Henry Chettle - Sir Thomas More ACT 3. SCENE 2. lyrics

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. Shrieve. This fellow was a principal broacher of the broil. Faulkner. 'Sblood, I broached none; it was broached and half run out, before I had a lick at it. Shrieve. And would be brought before no justice but your honor. Faulkner. I am hailed, my noble lord. More. No ear to choose for every trivial noise but mine, and in so full a time? Away! You wrong me, Master Shrieve: dispose of him At your own pleasure; send the knave to Newgate. Faulkner. To Newgate! 'sblood, Sir Thomas More, I appeal, I appeal from Newgate to any of the two worshipful Counters. More. Fellow, whose man are you, that are thus lusty? Faulkner. My name's Jack Faulkner; I serve, next under God and my prince, Master Morris, secretary to my Lord of Winchester. More. A fellow of your hair is very fit To be a secretary's follower! Faulkner. I hope so, my lord. The fray was between the Bishops' men of Ely and Winchester; and I could not in honor but part them. I thought it stood not with my reputation and degree to come to my questions and answers before a city justice: I knew I should to the pot. More. Thou hast been there, it seems, too late already. Faulkner. I know your honor is wise and so forth; and I desire to be only cathecized or examined by you, my noble Lord Chancellor. More. Sirrah, sirrah, you are a busy dangerous ruffian. Faulkner. Ruffian! More. How long have you worn this hair? Faulkner. I have worn this hair ever since I was born. More. You know that's not my question, but how long Hath this shag fleece hung dangling on they head? Faulkner. How long, my lord? why, sometimes thus long, sometimes lower, as the Fates and humors please. More. So quick, sir, with me, ha? I see, good fellow, Thou lovest plain dealing. Sirrah, tell me now, When were you last at barbers? how long time Have you upon your head worn this shag hair? Faulkner. My lord, Jack Faulkner tells no Aesops fables: troth, I was not at barbers this three years; I have not been cut not will not be cut, upon a foolish vow, which, as the Destinies shall direct, I am sworn to keep. More. When comes that vow out? Faulkner. Why, when the humors are purged, not this three years. More. Vows are recorded in the court of Heaven, For they are holy acts. Young man, I charge thee And do advise thee, start not from that vow: And, for I will be sure thou shalt not shrieve, Besides, because it is an odious sight To see a man thus hairy, thou shalt lie In Newgate till thy vow and thy three years Be full expired.—Away with him! Faulkner. My lord— More. Cut off this fleece, and lie there but a month. Faulkner. I'll not lose a hair to be Lord Chancellor of Europe. More. To Newgate, then. Sirrah, great sins are bred In all that body where there's a foul head. Away with him. Exeunt all except Randall. Enter Surrey, Erasmus, and Attendants. Surrey. Now, great Erasmus, you approach the presence Of a most worthy learned gentleman: This little isle holds not a truer friend Unto the arts; nor doth his greatness add A feigned flourish to his worthy parts; He's great in study; that's the statist's grace, That gains more reverence than the outward place. Erasmus. Report, my lord, hath crossed the narrow seas, And to the several parts of Christendom, Hath borne the fame of your Lord Chancellor: I long to see him, whom with loving thoughts I in my study oft have visited. Is that Sir Thomas More? Surrey. It is, Erasmus: Now shall you view the honorablest scholar, The most religious politician, The worthiest counsellor that tends our state. That study is the general watch of England; In it the prince's safety, and the peace That shines upon our commonwealth, are forged By loyal industry. Erasmus. I doubt him not To be as near the life of excellence As you proclaim him, when his meanest servants Are of some weight: you saw, my lord, his porter Give entertainment to us at the gate In Latin good phrase; what's the master, then, When such good parts shine in his meanest men? Surrey. His Lordship hath some weighty business; For, see, yet he takes no notice of us. Erasmus. I think twere best I did my duty to him In a short Latin speech.— Qui in celiberima patria natus est ett gloriosa, plus habet negotii ut in lucem veniat quam qui— Randall. I prithee, good Erasmus, be covered. I have forsworn speaking of Latin, else, as I am true counsellor, I'd tickle you with a speech. Nay, sit, Erasmus;—sit, good my Lord of Surrey. I'll make my lady come to you anon, if she will, and give you entertainment. Erasmus. Is this Sir Thomas More? Surrey. Oh good Erasmus, you must conceive his vain: He's ever furnished with these conceits. Randall. Yes, faith, my learned poet doth not lie for that matter: I am neither more nor less than merry Sir Thomas always. Wilt sup with me? by God, I love a parlous wise fellow that smells of a politician better than a long progress. Enter Sir Thomas More. Surrey. We are deluded; this is not his lordship. Randall. I pray you, Erasmus, how long will the Holland cheese in your country keep without maggots? More. Fool, painted barbarism, retire thyself Into thy first creation! Exit Randall. Thus you see, My loving learned friends, how far respect Waits often on the ceremonious train Of base illiterate wealth, whilst men of schools, Shrouded in poverty, are counted fools. Pardon, thou reverent German, I have mixed So slight a jest to the fair entertainment Of thy most worthy self; for know, Erasmus, Mirth wrinkles up my face, and I still crave, When that forsakes me I may hug my grave. Erasmus. Your honor's merry humor is best physic Unto your able body; for we learn Where melancholy chokes the pa**ages Of blood and breath, the erected spirit still Lengthens our days with sportful exercise: Study should be the saddest time of life. The rest a sport exempt from thought of strife. More. Erasmus preacheth gospel against physic, My noble poet. Surrey. Oh, my Lord, you tax me In that word poet of much idleness: It is a study that makes poor our fate; Poets were ever thought unfit for state. More. O, give not up fair poesy, sweet lord, To such contempt! That I may speak my heart, It is the sweetest heraldry of art, That sets a difference 'tween the tough sharp holly And tender bay tree. Surrey. Yet, my lord, It is become the very logic number To all mechanic sciences. More. Why, I'll show the reason: This is no age for poets; they should sing To the loud canon heroica facta; Qui faciunt reges heroica carmina laudant: And, as great subjects of their pen decay, Even so unphysicked they do melt away. Enter Master Morris. Come, will your lordship in?—My dear Erasmus— I'll hear you, Master Morris, presently.— My lord, I make you master of my house: We'll banquet here with fresh and staid delights, The Muses music here shall cheer our sprites; The cates must be but mean where scholars sit, For they're made all with courses of neat wit. Exeunt Surrey, Erasmus, and Attendants. How now, Master Morris? Morris. I am a suitor to your lordship in behalf of a servant of mine. More. The fellow with long hair? good Master Morris, Come to me three years hence, and then I'll hear you. Morris. I understand your honor: but the foolish knave has submitted himself to the mercy of a barber, and is without, ready to make a new vow before your lordship, hereafter to leave cavil. More. Nay, then, let's talk with him; pray, call him in. Enter Faulkner and Officers. Faulkner. Bless your honor! a new man, my lord More. Why, sure, this is not he. Faulkner. And your lordship will, the barber shall give you a sample of my head: I am he in faith, my lord; I am ipse. More. Why, now thy face is like an honest man's: Thou hast played well at this new cut, and won. Faulkner. No, my lord; lost all that ever God sent me. More. God sent thee into the world as thou art now, With a short hair. How quickly are three years Run out of Newgate! Faulkner. I think so, my lord; for there was but a hair's length between my going thither and so long time. More. Because I see some grace in thee, go free.— Discharge him, fellows.—Farewell, Master Morris.— Thy head is for thy shoulders now more fit; Thou hast less hair upon it, but more wit. Exit. Morris. Did not I tell thee always of these locks? Faulkner. And the locks were on again, all the goldsmiths in Cheapside should not pick them open. 'Sheart, if my hair stand not on end when I look for my face in a gla**, I am a polecat. Here's a lousy jest! but, if I notch not that rogue Tom barber, that makes me look thus like a Brownist, hang me! I'll be worse to the nitticall knave than ten tooth drawings. Here's a head, with a pox! Morris. What ails thou? art thou mad now? Faulkner. Mad now! nails, if loss of hair cannot mad a man, what can? I am deposed, my crown is taken from me. More had been better a scoured Moreditch than a notched me thus: does he begin sheepshearing with Jack Faulkner? Morris. Nay, and you feed this vein, sir, fare you well. Faulkner. Why, farewell, frost. I'll go hang myself out for the Poll Head. Make a Saracen of Jack? Morris. Thou desperate knave! for that I see the devil Wholly gets hold of thee— Faulkner. The devil's a damned rascal. Morris. I charge thee, wait on me no more; no more Call me thy master. Faulkner. Why, then, a word, Master Morris. Morris. I'll hear no words, sir; fare you well. Faulkner. 'Sblood, farewell. Morris. Why dost thou follow me? Faulkner. Because I'm an a**. Do you set your shavers upon me, and then cast me off? must I condole? have the Fates played the fools? am I their cut? now the poor sconce is taken, must Jack march with bag and baggage? Weeps. Morris. You coxcomb! Faulkner. Nay, you ha' poached me; you ha' given me a hair; it's here, hear. Morris. Away, you kind a**! come, sir, dry your eyes: Keep you old place, and mend these fooleries. Faulkner. I care not to be turned off, and 'twere a ladder, so it be in my humor, or the Fates beckon to me. Nay, pray, sir, if the Destinies spin me a fine thread, Faulkner flies another pitch; and to avoid the headache hereafter, before I'll be a hairmonger, I'll be a who*emonger. Exeunt.