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: Iam 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 bay tree.
SURREY. Yet, my lord, It is become the very logic number To all mechanic sciences.
