Strafford. Let us go forth: follow me, gentlemen! Draw your swords too: cut any down that bar us. On the King's service! Maxwell, clear the way! [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. Their blood, perhaps, may wipe out all thus far, Maxwell. I dare, my lord, to disobey: none stir! [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. 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, And cast a memory from me. One stroke, now! [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, Lady Carlisle. T is the last chance for Strafford! Hear them out! Hear them out! Hollis. "If we kill Strafford "--on the eighteenth day Of Strafford's trial-" We !" Charles. Pym, I should say! Hollis. Pym, my good Hollis Ah, true-sir, pardon me! You witness our proceedings every day; But the screened gallery, I might have guessed, Pym takes up all the room, shuts out the view. -That's England; Ireland sends, and Scotland too, Their representatives; the Peers that judge Are easily distinguished; one remarks The People here and there: but the close curtain Ere Strafford rises to defend himself? Charles. I will defend him, sir !-sanction the past This day it ever was my purpose. Rage At me, not Strafford ! Lady Carlisle. Do nobly? Hollis. Nobly!-will he not Sir, you will do honestly; And, for that deed, I too would be a king. Charles. Only, to do this now!" deaf" (in your style) "To subjects' prayers,"-I must oppose them now! It seems their will the trial should proceed,— So palpably their will! Hollis. You peril much, But it were no bright moment save for that. Strafford, your prime support, the sole roof-tree Which props this quaking House of Privilege, (Floods come, winds beat, and see-the treacherous sand!) Doubtless, if the mere putting forth an arm Could save him, you'd save Strafford. Charles. And they dare Consummate calmly this great wrong! No hope? Hollis. No plague in store for perfidy?—Farewell! You called me, sir-[To Lady CARLISLE.] you, lady, bade me come To save the Earl: I came, thank God for it, To learn how far such perfidy can go! You, sir, concert with me on saving him Charles. I? and how? |