Page 1609 - Shakespeare - Vol. 2

CANTERBURY

’Twould drink the cup and all. [20]

ELY
But what prevention?

CANTERBURY
The King is full of grace and fair regard.

ELY
And a true lover of the holy Church.

CANTERBURY
The courses of his youth promis’d it not.

The breath no sooner left his father’s body, [25]
But that his wildness, mortified in him,
Seem’d to die too; yea, at that very moment,
Consideration like an angel came,
And whipp’d th’ offending Adam out of him,

Leaving his body as a Paradise, [30]
T’ envelop and contain celestial spirits.
Never was such a sudden scholar made;

Never came reformation in a flood,
With such a heady currance, scouring faults;
Nor never Hydra-headed wilfulness [35]
So soon did lose his seat − and all at once −
As in this King.

ELY

We are blessèd in the change.

CANTERBURY

Hear him but reason in divinity,
And, all-admiring, with an inward wish
You would desire the King were made a prelate:

Hear him debate of commonwealth affairs,
You would say it bath been all in all his study: [40]