Part 18 (2/2)

THIRD MEMBER. Ay, and for Gardiner! being English citizen, How should he bear a bridegroom out of Spain?

The Queen would have him! being English churchman How should he bear the heads.h.i.+p of the Pope?

The Queen would have it! Statesmen that are wise Shape a necessity, as a sculptor clay, To their own model.

SECOND MEMBER. Statesmen that are wise Take truth herself for model. What say you?

[_To_ SIR RALPH BAGENHALL.

BAGENHALL. We talk and talk.

FIRST MEMBER. Ay, and what use to talk?

Philip's no sudden alien--the Queen's husband, He's here, and king, or will be--yet c.o.c.ksbody!

So hated here! I watch'd a hive of late; My seven-years' friend was with me, my young boy; Out crept a wasp, with half the swarm behind.

'Philip!' says he. I had to cuff the rogue For infant treason.

THIRD MEMBER. But they say that bees, If any creeping life invade their hive Too gross to be thrust out, will build him round, And bind him in from harming of their combs.

And Philip by these articles is bound From stirring hand or foot to wrong the realm.

SECOND MEMBER. By bonds of beeswax, like your creeping thing; But your wise bees had stung him first to death.

THIRD MEMBER. Hush, hus.h.!.+

You wrong the Chancellor: the clauses added To that same treaty which the emperor sent us Were mainly Gardiner's: that no foreigner Hold office in the household, fleet, forts, army; That if the Queen should die without a child, The bond between the kingdoms be dissolved; That Philip should not mix us any way With his French wars--

SECOND MEMBER. Ay, ay, but what security, Good sir, for this, if Philip----

THIRD MEMBER. Peace--the Queen, Philip, and Pole.

[_All rise, and stand_.

_Enter_ MARY, PHILIP, _and_ POLE.

[GARDINER _conducts them to the three chairs of state_.

PHILIP _sits on the_ QUEEN'S _left_, POLE _on her right_.

GARDINER. Our short-lived sun, before his winter plunge, Laughs at the last red leaf, and Andrew's Day.

MARY. Should not this day be held in after years More solemn than of old?

PHILIP. Madam, my wish Echoes your Majesty's.

POLE. It shall be so.

GARDINER. Mine echoes both your Graces'; (_aside_) but the Pope-- Can we not have the Catholic church as well Without as with the Italian? if we cannot, Why then the Pope.

My lords of the upper house, And ye, my masters, of the lower house, Do ye stand fast by that which ye resolved?

VOICES. We do.

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