ACT I. SCENE 1.
London. The palace
Enter the DUKE OF NORFOLK at one door; at the other, the DUKE
OF BUCKINGHAM and the LORD ABERGAVENNY
BUCKINGHAM. Good morrow, and well met. How have ye done
Since last we saw in France? NORFOLK. I thank your Grace, Healthful;
and ever since a fresh admirer Of what I saw there. BUCKINGHAM. An
untimely ague Stay\'d me a prisoner in my chamber when Those suns of
glory, those two lights of men, Met in the vale of Andren. NORFOLK.
\'Twixt Guynes and Arde-- I was then present, saw them salute on
horseback; Beheld them, when they lighted, how they clung In their
embracement, as they grew together; Which had they, what four thron\'d
ones could have weigh\'d Such a compounded one? BUCKINGHAM. All
the whole time I was my chamber\'s prisoner. NORFOLK. Then you lost
The view of earthly glory; men might say, Till this time pomp was single,
but now married To one above itself. Each following day Became the next
day\'s master, till the last Made former wonders its. To-day the French, All
clinquant, all in gold, like heathen gods, Shone down the English; and tomorrow
they Made Britain India: every man that stood Show\'d like a mine.
Their dwarfish pages were As cherubins, all gilt; the madams too, Not us\'d
to toil, did almost sweat to bear The pride upon them, that their very
labour 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 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 challeng\'d The noble
spirits to arms, they did perform Beyond thought\'s compass, that former
fabulous story, Being