 | Earl Douglas ; Or, Generosity Betray'd |  |
SCENE I.
A Hall in Earl Douglas's Lodgings.Earl DOUGLAS, FLEMING, and the CHANCELLOR.
Chancellor,
giving Letters.
These bear the friendship of your cousin King,
These from Lord Regent, with our select friends,
Beg you to meet and treat of high affairs,
Which at their meeting must th'estates employ.
Douglas
to Fleming.
With equal friendship I their love embrace.
Read these, and say who can such kindness scorn.
Fleming.
The words are fair; such oft foul hate conceal;
Dissembling suits a court, as courtiers say;
But ev'ry honest mind such conduct scorns.
Chancellor.
Too true, good Lord: too oft the Courtier's words
Are foreign to his heart; their jealous eyes
Watch ev'ry step. Their friendship is, at best,
A gentle torture to explore the soul:
Oft a fair engine with destruction charg'd,
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Beware of trusting courtiers, good Lord Douglas.
Douglas.
I scorn the thought which fears to be explor'd:
And what are cens'ring or applauding worlds,
Whose voice can neither make me blest nor wretch'd.
Chancellor.
Your sentiments I praise; yet honest fame
Is a fair ornament; dishonest, stains
Even your high station.
Fleming.
What ill fame dares touch him!
Chancellor.
'Tis said, your borderers, us'd to plund'ring foes,
The inland spoil; whom you from justice shield;
Too jealous of your rights: your rights and powers
Came from your sov'reign's and your country's love;
Claim loyal service, and subjection due;
Not discontented wrath, and bold resistance.
Shame springs from pride; ambition's big with woe:
And, when from greatness great mischiefs arise,
Their country's ruins crush the great disturbers.
Douglas.
Who hurts the innocent shall feel my vengeance.
Chancellor.
I'm rudely free; but friendship rudely pulls
The friend from unseen ruin's dreadful brink;
While selfish flatt'rers won't offend to save.
Douglas.
Well doth your salutary freedom please:
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But on the sound its glories grateful pours.
Chancellor.
Your faults need but be seen to be reform'd:
My crimes, alas! are of more heinous kind,
And may provoke your wrath.—But spare your country.
Revere your glorious sires; nor let their blood,
Which freely flow'd to save the land, be vain:
For what avails deliv'rance from the foe,
To fall by mutual wounds? The King, Lord Regent,
Request your speedy presence: you can heal
Our breaches. Your great power can force tranquillity.
Fleming.
Trust not his words, dear Douglas. Thus decoy'd,
With thy great sire, I bore the dungeon's horrors.
He, true like thee, would trust our courtiers words;
But foul he found their deeds, when kindest these.
Chancellor.
O Scotland, Scotland! know thy woes no end?
Accept these tears;—thy Crichton can no more:—
Fleming, what will convince thee? See my tears;
They flow not frequent, nor for trivial cause.
Mark my plain truth;—almost too harsh for friendship:
Will flatt'rers for men's welfare risk their favour?
Or trusts thou oaths? That awful last appeal
Of mortals to the justice of Omnipotence;
Devise an oath confirm'd by each solemnity
Religion knows: I'll pledge my deathless soul.
Douglas
to Fleming.
My friend;—nay, dearer still, my country's friend.
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With tears for Scotland:—canst thou these despise?
Fleming.
If this is false, no fairer truth can seem.
I'll bring the priest, and meet you at the altar;
And there call heav'n to bind our amity.
[Exit.
Douglas.
Hate's banish'd hence to hell; triumphant peace
From heav'n I'll bring, to bless my happy country:
Her friends are mine; who bleeds for her my brother.
Chancellor.
What praise the stripling seeks! his views distract me.
[Aside.
My Lord, your virtue charms me. How I joy
That stronger ties may yet cement our friendship.
Douglas.
I know none stronger than my plighted faith.
Chancellor.
Int'rest sways men.—
Douglas.
But me my honour guides;
And, whom it guides not, from my soul I scorn.
Chancellor.
Haste, let me fly to fix so precious friendship;
And, as we go, I'll open all my soul.
[Exeunt.
| Earl Douglas ; Or, Generosity Betray'd | |