Buck. I read in's looks 125
Matter against me, and his eye reviled[57]
Me as his abject object: at this instant[57]
He bores me with some trick: he's gone to the king;[58]
I 'll follow and outstare him.
Nor. Stay, my lord,
And let your reason with your choler question 130
What 'tis you go about: to climb steep hills
Requires slow pace at first: anger is like
A full-hot horse, who being allow'd his way,[59]
Self-mettle tires him. Not a man in England
Can advise me like you: be to yourself 135
As you would to your friend.
Buck. I'll to the king;
And from a mouth of honour quite cry down
This Ipswich fellow's insolence, or proclaim
There's difference in no persons.
Nor. Be advised;
Heat not a furnace for your foe so hot 140
That it do singe yourself: we may outrun,
By violent swiftness, that which we run at,
And lose by over-running. Know you not,[60]
The fire that mounts the liquor till't run o'er
In seeming to augment it wastes it? Be advised:[61] 145
I say again, there is no English soul
More stronger to direct you than yourself,[62]
If with the sap of reason you would quench,
Or but allay, the fire of passion.
Buck. Sir,
I am thankful to you; and I'll go along 150
By your prescription: but this top-proud fellow—
Whom from the flow of gall I name not but[63]
From sincere motions—by intelligence
And proofs as clear as founts in July when[64]
We see each grain of gravel, I do know 155
To be corrupt and treasonous.
Nor. Say not 'treasonous.'
Buck. To the king I'll say 't; and make my vouch as strong
As shore of rock. Attend. This holy fox,
Or wolf, or both—for he is equal ravenous[65][66]
As he is subtle, and as prone to mischief[65] 160
As able to perform't; his mind and place[65]
Infecting one another, yea, reciprocally—[65]
Only to show his pomp as well in France
As here at home, suggests the king our master
To this last costly treaty, the interview, 165
That swallow'd so much treasure, and like a glass
Did break i' the rinsing.[67]
Nor. Faith, and so it did.
Buck. Pray, give me favour, sir. This cunning cardinal[68]
The articles o' the combination drew[69]
As himself pleased; and they were ratified 170
As he cried 'Thus let be,' to as much end[70]
As give a crutch to the dead: but our count-cardinal[71]
Has done this, and 'tis well; for worthy Wolsey,
Who cannot err, he did it. Now this follows—
Which, as I take it, is a kind of puppy 175
To the old dam, treason—Charles the emperor,
Under pretence to see the queen his aunt—
For 'twas indeed his colour, but he came
To whisper Wolsey—here makes visitation:
His fears were that the interview betwixt 180
England and France might through their amity
Breed him some prejudice; for from this league
Peep'd harms that menaced him: he privily[72]
Deals with our cardinal; and, as I trow—[73]
Which I do well, for I am sure the emperor 185
Paid ere he promised; whereby his suit was granted
Ere it was ask'd—but when the way was made
And paved with gold, the emperor thus desired,[74]
That he would please to alter the king's course
And break the foresaid peace. Let the king know, 190
As soon he shall by me, that thus the cardinal
Does buy and sell his honour as he pleases
And for his own advantage.[75]
Nor. I am sorry
To hear this of him, and could wish he were[76]
Something mistaken in't.