How does your Grace?
Cromwell
How does your Grace?
Wolsey
Why, well.
Never so truly happy, my good Cromwell.
I know myself now, and I feel within me
A peace above all earthly dignities,
A still and quiet conscience. The King has cured me—
I humbly thank his Grace—and from these shoulders,
These ruined pillars, out of pity, taken
A load would sink a navy: too much honor.
O, ’tis a burden, Cromwell, ’tis a burden
Too heavy for a man that hopes for heaven.
No sun shall ever usher forth mine honors,
Or gild again the noble troops that waited
Upon my smiles.
Cromwell
I am glad your Grace has made that right use of it.
Wolsey
I hope I have. I am able now, methinks,
Out of a fortitude of soul I feel,
To endure more miseries and greater far
Than my weak-hearted enemies dare offer.
What news abroad?
Cromwell
The heaviest and the worst
Is your displeasure with the King.
Wolsey
God bless him.
Cromwell
The next is that Sir Thomas More is chosen
Lord Chancellor in your place.
Wolsey
That’s somewhat sudden.
But he’s a learnèd man. May he continue
Long in his Highness’ favor and do justice
For truth’s sake and his conscience, that his bones,
When he has run his course and sleeps in blessings,
May have a tomb of orphans’ tears wept on him.
What more?
Cromwell
That Cranmer is returned with welcome,
Installed Lord Archbishop of Canterbury.
Wolsey
That’s news indeed.
Cromwell
Last, that the Lady Anne,
Whom the King hath in secrecy long married,
This day was viewed in open as his queen,
Going to chapel, and the voice is now
Only about her coronation.
Wolsey
There was the weight that pulled me down.
O Cromwell,
The King has gone beyond me. All my glories
In that one woman I have lost forever.
No sun shall ever usher forth mine honors,
Or gild again the noble troops that waited
Upon my smiles. Go, get thee from me, Cromwell.
I am a poor fall’n man, unworthy now
To be thy lord and master. Seek the King;
That sun, I pray, may never set! I have told him
What and how true thou art. He will advance thee;
Some little memory of me will stir him—
I know his noble nature—not to let
Thy hopeful service perish too. Good Cromwell,
Neglect him not. Make use now, and provide
For thine own future safety.