And take the distaff with a hand as patient Rat. The fair Alicia, Of noble birth and exquisite of feature, The dame has been too lavish of her feast, Glo. No more, he comes. Enter LORD HASTINGS. Hast. Health, and the happiness of many days, Attend upon your grace. Glo. My good Lord Chamberlain, We're much beholden to your gentle friendship. Hast. I am to move your highness in behalf Glo. Say you, of Shore? Hast. Once a bright star, that held her place on The first and fairest of our English dames, She never sees the sun, but thro' her tears, Glo. Marry! the times are badly chang'd with From Edward's days to these. Then all was jollity, My brother, rest and pardon to his soul! Is gone to his account; for this his minion, Are frequent in your visitation to her. you Hast. No farther, my good lord, than friendly pity, And tender-hearted charity allow. Glo. Go to; I did not mean to chide you for it. For, sooth to say, I hold it noble in you To cherish the distress'd -On with your tale. Hast. Thus it is, gracious sir, that certain officers, Using the warrant of your mighty name, With insolence unjust, and lawless power, Have seiz'd upon the lands, which late she held And bearded wisdom, often have provok'd I have withheld the merciless stern law Hast. Good Heav'n, who renders mercy back for mercy, With open-handed bounty shall repay you: She shall be heard with patience, and each wrong Which much imports us both; for still my fortunes Go hand in hand with yours: our common foes, Have fall'n their haughty crests-That for your privacy. [Exeunt. SCENE II. An Apartment in JANE SHORE's House. Enter BELMOUR and DUMONT. Bel. How she has liv'd you have heard my ready, The rest your own attendance in her family, tale al Where I have found the means this day to place you, Enter JANE SHORE. Sure, or I read her visage much amiss, J. Shore. My gentle neighbour, your good wishes still Pursue my hapless fortunes! Ah, good Belmour! Bel. Madam, it is. J. Shore. A venerable aspect. [Aside. Age sits with decent And worthily becomes his silver locks; [TO DUMONT. Which elsewhere you might find, expect to meet The welcome of a friend, and the free partnership Dum. You over-rate me much; and all my answer Must be my future truth; let them speak for me, And make up my deserving. J. Shore. Are you of England? Dum. No, gracious lady, Flanders claims my birth; At Antwerp has my constant biding been, Where sometimes I have known more plenteous days Than these which now my failing age affords. J. Shore. Alas! at Antwerp!-Oh forgive my [Weeping. tears! They fall for my offences-and must fall Long, long ere they shall wash my stains away. You knew, perhaps-Oh grief! Öh shame-my husband. Dum. I knew him well-but stay this flood of an guish, The senseless grave feels not your pious sorrows: And saw him laid in hallow'd ground, to rest. J. Shore. Oh, that my soul had known no joy but him! That I had liv'd within his guiltless arms, Enter a SERVANT. Serv. The lady Alicia Attends your leisure. [Exit SERVANT. J. Shore. Say I wish to see her. I'll wait you on the instant, and inform you Your friendly aid and counsel much may stead me. Enter ALICIA. Alicia. Still, my fair friend, still shall I find you thus? Still shall these sighs heave after one another, Could overtake the hours fled far away, J. Shore. No, my Alicia, Heaven and his saints be witness to my thoughts, That I could wish should take its turn again. Alicia. And yet some of those days my friend has known, Some of those years, might pass for golden ones, What could we more than to behold a monarch, C |