of the World Wou'd break her Vow to Gilford tell me then Is there a Man who for Religions Cause To fix the Glory of his House for ever And join two Lovers Hearts made one before By mutual Vows but wou'd have done as I did Pemb. The Ministers above are on your side And pleas'd to make your great Attempt successful Heav'ns have you not a Bolt in all your store Left yet to ram this Traytor to the Center Nay me that knows all this to be the forging of Aside His Brain yet dare not tell him that he Lies North. Haste then my Lord you are our Hopes have you The suppos'd Letters of the King to Mary And Council's Order of dispatch Pemb. I have But mine e'er this I hope she has receiv'd To give her Caution Fare you well my Lord. North. Yet but a word If Edward's Death she chance To hear of and so miss to fall into our Snare By my Command unknown to all the Council Six of the tallest best appointed Ships Are Cruising now about the Coast of Yarmouth To intercept her Flight that way Pemb. 'T was Bravely done and Wisely How Villany betrays it self Farewell Success at home attend you doubt not mine Exit Pemb. North. Help now you Powers whether from Heaven or Hell Descend ascend bring but a Crown I care not That from this Moment may grow up my Basis Whilst thus having compleated all my Labours Like Hercules I fix my Pillars here And by this Foot of ground on which I tread Hold and take seizen now of all the rest Lighting my Torch at Tudor's short liv'd flame Till Dudly's Name shall blaze in England's Crown As long and fear'd as Proud Plantagenet's Let none admire that Thracian Maximin A Peasant once attain'd the Roman Empire Or that Ogothocles a Potter's Son With Armies Conquer'd the Cicilian State Since Whirl-winds Storms and Earthquakes root up Towns And watery Deluges have drown'd whole Countries But this to do without the noise of Thunder Alone and with the Fox's Tayl unarm'd The Fame of this is only due to Dudly Behold a' comes the Pledge of all my Wishes The Star of my Ambition for whose sake I 'de wrest the War out of the Gyants hand And undertake a second fight with Heaven Enter Gilford Gilf. What have I felt what Ravishing Delight What Mines of Pleasure hast thou found this Night What Mysteries of Love without a Name What quenching Cordials and what killing Flame Soft like a Babe she laid me in her Bosom Whilst all the night I revell'd in her Arms. In Dreams of Love I 've done the like before But always wak'd till now cheated and poor North. O Son of all my hopes my Darling Gilford For whom thy Father feels within his Breast What far exceeds the Love of Youth to Beauty Gilf. My Lord my Father The Parent of my Life and of my Joys The Shrine of all my Offerings Prayers and Thanks And God of my Obedience here on Earth O let me bend beneath your feet for ever And kiss the Sacred Ground your steps have blest North. Rise to my Arms my Son I do Command thee What means my Gilford Gilf. O Sir you Begot me North. I did my Boy so did my Father me And all Mankind came so into the World Is that so strange Gilf. O Yes when I have told What Stars of Blessings rul'd when I was Born What lavish Plannet Reign'd that Night you 'll say My Birth 's a Miracle my Life a wonder North. Thy Vertues shine indeed like Prodigies Gilf. Was ever Man before Conceiv'd like me O speak when first you won my Mother's Love Had you not then the fierce desires of Iove Who got Alcides with such vast Delight He mask'd three Suns to make a treble Night And join'd three bright December Moons in one To get so Lov'd to make so Blest a Son North. How fares thy Lovely Bride my Beauteous Daughter Gilf. O there you dive into the precious Stream That purls through ev'ry Vein about my Heart The String that when with the least Breath you touch A thrilling Musick runs through all my Blood And ev'ry Pulse leaps but to hear her Nam'd North. O tell me of her Health how fares thy Iane Gilf. To see her is the Blessing of the Eyes But to lie by her panting side and hear The beatings of her heart Love's softest Language To count the Balmy Sighs her Soul breathes out And sweeter Kisses dropping from her Lips Are sure the Pleasures that th' Immortals feel The Springs where Angels every thousand years Fledge their cast Wings to make them young again And now can you believe if ever Father Did make a Son so blest if ever Son Had so much cause as I to bless a Father North. True if thou knew'st the mighty things I 've done Prepare with awe and listen to thy Father If this small gust of Passion shakes thy Frame Son I have News will root thee up with Joy Wou'd not thy Iane look lovely with a Crown Gilf. A Crown where e'er she goes she is the Queen And makes her Presence still the Court of Love Cupids like Subjects waiting on her looks Crowns in her Eyes and Scepters in her Smiles She like the Golden World in Bed did lie Like Conquering Alexander I lay by And what in Ages he cou'd scarce inthrall Won in a Night and Crown'd me King of all North. Still have you no regard to my Request Curb your wild Joy and listen to my Story I lay it on you as my last Commands I ever must or dare from hence pronounce Gilf. Ha! you have shock'd me Sir with somewhat which I fear to know What is 't I 'm all Attention North. Young Edward's dead Gilf. Alas that Rose of Kings That Sacred Bud of Royalty e'er it Cou'd blossom into Man Say not he 's dead North. Gilford your pity spare and hear me out And now you have indur'd the bitter Rind Prepare to taste the luscious Fruit that follows Gilf. Methought I heard a Father's voice again Say if he 's dead who must restore our Joys Why mourns the Kingdom then without a head Whom must I kneel to whom must we obey North. There lives a Prince to undeceive you let This Posture then instruct you who he is Gilf. Why kneels my Father why d' you heap more wonders North. Why bends the Subject to his lawful King I 'm in the presence of my Soveraign Gilf. Ha! where if so then I must cleave to Earth What means my Father say I see no Prince No Person that I owe Obedience to But you Heav'n what do you intend by this D' you rain down Miracles to distract me quite Or do you this to let me know that all Those Joys I tasted but last night were mortal North. To rid your Soul of racking doubts for ever Know that I kneel to you Gilf. All Heav'n forbid Rivers no more shall pay the Ocean duty But rushing back shall mingle with their Source
let my pregnant Heart bring forth Those kindly Joys the Beams of Love have kindled Dutch 'T is nought but Fondness and Excess of Passion Like Misers Wealth which oft begets a Fear Without a Cause of losing what they covet Ia. Why in the Tower this Palace more befits A Coronation than a private Wedding Love rather wou'd have chosen some lonely Bower Or humble Cottage than this mighty Prison Alas why at this time why are we lodg'd In the Apartment of the King and here attended With more than usual State Dutch It is my Child By the Appointment of his Majesty Ia. By his Appointment say Then is he well Dutch I do not know Ia. Ha! then I fear 't is bad For every one I ask tells me the same Does his devouring Malady increase Then Bane to all our Marriage-Sweets for ever If he does languish why should we rejoyce Why should our Hymen's Torch so proudly blaze When he our brightest Sun is in Eclipse Why shou'd we laugh and drink deep Draughts of Joy When Edward Groans and all the Nation Weeps Dutch Disturb the quiet of thy Breast no more Thou shou'dst rejoyce to see thy Mother glad Her Floods of Sorrow and her Tides of Bliss Are Govern'd by the Stars of thy Success Wines of sweet Relish may be drunk too fast And what you are should not be told in haste Exit Dutch Ia. Ha! Gone Was I but yesterday so blest And now a Stranger to my Mother's Breast What is the cause just Heav'n she shuns my sight Has then a Wife so chang'd me in a Night What News is that too great for me to bear And yet I dread it is too bad to hear But see a' comes my Oracle of Love That will all Doubts from this dear Heart remove In whose sweet Tongue 's more Musick soft Desire Than in Apollo's Voice or Charming Lyre Enter Gilford Gilf. My Life My Soul My Angel and my Love Ia. Come to my Breast thou faithless Wanderer And listen to the Language of my Heart The Dove within my Bosom left alone Has pin'd and coo'd and made such piteous Moan And in its doleful Cage no rest cou'd get This long long hour and all for thee its Mate Gilf. Ye Powers that ever felt a Lover's Joy Why have ye made such Beauties to destroy For here are Arms to bind the Brave and Young Nets for the Wise and Fetters for the Strong Ia. O thou lov'd Man in whom are sweetly mixt Thy Father's Roughness and thy Mother's Softness Where hast thou been thou Darling dear of Love Where hast thou been thou Stragler Thy whole Sex Are like the little Robbers of the Hive Who having cull'd the Sweets of ev'ry Flower Rifl'd their Wealth and ravish'd all their Store Proud with their Conquest leave the Plunder'd Bower To every Storm and every Blast that blows Thus like the Violet and the fragrant Rose Women Enjoy'd you Banish and Expose Gilf. Atlas wou'd sink beneath this weight of Bliss I die I live and all with ev'ry kiss This Downy softness Snowy white excels The Beauty that in yonder Heaven dwells O shun me fly me banish me I fear These Raptures are too exquisite to bear Ia. I charm thee then by our past Scenes of Love By all those Sacred and Religious Rites Unravell'd to our languishing Delights By the disclosing of that Gordian Knot Which like the greedy Conqueror of the World Thou in the Temple of these Arms unfolded If there be any thing within this Breast Worth a kind thought O rid it then from Tortures And tell me why this place of Blood and Death Is chosen to be the Seat of tender Love Where dreadful Cannons drown soft Lutes and Songs And Bullets fly instead of Cupid's Darts But first by all those Tyes again I charge thee Inform me of the Welfare of the King If he be well no matter where we are Gilf. O then prepare to hear the Joyful Wonder Fit only for an Angel's Voice to tell And thou to hear King Edward by his Will Ia. What was 't you said his Will then is he dead Gilf. As Winters Clay he 's dead but that 's not all Ia. Not all Is not that more than all the Plagues at once On England Dead O Heav'ns recall that word And Trumpet with an Angel's Voice aloud To all his Subjects Ears that now are deaf With howlings that he lives Say does he live Gilf. In Heav'n a' does Ia. O Gilford can you say He 's dead and not relate it with a Tone So mournful that wou'd strike with sudden death The wretched hearers Gilf. Cease thou profuse and lavish Mourner cease Dudley will else grow jealous of his Shade And wish to die to be lamented so Tears are but wasted that are spent in Sorrow Hadst thou a Stock wou'd fill the Ocean up I bring such News wou'd drain 'em all with Joy Shake off those Clouds that shade thy Summer's Beams And O! put on put on with all thy Smiles Thy Spring of Beauty straight to welcome Glory Kneels Ia. What means my Lord Gilf. Start not for what th' Almighty is above And Edward was on Earth ev'n that you are Ia. Ha! quickly tell me what is that Gilf. My Princess and the Soveraign Queen of England Ia. Rise rise and flatter those that are Ambitious Gilf. I dare not for the Ocean 's not so wide Nor distance up from Earth to Heaven so great As this vast Space a Crown has made betwixt us Ia. Now I have hopes again thou art not serious That the King lives and this is acted all Rise to my Breast and take those fancy'd Crowns Were here the Empire of the World my Lord Should share it Gilf. Can you be so Heav'nly lavish Imagine then thy Beauty 's on a Throne High as the Star the Ruler of the Morn From whence thou may'st behold Joy spread its Wings o'er all the Ravish'd Island Augusta with her Bells and Trumpets sounding Iane Brittain's Empress and the Ocean's Queen Ia. Haste and in few and plainer words explain you Truly I bind you by that Sacred Truth above I die to be deliver'd of this doubt But fear the Knowledge will be worse than Death What am I Who are you And if the King Be dead as all the Pow'rs o'er Life forbid Who shou'd the Nation kneel to but his Sister Gilf. Your self Ia. My self Gilf. Ask me not whom the People But whom the Heav'ns have chosen whom the King On his Sick Bed by Patent and by Will Ordain'd And I must answer only you Ia. Ha! Me Me Heav'ns Yet yet recant my Guilford Say this is feign'd and pour not down at once More Plagues than Earth has left in store to curse us Condemn not with thy once melodious Tongue These Breasts to Banishment and further too Than Seas can part us or than Death can do Gilf. What says my Iane has she not one kind look To give the Messenger nor Gilford too Heark heark they come approaching with
and take it Be suddain for there 's now no going back Like Caesar you have past the Rubicon Therefore resolve like him and take the Crown Dutch Say not th' art Conscious now of shedding Blood All we must perish if thou cease to guard us Already y' are proclaim'd through all the Kingdom And by a Claim lesser than Mary's think you Was not my Mother Harry's only Sister And every drop of Blood of thine as Royal As the best vein from whence her Title streams North. Ha! mute Gilford where is thy boasted Power Where 's now thy Empire o'er her bending Mind Thy soft thy obey'd thy quick Commands to win her Thou speechless too then we are all betray'd 'T is so Madam w' are sold basely and Cowardly Whilst Correspondence with the Candidate Is held in hopes that when my Life and all My wretched Sons are forfeited to Death They shall be Heirs and so of you my Lord Is it not so Gilf. O Iane Ia. Give me thy hand let 's fall thus low together O Father Mother far more priz'd than Life And Parent of my Lord as near my Heart By the Divine above and Just on Earth By this dear Pledge that you have given these Arms To bind me to your Love thus fast for ever Your Safety is the only Charm that binds me And Life the Sentence that Condemns me Guilty Dutch What 's to be done the Storm comes on apace And Mary like a Torrent from a Hill Will quickly drive us hence or pour upon us Suff. There 's now no hopes in any thing but Flight Let us secure our selves Dutch Inglorious Wretch Shame of thy Mother's Blood Suff. Say what do you intend to do my Lord North. Stay here like Titan and devour my Race To tear him her thee and then my hated self Yet I 'll be gone but whither that 's no matter Behold me O! thou that wert once my Son But now a Stranger to my Bowels Iove hurl'd Not Saturn from so proud a heighth as thou hast me I who this Moment in my hand had Crowns And Kingdoms with my Breath to give away Now am not worth this Spot this Earth I tread on Gilf. O cruel Iane O most Inhumane Virtue North. Yet I will live and feed this Breast with Curses There is this Comfort too I may run mad At worst but beg and starve out Life as lately A Noble Duke of the Lancastrian Line That us'd in Burgundy by Horsemens sides To run and crave an Alms and so farewel Gilf. My Father Lord you must not shall not stir Take not your self take not your Blessing from us Lo at your Feet the worst Delinquent falls Spurn this Hard-hearted and Rebellious Son Spurn me to Atoms hence you shall not go For thus I 'll hold 'em chain 'em with my Hands Wash 'em with Tears and glew 'em to my Lips Take me along your Son shall be your Shield I 'll plant my self like Marble round your Heart Save you from Want and guard you from your Foes North. Loose me Fond Nature will not let me hurt thee The Father 's in my Heart and Mother's in my Eyes Wilt thou not let me go to save my Life But see thy Father like a Traitor seiz'd Drawn on a Sledge and mounted on a Gibbet Then by the common Executioner Of Rogues and Thieves these Bowels to be ripp'd And this great Heart yet panting in his hand Thrown in the Flames and burnt before thy Face Gilf Now by the Heavenly Pity in her Soul She 'll not indure it See she 'll take the Crown And mount the Precipice of yonder Throne Were it as high or Mortal to ascend As Atlas Teneriff or burning AEtna I know my Iane wou'd Travel to the top At my Request one of these Tears shou'd force her Turn best of Fathers turn behold she will I see it in her Soul her Lips are pregnant Now now they open Heav'nly Angel say Let thy Tongue speak the Language of thy Eyes And save my Father's Life Ia. Heav'n knows my Gilford How dear's thy Love How Eloquent thy Tears And more how near thy Father's Danger wracks me Yet this I must not yield to All is none To Vultures here and Daggers in a Throne Gilf. Ha! Then I 'll search amongst the Stars or dive To th' bottom where this Merciless Virtue grows Farewel O most Belov'd And yet most Cruel Farewel to those false Dreams of Crowns by Day And Heav'n by Night Farewel to Love for ever Perhaps when I am Dead she 'll take the Crown Then of necessity this way 's the best To save a Father's Life and be at rest Offers to fall on his Sword Ia. Hold hold my Love Give me this fatal Weapon Where is this Throne Where is this Golden Wreath This Magick Circle to Inchant my Brow Load me with Crowns were it the Tripple Crown To save your Lives you shall then put it on North. Immortal Crowns reward your Soul for this Gilf. Shout shout aloud till Angels catch the sound And Joy in Heav'n that she on Earth is Crown'd Shouts Scene draws and discovers the Throne and Regalias Re-enter Lords Ia. Is this the fatal Glory of Mankind The dazling Object that so fires his Mind Curst as in Mines thou art dug up with pain With Labour got and Sorrow lost again Methinks when I ascend you dreadful height Putting on the Crown I am like one who when a Storm 's in sight Climbs up some dangerous Cliff that hits the Skies To view the Labouring Barks with weeping Eyes How they against the raging Billows strive And wonders that the little Wretches live But still forgets what slippery place he 's on How safe they are how near he is to drown Exeunt Omnes ACT III. SCENE I. SCENE the Tower Gardner solus Gard. YOung Edward dead the Crown Intail'd on Iane All looks like dreadful Truth for late last night Suffolk's proud Dutchess and her Pageant Daughter Enter'd these Walls with a profuse Retinue Omnipotence what mean'st thou fatal Caesar Curst be the Winds that drove thee on our Shore A Storm brought thee to us and ever since The Storms of War has lodg'd within our Bowels And curst be the Foundation of these Walls When thou didst build this Castle to maintain Thy ill got Empire 't was first rear'd in Blood And since with Blood of Princes often stain'd A Cittadel for this Rebellious City The Scene of Murders Slaughter-House of Kings And Court of Hellish Plots Ha! yonder comes Northumberland like a Prodigious Meteor That threatens Desolation where it hovers Dudley the Great and Monarch of his Prince Enter Northumberland with Attendance seeing Gardner offers to pass over the Stage My Lord. North. What says my Lord of Winchester Y' are breathing in the freshness of the Morning Gard. The King 's poor Prisoners Sir are glad to take The Benefit of any little Air. I 've borrow'd of my Chains this precious Freedom To learn what News and if the King be
Cause retain For e're my words can reach th' Almighty's Ear Thunder from high grows lowder than my Prayer Methoughts the Diamond Bolts of Heav'n were barr'd And straight the noise of falling Crowns I hear'd Which did like Stars in broken pieces fly And scatter'd o're the Crystal Pavement ly Whilst Angels thus aloud Proclaim'd she Dies When Virtue Slave to tempting Glory lies 'T is just it fall Ambition's Sacrifice Sits down and takes Plato O Plato Thou that when the World was Night Taught Heathens how to see and us the Light Whose Mouth the longing Bees did make their Hive A true Presage thy Lips shou'd Honey give What say'st thou now to ease my troubled Breast What 's this A Tyrant is the greatest Plague Reads The Gods can send to Men Ha! Tyrant Ay that Guilt shall be thy Fame And Plato brands thee with that hated Name Lays down the Book and falls on the floor Fetch me the Robes the Adornments of your King And all the Pomp of the Ambitious bring Crowns Scepters Globes till they an Hill shall be And underneath the Lumber bury me A proper Grave for such who vainly try With waxen Wings to mount the Angry Skye Enter Gilford Gilf. O you Blest Powers What Prodigy is this Is this the day Are these my Eyes just Heaven What Seeds of Miracles has sown this Wonder My Queen beneath the Throne upon the Floor Lift up thy Head most Blest of Humane Race In Tears too O thou Brittain's Rising Sun Thus does thy Rival to the West return And leaves the World in blackest Shades to mourn Ia. O thou dear Man Thou soft thou pretious Ruine That comes to Tempt me to another fall When thou art absent frightful Visions haunt me England's sad Race of Monarchs some Depos'd Some Slain with Daggers sticking in their Bosoms And others Banisht glaring in their Shrouds All threatning me as Author of their Woes That Death I seek to rid me of the Pain But when thou com'st I wish to live again Gilf. Immortals is it possible Nor Crowns Nor Empire State nor Lust of Gawdy Power Can tempt thee from thy Adamantine Bounds But must like Stars be Foyls when Cynthia shines And like Day-Fires be buried in Eclipse Before this Heav'n of Virtue Sun of Brightness Ia. Dost thou not feel me tremble my frighted Soul By starts leaps from my Bosom to my Eyes Misjudging ev'ry Object that it sees And thinks they come from Heav'n to give me Doom Gilf. For what Ia. For Sin for Usurpation O Gilford clasp me save me in thy Arms Support my burthen'd Spirits sinking Head Weigh'd down with Crowns and loaded with Ambition Let 's fly my Love from this tempestuous State Descend betimes from this disturb'd high Mountain Guarded with Terrours and with Crowds Besieg'd E're Life gets on the Wing and Love forsakes His troubl'd Nest to build in Heav'ns safe Shades In Shepherds Clothes let thee and I repair To some lone Vale like Tempâ—'s Golden Bowers To Love away the Day and Charm the tedious Hours Gilf. 'T is but a Night my Soul my Happiness This Vision of a Crown has lasted me And thou hast made me weary of 't already Do all when they 've injoy'd this Golden Dream So soon Repent Ia. Usurpers like our selves Alone we shall be Plagu'd with Ghostly Storms Conjur'd by this our Guilt amidst our Guards Be most in fear at Meals we ne're shall eat Without a Weapon hanging by a Hair And pointed o're our Heads and every Night Our Dreams shall forge Revenging Thunderbolts Or else like Brutus in our closest Studies We shall have Murther'd Caesar ever in our eyes And when at last w' are frighted into Frenzy Depos'd of Crowns Ambition still will haunt us And wretched as we shall be think of Reigning And act the Tyrant still altho' it be Like mad Men in an Hospital O pity'd State Gilf. Ha! canst thou think thy Gilford such a Monster O give me way yet nearer to thy Soul Open thy Bosom and let in this Criminal The Shrine the Sanctuary for all my Fears Had I usurp'd the Universal Rule Hunted its Kings like Droves about the World Cast all their Crowns in one upon this Head And till it reach'd the Sky pil'd Throne on Throne For all my Crimes thy Virtues can Attone Where shall we turn to rest for here we walk On burning Scepters and on glowing Crowns Whilst threatning Clouds are Marching o'er our heads To pour like Spouts upon us Ia. Let us in some disguise escape this night And throw our selves at Royal Mary's Feet Then quit for ever this infected Throne No more deluded be by Glory's Charms We 'll find the World in one anothers Arms. Both rise Our Portion shall the boundless Empire be Of true Love Innocence and Liberty For here we are Shut like the Patriarch in the Ark alone View all the Waters and the World our own But yet alas Imprison'd in a Throne Going out meets Duke and Dutchess of Suffolk Suff. What now Is this like England's Majesty Again in sadness hunting doleful Corners Who have the vast luxurious Globe to rove in Without your Guards shut from your longing Subjects Who banish'd from your Chambers make such moan As Birds lament the absence of the Sun Dutch Ingrateful Daughter more Inhuman Gilford Wing'd with my Royal Right th' ast pitch'd upon The highest and most envy'd Throne in Europe And brought into Possession of those Charms With whose injoyment tho' inrich'd with Crowns Thou art not satisfy'd Shame of great Dudley's Blood Ia. O Mother Gilf. Best of Mothers Parent of my Love Dutch Did I for thee refuse my Claim of Empire And lest the dazling Crown should tempt my Mind Put out the darling light of my Ambition That thou should'st shine the brighter Ia. Father Dutch Unnatural Off-spring of my Blood O shut thy Ears against the Crocodil For a few cunning Tears by Gilford shed Which he but feign'd to save his Father's life She did not scruple then t' Usurp the Throne Which now her Conscience will not let her keep To save both ours O that thou wert again An Infant sucking at thy Nurses Breast And I forewarn'd thou would'st have prov'd so mean I wou'd have snatch'd thee sprawling from the Nipple And stamp'd thy Brains out thus against the Stones Ia. How wretched is my State I either must My Virtue lose or Duty to my Parents Yet witness all you Angels and my Mother Since either you or I must be a Queen That one of us must be the loath'd Usurper I 'm glad the Fate has light upon this Brow For I had rather bear the Guilt than you Dutch Do weep that I may scorn thee By Heav'n there 's not a Tear shed for so base A Cause but draws an angry Curse upon thee Ia. O cruel Mother Why threatens that belov'd harmonious Voice Like softest Strings that jar when out of Tune That Tongue was made for Blessings not for Curses If you will curse O curse us
us Where hast thou been what did thy Fancy shew thee Ia. Methought I softly stole from thee away As thou safe sleeping on my Bosom lay And glad that I had pass'd grim Death alone Mounted on Pinions that out-flew the Sun But on the Confines of that Heavenly Race A Warlike Angel stood to Guard the place The same whom Sacred Story says to be 'T was Raphael sure or one more great than he Who looking terrible with this Command A Beamy Garland put into my hand Return said he Crown him thou lov'st most dear Without thy Gilford there 's no entrance here At that last word I starting back did fâ—y Swift as a falling Meteor from the Skie And come to fetch thee on my Cherubs wings Where we will Raign more absolute than Kings Gilf. Cou'dst thou alas thou Darling of my Heart Alone to Heav'n without thy Gilford part Nay if thy Dreams can foster such a Crime No Sleep but Death shall part us from this time Like Turtles we have languish'd here in Love And will like loving Angels dwell above Ia. Let me adorn thy Temples and obey The Angels and the Deity 's Decree Behold this Wreath the Beauties of the Field The rarest Sweets the Bowers of England yield Now Spring and Paradise are on thy Brow Puts the Garland on his Head And richer Flowers in Eden never grew The spotless Ram thus Hymen's Victim dies To Love an Off'ring Death a Sacrifice Gilf. These lovely Blossoms of the fruitful Year Are proud that they thy Beauty's Livery wear I saw thy hands new mould 'em all the night And with thy Fingers turn the Lillies white Saw thee too lift the Garland to thy Head And with a kiss made every Rose so red Ia. Not Incense nor Arabian Spices smell So sweet as does the Breath as here does dwell Gilf. O Paradise O Virtue most Divine In whom all Graces with all Beauties shine Ia. Pity my case perhaps when I shall see This Head without the Body brought to me These Lips that were so red then ghastly pale Gasping for Life that now with Pleasures swell No Breath to give thy Harmonious Voice a Tone Nor Tongue to tell thy Iane its pitious Moan These Eyes that now my shining Planets are Extended and like angry Meteors glare These Locks my Fingers did so often twine With Sweets of Amber strew and Jessamine Powder'd with Dirt and matted all with Gore Horrid to view shall shine like Gold no more Gilf. The jealous Queen cannot so cruel be But let one Ax one Moment set us free Whilst taking thus our last Farewells like this The Blow shall but divide a parting Kiss Then as the Steel does to the Loadstone cleave We 'll meet again and end the Kiss we leave Enter Northumberland Guarded North. All Blessings reign on Suffolk's happy Daughter New Springs of Love adorn your Faithful Garland Health and long Life the Queen by Dudly sends Gilf. Are you my Father's Spirit or kinder Genius From the Immortal Region come to chide Your Gilford's and your Daughter 's long delay What e'er thou art thus shou'd our knees adore thee Or Deity or Angel or as fear'd my Father North. Rise Gilford rise I am that Earthly Mould From whence my Son receiv'd this Manly Form I once begot thee on a Beauteous Mother But now like Heaven without a Female Aid Have Power to make thee with my Godlike Breath And give thee Life as in the Womb again Ia. Blest Prophet's voice to a despairing Sinner Let me again the charming sound devour Say shall thy Gilford Shall my Husband live Speak quickly with a Parent 's Zeal and tell The welcom'st News that Heav'n can send to Iane. North. Come sit we down I know thou dy'st to hear But this transcends ev'n all thy Womans Longings 'T is Business of Import I have to say What cou'dst thou do for this dear pretious Youth This tender Shoot that longs to grow a Cedar This Darling of my Blood and Joy of thine Whose Soul is wov'n by Fate with both our Souls And in each others Breast makes two but one That I may challenge Pardon of Heav'n and say I ne'er did greatly ill but for his sake What wou'dst thou do to save his life and mine Ia. What wou'd I do propose the speedy way Were I to swim the Sea with these weak Arms Kind Heav'n shou'd lend me Strength to stem the Waves And make the Ocean but a narrow Brook Gilf. Quick quick my Lord trembling I ask the means What is the Task that she must do for this I fear her life must be for mine the Ransom If so be dumb as threatning Meteors rather And never word drop from My Father's Tongue Of any sound tho' 't were to give his Blessing Hear him not pri'thee Iane. North. Have hopes my Boy Yet is th' Adventure hard I know 't will shock you Ia. Quickly disclose it By my hopes you wrack me This Wonder for I am in pain to know What I can grant and will not fly to do North. 'T is meet you know how many Lives depend On the least Sentence of your precious Breath And what a Train of Happinesses spring Or die with this mean Syllable of Ay Or No. Ia. What must I do the Day runs on a-pace The murmurings of the Crowd alas I hear And Ratlings of the Sledge approach my Ear. North. Come Gilford lean thy Head upon her Breast And listen to the pantings of her Heart And tell me how she bears it This it is The Queen requires you but to set your Name Nay for the Ransom of our Lives conjures you To sign this Paper and to charm you to 't Know 't was Indicted by a Man so just Whose Life stands Candidate with all the Saints For Holiness 't is but to own thy self Ia. Is it to own the Blackness of my Crime Profess that I am Guilty and deserve The Death that I am doom'd to suffer Give 't me And I 'll subscribe my self I Iane to be The vilest Traitress Heav'n did ever punish North. Peruse it Ia. I have seen a Bassalisk H 'as shot his pointed Venom through my Eyes And numm'd my Body to a Senceless Clay O Gllford 't is not in my Power to save Thy Life nor mine from Tortures Gilf. Ha! what say'st thou Ia. Judge with thy Eyes if thou canst bear the Monster North. O Iane the lowest Ebb of time is now Mercy is Heaven's Prerogative and thine And this must be dispenc'd alas this Moment Nay I have more to tell thee Gilford hear thou The Duke thy tender Father so belov'd Falling into Conspiracy with Wyatt Is doom'd to suffer with the Fatal Crew Thy Life thy Father's Life if not thy Gilford's Be those the Planets that should bear the Blame Ia. Ha! Gilf. The tempting Fiend goes cunningly to work The damning Fruit to our first Parent was Thus Minister'd by her whom most he lov'd As this is by a Father Ia. Ay my Love Would'st thou for some few
years of Life perhaps Some days may finish what we prize so dearly Would'st thou consent that I shou'd forfeit Heav'n My Spotless Innocent and Bosom Faith Forsake the Truth that was so lov'd by me And lose the Joys of Immortality Gilf. I know what I wou'd act were I my Iane Were Gilford's safety only in the Ballance O all you Saints that wear Immortal Crowns Spirits of Martyrs that bright Angels are Not Racks nor Tortures burning Pincers Fires Shou'd make me leave this Faith the most Divine Which adorns thee and thou hast made to shine Ia. O Young O Good O Youth belov'd of Heav'n Gilf. But when I see a Father's Agonies Sweating cold Drops with terrour to behold The Heads-man diving in thy Gilford's Bowels And in the Hearts of four unhappy Brothers But oh and which is more than all the Lives Of all the Sons and Daughters of Mankind Thy precious Life if that 's a Crime to save You Heavenly Powers if then 't is Sin to change The Fact it self wou'd from your doom appeal And quash Damnation with the very mention North. Ay there my Son do press her hold her there Ia. What is my Husband Traytor to my Soul Then I may say as Caesar did to Brutus Dost thou too Gilford stab me to the Heart North. Come prostrate fall with me Lo at your Feet The Sad and Miserable Dudley lies See on the Ground the Father and the Son Thy Husband too that shou'd Command thee all And reign the Conq'ring Rival of thy Soul O say the word thou Woman most Divine Quick e'er they come to fetch thee and my Children Like a dumb Drove with Pantings to the Shambles First they begin with him and in in thy sight Fasten his Manly Body to the Sledge Which ne'er was bound before but in thy Arms. Then see the Villain with a Butcher's Knife Ripping his Bowels open to the Throat And tearing thence the Heart he holds to view That Heart which did so oft in silent Language Whisper the Story of your Faithful Loves But now insenc'd leaps in the Ruffin's hand And cries more fierce the Cruelty of Iane. Then then it stabs and e'er I come to die Breaks his poor Father's Heart and all the Standers by Ia. What must be done must then be done this Moment The time is suddain but the Gate of Heav'n Is easie to be lock'd yet hard to open It has a Spring without a Key which when We shut too rashly we no more can enter I am resolv'd North. Of what Ia. Not to be chang'd till I am dead For all the Blood that 's threaten'd to be shed Nor for the Crown took lately trom this head North. Hell Scalding Lead and Sulphures said'st thou ha O Iane think think of the Pains of Death remember Thy tortur'd Father and the Womb that bore thee Who brought thee not into this Cursed World With half the Pangs that thou and they must suffer Ia. No more I have inevitably said North. Fly Gilford fly let 's vanish from her Presence Damnation came from Woman first and still The mischief reigns in her and all the Sex O Woman Woman false as are thy Beauties Thou art a Tempting Fair Deceitful Way Leading by smooth Degrees to narrow Fastness Through which most Mortal Men do slide to Ruine But out of Ruine none Gilf. Stay stay my Lord. North. Not were the Ax a falling on my Head And she shou'd cry aloud I turn I turn Were there but one Religion in the World I 'd sooner die an Atheist and be Damn'd Than be of one Belief with her Gilf. Alas North. Since first the Serpent tempted Womankind The Snake lies lurking in the Sex's mind False Subtile Vain to keep your Faith 's secure There need a thousand Bolts to bar the Door Without like gilded Sepulchers you shine But open'd full of Rottenness and Sin At best who hopes to find a Goddess there Is cheated with a Bubble fraught with Air. Therefore the safe retreat of Human Life Is far from all the Sex but most a Wife Gilford why should we fear worse pains to feel The Marry'd Wretch has sure no other Hell Exit North. Enter Pembrook Gardner attended Gard. I met the Duke your Victim led to Death Not as we wish'd with Roman Laurels Crown'd Nor with the Visage of a Conqueror When 't is in your sole Power Ia. My Lord Rome's Markets ne'er were counted cheap Which makes me fear the Purchase being so great The price is more than my Estate can pay Gard. O thou whose wond'rous Mind and Body 's blest With all the parts and Beauties of thy Sex And Excellence of Man I come not here To wean an Infant turn a spleenful Woman To her resolv'd and fix'd Chymera wed But to a Judge who though a Child in Years Is fit to teach Philosophy a Rule And tell the Schools they erre Ia. Alas my Lord This Flattery bespeaks you more a Courtier Than an Embassador from the Court of Heav'n Gard. Yet Madam let it not be thought that you To cruel Niceness should have such regard That Iane out of a sullen Piety Ia. My Lord You will confess that one Divinity One Center moves the Catholick Faith and yours That wise Religious are like Skilful Pilots May with contrary winds the same way steer And meet together in one Port at last Gard. There you come close be wise and oh come nearer Then since not our Beliefs but Forms do vary This difference only seems 'twixt us and you Ours is a nearer Cut but o'er a River And yours a new invented Way through Desarts who 'd then refuse to pass the narrow Water And go vast Leagues about for fear of drowning Ia. My Lord I am a Wretch condemn'd to die And now am almost at my Journey 's end Is this a time to tempt me to draw back And tell me I have left a nearer way Gard. Yet save your Life and all their Lives Consider Say but the word and this shall hold the Ax. Ia. Witness you Powers so woven is my Belief So one with me that as my Nurses Milk Infus'd its Nourishment into my Blood Heav'n did distil this Balm into my Soul Yet had not the Almighty taught me this The Truth to me another Godhead is A Faith that no Apostacy endures Nor envy I that constancy in yours Far be my hopes but you in Heav'n may shine Live you in yours and let me die in mine Gard. Then since no President from Time can win you No Arguments Divine nor Human Wisdom Nor yet those Wretches Lives your Marble Heart Can turn you drive the Law to take its course Ia. Go on I dare the utmost of your Malice Till with your Cruelty my Death become What was your Justice Noble Martyrdom I see your Plots contriv'd in dark Cabals Your Leopard Consciences and freckl'd Souls All your feign'd Zeal that your great Lord may Raign Tyrant of Souls and Landlord of their Gain Gard. Haste lead 'em all to
Execution straight All that have Names contain'd within this Pardon Her Foolish Father Proud Northumberland And his three other Sons Away with 'em When that is Acted as she likes the Shew Let they begin it Come my Lord. Exeunt Gard. and Pemb Ia. Come to me Gilford cleave thou to my Breast Till as one Soul we one lov'd Body grow And equal Pain and equal Death divide us Gilf. O Iane Ia. What dire thoughts possess my Love Gilf. Oh! Ia. Breathe thy Immortal Soul with mine at once And let us mount on Wings of Cherubims together Gilf. But e'er that comes there is a gloomy Vale A Darkness worse than Chaos to be pass'd How shall I wander how go through the Maze Without thy hand to guide Ia. Thou dearer far Than new born Babes are to their tender Mothers Fear not my Love I 'll trust thee from thy Iane No farther than the Nurse her tender Charge She fain wou'd teach to go watching its steps Beholds it trip but e'er it falls to Ground Catches it thus and hugs it in her Arms. Gilf. Wilt thou Ia. I 'll overtake thee in that dreadful Vale Hallow aloud and cry My Love where art thou But e'er my Voice can reach thee thou shalt spy The Nuptial Beams fresh kindl'd in my Eyes To bring me to thee stumbling as thou art And bear my Child away Gilf. Be not so tender if thou mean'st to part Thou give'st me Kisses and instead of dreining Dost pour more Oil into my dying Lamp Re-enter Pembrook and Gardner Ia. My Lords is my unhappy Father dead Pemb. He is no more I saw the Ax as Mortal as the Plague In one short space sweep Families away Northumberland dy'd sullen and reserv'd Made a short Speech and then as short a Prayer Beg'd Pardon of the Queen and said he dy'd A real Convert to the Church of Rome Ia. Heav'n spare his Faults and Crown his just Intent Gilf. Are they all dead Pemb. They are But oh how pitiful it was to see There lay the Duke with his three Sons surrounded Like a vast Oak its Branches spreading wide By some huge Storm laid flat upon the ground Thy Father's Death O Iane succeeded his Gilf. There wanted me to make the Pomp more awful Pemb. Permit me oh to end this dreadful Tale For sure my Tongue was doom'd to tell thee Horrors Thy Mother likewise in a Fit of Frenzie Resign'd her Spirit to that milder Region Where Souls refine like purest Gold from dross Ia. Enough enough Gilf. Break Heart of Adamant enough Ia. Then our turn 's next lead which way must we follow And where commerce the last Degree of Mortals Since like the first of all my Sinful Sex I wrought my dearest Husband to his Fall 'T is just I lead the way to Punishment Gilf. By that kind simpathizing Sun who to Avoid the dismal Object of thy Death Is now retir'd behind you Cloud to mourn I swear thou shalt not By our Loves I charm thee If e'er thou wert Obedient or had Virtue Let me die first Cruel Hard-hearted Iane If thou deny'st me this Ia. Thou art my Lord. Gilf. Come bring me to your Shambles Where 's my Death Gard. Draw then that Curtain Ia. O hear the tender voice of Pity cry Do not disclose that dreadful Scene of Horror But lead my Love some other way Pemb. Do so Gilf. O Iane That precious Purple nearest to my Heart In whose pure Stream the Soul imbalm'd does lie Is not so hugg'd within my Breast as thou Yet we must part For lo the Fight 's prepar'd And Honour calls me to begin the Charge Remember Iane Ia. Courage Heroick Gilford Face but this Tyrant of the World a Moment Then see thy Iane her self shall quickly come And bring thee Succors from the Camp of Love Shall chace grim Death and all its Fears away Farewell Gilf. O Dart there is no Armour against thee Darkness and Death attends it on a suddain O Star O Planet of my Life Farewell Ia. No more Farewell Gilf. When this tempestuous Blast I go to meet Has blown my glimmering Flame of Life quite out O haste thou Brightness to relume my Torch Ia. Our Loves bright Tapers ne'er shall be extinguish'd This parting 's but the Door that 's shut between us But when that 's o'er and Death has broke the Bars We 'll mingle and unite our Beams together Let endless silence now like Seas divide us Thy Lips end all their Charms in this last Kiss And lock thy Speech for ever in my Bosom Gilf. A Sigh or Groan cannot be call'd a Word Hands Eyes and Heart conclude my Mournful Song For thy Commands like Death have charm'd my Tongue Pemb. How now my Lord Wants this the Virtue to extract your Pity My Eyes are too big loaded to be hid Were Bonner in thy place a' wou'd have wept Yet save his Life and thine To Jane Gard. Lead him away tho' stubborn as she is We will have Pity on his Youth my Lord. Some Reverend Prelate of the Faith be by Invoke the Saints say Mattins for his Soul And sprinkle him with Pardon Ia. Courage my Gilford shut thy Eyes and Ears Be Blind and Deaf to all their Tricks and Prayers Let not one Superstitious Drop remain But with thy Tears wash off the Brinish stain Whilst they their Picture-Gods invoke to hear Call thou on Luther Cranmer Latimer One Syllable of theirs shall aid thee more Than all the thousand Saints that they adore Gard. Away with him Gilf. O Iane Ia. Turn turn my Gilford one last look again Expand thy longing Arms 't is not in vain And take my Wishes though deny'd thy Iane. Exit Gilford to Execution Pemb. Unhappy Pair O Innocent Usurper Ia. Dry up those Tears and now with Joy prepare To do your last kind Office to your Mistress When I am dead and laid upon the Scasfold Protect I pray these bashful Limbs from Shame See not in Death their Innocence expos'd That when alive had awful Modesty To Guard 'em Here receive this Scarf It was my Maiden-Present to my Gilford In it I wrought the Tale of Iphegenia A Fatal Omen of this Fatal Day Doom'd by her Cruel Parent to be Slain In this when th' Ax has done its welcome Office Be sure you wrap my Husband's Head and with it This Head that 's to be Sacrific'd to Peace Now I am ready Scene draws and discovers Gilford and the rest lying upon it beheaded Is then this Pomp of Death this dreaded Horrour So talk'd on and so fear'd by all Mankind So quickly o'er Come bring me to the Test Where is my Lord Pemb. There Look not upon 't methinks it shou'd offend you Ia. Not at all What signifies this Clay that mangl'd Head The broken Casket now the Jewel 's fled Gilford I come this Moment sends me to thee Pemb. Yet save thy exquisite and precious Life Gard. Do not these dismal Objects stir thee No fright nor fear of Pain can make thee turn Yet hear Ia. Away with me were they alive again Shou'd Father Mother Kindred all Joyn'd with this fatal number with me fall And in the very Moment of their Deaths Shot Curses on me with their flying Breaths To save their gasping Lives I wou'd not chuse One hour of Immortality to lose Sou'd all your torterous Racks on me be try'd Broil me on Grid-Irons turn the other side Till-the Abortive Infant where it lay Shou'd from my flaming Intrails burst its way To my vow'd Faith I 'll be for ever true In spight of all your Roman Gods and you Curtain falls FINIS