Or count his presence as our conquest's proof, In every county, save the northern parts Vane. [Shouting. I, in England's name, Declare her work, this way, at end! Till now, 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 hearts with Vane! 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? 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, 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. All the Court! Evermore the Court about us! Savile and Holland, Hamilton and Vane About us, then the King will grant me-what? "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. Distrust you. He does not Wentworth. Lucy, you can help me; you Have even seemed to care for me: one word! Is it the Queen ? Lady Carlisle. No, not the Queen the party That poisons the Queen's ear, Savile and Holland. Wentworth. I know, I know: old Vane, too, he 's one too? Go on-and he's made Secretary. Well? Or leave them out and go straight to the charge The charge! Lady Carlisle. Oh, there's no charge, no precise charge; Only they sneer, make light of—one may say, Nibble at what you do. Wentworth. I know! but Lucy, I reckoned on you from the first! Go on! To help her . . . what am I? Of value! The one service that the crown May count on! All that keeps these very Vanes In power, to vex me-not that they do vex, Wentworth. The only hand held up in my defence Ah? well, perhaps May be old Laud's! These Hollands then, these Saviles Nibble? They nibble?—that 's the very word! Lady Carlisle. Your profit in the Customs, Bristol says, Exceeds the due proportion: while the tax Wentworth. Enough! 'tis too unworthy, -I am not So patient as I thought. What's Pym about? Lady Carlisle. Pym? Wentworth. Lady Carlisle. Pym and the People. Oh, the Faction! Extinct-of no account: there 'll never be Another Parliament. Wentworth. Tell Savile that! You may know-(ay, you do—the creatures here I was not . . . much that I am now! The King I bid them ruin their wise selves, not me, These Vanes and Hollands! I'll not be their tool |