Say, Wolsey, that once trod the ways of glory, And sounded all the depths and shoals of honour, Found thee a way, out of his wreck, to rise in; A sure and safe one, though thy master missed it.
Love thyself last: cherish those hearts that hate thee; Corruption wins not more than honesty. Still in thy right hand carry gentle peace, To silence envious tongues. Be just, and fear not: Let all the ends thou aimst at be thy countrys, Thy Gods, and truths; then if thou fallst, O Cromwell, Thou fallst a blessed martyr!
Mens evil manners live in brass; their virtues We write in water.1
King Henry VIII. Act iv. Sc. 2.
Note 1. For men use, if they have an evil tourne, to write it in marble; and whoso doth us a good tourne we write it in duste.Sir Thomas More: Richard III. and his miserable End.
All your better deeds Shall be in water writ, but this in marble. Beaumont and Fletcher: Philaster, act v. sc. 3.
Linjure se grave en métal; et le bienfait sescrit en londe. (An injury graves itself in metal, but a benefit writes itself in water.) Jean Bertaut. Circa 1611. [back]