Scene III.
—
The Antechamber of the House of Lords.
Many of the Presbyterian Party. The Adherents
of
Strafford,
etc.
A Group of Presbyterians.—1.
I tell you he struck Maxwell: Maxwell sought
To stay the Earl: he struck him and passed on.
2.
Fear as you may, keep a good countenance
Before these rufflers.
3.
Strafford here the first,
With the great army at his back!
4.
No doubt.
I would Pym had made haste: that's Bryan, hush—
The gallant pointing.
Strafford's Followers.—1.
Mark these worthies, now!
2.
A goodly gathering! “Where the carcass is
“There shall the eagles”—what's the rest?
3.
For eagles
Say crows.
A Presbyterian.
Stand back, sirs!
One of Strafford's Followers.
Are we in Geneva?
A Presbyterian.
No, nor in Ireland; we have leave to breathe.
One of Strafford's Followers.
Truly? Behold how privileged we be
That serve “King Pym”! There's Some-one at Whitehall
Who skulks obscure; but Pym struts . . .
The Presbyterian.
Nearer.
A Follower of Strafford.
Higher,
We look to see him. [To his Companions.]
I'm to have St. John
In charge; was he among the knaves just now
That followed Pym within there?
Another.
The gaunt man
Talking with Rudyard. Did the Earl expect
Pym at his heels so fast? I like it not.
Maxwell
enters.
Another.
Why, man, they rush into the net! Here's Maxwell—
Ha, Maxwell? How the brethren flock around
The fellow! Do you feel the Earl's hand yet
Upon your shoulder, Maxwell?
Maxwell.
Gentlemen,
Stand back! a great thing passes here.
A Follower of Strafford.
[
To another.]
The Earl
Is at his work! [To M.]
Say, Maxwell, what great thing!
Speak out! [To a Presbyterian.]
Friend, I've a kindness for you! Friend,
I've seen you with St. John: O stockishness!
Wear such a ruff, and never call to mind
St. John's head in a charger? How, the plague,
Not laugh?
Another.
Say, Maxwell, what great thing!
Another.
Nay, wait:
The jest will be to wait.
First.
And who's to bear
These demure hypocrites? You'd swear they came . . .
Came . . . just as we come!
[
A Puritan
enters hastily and without observing
Strafford's Followers.
The Puritan.
How goes on the work?
Has Pym . . .
A Follower of Strafford.
The secret's out at last. Aha,
The carrion's scented! Welcome, crow the first!
Gorge merrily, you with the blinking eye!
“King Pym has fallen!”
The Puritan.
Pym?
A Strafford.
Pym!
A Presbyterian.
Only Pym?
Many of Strafford's Followers.
No, brother, not Pym only; Vane as well,
Rudyard as well, Hampden, St. John as well!
A Presbyterian.
My mind misgives: can it be true?
Another.
Lost! Lost!
A Strafford.
Say we true, Maxwell?
The Puritan.
Pride before destruction,
A haughty spirit goeth before a fall.
Many of Strafford's Followers.
Ah now! The very thing! A word in season!
A golden apple in a silver picture,
To greet Pym as he passes!
[
The doors at the back begin to open, noise and light issuing
Maxwell.
Stand back, all!
Many of the Presbyterians.
I hold with Pym! And I!
Strafford's Followers.
Now for the text!
He comes! Quick!
The Puritan.
How hath the oppressor ceased!
The Lord hath broken the staff of the wicked!
The sceptre of the rulers, he who smote
The people in wrath with a continual stroke,
That ruled the nations in his anger—he
Is persecuted and none hindereth!
[
The doors open, and
Strafford
issues in the greatest disorder,
and amid cries from within of “Void the House!”
Strafford.
Impeach me! Pym! I never struck, I think,
The felon on that calm insulting mouth
When it proclaimed—Pym's mouth proclaimed me . . . God!
Was it a word, only a word that held
The outrageous blood back on my heart—which beats!
Which beats! Some one word—“Traitor,” did he say,
Bending that eye, brimful of bitter fire,
Upon me?
Maxwell.
In the Commons' name, their servant
Demands Lord Strafford's sword.
Strafford.
What did you say?
Maxwell.
The Commons bid me ask your lordship's sword.
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.
Or, no—not that!
Their blood, perhaps, may wipe out all thus far,
All up to that—not that! Why, friend, you see
When the King lays your head beneath my foot
It will not pay for that. Go, all of you!
Maxwell.
I dare, my lord, to disobey: none stir!
Strafford.
This gentle Maxwell!—Do not touch him, Bryan!
[
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.
You then, my Bryan! Mainwaring, you then!
Is it because I spoke so hastily
At Allerton? The King had vexed me.
[
To the Presbyterians.]
You!
—Not even you? If I live over this,
The King is sure to have your heads, you know!
But what if I can't live this minute through?
Pym, who is there with his pursuing smile!
[
Louder cries of “
Strafford!”
The King! I troubled him, stood in the way
Of his negotiations, was the one
Great obstacle to peace, the Enemy
Of Scotland: and he sent for me, from York,
My safety guaranteed—having prepared
A Parliament—I see! And at Whitehall
The Queen was whispering with Vane—I see
The trap!
[
Tearing off the George.
I tread a gewgaw underfoot,
And cast a memory from me. One stroke, now!
[
His own Adherents
disarm him. Renewed cries of “
Strafford!”
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,
Pym
standing apart. As
Strafford
kneels,
the scene shuts.
