SURREY. In hope his highness' clemency and mercy, Which in the arms of mild and meek compassion Would rather clip you, as the loving nurse Oft doth the wayward infant, then to leave you To the sharp rod of justice, so to draw you To shun such lewd assemblies as beget Unlawful riots and such traitorous acts, That, striking with the hand of private hate, Maim your dear country with a public wound:-- Oh God, that Mercy, whose majestic brow Should be unwrinkled, and that awful Justice, Which looketh through a vail of sufferance Upon the frailty of the multitude, Should with the clamours of outrageous wrongs Be stirred and wakened thus to punishment!-- But your deserved death he doth forgive: Who gives you life, pray all he long may live.
ALL. God save the king, God save the king! My good Lord Chancellor, and the Earl of Surrey!
[Exeunt.]
SCENE II. Chelsea. A Room in More's House.
[A table being covered with a green carpet, a state cushion on it, and the Purse and Mace lying thereon, enter Sir Thomas More.]
MORE. it is in heaven that I am thus and thus; And that which we profanely term our fortunes Is the provision of the power above, Fitted and shaped just to that strength of nature Which we are borne withal. Good God, good Go, That I from such an humble bench of birth Should step as twere up to my country's head, And give the law out there! I, in my father's life, To take prerogative and tithe of knees From elder kinsmen, and him bind by my place To give the smooth and dexter way to me That owe it him by nature! Sure, these things, Not physicked by respect, might turn our blood To much corruption: but, More, the more thou hast, Either of honor, office, wealth, and calling, Which might excite thee to embrace and hub them, The more doe thou in serpents' natures think them; Fear their gay skins with thought of their sharp state; And let this be thy maxim, to be great Is when the thread of hayday is once 'spon, A bottom great wound up great undone.-- Come on, sir: are you ready?
[Enter Randall, attired like Sir Thomas More.]
RANDALL. Yes, my lord, I stand but on a few points; I shall have done presently. Before God, I have practised your lordship's shift so well, that I think I shall grow proud, my lord.
MORE. Tis fit thou shouldst wax proud, or else thou'lt ne'er Be near allied to greatness. Observe me, sirrah. The learned clark Erasmus is arrived Within our English court: last night I hear He feasted with our honored English poet, The Earl of Surrey; and I learned today The famous clark of Rotterdam will visit Sir Thomas More. Therefore, sir, take my seat; you are Lord Chancellor: dress your behavior According to my carriage; but beware You talk not over much, for twill betray thee: Who prates not much seems wise; his wit few scan; While the tongue blabs tales of the imperfect man. I'll see if great Erasmus can distinguish Merit and outward ceremony.
RANDALL. If I do not serve a share for playing of your lordship well, let me be yeoman usher to your sumpter, and be banished from wearing of a gold chain forever.
MORE. Well, sir, I'll hide our motion: act my part With a firm boldness, and thou winst my heart.
[Enter the Shrieve, with Faulkner a ruffian, and Officers.]
How now! what's the matter?
FAULKNER. Tug me not, I'm no bear. 'Sblood, if all the dogs in Paris Garden hung at my tail, I'd shake 'em off with this, that I'll appear before no king christened but my good Lord Chancellor.
SHRIEVE. We'll christen you, sirrah.--Bring him forward.
MORE. How now! what tumults make you?
FAULKNER. The azured heavens protect my noble Lord Chancellor!
MORE. What fellow's this?
SHRIEVE. A ruffian, my lord, that hath set half the city in an uproar.
FAULKNER. My lord--
SHRIEVE. There was a fray in Paternoster-row, and because they would not be parted, the street was choked up with carts.
FAULKNER. My noble lord, Paniar Allies throat was open.
MORE. Sirrah, hold your peace.
FAULKNER. I'll prove the street was not choked, but is as well as ever it was since it was a street.