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- {\rtf0\ansi{\fonttbl{\f0\froman Times Roman;}{\f1\fmodern Courier;}}
- {\pard\f0\fs28{\fs48 Sir Thomas More
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- {\b\fs36 Add.III}
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- {\i Enter Sir Thomas More\
- }{\b \fs24 MORE\
- } It is in heaven that I am thus and thus,\
- And that which we profanely term our fortunes\
- Is the provision of the power above,\
- Fitted and shaped just to that strength of nature\
- Which we are born withal. Good God, good God, {\fs20 5}\
- That I from such an humble bench of birth\
- Should step as 'twere up to my country's head\
- And give the law out there; ay, in my father's life\
- To take prerogative and tithe of knees\
- From elder kinsmen, and him bind by my place {\fs20 10}\
- To give the smooth and dexter way to me\
- That owe it him by nature! Sure these things,\
- Not physicked by respect, might turn our blood\
- To much corruption. But More, the more thou hast\
- Either of honour, office, wealth and calling, {\fs20 15}\
- Which might accite thee to embrace and hug them,\
- The more do thou e'en serpents' natures think them:\
- Fear their gay skins, with thought of their sharp\
- stings,\
- And let this be thy maxim: to be great\
- Is, when the thread of hazard is once spun, {\fs20 20}\
- A bottom great wound up, greatly undone.\
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