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 burden, Cromwell, 'tis a burden Too heavy for a man that hopes for heaven! CROM. I'm glad your grace has made that right use of it. WOL. I hope I have: I'm able now, methinks, CROM. The heaviest and the worst Is your displeasure with the king. WOL. God bless him! CROM. The next is, that Sir Thomas More1 is chosen Lord Chancellor in your place. WOL. That's somewhat sudden But he's a learned man. May he continue For truth's sake and his conscience; that his bones, CROM. That Cranmer is return'd with welcome; Install'd Lord Archbishop of Canterbury. WOL. That's news indeed! 1 Sir Thomas More-Succeeded Wolsey as Chancellor, but resigned his honours in 1432, and was executed as a traitor for refusing to acknowledge the invalidity of Henry's marriage with Catherine of Arragon. 2 Cranmer-Made Archbishop of Canterbury, 1533. He declared Henry's marriage with Catherine null; aided to bring about the Reformation, and suffered for this at the stake, 1556. CROM. Last, that the Lady Anne,1 WOL. There was the weight that pull'd me down: The king has gone beyond me: all my glories To be thy lord and master. Seek the king: What and how true thou art; he will advance thee: I know his noble nature-not to let Thy hopeful service perish too. Good Cromwell, CROM. O my lord, Must I then leave you? must I needs forego WOL. Cromwell, I did not think to shed a tear, 1 Lady Anne-Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry VIII. It was through the marriage of the king with her that Wolsey fell into disgrace. Let's dry our eyes; and thus far hear me, Cromwell; And sleep in dull cold marble, where no mention 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- 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 my own. O Cromwell, Cromwell, CROM. Good sir, have patience. WOL. So I have; farewell The hopes of court! my hopes in heaven do dwell. SHAKSPERE JAQ. All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players; And then the whining School-boy, with his satchel, And shining morning-face, creeping like snail Unwillingly to school. And then the Lover, Sighing like furnace, with a woful ballad Made to his mistress' eye-brow. Then the Soldier, Full of strange oaths,d bearded like the pard; Jealous in honour, sudden, and quick in quarrel; Seeking the bubble reputation Even in the cannon's mouth. And then-the Justice With eyes severe, and beard of formal cut, SHAKSPERE. JOSEPH ADDISON. "A candid censor, and a friend sincere; He taught us how to live: and, oh! too high ELEGY ON ADDISON. "The Graces having searched all the world for a temple wherein they might for ever dwell, settled at last in the breast of Addison." [Joseph Addison is celebrated for the quiet humour and tender grace of his writings, prose and poetical. He was born in 1672, and died in 1719. His early education was at the Charterhouse, London, and the University of Oxford. By means of a pension from the Government of the day he was enabled to complete his education by foreign travel, and on his return his talents procured him the office of Under Secretary of State. He afterwards became Member of Parliament, but the "bashfulness of his nature made his wit and eloquence useless in debate. He once rose; but could not overcome his diffidence, and ever after remained silent." Later than this he was made Secretary of State. Addison wrote papers for the celebrated Tatler" and Spectator," most of his contributions being signed with one of the letters of the word "Clio." The effect of these papers was such that "since his time the open violation of decency has always been considered among us as the mark of a fool." The finest poetical work of Addison is "Cato." Previous to his death, which took place in 1719, he sent for the Earl of Warwick, who had been leading a wicked life, and told him, "I have sent for you that you may see in what peace a Christian can die." |