Now I am ready. Speak your doom, and quickly. Thou art adjudged to die. Sirs, do ye all King. Death. Heart-broken. Then, for well thou know'st him, Bid him to think on me, and how I fell Hewn in my strength and prime, like a proud cak. (The Judges all stand up. His glorious top and dies. Oh! thou shalt envy, To a grey head, aching with royal cares, He is possessed! Brad. Silence. The sentence is pronounced; the My good Lord President, the day wears on My subject-judges I could weep; for thee, The Lords Commissioners refuse To sign the warrant. He'll escape us yet. Overhot! But that's Ire. Crom. Son, thou mistak'st. I'll answer for them as myself. No force, good son! No force! Sir, Nay, go not. Har. They gave him And they are answered, Sir. Crom. Pshaw! The pensionary Dow. Hath sent pressing missives; Embassies From every court are on the seas; and Charles Proffers great terms. Crom. Have we not all? But he Will give a fair security, a large No wonder that a lawyer pleads to-day To the height. But thou art not of us; thy part Mar. He will give large securities! Dow. The general safety and our own. Har. Crom. Hush! hush! none thinketh to forsake Tich. Let Bradshaw sign. What need more names Than the Lord President's? Brad. I am ready, Sirs, Crom. My good masters, ye remember me (Then aside to Bradshaw and Harrison. Deem me not A light unmeaning trifler, recollect child, Nutting with other imps in the old copse At Hinchinbroke, we saw across a wide Whose lissome stalks were weighed by the rich fruitage In those young days a daring wight, at once Our thighs; and my scared comrade in the midst Of the stream turned roaring back, and gained the bank Nutless and wet, amidst the scoffing shouts My course right on, and gained the spoil. Sirs, we My homely name should stand alone to this I fill it With an unworthy name. (signs.) Crom. Now swell the roll, My masters! Whither goest thou, Marten? None Shall stir till he hath signed. Thou a ripe scholar, Not write thy name! I can write mine i' the dark, And oft with my sword-point have traced in air The viewless characters in the long hour Before the joy of battle. Shut thine eyes, And write thy name! Anywhere! See(Marking Marten's cheek with a pen. Nay, Marten, Stand still-See! see! how fair and clerkly! Yet This parchment is the smoother. Mar. Mar. Crom. How didst win him? How? A word of praise, a thought of fear. How do men Win traitors? Hark ye, Downes! Lord Broghill left A list of the King's friends amongst us here; Grave seeming Roundheads, bold and zealous soldiers, High officers-I marvel not ye look Distrustfully-one of renown, a Colonel. A Judge too! Downes, hast thou signed yonder warrant? Mar. What was the plan? Go sign, I say! The plan! (Seizing one of the Judges, and leading him to the table.) Nay, man, if thou be questioned Some dozen years hence, say that I forced thee, swear Thy wicked kinsman held thy hand. Ay, now The blank is nobly filled, and bravely! now I know ye once again, the pious Judges, Hold thee sure Why so. Where goes The elect and godly of the land! Mar. Willingly; joyfully. (signs.) Crom. Brad. He fears the city's safety, Full, as he says, of the King's friends. Crom. They be bold men who fearlessly do own He fears! (A trumpet heard without Ha!-Marten, Haste to my son; bid him disband his force; The peril is gone by. What peril? Har. Crom. [Exit Marten. Ye Their fears. I dare not. Fear! Sir, didst thou come That are assembled here, should lift your voice No. In earnest thanks for quick deliverance + the Duke of Gloucester. Children. Oh! no, no, no! King. Dear ones, I go King. Here we may weep at leisure. Yon fierce On a great journey. Bless ye once again, My children! We must part. Farewell. King. Eliz. Oh father, Know'st thou whither? Yes; Herb. Sire, Her grace is absent still. But general Cromwell Craves audience of your Majesty. King. Wipe off those tears, Elizabeth. Resume Thy gentle courage. Thou art a Princess. Admit him. Enter Cromwell. Sir, Thou seest me with my children. Doth thine errand Demand their absence? Crom. She shall be cared for. | Early astir. I've a great business toward, [Exeunt Herbert and the Children. To exchange the kingly wreath, my crown of thorns, Are they gone? quite gone? For an eternal diadem; to dieI might have kissed them once again, have charged King. And I would go trim as a bridegroom. Give me Or hardy peasants win with honest toil. Herb. Vexed, my liege, with dreams. Herb. So please you, sire, demand not. A dream can vex me now? Speak. Of what? Dost thou think Thrice I slept, And thrice I woke, and thrice the self-same vision Softened by slumber. I stood gazing on him Even now the thought stirred in me. Pardon, Lord, An insupportable brightness—and i' th' midst, The King, starting from his Couch; Herbert, asleep. Were those that roused me? Hark again! The clang As I bear now. His sleep is troubled. Herbert! Over the couch, a milk-white dove, which soared Right upward, cleaving with its train of light The Heavens like a star. The couch remained Vacant. King. Oh that the spirit so may pass ! So rise! Thrice, did'st thou say? Herbert, my soul is full of serious joy, And fear her, lest she come to plunge my thoughts Ay; we should be to-day Queen. My Charles! |