University of Virginia Library

SCEN. III.

Enter Earl of Richmond, Lord Stanly.
Richmond.
Talk not of Victory; Heaven can confer
No Blessing on that Man, who loseth Her.

L. Stanly.
I know, the Tyrant, when all hopes are past,
Reserves that bloody Stroke for the last Cast:
Surprise him with a Charge; that may prevent
The Execution of his dire Intent.

Richmond.
Could I destroy with the same ease and speed,
Him, and his Camp, as he can make her bleed,
Your Counsel then were good; But else her Fate
By my Attache I should accelerate:
The bloody Tyrant, stung with Jealousie,
Will, prest by Danger, twice revenged be,
Including me in Her: He cannot chuse,
But hastily destroy what he must lose.

Ld Stanly.
It still has been the Care of Providence
From sudden strokes to shelter Innocence.

Richmond.
I Providence adore; But to expect
A Miracle, and so the means neglect,
When now the Danger of her Life is near,
Were to deserve the mischief, which we fear.

Ld Stanly.
No way, but Conquest, can prevent her Doom.

Richmond.
I'le yield my self a Pris'ner in her Room.

Ld Stanly.
Can the Restraint of her Preserver be
The safest way to set the Pris'ner free?

Richmond.
'Tis all the way; because the Tyrant's Fear
Of Richmond makes his Cruelty to Her:
When I am in his gripe, his Appetite
Will in my Blood, more, then in hers, delight.

Ld Stanly.
Sir, you mistake him; both will please him best:
By drinking Blood the Thirst is still encreast.
Sir, your important Life you freely may
Lay out for her; But throw it not away.

Richmond.
I am resolv'd, that secretly to night
You shall convey me to the Princess sight.

Stanly.
Shall I conduct you, where you Death must meet?
Here let me rather perish at your Feet!

Richmond.
O friend! my Love in this great Exigent
Must Dangers seek, which yours would fain prevent:
Nor can those Dangers be avoided here;
My Life, and Safety are confin'd in Her;
Come, guide me to the Princess that I may,
If not secure her Life, her Death delay:
And be assur'd, my Lord, that her Commands
With your Advice shall wholly guide my hands.

Ld Stanly.
Sir I both yours, and her Discretion know;
And on your Terms propos'd I yield to go:
But this great Enterprise you must disguise
As well to your best Friends, as Enemies;
For, should it be divulg'd, your Absence here
May prove as fatal, as your Presence there.

Richmond.
Take me, my Lord, and rule me, as you please.
You (unsuspected yet) may gain with ease
Admission to the Tyrant's Court; and I
May pass, helpt by the Night's Obscurity,
And a long Absence, for your Officer.
Besides, my Lord, our Camps now joyn so neer,
That our Return may both prevent the Day,
And all Reports of being gone away.

Ld Stanly.
Reason and Love, when Danger they descry,
Did never yet make use of the same Eye:
For now this Hazard, which your soaring Love
Lessens to Nothing, does my Horrour move.
But, since it is my Duty to obey,
Let's not encrease your Danger by Delay.

Richmond.
On you my Hopes, and Happiness relye;
You are the Ruler of my Destiny.

The Scene is changed to Richmond's Quarters.