sir thomas more(托马斯·莫尔骑士)-第8节
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tales of the imperfect man。 I'll see if great Erasmus can distinguish Merit
and outward ceremony。
RANDALL。 If I do not serve a share for playing of your lordship well；
let me be yeoman usher to your sumpter； and be banished from wearing of
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SIR THOMAS MORE
a gold chain forever。
MORE。 Well； sir； I'll hide our motion： act my part With a firm
boldness； and thou winst my heart。
＇Enter the Shrieve； with Faulkner a ruffian； and Officers。＇
How now！ what's the matter？
FAULKNER。 Tug me not； I'm no bear。 'Sblood； if all the dogs in Paris
Garden hung at my tail； I'd shake 'em off with this； that I'll appear before
no king christened but my good Lord Chancellor。
SHRIEVE。 We'll christen you； sirrah。Bring him forward。
MORE。 How now！ what tumults make you？
FAULKNER。 The azured heavens protect my noble Lord Chancellor！
MORE。 What fellow's this？
SHRIEVE。 A ruffian； my lord； that hath set half the city in an uproar。
FAULKNER。 My lord
SHRIEVE。 There was a fray in Paternoster…row； and because they
would not be parted； the street was choked up with carts。
FAULKNER。 My noble lord； Paniar Allies throat was open。
MORE。 Sirrah； hold your peace。
FAULKNER。 I'll prove the street was not choked； but is as well as
ever it was since it was a street。
SHRIEVE。 This fellow was a principal broacher of the broil。
FAULKNER。 'Sblood； I broached none； it was broached and half run
out； before I had a lick at it。
SHRIEVE。 And would be brought before no justice but your honor。
FAULKNER。 I am hailed； my noble lord。
MORE。 No ear to choose for every trivial noise but mine； and in so
full a time？ Away！ You wrong me； Master Shrieve： dispose of him At your
own pleasure； send the knave to Newgate。
FAULKNER。 To Newgate！ 'sblood； Sir Thomas More； I appeal； I
appeal from Newgate to any of the two worshipful Counters。
MORE。 Fellow； whose man are you； that are thus lusty？
FAULKNER。 My name's Jack Faulkner； I serve； next under God and
my prince； Master Morris； secretary to my Lord of Winchester。
MORE。 A fellow of your hair is very fit To be a secretary's follower！
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SIR THOMAS MORE
FAULKNER。 I hope so； my lord。 The fray was between the Bishops'
men of Ely and Winchester； and I could not in honor but part them。 I
thought it stood not with my reputation and degree to come to my
questions and answers before a city justice： I knew I should to the pot。
MORE。 Thou hast been there； it seems； too late already。
FAULKNER。 I know your honor is wise and so forth； and I desire to
be only cathecized or examined by you； my noble Lord Chancellor。
MORE。 Sirrah； sirrah； you are a busy dangerous ruffian。
FAULKNER。 Ruffian！
MORE。 How long have you worn this hair？
FAULKNER。 I have worn this hair ever since I was born。
MORE。 You know that's not my question； but how long Hath this shag
fleece hung dangling on they head？
FAULKNER。 How long； my lord？ why； sometimes thus long；
sometimes lower； as the Fates and humors please。
MORE。 So quick； sir； with me； ha？ I see； good fellow； Thou lovest
plain dealing。 Sirrah； tell me now； When were you last at barbers？ how
long time Have you upon your head worn this shag hair？
FAULKNER。 My lord； Jack Faulkner tells no Aesops fables： troth； I
was not at barbers this three years； I have not been cut not will not be cut；
upon a foolish vow； which； as the Destinies shall direct； I am sworn to
keep。
MORE。 When comes that vow out？
FAULKNER。 Why； when the humors are purged； not this three years。
MORE。 Vows are recorded in the court of Heaven； For they are holy
acts。 Young man； I charge thee And do advise thee； start not from that vow：
And； for I will be sure thou shalt not shrieve； Besides； because it is an
odious sight To see a man thus hairy； thou shalt lie In Newgate till thy vow
and thy three years Be full expired。Away with him！
FAULKNER。 My lord
MORE。 Cut off this fleece； and lie there but a month。
FAULKNER。 I'll not lose a hair to be Lord Chancellor of Europe。
MORE。 To Newgate； then。 Sirrah； great sins are bred In all that body
where there's a foul head。 Away with him。
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SIR THOMAS MORE
＇Exeunt all except Randall。＇
＇Enter Surrey； Erasmus； and Attendants。＇
SURREY。 Now； great Erasmus； you approach the presence Of a most
worthy learned gentleman： This little isle holds not a truer friend Unto the
arts； nor doth his greatness add A feigned flourish to his worthy parts； He's
great in study； that's the statist's grace； That gains more reverence than the
outward place。
ERASMUS。 Report； my lord； hath crossed the narrow seas； And to the
several parts of Christendom； Hath borne the fame of your Lord
Chancellor： I long to see him； whom with loving thoughts I in my study
oft have visited。 Is that Sir Thomas More？
SURREY。 It is； Erasmus： Now shall you view the honorablest scholar；
The most religious politician； The worthiest counsellor that tends our state。
That study is the general watch of England； In it the prince's safety； and
the peace That shines upon our commonwealth； are forged By loyal
industry。
ERASMUS。 I doubt him not To be as near the life of excellence As
you proclaim him； when his meanest servants Are of some weight： you
saw； my lord； his porter Give entertainment to us at the gate In Latin good
phrase； what's the master； then； When such good parts shine in his meanest
men？
SURREY。 His Lordship hath some weighty business； For； see； yet he
takes no notice of us。
ERASMUS。 I think twere best I did my duty to him In a short Latin
speech。 Qui in celiberima patria natus est ett gloriosa； plus habet negotii
ut in lucem veniat quam qui
RANDALL。 I prithee； good Erasmus； be covered。 I have forsworn
speaking of Latin； else； as I am true counsellor； I'd tickle you with a
speech。 Nay； sit； Erasmus；sit； good my Lord of Surrey。 I'll make my lady
come to you anon； if she will； and give you entertainment。
ERASMUS。 Is this Sir Thomas More？
SURREY。 Oh good Erasmus； you must conceive his vain： He's ever
furnished with these conceits。
RANDALL。 Yes； faith； my learned poet doth not lie for that matter： I
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SIR THOMAS MORE
am neither more nor less than merry Sir Thomas always。 Wilt sup with me？
by God； I love a parlous wise fellow that smells of a politician better than
a long progress。
＇Enter Sir Thomas More。＇
SURREY。 We are deluded； this is not his lordship。
RANDALL。 I pray you； Erasmus； how long will the Holland cheese in
your country keep without maggots？
MORE。 Fool； painted barbarism； retire thyself Into thy first creation！
＇Exit Randall。＇
Thus you see； My loving learned friends； how far respect Waits often
on the ceremonious train Of base illiterate wealth； whilst men of schools；
Shrouded in poverty； are counted fools。 Pardon； thou reverent German； I
have mixed So slight a jest to the fair entertainment Of thy most worthy
self； for know； Erasmus； Mirth wrinkles up my face； and I still crave；
When that forsakes me I may hug my grave。
ERASMUS。 Your honor's merry humor is best physic Unto your able
body； for we learn Where melancholy chokes the passages Of blood and
breath； the erected spirit still Lengthens our days with sportful exercise：
Study should be the saddest time of life。 The rest a sport exempt from
thought of strife。
MORE。 Erasmus preacheth gospel against physic； My noble poet。
SURREY。 Oh； my Lord； you tax me In that word poet of much
idleness： It is a study that makes poor our fate； Poets were ever thought
unfit for state。
MORE。 O； give not up fair poesy； sweet lord； To such contempt！ That I
may speak my heart； It is the sweetest heraldry of art； That sets a
difference 'tween the tough sharp holly And tender
