His Northern Presidency, which that Bill

Denounced.

Pym.

Too true!

Never more, never more

Walked we together! Most alone I went.

I have had friends—all here are fast my friends-
But I shall never quite forget that friend.

And yet it could not but be real in him!

You, Vane,-you, Rudyard, have no right to trust
To Wentworth: but can no one hope with me?
Hampden, will Wentworth dare shed English blood
Like water?

Hampden. Ireland is Aceldama.

Pym. Will he turn Scotland to a hunting-ground To please the King, now that he knows the King? The People or the King? and that King, Charles ! Hampden. Pym, all here know you: you'll not set your

And they shout for him! Wentworth 's at Whitehall,

The King embracing him, now, as we speak,

And he, to be his match in courtesies,

Taking the whole war's risk upon himself,

Now, while you tell us here how changed he is!
Hear you?

Pym.

And yet if 't is a dream, no more,

That Wentworth chose their side, and brought the King
To love it as though Laud had loved it first,

And the Queen after ;-that he led their cause
Calm to success, and kept it spotless through,
So that our very eyes could look upon

The travail of our souls, and close content
That violence, which something mars even right
Which sanctions it, had taken off no grace

From its serene regard. Only a dream!

Hampden. We meet here to accomplish certain good By obvious means, and keep tradition up Of free assemblages, else obsolete, In this poor chamber: nor without effect Has friend met friend to counsel and confirm, As, listening to the beats of England's heart, We spoke its wants to Scotland's prompt reply By these her delegates. Remains alone That word grow deed, as with God's help it shallBut with the devil's hindrance, who doubts too? Looked we or no that tyranny should turn Her engines of oppression to their use? Whereof, suppose the worst be Wentworth here— Shall we break off the tactics which succeed In drawing out our formidablest foe,

Let bickering and disunion take their place?

Or count his presence as our conquest's proof,
And keep the old arms at their steady play?
Proceed to England's work! Fiennes, read the list!
Fiennes. Ship-money is refused or fiercely paid
In every county, save the northern parts

Where Wentworth's influence

Vane.

[Shouting.

I, in England's name,

Declare her work, this way, at end! Till now,
Up to this moment, peaceful strife was best.
We English had free leave to think; till now,
We had a shadow of a Parliament

In Scotland. But all 's changed: they change the first,
They try brute-force for law, they, first of all . . .
Voices. Good! Talk enough! The old true

Vane!

...

hearts with

Vane. Till we crush Wentworth for her, there's no

Something to England. I seek Wentworth, friends.

Wentworth. No;—or, Lucy, just your arm; I'll not sit till I 've cleared this up with him: After that, rest. The King?

Lady Carlisle.

Confides in you.

Wentworth. Why? or, why now? They have kind

throats, the knaves!

Shout for me-they!

Lady Carlisle.

You come so strangely soon:

Yet we took measures to keep off the crowd—

Did they shout for you?

Wentworth.

Wherefore should they not?

Does the King take such measures for himself?
Beside, there's such a dearth of malcontents,

You say !

Lady Carlisle. I said but few dared carp at you.

Wentworth. At me? at us, I hope! The King and I He's surely not disposed to let me bear

The fame away from him of these late deeds

In Ireland? I am yet his instrument

Be it for well or ill? He trusts me, too!

Lady Carlisle. The King, dear Wentworth, purposes,

I said,

To grant you, in the face of all the Court.

Wentworth.

about us !

.

All the Court! Evermore the Court

Savile and Holland, Hamilton and Vane

About us,—then the King will grant me-what?
That he for once put these aside and say-

"Tell me your whole mind, Wentworth !"

Lady Carlisle.

You would be calm.

Wentworth.

You professed

Lucy, and I am calm!

How else shall I do all I come to do,

Broken, as you may see, body and mind,

How shall I serve the King?

Time wastes meanwhile,

You have not told me half. His footstep! No.

Quick, then, before I meet him,—I am calm—

Why does the King distrust me?

Lady Carlisle.

He does not

Distrust you.

Wentworth. Lucy, you can help me; you