Take up the rays o' the beneficial fun, Nor. Surely, fir, There's in him ftuff that puts him to these ends: Out of his felf-drawing web, he gives us note, Aber. I cannot tell What heaven hath given him, let fome graver eye Pierce into that; but I can fee his pride Peep through each part of him: Whence has he that? If not from hell, the devil is a niggard; Buck. Why the devil, Upon this French going-out, took he upon him, There may, perhaps, be a fingular propriety in this term of contempt. Wolfey was the fon of a butcher, and in the fecond part of King Henry IV. a butcher's wife is called--Goody Keech. STEEVENS. * Out of his felf-drawing web;-] Thus it ftands in the first edition. The later editors, by injudicious correction, have printed: Out of his felf-drawn web. JOHNSON. A gift that heaven gives for him, which buys A place next to the king.] It is evident a word or two in the fentence is misplaced, and that we should read: A gift that heaven gives; which buys for him A place next to the king. WARBURTON. It is full as likely that Shakespeare wrote: gives to him, which will fave any greater alteration. JOHNSON. I am too dull to perceive the neceffity of any change. What he is unable to give himself, heaven gives or depofits for him, and that gift, or depofit, buys a place, &c. STEEVENS. Without the privity o' the king, to appoint • Muft fetch in him he papers. Aber. I do know Kinsmen of mine, three at the leaft, that have They fhall abound as formerly. Buck. O, many Have broke their backs with laying manors on them For this great journey". 7 What did this vanity, But minifter communication of A moft poor iffue? 3 -the file] That is, the lift. JOHNSON. 4 council out,] Council not then fitting. JOHNSON. The expreffion rather means, "all mention of the board of council being left out of his letter." STEEVENS. 5 Muft fetch in him he papers.] He papers, a verb; his own letter, by his own fingle authority, and without the concurrence of the council, muft fetch in him whom he papers down. don't understand it, unless this be the meaning. POPE. -I Wolfey published a list of the several perfons whom he had ap pointed to attend on the king at this interview. See Hall's Chronicle, Rymer's Fœdera, tom. 13, &c. STEEVENS. Have broke their backs with laying manors on them For this great journey.] In the ancient Interlude of Nature, bl. 1. no date, but apparently printed in the reign of king Henry VIII. there feems to have been a fimilar stroke aimed at this expenfive expedition : "Pryde. I am unhappy, I fe it well, "For thexpence of myne apparell "What in horfes and other aray "All 7 But my land to mortgage." STEEVENS. What did this vanity What effect had this pompous fhew but the production of a wretch ed conclufion. JOHNSON. Nor. Grievingly I think, The peace between the French and us not values After the hideous ftorm that follow'd, was Nor. Which is budded out; For France hath flaw'd the league, and hath attach'd Our merchants' goods at Bourdeaux. Aber. Is it therefore 9 The ambaffador is filenc'd? Nor. Marry, is't. Aber. A proper title of a peace; and purchas'd At a fuperfluous rate! Buck. Why, all this bufinefs Our reverend cardinal carry'd. Nor. Like it your grace, The state takes notice of the private difference 8 Every man, After the hideous ftorm that follow'd, &c.] His author, Hall, fays, 66 Monday, 18th day of June, there blew fuch forms of wind and weather, that marvel was to hear; for which hideous tempeft fome faid it was a very prognoftication of trouble and hatred to come between princes." In Henry VIII. p. 80. WARBURTON. The ambalador is filenc'd?] Silenc'd for recall'd. This being proper to be faid of an orator; and an ambaffador or public minifter being called an orator, he applies filenc'd to ambaffador. WARBURTON. I understand it rather of the French ambaffador refiding in England, who, by being refused an audience, may be faid to be filenc'd. JOHNSON. A proper title of a peace ;-] A fine name of a peace. Ironically. JOHNSON. The The cardinal's malice and his potency What his high hatred would effect, wants not Thither he darts it. Bofom up my counsel, You'll find it wholefome. Lo, where comes that rock, That I advise your shunning. The Enter Cardinal Wolfey, the purfe borne before him, certain of the guard, and two Secretaries with papers. Cardinal in his paffage fixeth his eye on Buckingham, and Buckingham on him, both full of disdain. Wol. The duke of Buckingham's furveyor ? ha ? Where's his examination? Secr. Here, fo please you. Wol. Is he in perfon ready? Wol. Well, we fhall then know more; and Buck ingham Shall leffen this big look. 2 [Exeunt Cardinal, and his train. Buck. This butcher's cur is venom-mouth'd, and I comes that rock,] To make the rock come is not very just. JOHNSON. 3 -butcher's cur -] Wolfey is faid to have been the for of a butcher. JOHNSON. 20 Dr. Gray obferves, that when the death of the duke of Buckingham was reported to the emperor Charles V. he said, "The firft buck of England was worried to death by a butcher's dog. Skelton, whose fatire is of the groffeft kind, in Why come you not to Court, has the fame reflection on the meannels of cardinal Wolfey's birth: "For drede of the boucher's dog, Have not the power to muzzle him; therefore, best Not wake him in his flumber. A beggar's book Out-worths a noble's blood. Nor. What, are you chaf'd? Afk God for temperance; that's the appliance only, Which your disease requires. Buck. I read in his looks Matter against me; and his eye revil'd He bores me with fome trick: He's gone to the king; I'll follow, and out-ftare him. Nor. Stay, my lord, And let your reason with your choler question Buck. I'll to the king; And from a mouth of honour quite cry down 4 -A beggar's book Out-worth's a noble's blood.] That is, the literary qualifications of a bookish beggar are more prized than the high defcent of hereditary greatnefs. This is a contemptuous exclamation very naturally put into the mouth of one of the antient, unletter'd, martial nobility. JOHNSON. -] He ftabs or wounds me 5 He bores me with fome trick :: by fome artifice or fiction. JOHNSON. 7 Let paffion work, and, like a hot-rein'd horse, you, fir." STEEVENS. -from a mouth of honour- -] I will crufh this baseborn fellow, by the due influence of my rank, or say that all distincsion of perfons is at an end. JOHNSON. |