How now! what light comes here? Ser. So please your lordship, If I mistake not, 'tis the earl of Pembroke. Gar. Pembroke!thus early? 'Tis he: What calls him forth Somewhat he seems to bring of high import; Enter PEMBROKE; a PAGE with a Light before him. And rears your youthful head from off At this unwholesome hour? your pillow, Pem. Oh, rev'rend Winchester! my beating heart Exults and labours with the joy it bears: The news I bring shall bless the breaking morn. Pem. 'Tis mercy, mercy, Mary, our royal, ever-gracious, mistress, Gar. Ha! What said you? Pardon! But sure you cannot mean it; could not urge Pem. Not comply'd with! And who shall dare to bar her sacred pleasure, And stop the stream of mercy? Gar. That will I ; Who will not see her gracious disposition Drawn to destroy herself. Pem. Thy narrow soul Knows not the godlike glory of forgiving: Nor can thy cold, thy ruthless heart conceive, F How large the power, how fix'd the empire is, Gar. These are romantic, light, vain-glorious dreams, Have you consider'd well upon the danger? How dear to the fond many, and how popular Pem. And you, my lord, too little of the churchman. Is not the sacred purpose of our faith Peace and good-will to man? The hallow'd hand, Ordain'd to bless should know no stain of blood. "Tis true, I am not practis'd in your politics; 'Twas your pernicious counsel led the queen To break her promise with the men of Suffolk, Sacred above the rest, her royal word. Gar. Yes, and I dare avow it: I advis'd her To break through all engagements made with heretics, And keep no faith with such a miscreant crew. Pem. Where shall we seek for truth, when ev'n religion, The priestly robe and mitred head, disclaim it? Gar. Nay, if you rail, farewell. The queen must be Pem. 'Twas unlucky [Exit GARDINER. To meet and cross upon this froward priest: SCENE II. The LADY JANE kneeling, as at her Devotion; a Light and a Book placed on a Table before her. Enter LIEUTENANT OF THE TOWER, LORD GUILFORD, and Two female ATTENDANTS. Lieut. Let me not press upon your lordship farther But wait your leisure in the antichamber. Guil. I will not hold you long. [Exit LIEUTENANT. 1 Wom. Softly, my lord! For yet, behold she kneels. Before the night In those sad solemn weeds. Since then her knee Guil. See, with what zeal those holy hands are rear'd! Mark her vermilion lip, with fervour trembling; Catch the soft sounds, and with alternate office, But she has ended, and comes forward. grace. [LADY JANE rises, and comes towards the Front of the Stage.] Lady J. G. Ha! Art thou my Guilford? Wherefore dost thou come I meant to part without another pang, And lay my weary head down full of peace. Guil. Forgive the fondness of my longing soul, That melts with tenderness, and leans towards thee: Though the imperious, dreadful, voice of fate Summon her hence, and warn her from the world. But if to see thy Guilford give thee pain, 'Would I had died, and never more beheld thee: Though my lamented discontented ghost Had wander'd forth unblest by those dear eyes, And wail'd thy loss in death's eternal shades, Lady J. G. My heart had ended ev'ry earthly care, And offer'd up its pray'rs for thee and England, And fix'd its hopes upon a rock unfailing; While all the little bus'ness, that remain'd, Was but to pass the forms of death and constancy, And leave a life become indifferent to me. But thou hast waken'd other thoughts within me; Thy sight, my dearest husband and my lord, Strikes on the tender strings of love and nature: My vanquish'd passions rise again, and tell me, 'Tis more, far more than death to part from thee. Enter PEMBROKE. Pem. Oh, let me fly, bear me, thou swift impatience, And lodge me in my faithful Guilford's arms! [Embracing. Is chok'd with words that crowd to tell my tidings! The partner of thy heart, thy love is safe. Guil. Millions of blessings wait her!-Has she- tell me, Oh, has she spar'd my wife? Pem. Both, both are pardon'd. But haste, and do thou lead me to thy saint, And beg her to accept this poor amends For all I've done against her-Thou fair excellence, [Kneeling, Canst thou forgive the hostile hand that arm'd Against thy cause, and robb'd thee of a crown? |