University of Virginia Library

SCEN. III.

L. Stanly.
Madam, I hope, you'l pardon my delay
In waiting on you this preposterous way;
Paying my first Debt last: which your Concern
Only can justify.

Princess.
By what I learn
From the World's Voice, I rather disallow
Your hasty boldness to approach me now.

L. Stanly.
Humble Petitioners without Offence
(Though led by their own Wants) approch their Prince:
I whom your Service brings, may with lesse blame,
And better Title the like Freedom claim.

Prin.
Place not on my Account what you have done:
I, and the Tyrant are not yet all one.

L. Stanly.
You seem all one (pray, pardon what I say)
When with Reproch my Services you pay.

Prin.
If other Payment you expect, pray go
To him, for whom these Services you do.

L. Stanly.
I never let to hire my Honesty;
I neither paid, nor yet reproch't would be.

Prin.
Are you so touch't in Honour, my good Lord,
Who so apparently have broke your Word?

L. Stanly.
May I endure yours and your Vassals scorn,
When I infringe that Faith, which I have sworn.

Princess.
These purging Imprecations let alone,
You have the Tyrant's thanks for what is done.

L. Stanly.
I have deceiv'd the Tyrant and you too;
And I am thankt by him, reprocht by you:
Yet this deceit of mine may him dethrone,
And, Madam, render you your Fathers Crown.
Thus blind all Censures are, until we know
Those hidden Roots, whence outward Actions grow.

Princess.
Pray, end these Mysteries: Who did oppose
Those Loyal Borderers, that lately rose
Against the King? all Aids you did prevent
By that unseas'nable discouragement.

L. Stanly.
I did suppress them, Madam; But 'twas I,
That rais'd them too.

Princess.
I cannot yet descry
At what you aim.

L. Stanly.
Pray know, that by my own
Confed'rates all that rising was begun;
Which I contriv'd only to be supprest:
This Art I us'd, that in the Jealous breast
Of our suspitious Tyrant I might gain
Such Trust, as will our purposes obtain.
And, that you may reserve no Jealous thought,
Here my Credential Letters I have brought,
He delivers a Letter to the Princess, who reads it out.

Madam; The time draws neer, in which I shall either restore you
to the Inheritance of your Fathers Crown, or dye a Martyr in your
cause. My Devotion to your Person, and the Justice of your Claim;
raise my hopes into an Assurance of Success. In the mean time by the
hands of my Lord Stanly, your conceal'd and faithful Servant, be
pleased to accept this earnest of his Constancy, who is Madam, Your
most devoted Servant.
Richmond.

Princess.
My Lord, I know the hand; and what to you
I did impute, that Blame becomes my due.
Errours of Passion, not of Will, may find
An easie Pardon in a generous Mind.

L. Stanly.
Madam your goodness now confounds me more
Then your unkind reproaches did before;
But your concernments now require my haste,
And make the price of Time too great to waste.
Yet, ere I part, I must with Joy relate
Of our improving Cause the prosp'rous state;
For your great Chief advances with a Power
Resolv'd and Numerous, growing every hour;
Which still receives by a supply'd access
Of the Heroick Welch a fair encrease.
And, Madam, from this Camp you soon will see
His Flying Colours brave the Enemie.

Princess.
His hasty Succours may advance too late.

L. Stan.
Too late? how can that be?

Prin.
The Tyrant's hate
By a most Fatal Metamorphosis
Does in Love's Image his ill shape disguise;
Of which I dread the dismal consequence.

L. Stanly.
The thoughts of his own Danger, and Defence
Will soon allay the crafty Lover's Heats.

Princess.
Whilst I am in his Power, no Fatal threats,
That aim at him, can make my safety better;
For, when his danger's great, mine must be greater.
His bloody Temper urg'd by Jealousie
Will all his former cruelties outvie.

L. Stanly.
Madam, can Heaven for such a Tyrant's sake
Pervert their Justice, and you Guilty make?
But is it true, that now the Queen does prove
A Mediatour for the Tyrant's Love?

Princess.
It is too true: A Mothers tender heart
Does for my safety take the Tyrant's part.

L. Stanly.
Ha's she forgot, what Guardian he has been
To her two Sons? Ha's she not lately seen
What Husband to his Wife he prov'd? and can
A Mother give a Daughter to this man?

Princess.
My Lord, she is my Mother; pray, forbear.

L. Stanly.
I must not speak what you are loth to hear.

Princess.
I fear, my Lord, that our great bus'ness may
Suffer some damage by your longer stay;
And yet one minute more you must attend,
Whilst I an answer to this Letter send.

L. Stanly.
Your sight with no mean Joy my heart does bless.

Mrs. Stanly.
Brother, your kindness makes my happiness.

Exeunt Princess and Mrs. Stanly.