Page 1617 - Shakespeare - Vol. 4

NORFOLK

Then you lost
The view of earthly glory: men might say,
Till this time pomp was single, but now married [15]

To one above itself. Each following day
Became the next day’s master, till the last
Made former wonders its. Today the French,
All clinquant, all in gold, like heathen gods,
Shone down the English; and tomorrow they [20]

Made Britain India: every man that stood
Showed like a mine. Their dwarfish pages were
As cherubins, all gilt; the madams too,

Not used to toil, did almost sweat to bear
The pride upon them, that their very labour [25]
Was to them as a painting. Now this masque
Was cried incomparable; and th’ensuing night
Made it a fool and beggar. The two Kings,

Equal in lustre, were now best, now worst,
As presence did present them: him in eye [30]
Still him in praise; and being present both.

’Twas said they saw but one, and no discerner
Durst wag his tongue in censure. When these suns
(For so they phrase ’em) by their heralds challenged
The noble spirits to arms, they did perform [35]
Beyond thought’s compass, that former fabulous story,

Being now seen possible enough, got credit,
That Bevis was believed.

BUCKINGHAM
O, you go far!

NORFOLK
As I belong to worship, and affect

In honour honesty, the tract of everything [40]
Would by a good discourser lose some life
Which action’s self was tongue to. All was royal;
To the disposing of it naught rebelled.
Order gave each thing view; the office did