The soliloquy [graphic] / S.B.

"Design in an oval. Fox with a very melancholy expression, standing with folded arms facing three quarter to left outside a closed and padlocked gate repeating Wolsey's soliloquy from Henry the Eighth. The gate fills an archway, its top being of iron spikes, the padlock is inscribed Fast. The stone arch over the gate is inscribed Treasury. On the stone wall of the Treasury building (left) are torn placards. One is a broadside, 'Last Dying Speech' headed by a print of a man hanging from a gibbet; another is headed "Gamester". Beneath the title is inscribed: "Farewell, a long Farewell to all my Greatness! this is the state of Man, to Day he puts forth the tender leaves of hopes, tomorrow Blossoms & bears all his blushing Honours thick upon him: the Third Day comes a Frost a killing Froast [sic], & when he thinks good easy Man full surely his Greatness is a Ripening, nips his Root & then befalls as I do!"--British Museum online catalogue.