's the Consequence how it imports My Life these Agonies will sure express I who have stood pitch'd Battles without one Shock of Nature now feel Convulsive tremblings Seize on every Nerve nay thus unmann'd Behold me weeping at your feet Isa What can you who have so much Honour Fear to ask or I who have so much Love Refuse to grant My Lord as your partial kindness Has set me nearer to your heart than all the fairest Of your Sex so wou'd I approve my faith Above the common rate To justifie your choice speak thou Conqueror Propose the way be it to strip me of these shining Ornaments the Pride of Courts and fly with thee To Caves to Huts and unfrequented shades Most readily I will obey Clar. Ha! didst thou say fly with me By Heaven 'T is on that the weight of my Petition hangs Can you dare you will you be so good To trust this tender work of Heaven this Matchless softness never expos'd to ought less gentle Than the breeze from flowers Dare you with me Venture tempestuous blasts regardless Seas And all the hazards of Incommodious flight Isa Yes my dear Clarence Love wou'd make me bold Fill all my thoughts with thee and dangers quite forgot When thou art ne'er me But oh I have another tie Duty Friendship Gratitude plants me here The mourning Queen whose adversity has shook off Fawning crowds must not be left by Isabella Clar. I 'll not complain or urge an Argument Against that good and all-deserving Queen 'T is true big with my hopes for what won't Love Prompt blooming youth to hope I had prepar'd A vessel for our Transportation into France You as a Branch of Burgundy must needs Have found a noble welcome in that Court And I as Brother to great England's King Cou'd have made my own Conditions Isa England's King my Lord is not your Brother Clar. Yes faithfull charming Maid he is The People's hearts are his the sickly Forces Of falling Henry tomorrows setting Sun Intombs yet I wou'd fly from these flowing honours Which must adorn our Family and gazing Upon thee forget Ambition Isa What do you ask to what do I incline These may not be faithfull the way the method All like Palaces in Fairy Land Impracticable and only built on fancy Clar. If Love 's your guide the way is very easie The secret door you now have passed you may As well command at twelve there I will wait Like the far travell'd Pilgrim who knows no Peace Of mind till the opening Temple shows the Saint To whom his vows and oraisons are paid Isa Alas I dare not tread those lonely paths Thro' hollow Vaults and most horrid Windings And at that dreadfull hour of Midnight Clar. Give Malavill the outer Key and we Will meet you in the upper Court nay fear Not dearest I know him well born and bred Amongst us try'd and faithful as a Brother Isa Yet Brothers may be false O my divided Soul Can I leave the dear indulgent Queen O draw me Heaven thro' this Labyrinth For Love and Friendship pull me several ways Like Cords upon the Rack which ever way I yield No ease is granted to my troubled mind Clar. Return my soft beloved Oh return Hush thy anxious thoughts a sleep and think Of me no more Edward is indeed inveterate And which way ever Victory inclines we meet no more Lead me O Malavill Lead me to the Battle Fix me in the front against the ablest Archers fix me And let a thousand thousand darts at once Pierce this fond heart which pants in vain for Isabella Sinks on Malavill Isa Oh! my dear Lord I 'm not worthy half this passion My Fear is vanish'd and my Love is strong Command me any thing I will not raise Another doubt Clar. Oh! thou all goodness dearest sweetest Creature Once does wretched Clarence hold thee fast Isa Say direct me how I shall proceed for I will come Clar. Won't thou indeed O! Charming Excellence oh all perfection The blood that guards my heart leaps to my cheeks Fires my eyes which almost start with passion And each crowding word to express my Joys Grows thick upon my Tongue Isa Talk not so wildly but instruct me in my flight Clar. My life give to Malavill the Key of that door thro' which you past Isa I cannot yet for that way Tudor enters to the Queen Let him two hours hence beneath you Eastern Tower Wait and I will give it him what ails me Clarence Why do I tremble so Clar. Oh! 't is thy tender gentle nature which frights Thy little frame and makes thee shrink at what Thy love has promis'd yet Isabella By all my hopes by the blest Saints It Clarence lives you shan't repent your kindness Blast me with Lightning from yon Azure roof Rivet me with sure fulfilling bolts if time In all its Course Past or to Come can ought more faithfull see Isa Or any Maid who loves and dares like me Exeunt severally SCENE the Camp Enter King Edward meeting Gloucester Ed. What news my careful Gloucester Glou. Victory still attends the King the very Scouts and Forragers Return being flush'd and redned with Success Edw. These are all steps to fix us on the Throne But still the Root of Lancaster and Branches too Must be remov'd least building o'er them We totter and Clarence be ours or lost Glou. Lost in death e're ruine us Daring like yours In not proceeding does backward go Fair Isabella consents to Clarence's Follies And e're morning hopes to escape Edw. That must be prevented Glou. It shall the Hammer's lifted here and when It strikes the work is finished The night Under her Sable Wings shall hatch such deeds Will fright the blushing dawn Suppose Ludlow Castle yours The Queen on a pretext that shall seem just Remov'd Tudor slain either on his March or else Within the Walls Edw. Attempt both they who wou'd succeed must leave The least to Chance and catch at every opportunity Glou. This way Clarence moves as Malavill informs me Here I will stay and meet the fiery youth Dash all his quiet with the Fiend Jealousie Which Weed Planted by a cunning hand Will quickly grow in the warm soil of his Fierce passion and even overshoot the love Which he so long has cherish'd Edw. Use him dear Gloucester as his Folly has Deserv'd Glou. What Paper 's that Edw. A Letter from the forsaken Eleonora Glou. Leave it with me I have a sudden Thought it may be usefull Edw. Take it thou art a perfect Chymist In extracting ruin I dare trust all To thy management Exit Glou. Here comes Natures other Favourite Enter Clarence 'T was base 't was barbarous the choicest Beauty of the Nation rifled and then despis'd Looking upon the Letter Clar. What means my Brother Glou. Your Pardon Duke of Clarence I saw you not Here 's a melancholy complaint From the wretched Elenora Clar. Her fate is hard and much my temper Differs from the King 's Glou. That
to the Earth like one fell'd by the Almighty Thunderer crawling in dust unable to Resist but thanks to my kinder Stars 't is past the Giddy Wheel has gone its round and terror on this Brow alone 's to be observ'd Brother proceed you In the search Cat. He shall not dare by my great Henry's Soul whose Little finger wou'd have tumbled your aspirings Down and crusht ye into nothing he shall not dare Glou. What has the Lyon cast his Skin is Tudor Cramm'd shaking in some close corner and left the Queen to Brave us Come fellow Soldiers we 'll seek this Lurking Rebel drag him from the hole whither His fears have led him and take his forfeit Head for coming whereall our Laws deny'd him Enter Tudor Tud No be thine the fears as thine 's the guilt as Thine's the name of Rebell this honest loyal Heart desies thy malice Cat. Away away my Tudor hold cruel Gloucester Hold Enter Isabella Isa Stand off and let me pass what mischief 's acting Here has Clarence done this and am I the cause Glou. Ha another Fury take her Thyrrold to thy dispose She 's wholly given you know the rest leave not a Rival room to hope least this opportunity proves Thy last Isa Touch me not Monster What have I done if I Am guilty let the injur'd Queen punish me let her Spurn me trample on me print me with a Thousand wounds I 'll not complain Thyr. You shall have no reason Madam but you Must retire 't is the command of him who now Is master here Isa I will not Sir oh save me Royal Madam from The cruel hands of these inhumane Men. Glou. Force her hence we other business have than to Mind her foolish fears Isa Help heav'n if the Queen denies help thou my Weakness help Oh help Exit forc'd off with Thyr. Cat. Alas distracted wretch but Why name I her when all my life holds dear is On the brink of ruin Tud Speak Edward what is my doom dauntless I Expect it I wou'd have met thee fairly in the field body to Body arm'd with Sword and Justice but I suppose You lik'd not that therefore now what you please Edw. Audacious Tudor thou threaten condemn'd for Thy Ambition thy haughty love is adjudged a Treason Capital even that Puny King Henry whom thou Pretendest to serve he had courage to Sentence thee Seize him Captain Command his head be strucken Off and fixt upon the Castle Wall Cat. Thro' this bosom whosoe'er comes on am I not Daughter of France and England's Queen have I no Power where are my Guards Alas I had forgot I 've None Tud Disturb not thus the quiet of thy Soul my everlasting Charmer Thy sorrows rack me more than all their Rage Come whither am I to be led Cat. Oh Tudor glory disdain and pomp are mine No more yet thou art mine thou art yet alive and for That precious life I will renounce the former yes Edward I read the fullen pride that fills thy eyes And gathers on thy brow Glut thee this way behold That Queen who shook thee with a nod fall thus Thy suppliant kneels Edw. And at this sight may Heaven and Earth be Witness oh Gloucester well hast thou fulfil'd thy word Not all the Crowns ambition covets England and France the noblest Diadems can please like this Thus did I kneel and thus was I repuls'd and oh fair Queen if I have lost my Soul for want of pity His life is poor amends Cat. Sure there is something in thee like the mixture Of a God and Devil I cannot beg my heart 's above it Yet spare him Edward for thy future fame Tud Oh torture not to be endur'd my life ask'd Of him him whose life I did command Edw. Ha! Cat. Oh stop bend to hard necessity thy words have Given him new rage canst thou behold these Low submissions for thy sake and frustrate all their Power Glou. You do indeed submit below your Character To save your wanton choise the Idol of your Lust Tud Villain I 'll tear out that Blasphemous tongue That has prophan'd a Chastity Thy Mother never knew Flies at Gloucester Glou. I always go prepar'd for such a hug lie there Presuming wretch Stabs him Tud falls Cat. Wither the arm that arm that gave the blow Curst be my Female weakness too that cou'd not save him Oh fatal aim speak to me once again sinks upon Tud Edw. Look to the Queen Gloucester thou hast done as men in power wou'd wish A cruel necessary act without the bidding Yet help me Brother for thou I find art steady And tenderness struggles with revenge Oh the Uncertainty of humane passion for Catharine I Wou'd once have died yet now have given her Sorrows severer much than death Cat. Ha! who have we here my Tudor bleeding These bubling wounds are none of thine If they are give 'em to me I feel 'em at my heart Tud My paradise on earth farewell Have patience Live for their dear sakes I leave behind My Children Oh farewell dies Cat. No we won't part so soon On these pale lips I will for ever ever lie Edw. The sight stupifies my senses Let 's to the field there in the clank of Swords I will forget this private murder For sure it cannot bear a better name Glou. Yes as I shall order it when the day is ours Which is now undoubted his death breaks their Forces Missing their Leader his Troops dismaid prove useless After Conquest it shall be given out That he was taken and beheaded Victory And Success will stop the mouth of unnecessary truth And leave the following Age in doubt Edw. Captain let the Trumpets sound Wake every Soldier with the voice of Battle For as the Sun must rise in blood so shall His evening be and he shall shine no more Till he beholds no Rival in the British Throne Gloucester dispose of Tudor as you please But to the Queen offer no violence Oh Catharine Oh fatal Beauty what ruins Thy Love has made Exit Edw. Cat. Ha who said that if I am curst in Love I 'll try to thrive in hate to thrive in curses Curst be Edward Curst be all his Race let 'em Prometheus like have their own bowels torn For they have prey'd upon my heart Glou. Have comfort Madam Cat. Comfort yes from thy bloody hand I wou'd Receive it Daggers Sword and Poyson are the only Comforts thou canst give or I desire Henry And Tudor both the rich prizes now of death Then why am I spared come on thou Murderer Strike this swelling bosom and let me mount to My Immortal Heroes see where my Tudor rises On a Fleecy Cloud all Crown'd with Radiant light Oh take me with thee he ascends A pace I cannot reach him I 'll tear this Clog Of flesh off bear me ye Whirlwinds near him Vain delusive joy cold and bleeding at my feet The dear one lies Oh my sick brain Glou. Sleep will give you ease Here
sting of her denial Oh! what a torment 't is to know another Enjoys that Bliss for which I sigh'd in vain But Revenge is more lasting fiercer far If not so pleasing as fond Boyish Love Glou. His approach brings the fair Queen To this Castle that lies between our Camps Suppose I glut the angry God within your Breast and find a way to kill this hated Tudor In her arms Edw. ' Twou'd charm me more than to revel in them now Glou. Mind you the pleasures that your heart is fond of And leave this business to your faithful Brother Lord Dacres and Sir James Tyrell rule the Queen Dacres is honest trusty not to be mov'd By bribes or prayers Tyrell is mine and so is Malavill Clarence's Favourite nor shall the amorous Boy Wed the beauteous Ward of Katharine Isabella Half English half French I like not The mixt breed Edw. That be thy labour'd care for if he matches In that abandon'd Family we lose a Brother Come to my arms and let me swear my Gloucester Thou shar'st the Heart and Crown of thy lov'd Edward Glou. I hope great Sir you 'll ne'er repent the trust You have impos'd upon your ready Servant Edw. I thank thee Gloucester and I believe thee too Who waits on Fate will find her Laws are just And patience will at length our wishes Crown I cou'd ask no more than this To mount the Throne of my ungratefull Fair And dash her back that bitter Cup despair Exeunt Enter Malavill to Gloucester Mala. My Lord are you alone Glou. I am and you are safe Haste dear Malavill Quick inform me what More of Importance since our last Conference Has reach'd thy knowledge Mala. I am afraid if discover'd I can No longer serve your Grace Glou. Therefore be quick in your Narration Mala. Fair Isabella from the Castle meets My Lord of Clarence in the adjoining Grove And there I 've learnt he means to try The utmost eloquence of Conquering Love To perswade his Mistress to fly the Kingdom Glou. Dear Malavill observe my orders you shan't want Gold But at the meeting let not a falling syllable Escape thee How stands Sir James Thyrrold Mala. Fixt to our Cause as fate fonder far Of Isabella than he is of Life to Hell He 'd plunge to sink his Reval Glou. My Lord Dacres will he leave the Queen Is Tudor's coming on confirm'd Mala. All as you cou'd wish heark a noise I dare not stay to tell you more Exit Glou. Work on my brain help every faculty And thou invention stretch till thou hast wound me Into the bottom of my Brothers Councils Then give destruction power a Crown alone Can safely shrou'd those foul deformities Those glorious rays wou'd dazle mocking Gazers Then amongst the crowd no sawcy Slave Wou'd dare in whispers to pronounce me monstrous The Ladie 's too caught with unbounded sway The Royal Purple to this uncouth trunk Gives form and vigour to this sapless Limb. By Heaven nature sent me Here in spite to plague her upright Race 'T was her design nor shall she lose her end A Real Foe and deep dissembling Friend Near the Crown but not near enough ally'd Tho Seas of Blood my Title do divide Cruel and bold I 'll wade the Kindred tide Exit ACT the Second SCENE Ludlow Castle SCENE draws discovers Queen Catharine seated attended by the Lord Dacres Sir James Tyrell c. Ladies She rises Cat. THo' Margaret Daughter only of a titled King Who for her Portion brought my wanting Henry What he wanted least expensive Pride Tho she I say ranks me with her Foes Has taken pains to est range me from the breast And fatal Counsels of her ruin'd Husband Yet so dear I hold my Son that to his aid I wou'd not spare my Officers of State alone Alas now they are few succouring him My self I 'll strip of each menial Servant But oh my Lord when I Reflect on your departure My nature by continual injuries made bold Shrinks back and all my Courage fails me Dacres The only merit I can plead is my obedience The Creature of your Commands Cat. Wisely and well did thy Great Master choose Who dying left me to thy Guardian care So perfect has my Loyal Dacres prov'd That I dare read thy very thoughts and pronounce They never swerv'd one title from my Interest Ev'n preferment that Common bait and Ruine of a Courtiers Honesty cou'd never tempt thee from me but now The sad hour 's arriv'd that calls thee forth Thy prudence and thy courage must out To save a sinking King Dac O sacred relick of the first of Heroes For what was Alexander but a Name Compar'd with our Immortal Henry It 's true the first ravag'd o'er effeminate Persia And a barbarous World but my unequall'd King Conquer'd his numerous neighbours Older much Than He and therefore thought more skill'd in Arms Fenc'd Towns nor Armed men cou'd barr his fury Which like Groves darkn'd th' expanded plain Thro' treble numbers he forc'd his way to victory Doubly blest subdueing France and being by you Subdu'd Yet in this full tide of Fortune mark The weakness of the best of humane frames Either the excess of sorrow or of Joy Cracks the strings of life and we moulder Into our first nothing when thousand pious hands Were lifting up to Heav'n for his safety Ev'n then our mighty King expir'd Cat. Well hast thou choos'd this melancholy theam It suits our parting Noble Dacres well Dac By Heav'n I cannot mention that Great Man But the vast story dwells upon my tongue But now I thought to look a little backwards And tell my beauteous Queen the many tyes That link me her faithful Slave when loe At the name of Glorious Henry my words Flow'd to Encomiums and left my worthless self forgot Cat. It needs not Sir O could I but reward As I remember all thy Services How woud'st thou shine bedeck'd with Royal Favours Now thy advice and then farewell do you think The Garrison drawn off and then my Guard remov'd I 'm safe not that I 'm mention'd in the War But I wou'd not be expos'd to that power that has No Justice for its rule Dac Madam this Castle was built by Vortigern See but the Keys of the Avenues in Trusty hands Edward may wast his Army here E're give you any cause for a disturbance Sir James Thyrrold to your charge I leave My Queen if thou shou'dst prove a Traytor ah How came these words upon my tongue without A moments thought Tyr. Without a cause you shou'd have said what have I done to be mistrusted Cat. Thyrrold hold it was his care for me If yours is equal then you must excuse it Adieu Commend me to Henry and the Queen Tell them my endeavours and my Prayers shall still Attend them Dac O thou forgiving Virtue Everlasting Charmer Whose sight alone gave thy dying Lord Transports too great for mortal life to bear Here let me six my parting duty and