felves in order on each fide, Cromwell at the lower And, by that virtue, no man dare accufe you.
Gard. My lord, because we have business of more
end, as Secretary.

1 Chan. Speak to the bufinefs, mafter Secretary: Why are we met in council?

Grom. Please your honours,

The chief caufe concerns his grace of Canterbury.
Gard. Has he had knowledge of it?
Crom. Yes.

Nor. Who waits there?

D. Keep. Without, my noble lords?
Gard. Yes.

D. Keep. My lord archbishop ;

moment,

[pleasure,

We will be short with you. 'Tis his highness'
And our confent, for better trial of you,
From hence you be committed to the Tower;
Where, being but a private man again,
You shall know many dare accuse you boldly,
More than, I fear, you are provided for. [thank you,
Gran. Ah, my good lord of Winchester, I
if
will país,
You are always my good friend ; your
I thall both find your lordfhip judge and juror,

And has done half an hour, to know your pleafures. You are fo merciful: I fee your end,

Chan. Let him come in.

D. Keep. Your grace may enter now.
[Cranmer approaches the council table.
Chan. My good lord archbishop, I am very forry
To fit here at this prefent, and behold
That chair stand empty: But we all are men,
In our own natures frail; and capable

Of our flesh, few are angels 2: out of which frailty,
And want of wildom, you, that best should teach us,
Have mildemean'd yourfelf, and not a little,
Toward the king firft, then his laws, in filling [lains,
The whole realm, by your teaching, and your chap-|
(For fo we are inform'd) with new opinions,
Divers, and dangerous; which are herefies,
And, not reform'd, may prove pernicious.

['em,

Gard. Which reformation must be fudden too,
My noble lords: for thofe, that tame wild hores,
Pace 'em not in their hands to make 'em gentle;
But top their mouths with itubborn bits, and spur
'Till they obey the manage. If we futter
(Out of our eafinefs, and childish pity
To one man's honour) this contagious fickness,
Farewel all phyfic: And what follows then?
Commotions, uproars, with a general taint
Of the whole ftate: as, of late days, our neighbours,
The upper Germany, can dearly witness,
Yet freshly pitied in our memories.

Gran. My good lords, hitherto, in all the progrefs
Both of my life and office, I have labour'd,
And with no little ftudy, that my teaching,
And the strong course of my authority,
Might go one way, and fafely; and the end
Was ever, to do well: nor is there living
(I fpeak it with a single heart, my lords)
A man, that more detefts, more ftirs against,
Both in his private confcience, and his place,
Defacers of a public peace, than I do.
Pray heaven, the king may never find a heart
With lefs allegiance in it! Men, that make
Envy, and crooked malice, nourishment,
Dare bite the beft. I do befeech your lordships,
That, in this cafe of juftice, my accufers,
Be what they will, may ftand forth face to face,
And freely urge against me.

Suf. Nay, my lord,

That cannot be; you are a counsellor,

'Tis my undoing: Love, and meekness, lord,
Become a churchman better than ambition;
Win ftraying fouls with modelty again,
Caft none away. That I fhall clear myself,
Lay all the weight ye can upon my patience,
I make as little doubt, as you do confcience
In doing daily wrongs. I could fay more,
But reverence to your calling makes me modeft.
Gard. My lord, my lord, you are a fectary,
That's the plain truth; your painted glois 3 difcovers,
To men that understand you, words and weakness.

Crom. My lord of Winchester, you are a little,
By your good favour, too fharp; men so noble,
However faulty, yet should find respect
For what they have been: 'tis a cruelty,
To load a falling man.

Gard. Good matter Secretary,

cry your honour mercy; you may, worst Of all this table, fay fo.

Crom. Why, my lord?

Gard. Do not I know you for a favourer
Of this new fect? ye are not found.

Crom. Not found?

Gard. Not found, L fay.

Com. 'Would you were half fo honest!

Men's prayers then would feek you, not their fears.
Gard. I fhall remember this bold language.
Crom. Do:

Remember your bald life too.

Cham. This is too much;
Forbear, for fhame, my lords.
Gard. I have done.
Crom. And I.

[agreed,

Cham. Then thus for you, my lord,-It stands
I take it, by all voices, that forthwith
You be convey'd to the Tower a prifoner;
There to remain, 'till the king's further pleasure
Be known unto us: Are you all agreed, lords?
All. We are.

Cran. Is there no other way of mercy,
But I muft needs to the Tower, my lords?
Gard. What other.

Would you expect? You are ftrangely troublesome:"
Let fome o' the guard be ready there.
Enter Guard.

Cran. For me?

1 This lord chancellor, though a character, has hitherto had no place in the Dramatis Perfona. In the laft fcene of the fourth act, we heard that Sir Thomas More was appointed lord chancellor: but it is not he, whom the poet here introduces. Wolfcy, by command, delivered up the feals on the 18th of November, 1529; on the 25th of the fame month, they were delivered to Sir Thomas More, who surrender'd them on the 16th of May, 1532. Now the conclufion of this feene taking notice of queen Elizabeth's birth (which brings it down to the year 1534), Sir Thomas Audlic mult neceffarily 2 Meanbe our poct's chancellor; who fucceeded Sir Thomas More, and held the feals many years. 3 i. c. your fair outfide. ing, perhaps, Few are perfect, while they remain in their mortal capacity,

Muft

King. You were ever good at fudden commen-Witness how dear I hold this confirmation.

The Palace Yard.
Noife and tumult within: Enter Porter, and his Man.
Port. You'll leave your noise anonyˇye rafcals:
Do you take the court for 2 Paris-garden ? ye rude
flaves, leave your gaping.

Within. Good mafter porter, I belong to the larder.

Port. Belong to the gallows, and be hang'd, you rogue. Is this a place to roar in ?-Fetch me a dozen crab-tree staves, and strong ones; these are but fwitches to 'em.-I'll fcratch your heads: You must be feeing christenings? Do you look for Jale and cakes here, you rude rascals?

Man. Pray, fir, be patient; 'tis as much impoffible

1 Mr. Steevens fays, "It was the cuftom, long before the time of Shakspeare, for the sponsors at chriftenings to offer gilt spoons as a prefent to the child. Thefe fpoons were called apofle spoons, becaufe the figures of the apoftles were carved on the tops of the handles. Such as were at once opu lent and generous, gave the whole twelve; thofe who were either more moderately rich or liberal, efcaped at the expence of the four evangelifts; or even fometimes contented themfelves with prefeating one fpoon only, which exhibited the figure of any faint in honour of whom the childˇreș served its name.' ""

2 The bear-garden of that time, and in a line with Bridewell.

(Unless we sweep them from the door with cannons)
To fcatter 'em, as 'tis to make 'em fleep
On May-day morning; which will never be:
We may as well puth against Paul's, as ftir 'em.
Port. How got they in, and be hang'd?

Man. Alas, I know not; How gets the tide in?
As much as one found cudgel of four foot
(You see the poor remainder) could distribute,
I made no fpare, fir.

Port. You did nothing, fir.

Enter the Lord Chamberlain.

Cham. Mercy o' me, what a multitude are here! They grow ftill too, from all parts they are coming, As if we kept a fair! Where are thefe porters, These lazy knaves?-Ye have made a fine hand, fellows.

Man. I am not Sampfon, nor Sir Guy, nor Col-There's a trim rabble let in: Are all thefe [have brand 2, to mow 'em down before me: but, if I Your faithful friends o' the fuburbs? We fhall fpar'd any, that had a head to hit, either young or Great store of room, no doubt, luft for the ladies, old, he or the, cuckold or cuckold-maker, let me When they pafs back from the chriftening. Port. Please your honour, never hope to see a chine again; and that I would not for a cow, God fave her.

Within. Do you hear, mafter Porter?

We are but men; and what fo many may do,
Not being torn a-pieces, we have done :

Port. I fhall be with you prefently, good master An army cannot rule 'em. puppy. Keep the door clofe, firrah.

Man. What would you have me do?

Cham. As 1 live,

If the king blame me for 't, I'll lay ye all Port. What fhould you do, but knock 'em By the heels, and fuddenly; and on your heads down by the dozens? Is this Morefields to muster Clap round fines, for neglect: You are lazy knaves; in? or have we fome ftrange Indian with the And here ye lie baiting of bumbards 9, when great tool come to court, the women fo befiege Ye fhould do fervice. Hark, the trumpets found; us? Blefs me, what a fry of fornication is at door! They are come already from the christening: O' my christian confcience, this one chriftening Go, break among the prefs, and find a way out will beget a thousand: here will be father, god-To let the troop país fairly; or I'll find father, and all together.

Man. The fpoons will be the bigger, fir. There is a fellow fomewhat near the door, he should be a brafier 3 by his face, for, o' my confcience, twenty of the dog-days now reign in's nofe; all that stand about him are under the line, they need no other penance: that fire-drake did I hit three times on the head, and three times was his nofe disch rg'd against me; he stands there like a mortar-piece, to blow us. There was a haberdasher's wife of fmall wit near him, that rail'd upon me 'till her pink'd porringer fell off her head, for kindling fuch a combuftion in the ftate. I mits d the meteor once, and hit that woman, who cry'd out, clubs! when I might fee from far fome forty truncheoneers draw to her fuccour, which were the hope of the ftrand, where the was quarter'd. They fell on; I made good my place; at length they came to the broomstaff with me, I defy'd 'em ftill; when fuddenly a file of boys behind 'em, loofe shot, deliver'd fuch a fhower of pebbles, that 1 was fain to draw mine honour in, and let 'em win the work: The devil was amongit 'em, I think, furely.

Port. These are the youths that thunder at a playhoute, and fight for bitten apples; that no audience, but the tribulation of Tower-hill7, or the limbs of Limehouse, their dear brothers, are able

A Marthalfea, fhall hold you play these two months.
Port. Make way there for the princess.
Man. You great fellow, ftand close up, or I'll
make your head ake.

Port. You i'the camblet, get up o' the rail; I'll [Exeunt. peck you o'er the pales elfe.

SCE N E IV. The Palace. Enter Trumpets, founding; then two Aldermen, Lord Mayor, Garter, Cranmer, Duke of Norfolk with bis Marshal's faff, Duke of Suffolk, two Noblemen bearing two great flanding bowls for the chriftening gifts; then four Noblemen bearing canopy, under which the Dutchefs of Norfolk, godmother, bearing the child richly habited in a mangle, &c. Train borne by a Lady: then follows the Marchionefs of Dorfet, the other godmother, and Ladies. The troop pafs once about the stage, and Garter Speaks.

a

Gart. Heaven, from thy endless goodness, fend profperous life, long, and ever happy, to the high and mighty princefs of England, Elizabeth!

Flourish. Enter King, and Train.

Gran. [Kneeling.] And to your royal grace, and

the good queen,

My noble partners, and myself, thus pray;—
All comfort, joy, in this most gracious lady,
Heaven ever laid up to make parents happy,

I It was anciently the custom for all ranks of people to go out a Maying on the first of May. 2 Of Guy of Warwick every one has heard. Colbrand was the Danifh giant, whom Guy fubdued at Winchefter. 3 Abrasier fignifies a man that manufactures brass, and a refervoir for charcoal occafionally 4 A fire-drake is both a ferpent, anheated to convey warmth. Both thefe fenfes are here understood. ciently called a brenning-drake, or dipfis, and a name formerly given to a Will o' th' Wifp, or ignis fatuus. 5 i. e. the brafier. 6 The prices of feats for the A fire-drake was likewife an artificial firework. vulgar in our ancient theatres were so very low (viz. a penny, twopence, and fixpence, each, for the ground, gallery, and rooms:-the boxes were somewhat higher, being a fhilling and half-a-crown), that we can not wonder if they were filled with the tumultuous company defcribed by Shak fpcare in this fcene; 7 Dr. Johnfon fufefpecially when it is added, that tobacco was fmoaked, and ale drank in them. 8 A publick whipping. 9 To butt pects the Tribulation to have been a puritanical meeting-house. bumbards is to tipple, to lie at the fpigot. Bumbards were large veffels in which the beer was carried to foldiers upon duty. They resembled black jacks of leather.

May hourly fall upon ye!

King. Thank you, good lord archbishop: What is her name?

Cran. Elizabeth.

King. Stand up, lord. [The King kisses the child. With this kifs take my blefling: God protect thee! Into whofe hand I give thy life.

Cran. Amen.

[digal:
King. My noble goffips, ye have been too pro-
I thank ye heartily; to thall this lady,
When the has so much English.

Cran. Let me fpeak, fir,

As great in admiration as herself;

So fhall the leave her bleffedness to one,

(When heaven shall call her from this cloud of
darkness)

Who, from the facred afhes of her honour,
Shall star-like rife, as great in fame as the was,
And fo ftand fix'd: Peace, plenty, love, truth, terror,
That were the fervants to this chofen infant,
Shall then be his, and like a vine grow to him;
Wherever the bright fun of heaven fhall fhine,
His honour, and the greatness of his name
Shall be, and make new nations: He fhall flourish,
And, like a mountain cedar, reach his branches
To all the plains about him :-Our children's children
Shall fee this, and bless heaven.

For heaven now bids me; and the words I utter
Let none think flattery, for they'll find 'em truth.
This royal infant, (heaven ftill move about her !)
Though in her cradle, yet now promifes
Upon this land a thoufand thoufand bleflings,
Which time thell bring to ripenefs: She fhall be
(But few now living can behold that goodness)
A pattern to all princes living with her,
And all that fhall fucceed: Sheba was never
More covetous of wifdom, and fair virtue,
Than this pure foul fhall be: all princely graces,
That mould up fuch a mighty piece as this is,
With all the virtues that attend the good,
Shall still be doubled on her: truth fhall nurfe
Holy and heavenly thoughts ftill counfel her:
She thall be lov'd, and fear'd: Her own fhall blefs | That, when I am in heaven, I fhall defire
Her foes shake like a field of beaten corn, [her,
And hang their heads with forrow: Good grows

King. Thou fpeakest wonder.]

Cran. She thall be, to the happinefs of England,
An aged princess 2; many days thall fee her,
And yet no day without a deed to crown it.
Would I had known no more! but the muft de,
She muft, the faints must have her; yet a virgin,
A mott unipotted lily fhall the pafs

with her :

To the ground, and all the world thall mourn her.
King. O lord archbishop,

Thou haft made me now a man; never, before
her,This happy child, did I get any thing:
This oracle of comfort has fo pleas'd me,

In her days, every man fhall eat in fafety,
Under his own vine, what he plants; and fing
The merry fongs of peace to all his neighbours :
God fhall be truly known; and thote about her
From her fhall read the perfect way of honour,
And by thofe claim their greatnefs, not by blood.
[Nor fhall this peace fleep with her: But as when
The bird of wonder dies, the maiden phoenix,
Her afhes new create another heir,

To fee what this child does, and praife my Maker.-
I thank ye all.--To you, my good lord mayor,
And your good brethren, I am much beholden;
I have receiv'd much honour by your prefence,
And ye thall find me thankful. Lead the way,
lords ;-

Ye must all fee the queen, and the muft thank ye,
She will be fick elie. This day, no man think
He has bufinefs at his houfe; for all shall stay,
This little one fhall make it holiday.

[Excunt.

EPILOGU E3.

'TIS ten to one this play can never please

All that are here: Some come to take their eafe,
And fleep an act or two; but thofe, we fear,
We have frighted with our trumpets; jo, 'tis clear,
They'll fay, 'tis naught: others, to bear the city
Abus'd extremely, and to cry,-that's witty!
Which we have not done neither: that, I fear,
All the expected good we are like to hear

For this play at this time, is only in
The merciful conflruction of good women;
For fuch a one we ji ew'd'em: If they imile,
ind fay, 'twill do, I know, within a while
All the bojl men are ours; for 'tis ill bat,
If they bold, when their ladies bid'em clap.

1 Thefe lines, to the interruption by the king, feem to have been inferted at fome revifal of the play, after the acceffion of king Jan.es. 2 Theobald remarks, that the tranfition here from the complimentary addrefs to king James the fitft is fo abrupt, that it feems to him, that compliment was inferted after the acceffion of that prince. If this play was wrote, as in his opinion it was, in the reign of queen Elizabeth, we may cafily determine where Cranmer's eulogium of that princels concluded. He makes no queftion but the poet retted here :

And claim by theje their greatness, not by blood.

All that the bishop fays after this, was an occafional homage paid to her fucceffor, and evidently inferted after her demife. 3 Dr. Johnfon is of opinion, with other Critics, that both the Pro Jut and Epilogue to Henry VIII, were written by ben Jonfon, 4 In the character of Katharine.

CORIOLANUS

The SCENE is partly in Rome; and partly in the Territories of the Volfcians and Antiates.

SCENE

A Street in Rome.

A C T I.

I.

enemy to the people.

All. We know't, we know't.

we become rakes 3; for the gods know, I speak this in hunger for bread, not in thirst for revenge. 2 Cit. Would you proceed especially against Caius Marcius?

All. Againft him first; he's a very dog to the commonalty.

2 Cit. Confider you what fervices he has done for his country?

1 Cit. Very well; and could be content to give him good report for't, but that he pays himfelf with being proud.

All. Nay, but fpeak not maliciously.

1 Cit. I fay unto you, what he hath done famoufly, he did it to that end: though foft-con

1 Cit. Let us kill him, and we'll have corn at fcienc'd men can be content to fay, it was for his our own price. Is't a verdict?

All. No more talking on't; let it be done away, away.

2 Cit. One word, good 2 citizens.

1 Cit. We are accounted poor citizens; the patricians, good: What authority furfeits on, would relieve us: If they would yield us but the fuperfluity, while it were wholefome, we might guefs, they relieved us humanely: but they think, we are too dear: the leannefs that afflicts us, the object of our mifery, is as an inventory to particularize their abundance; our fufferance is a gain to them. Let us revenge this with our pikes, ere!

country, he did it to pleate his mother, and to be partly proud; which he is even to the altitude of his virtue.

2 Cit. What he cannot help in his nature, you account a vice in him: You muft in no way lay, he is covetous.

1 Cit. If I must not, I need not be barren of accufations; he hath faults, with furplus, to tire in repetition. [Shouts within.] What fhouts are there? The other fide the city is rifen: Why itay we prating here to the Capitol ?

All. Come, come.

I Cit. Soft; who comes here?

The whole history is exactly followed, and many of the principal fpeeches exactly copied from the Life of Coriolanus in Plutarch. 2 Good is here ufed in the mercantile fente. 3 Alluding to the proverb, as lean as a rake; which perhaps owes its origin to the thin taper form of the inftrument made ufe of by hay-makers. Dr. Johnfon obferves, that Rakel, in Inlandick, is faid to mean a cur-dog, and this was probably the fritule among us of the word rake. As tean as a rakei, therefore, as lean as a dog too worthlefs to be fed.

Enter