University of Virginia Library

SCENE II.

Crichton, Livingston.
Crichton.
My good Lord Governour! methinks the sun
Shines brighter, now that we are friends again.

Livingston.
Long may the friendship last, which to my soul
Gives real joy, and makes the cares of state
Seem an amusement, rather than a toil.

Crichton.
Have you with due attention thought of that,
Last night propos'd, to hold us one forever?

Livingston.
I have my Lord. The world would blame the deed.

Crichton.
Perhaps it might: what then? so does it oft
Things worthy commendation. Till that house
Be humbled, and its dangerous pow'r abridg'd
The person of the King's not safe, the State secure,
Nor can we call our property our own.
For your concerns and mine, what need I say
How much we have to fear? These tho' but triffles,
When with the publick-good compar'd, deserve
Our second care.

Livingston.
I own they do, my Lord.
That he's a dangerous person to the State,
I freely grant; but his unrivall'd power,
Might turn what we intended as a remedy,
To rankest poison. True he loves us not:
But were he thus confin'd, the giddy mob,
Who right or wrong, are on the suffering side.
Would take his part against us; from his friends,
His powerful friends, what have we not to fear?

Crichton.
Nothing at all my Lord: bring down the head,
The body falls of course. Secure the chief,
And terror dissipates the slavish crowd.
Have you forgot the rancour which his father
Express'd to both of us? With what contempt
He look'd upon us from his height of greatness?

Livingston.
I never can, my Lord.

Crichton.
And will the son,
Of such a father, ever be our friend?
No, no my Lord, that pow'r you seem to dread,
Grows daily stronger, and will soon exert
Its utmost force to crush the State and us.
Admit there's danger—the determin'd mind,
Thinks not of danger, till the great attempt
It meditates be o'er. Our all's at stake—
What tho' the musty moralist may blame?
Success will always vindicate the means.
If we pursue the plan I pointed out,
My head shall answer for the wish'd success!

Livingston.
Give me your hand, my Lord! at all events
I follow where you lead.

Crichton.
Henceforth my Lord,
Our friends, our foes, our interests are the same.

Enter an Usher.
Usher.
My lords, the States in full convention wait
Your entry to the house.

Livingston.
'Tis well, we come.

[Exeunt.