About the hour of eight, (which he himself
Foretold, fhould be his laft) full of repentance,
Continual meditations, tears and forrows,
He gave his honours to the world again,
His bleffed part to heav'n, and flept in peace.

Cath. So may he reft, his faults lie gently on him! (28).
Yet thus far, Griffith, give me leave to speak him,
And yet with charity; he was a man

Of an unbounded ftomach, ever ranking
Himself with Princes: one, that by suggestion
Ty'd all the kingdom; fimony was fair play:
His own opinion was his law. I' th' prefence
He would fay untruths, and be ever double
Both in his words and meaning. He was never,
But where he meant to ruin, pitiful.

His promises were, as he then was, mighty;
But his performance, as he now is, nothing.
Of his own body he was ill, and gave.
The clergy ill example..

Grif. Noble Madam,

Men's evil manners live in brafs, their virtues
We write in water. May it pleafe your. Highnefs
To hear me speak his good now ?

Cath. Yes, good Griffith,

Iwere malicious elfe.

Grif. This Cardinal, (29).

Though

(28) His faults lie buried with him!] This reading was firft adopted. by Mr. Rewe; all the old copies have it, as I have reftor'd in the text. The poet feem'd to have in his eye the cuftomary with among the Latins,- -Sit tibi terra levis ! Which Beaumont and Fletcher have exprefs'd in their MAID's Tragedy;

Upon my buried body lay lightly, gentle earth! The oppofite to this expreffion of our poet's here, bis faults lie gently on bim!-occurs frequently-in menace to Richard 3d, from the ghosts of those whom.. he had murder'd :

Let me fit heavy on thy foul to morrow!
Let us be laid within thy bofom, Richard,
And weigh thee down to ruin!

(29)

This Cardinal:

Though from an bumble stock, undoubtedly
Was fashion'd to much honour. From bis cradle.

He was a fcholar, and a ripe, and good one;] Thus this paffage has

hitherto

Though from an humble ftock, undoubtedly
Was fashion'd to much honour, from his cradle;
He was a scholar, and a ripe and good one;
Exceeding wife, fair fpoken, and perfuading;
Lofty and four to them, that lov'd him not;
But to thofe men, that fought him, fweet as fummer.
And though he were unfatisfy'd in getting,
(Which was a fin) yet in beftowing, Madam,
He was moft princely: Ever witness for him
Thofe twins of learning that he rais'd in you,
Ipfwich and Oxford! one of which fell with him,
Unwilling to out-live the good he did it:
The other, though unfinifh'd, yet fo famous,
So excellent in art, and ftill fo rifing,
That Christendom fhall ever fpeak his virtue.
His overthrow heap'd happiness upon him;
For then, and not till then, he felt himself,
And found the bleffedness of being little :
And, to add greater honours to his age
Than man could give him, he dy'd, fearing God.
Cath. After my death I with no other herald,
No other speaker of my living actions,
To keep mine honour from corruption,
But fuch an honest chronicler as Griffith.
Whom I moft hated living, thou haft made me,
With thy religious truth and modefty,

Now in his ashes honour. Peace be with him!
Patience, be near me ftill, and fet me lower.
I have not long to trouble thee. Good Griffith,
Caufe the musicians play me that fad note,
I nam'd my knell; whilst I fit meditating
On that celeftial harmony I go to.

Sad and folemn mufick.

Grif. She is afleep: good wench, let's fit down quiet, For fear we wake her. Softly, gentle Patience.

hitherto been moft abfurdly pointed. That Wolfey. fhould be a rife fcbolar from his cradle, is most extraordinary and incredible. My alteration of the pointing, I dare be pofitive, gives us the poet's meaning; and expreffes that character, which, Holing fhead tells us, Edmund Campian, in his hiftory of Ireland, had given of the Cardinal,. that he was a man undoubtedly born to honour.

The

The vifion. Enter folemnly one after another, fix perfonages, clad in white robes, wearing on their heads garlands of bays, and golden vizards on their faces; branches of bays, or palm in their hands. They first congee unto her, then dance; and, at certain changes, the first two hold a spare. garland over her head; at which, the other four. make reverend curtfies. Then the two, that held the garland, deliver the fame to the other next two; who obferve the fame order in their changes, and holding the garland overher head: Which done, they deliver the fame garland to the last two, who likewife obferve the fame order: (At: which, as it were by infpiration, he makes in her fleep figns of rejoycing, and holdeth up her hands to heaven.) And fo in their dancing vanish, carrying the garland with them. The mufick continues.

Cath. Spirits of peace, where are ye? are ye gone And leave me here in wretchedness behind ye è Grif. Madam, we're here.

Cath. It is not you I call for ;.
Saw ye none enter, fince I flept?
Grif. None, Madam.

Cath. Not faw you not ev'n now a bleffed troop.
Invite me to a banquet, whofe bright faces
Caft thousand beams upon me, like the fun?
They promis'd me eternal happiness,

And brought me garlands, Griffith, which I feel
I am not worthy yet to wear: I fhall affuredly.
Grif. I am moft joyful, Madam, fuch. good dreams.
Poffefs your fancy.

Cath. Bid the mufick leave,

"Tis harsh and heavy to me.

Pat. Do you note,.

[Mufick ceafes..

How much her Grace is alter'd on the fudden?

How long her face is drawn? how pale fhe looks,.

And of an earthy cold? obferve her eyes.

Grif. She is going, wench. Pray, pray,

Pat. Heav'n comfort her!

Enter a Meffenger.

- Mef. And't like

your Grace

Cath

Cath. You are a faucy fellow,
Deserve we no more rev'rence?
Grif. You're to blame,

Knowing, fhe will not lofe her wonted greatnefs,
To use fo rude behaviour. Go to, kneel.

Mef. I humbly do intreat your Highnefs' pardon: My hafte made me unmannerly. There is ftaying A gentleman, fent from the King, to fee you.

Cath. Admit him entrance, Griffith. But this fellow Let me ne'er fee again. [Exit Meffenger.

Enter Lord Capucius.

If my fight fail not,

You should be Lord Ambaffador from the Emperor,
My royal nephew; and your name Capucius.

Cap. Madam, the fame, your fervant.
Cath. O my Lord,

The times and titles now are alter'd ftrangely

With me, fince first

you knew me. But, I pray you,

What is your pleasure with me?

Cap. Noble Lady,

Firft, mine own fervice to your Grace; the next,
The King's requeft that I would vifit you;

Who grieves much for your weakness, and by me.
Sends you his princely commendations,

And heartily intreats you take good comfort.

Cath. O my good Lord, that comfort comes too late 'Tis like a pardon after execution;

That gentle phyfick, giv'n in time, had cur'd me;
But now I'm paft all comforts here, but prayers.
How does his Highness?

Cap. Madam, in good health.

Cath. So may he ever do, and ever flourish, When I fhall dwell with worms, and my poor name Banish'd the kingdom! Patience, is that letter,

I caus'd you write, yet fent away?

Pat. No, Madam.

Cath. Sir, I must humbly pray you to deliver

This to my Lord the King.

Cap. Moft willing, Madam.

Cath. In which I have commended to his goodness

The model of our chafte loves, his young daughter;
(The dews of heav'n fall thick in bleffings on her!)
Befeeching him to give her virtuous breeding,
(She's young, and of a noble modest nature;
I hope, fhe will deferve well) and a little
To love her for her mother's fake, that lov'd him,
Heav'n knows, how dearly! my next poor petition
Is, that his noble Grace would have fome pity
Upon my wretched women, that so long
Have follow'd both my fortunes faithfully;
Of which there is not one, I dare avow,
(And now I should not lye) but well deserve,
For virtue and true beauty of the foul,
For honefty and decent carriage,

A right good husband, let him be a noble :
And, fure, thofe men are happy, that shall have 'em.
The laft is for my men; they are the pooreft,
But poverty could never draw 'em from me;
That they may have their wages duly paid 'em,
And fomething over to remember me.

If heav'n had pleas'd to've giv'n me longer life
And able means, we had not parted thus.

Thefe are the whole contents. And, good my Lord,
By that you love the dearest in this world,

As you with christian peace to fouls departed,
Stand thefe poor peopies friend, and urge the King
To do me this laft right.

Cap. By heav'n, I will;

Or let me lofe the fashion of a man.
Cath. I thank you, honeft Lord.
In all humility unto his Highness;

Remember me

And tell him, his long trouble now is paffing
Out of this world. Tell him, in death I bleft him ;
For fo I will-mine eyes grow dim. Farewel,
My Lord-Grifub, farewel-nay, Patience,
You must not leave me yet. I must to bed-
Call in more women-When I'm dead, good wench,
Let me be us'd with honour; ftrew me over
With maiden flow'rs, that all the world may know
I was a chafte wife to my grave: embalm me,
Then lay, me forth; although un-queen'd, yet like

A