These demure hypocrites? You'd swear they came Came just as we come! [A Puritan enters hastily and without observing STRAFFORD'S Followers. The Puritan. Has Pym How goes on the work? A Follower of Strafford. The secret's out at last. Aha, The carrion 's scented! Welcome, crow the first! Gorge merrily, you with the blinking eye! Many of Strafford's Followers. No, brother, not Pym only; Vane as well, Rudyard as well, Hampden, St. John as well! A Presbyterian. My mind misgives: can it be true? A Strafford. Say we true, Maxwell? Lost! Lost! Pride before destruction, A haughty spirit goeth before a fall. Many of Strafford's Followers. Ah now! The very thing! A word in season! A golden apple in a silver picture, To greet Pym as he passes! [The doors at the back begin to open, noise and light issuing Maxwell. Stand back, all! Many of the Presbyterians. I hold with Pym! And I! Strafford's Followers. Now for the text! He comes! Quick! The Puritan. How hath the oppressor ceased! The Lord hath broken the staff of the wicked! The sceptre of the rulers, he who smote The people in wrath with a continual stroke, Is persecuted and none hindereth! [The doors open, and STRAFFORD issues in the greatest disorder, and amid cries from within of "Void the House!" Strafford. Impeach me! Pym! I never struck, I think, The felon on that calm insulting mouth When it proclaimed-Pym's mouth proclaimed me . . . God! Was it a word, only a word that held The outrageous blood back on my heart-which beats! Which beats! Some one word-" Traitor," did he say, Bending that eye, brimful of bitter fire, Upon me? Maxwell. In the Commons' name, their servant Demands Lord Strafford's sword. Strafford. What did you say? Maxwell. The Commons bid me ask your lordship's sword. Strafford. Let us go forth: follow me, gentlemen! [The Presbyterians prepare to dispute his passage. Strafford. I stay: the King himself shall see me here. Your tablets, fellow ! [To MAINWARING.] Give that to the King! Yes, Maxwell, for the next half-hour, let be! Nay, you shall take my sword! [MAXWELL advances to take it. Or, no-not that! Their blood, perhaps, may wipe out all thus far, All up to that—not that! Why, friend, you see When the King lays your head beneath my foot It will not pay for that. Go, all of you! Maxwell. I dare, my lord, to disobey: none stir! Strafford. This gentle Maxwell!-Do not touch him, Bryan! [To the Presbyterians.] Whichever cur of you will carry this Escapes his fellow's fate. None saves his life? None? [Cries from within of "STRAFFORD!" Slingsby, I've loved you at least: make haste! Stab me! I have not time to tell you why. You then, my Bryan! Mainwaring, you then! Is it because I spoke so hastily At Allerton? The King had vexed me. [To the Presbyterians.] -Not even you? If I live over this, You! The King is sure to have your heads, you know! Pym, who is there with his pursuing smile! [Louder cries of "STRAFFORD ! " The King! I troubled him, stood in the way Great obstacle to peace, the Enemy Of Scotland: and he sent for me, from York, A Parliament-I see! And at Whitehall [Tearing off the George. I tread a gewgaw underfoot, [His own Adherents disarm him. "STRAFFORD!" Renewed cries of England! I see thy arm in this and yield. Pray you now-Pym awaits me—pray you now! [STRAFFORD reaches the doors: they open wide. HAMPDEN and a crowd discovered, and, at the bar, PYм standing apart. As STRAFFORD kneels, the scene shuts. ACT IV. SCENE I.-Whitehall. The KING, the QUEEN, HOLLIS, Lady CARLISLE. (VANE, HOLLAND, SAVILE, in the background.) Lady Carlisle. Answer them, Hollis, for his sake! One word! Charles. [To HOLLIS.] You stand, silent and cold, as though I were Deceiving you-my friend, my playfellow Of other times. What wonder after all? Just so, I dreamed my People loved me. It is yourself that you deceive, not me. Sir, You'll quit me comforted, your mind made up That, since you 've talked thus much and grieved thus much, All you can do for Strafford has been done. Queen. If you kill Strafford-(come, we grant you leave, |