University of Virginia Library

SCEN. V.

Enter King, Queen, Ld Strange, and Attendants.
King.
Well, Madam; will she yield?

Queen.
I did not spare
My labour to reduce her, nor my care.
Patience must this to happy issue bring.

King.
Patience is not the Virtue of a King.
It will concern you, and your Daughter too,
Not to become too tedious.

Queen.
Sir, you woo
In a strange Language.

King.
I must change my course.

Queen.
Nothing does less consist with Love, then Force.

King.
Call Stanly, and his Sister. The Idle may
In lingring Courtship trifle out the Day:
Slow Treaties will to stormings him oblige,
Who leisure wants to take the Fort by Siege.

Princess.
In exigents of State, or Rage of War
Sudden dispatch, and Force conducing are;
But Sir, in love-concernments they destroy
The chiefest Blessing, that you would enjoy.

King.
Madam, these tedious forms destructive grow;
The safety of my Crown they overthrow.
Like a bold Suitour Richmond marches on,
And by pretending Love to Strength is grown:
When Kingdoms such Convulsion-fits endure,
We must not complement about the Cure.
[Enter Sir Will. Stanly
Stanly, have you perform'd, what I enjoyn'd?

Sir W. Stan.
I have obey'd you, Sir.

King.
But do you find
Good Symptoms of Success?

Mrs. Stanly.
What shall I say?

[apart.
Sir W. Stan.
Sir I have done my part.

King.
Then I must lay,
Madam, the blame on you, if my design
[To Mrs. Stanly.
Miscarry.

Mrs. Stanly.
Sir, unless the Fault be mine,
Your Justice will not punish me with blame.

King.
I do not like this Prologue. Does my Flame
Yet warm her Breast?

Mrs. Stanly.
Sir, she condemns your haste:
And says, her time of mourning is not past
For her two Brothers; and she thinks, that you
(Your Queen scarce cold) should be a mourner too:
Then she concludes it would great Scandal move,
If two so deep in Sorrow should make Love.

King.
She thinks, it is too soon for me to woo;
But does she think it so for Richmond too?
Madam, you know her Bosom; pray, be free:
Is she not warm to him, and cold to me?

Mrs. Stanly.
Sir, you mistake the Temper of her Heart;
Where grief holds all, Love can pretend no part.

King.
If she be free from Love, her Duty may
With less reluctancy her King obey.
I wish, I had more cause to thank your care
In my concerns. Madam, your Brothers are
My greatest Friends: methinks, you should inherit
With their high Blood some of their loyal merit:
Madam, be kind; and let me not despair,
That Heaven ha's made you good as well as fair.
Madam, I will attend your Daughter strait,
[To the Queen.
To learn of her mine, and the Kingdoms Fate.
[Exit King.

L. Strange.
Uncle farewel: would I might stay with you.

Sir W. Stan.
You must obey your King and Father too.

[Exit Strange.