Beyond all man's endeavors: my endeavors
Have ever come too short of my desires,
Yet filed1 with my abilities: mine own ends
Have been mine so, that evermore they pointed
To the good of your most sacred person, and
The profit of the state. For your great graces
Heap'd upon me, poor undeserver, I

Can nothing render but allegiant thanks,
My prayers to Heaven for you, my loyalty,
Which ever has, and ever shall be growing,

1 Yet have gone an equal pace.

Till death, that winter, kill it.

K. Hen.

A loyal and obedient subject is

Fairly answer'd;

Therein illustrated: the honor of it

Does pay the act of it; as, i' the contrary,
The foulness is the punishment. I presume,
That, as my hand has open'd bounty to you,
My heart dropp'd love, my power rain'd honor,

more

On you than any, so your hand, and heart,
Your brain, and every function of your power,
Should, notwithstanding that your bond of duty,
As 'twere in love's particular, be more,

To me, your friend, than any.

Wol.

I do profess,

That for your highness' good I ever labor'd

More than mine own; that am, have, and will be. Though all the world should crack their duty to

you,

And throw it from their soul; though perils did

Abound, as thick as thought could make them, and
Appear in forms more horrid ;-yet my duty,
As doth a rock against the chiding flood,
Should the approach of this wild river break,
And stand unshaken yours.

K. Hen.

'Tis nobly spoken:

Take notice, lords, he has a loyal breast,
For you have seen him open 't.

Read o'er this,

[giving him papers.

And, after, this; and then to breakfast with

What appetite you have.

[Exit King, frowning upon Cardinal Wolsey: the Nobles throng after him, smiling and whispering.

Wol.

What should this mean?

What sudden anger 's this? how have I reap'd it?

He parted frowning from me, as if ruin

Leap'd from his eyes: so looks the chafed lion Upon the daring huntsman that has gall'd him; Then makes him nothing. I must read this paper; I fear the story of his anger. "Tis so;

This paper has undone me :-'tis the account

Of all that world of wealth I have drawn together
For mine own ends; indeed, to gain the popedom,
And fee my friends in Rome. O negligence,
Fit for a fool to fall by! What cross devil
Made me put this main secret in the packet
I sent the king? Is there no way to cure this?
No new device to beat this from his brains?
I know, 'twill stir him strongly; yet I know
A way, if it take right, in spite of fortune,
Will bring me off again. What's this? To the
pope?'

The letter, as I live, with all the business

I writ to his holiness. Nay, then, farewell!

I have touch'd the highest point of all my greatness;
And, from that full meridian of my glory,

I haste now to my setting: I shall fall
Like a bright exhalation in the evening,
And no man see me more.