Great king, they spared my life, the butchers spared it! Return'd the tyrant, my unnatural uncle, Of fear and of disdain; fear of the tyrant Of living so unknown, in such a servile And abject lowness, prompted me to thoughts My bondage, and made haste to let my aunt K. Ja. My lord, it stands not with your counsel now To fly upon invectives; if you can Make this apparent what you have discours'd, An answer, but are ready in your cause. War. You are a wise and just king, by the powers Above reserv'd, beyond all other aids, Of my conveyance next, of my life since, The means, and persons who were instruments, bounty, Royal magnificence to him that seeks it, We vow hereafter to demean ourself, As if we were your own and natural brother; To express a gratitude beyond example. K. Ja. He must be more than subject who can utter The language of a king, and such is thine. Come, we will taste a while our court-delights, Lead on [Exeunt all but the ladies. Countess. I have not seen a gentleman Of a more brave aspect, or goodlier carriage; His fortunes move not him-Madam, you are passionate.+ Kath. Beshrew me, but his words have touch'd me home, As if his cause concern'd me; I should pity him, If he should prove another than he seems. Enter CRAWFord. Craw. Ladies, the king commands your presence instantly, For entertainment of the duke. Kath. "The duke" Dur A Flourish.-Enter King HENRY, OXFORD, DUR HAM, SURREY. K. Hen. Have ye condemn'd my chamberlain? Dur. His treasons Condemn'd him, sir; which were as clear and manifest, As foul and dangerous: besides, the guilt Without an importunity. ✦ Madam, you are passionate.] i. e. distressed, deeply affected: the Countess had observed Katherine weeping. K. Hen. Oh, lord bishop, This argued shame and sorrow for his folly, Is sometimes too too bitter; but we carry I hope we may reprieve him from the sentence Dur. You may, you may; And so persuade your subjects that the title Oxf. By Vere's old honours, I'll cut his throat dares speak it. To engage a soul in. K. Hen. What a coil is here To keep my gratitude sincere and perfect! Stanley was once my friend,' and came in time 5 Stanley was once my friend, &c.] Much of this is from the noble historian. The king certainly holds a very different language from that which we had in a former page; but it is characteristic of his close, cold, and selfish nature. "As a little leaven (Bacon To save my life; yet, to say truth, my lords, Unless I should divide my crown with him, And give him half; though now I well perceive "Twould scarce have serv'd his turn, without the whole. But I am charitable, lords; let justice K. Hen. If he speak to me, I could deny him nothing; to prevent it, I must withdraw. Pray, lords, commend my fa vours To his last peace, which, with him, I will Of other following troubles. Orf. I am glad pray for: [Exit. He's gone; upon my life he would have pardon'd The traitor, had he seen him. says) of new distaste doth commonly sour the whole lump of former merit, the king's wit began now to suggest unto his passion, that Stanley at Bosworth-field, though he came in time to save his life, yet he staid long enough to endanger it.". After all, the writer hints, as broadly as he dared, that Stanley's main guilt lay in his vast accumulations, which Henry viewed with too greedy an eye. |