Off. As for you, Sir, "Tis the Queen's Pleasure, you be clofe confin'd A fecret Practicer against the State; [To Gardiner For which, henceforth, your Limits fhall be straiter. Gar, Farewel, gentle Pembroke I trust, that we shall meet on blither Terms; Till then, amongst my Beads, I will remember you, And give you to the Keeping of the Saints, [Exeunt Part of the Guards with Gardiner. Pem. Now! whither must I go? Off This Way, my Lord. [Enter Guilford.] [Going off. Guil. Hold, Captain! E're you go, I have a Word or two For this your Noble Pris'ner. Off. At your Pleasure : I know my Duty, and attend your Lordfnip: [The Officer and Guard retire to the farther Part of the Stage. Guil. Is all the Gentlenefs that was betwixt us So loft, fo fwept away from thy Remembrance, Thou canst not look upon me?~ Pem. Ha! not look! What Terrors are there in the Dudley's Race, Guil. You hate me, then? Pem. I do; and with Perdition may o'ertake Pem. Friendship from thee! But my juft Soul difdains thee. Hence! take the prostituted Bawble back, Hang it to grace fome flavering Ideot's Neck, For none but Fools will prize the Tinfel Toy, But thou art come, perhaps, to vaunt thy Greatnefs, That he can fpeak the Word, and give me Freedom. [To the Officer. I take I take your Pris'ner to my proper Charge; Draw off your Guard, and leave his Sword with me. [The Officer delivers the Sword to Lord Guilford, and goes out with the Guard. [L. Guil. offering the Sward to Pembroke. Receive this Gift, ev'n from a Rival's Hand; Pem. How now! What Shew? What Mockery is this? Is it in Sport you use me thus? What means This fwift fantastick changing of the Scene? Guil. Oh! take thy Sword; and let thy valiant Hand Be ready arm'd to guard thy Noble Life: The Time, the Danger, and thy wild Impatience, Or I cou'd tell thee Pem. No, it needs not, Traytor! For all thy poor, thy little Arts are known. Guil. Ungrateful and Unjuft! Haft thou then known me So little, to accufe my Heart of Fear? Haft Haft thou forgotten Muffelborough's Field? Did I then fear, when by thy Side I fought, And dy'd my Maiden Sword in Scottish Blood? But this is Madness all. Pem. Give me my Sword. [Taking his Sword: Perhaps indeed, I wrong thee. Thou haft thought; And, confcious of the Injury thou haft done me, Lead then, and let me follow to the Field. Guil. Yes, Pembroke, thou fhalt fatisfy thy Vengeance But let Death wait to Day. By our past Friendship, I beg thee ask no more, but hafte from hence. Pem. What mystick Meaning lurks beneath thy Words? What Fear is this, which thou would't awe my Soul with? Is there a Danger Pembroke dares not meet? Guil. Oh! fpare my Tongue a Tale of Guilt and Horror Trust me this once: Believe me, when I tell thee, Thy Safety and thy Life is all I feek. Away! Pem. By Heav'n! I wo'not stir a Step: Curfe on this fhuffling, dark ambiguous Phrase: Guil. Forgive me, Filial Piety and Nature, If, thus compell'd, I break your facred Laws, The The Hoary Head of him who gave me Being, To fave the Man whom my Soul loves, from Death. Read there the fatal Purpofe of thy Foe, [Giving a Paper. A Thought which wounds my Soul with Shame and Horror, Somewhat that Darkness shou'd have hid for ever, But that thy Life Say, haft thou feen that Character? Pem. I know it well; the Hand of Proud Northumberland, Directed to his Minions Gates and Palmer. What's this? Reads. Remember with your clofeft Care, to observe those whom I nam'd to you at parting; especially keep your Eye upon the Earl of Pembroke, as his Power and Interest are moft confiderable, fo his Oppofition will be most fatal to us. Remember the Refolution was taken, if you should find bim inclin'd to our Enemies. The Forms of Justice are tedious, and Delays are dangerous. If he falters, lose not the fight of him till your Daggers have reach'd bis Heart. My Heart! Oh! Murd'rous Villain ! Guil. Since he parted, Thy Ways have all been watch'd, thy Steps been mark'd Thy fecret Treaties with the Malecontents That harbour in the City; thy conferring With Gardner here in the Tower; all is known: |