University of Virginia Library

ACT. II.

SCENE. I.

SCENE, The Court.
Enter Alicia with a Paper.
Alic.
This Paper, to the great Protector's Hand,
With Care and Secrecy must be convey'd;
His bold Ambition now avows it's Aim,
To pluck the Crown from Edward's Infant Brow,
And fix it on his own. I know he holds
My Faithless Hastings, adverse to his Hopes,
And much devoted to the Orphan King;
On that I Build: This Paper meets his Doubts,
And marks my hated Rival as the Cause
Of Hasting's Zeal for his dead Master's Sons.
Oh Jealousie! Thou Bane of pleasing Friendship,
Thou worst Invader of our tender Bosoms;
How does thy Rancour poison all our Softness,
And turn our gentle Natures into Bitterness.
See where she comes! Once my Heart's dearest Blessing,
Now my chang'd Eyes are blasted with her Beauty;
Loath that known Face, and sicken to behold her.

Enter Jane Shore.
J. Sh.
Now whither shall I fly, to find Relief?
What charitable Hand will aid me now?
Will stay my failing Steps, support my Ruines,
And heal my wounded Mind with Balmy Comfort?
Oh, my Alicia!

Alic.
What new Grief is this?
What unforeseen Misfortune has surpriz'd thee,
That racks thy tender Heart thus?

J. Sh.
Oh! Dumont!

Alic.
Say! What of him?

J. Sh.
That Friendly, Honest, Man,
Whom Bellmour brought of late to my Assistance;
On whose kind Cares, whose Diligence and Faith,
My surest Trust was built, this very Morn
Was seiz'd on by the cruel Hand of Pow'r,
Forc'd from my House, and born away to Prison.

Alic.
To Prison, said you! Can you guess the Cause?

J. Shore.
Too well, I fear. His bold Defence of me,
Has drawn the Vengeance of Lord Hastings on him.

Al.
Lord Hastings! Ha!

J. Sh.
Some fitter Time must tell thee
The Tale of my hard Hap. Upon the present,
Hang all my poor, my last remaining Hopes.
Within this Paper is my Suit contain'd;
Here, as the Princely Gloster passes forth,
I wait to give it on my humble Knees,
And move him for Redress

[She gives the Paper to Alicia, who opens, and seems to read it.
Alic.
[Aside.]
Now for a wile,
To sting my Thoughtless Rival to the Heart;
To blast her fatal Beauties, and divide her,
For ever from my perjur'd Hasting's Eyes:
The wanderer may then look back to me,
And turn to his forsaken Home again;
Their Fashions are the same, it cannot fail.

[Pulling out the other Paper.]
J. Sh.
But see the great Protector comes this Way,
Attended by a Train of waiting Courtiers.
Give me the Paper, Friend.

Alic.
[Aside.]
For Love and Vengeance!

[She gives her the other Paper.
Enter the Duke of Gloster, Sir Richard Ratcliff, Catesby, Courtiers, and other Attendants.
J. Sh.
[Kneeling.]
Oh Noble Gloster, turn thy gracious Eye,
Incline thy pitying Ear to my Complaint,
A poor, undone, forsaken, helpless Woman,
Intreats a little Bread for Charity,
To feed her Wants, and save her Life from perishing.

Glost.
Arise, fair Dame, and dry your watery Eyes,
[Receiving the Paper, and raising her.]
Beshrew me, but 'twere Pity of his Heart,
That could refuse a Boon to such a Suitress.
Y' have got a noble Friend to be your Advocate;
A worthy, and right gentle Lord he is,
And to his Trust most true. This Present, now,
Some Matters of the State detain our Leisure;
Those once dispatch'd, we'll call for you anon,
And give your Griefs Redress. Go too! be comforted.

J. Sh.
Good Heavens repay your Highness for this Pity,
And shour down Blessings on your Princely Head.
Come my Alicia, reach thy Friendly Arm,
And help me to support this feeble Frame;
That nodding totters with oppressive Woe,
And sinks beneath it's Load.

[Exeunt. J. Shore, and Alicia.
Glost.
Now by my Hollidame!
Heavy of Heart she seems, and sore afflicted.
But thus it is, when rude Calamity,
Lays its strong Gripe upon these mincing Minions;
The Dainty gew-gaw forms dissolve at once,
And shiver at the Shock. What says her Paper?
[Seeming to read.
Ha! What is this? Come nearer Ratcliff! Catesby!
Mark the Contents, and then divine the Meaning?
[He Reads.]
Wonder not Princely Gloster, at the Notice,
This Paper brings you from a Friend unknown;
Lord Hastings is inclin'd to call you Master,
And kneel to Richard, as to England's King;
But Shores's bewitching Wife misleads his Heart,
And draws his Service to King Edward's Sons;
Drive her away, you break the Charm that holds him,
And he, and all his Powers, attend on you.

Rat.
'Tis wonderful!

Cat.
The Means by which it came,
Yet stranger too!

Glost.
You saw it given but now.

Rat.
She cou'd not know the Purport.

Glost.
No, 'tis plain—
She knows it not, it levels at her Life,
Should she presume to prate of such high Matters,
The medling Harlot! Dear she should abide it.

Cat.
What Hand so'eer it comes from, be assur'd,
It means your Highness well—

Glost.
Upon the Instant,
Lord Hastings will be here; this morn I mean,
To prove him to the Quick; then if he flinch
No more but this, away with him at once,
He must be mine, or nothing—But he comes!
Draw nearer this Way, and observe me well.

[They whisper.
Enter Lord Hastings.
L. Hast.
This foolish Woman hangs about my Heart,
Lingers, and wanders in my Fancy still;
This Coyness is put on, 'tis Art and Cunning,
And worn to urge Desire,—I must possess her;
The Groom, who lift his sawcy Hand against me,
E'er this, is humbled, and repents his daring.
Perhaps, ev'n she may profit by th'Example,
And teach her Beauty not to scorn my Pow'r.

Glost.
This do, and wait me e'er the Council sits.
[Exeunt Rat. and Catesby.
My Lord, y'are well encounter'd, here has been
A fair Petitioner this Morning with us;
Believe me, she has won me much to pity her:
Alas! her gentle Nature was not made
To buffet with Adversity. I told her,
How worthily her Cause you had befriended;
How much for your good sake we meant to do,
That you had spoke, and all Things shou'd be well.

L. Hast.
Your Highness binds me ever to your Service.

Glost.
You know your Friendship is most potent with us,
And shares our Power. But of this enough.
For we have other Matters for your Ear.
The State is out of Tune; distracting Fears,
And jealous Doubts jar in our Publick Councils;
Amidst the wealthy City, Murmurs rise,
Lewd Railings, and Reproach, on those that rule,
With open Scorn of Government; hence Credit,
And publick Trust 'twixt Man and Man are broke.
The Golden Streams of Commerce are withheld,
Which fed the Wants of needy Hinds, and Artizans,
Who therefore curse the Great, and threat Rebellion.

L. Hast.
The resty Knaves are overrun with Ease,
As Plenty ever is the Nurse of Faction:
If in good Days, like these, the Headstrong Herd,
Grow madly wanton, and repine; it is
Because the Reins of Power are held too slack,
And Reverend Authority of late
Has worn a Face of Mercy more than Justice.

Glost.
Beshrew my Heart! but you have well divin'd
The Source of these Disorders. Who can wonder
If Riot and Mis-rule o'erturn the Realm,
When the Crown sits upon a Baby Brow?
Plainly to speak; hence comes the general Cry,
And sum of all Complaint: 'Twill ne'er be well
With England (thus they talk) while Children Govern.

L. Hast.
'Tis true the King is young; but what of that?
We feel no want of Edward's ripers Years,
While Gloster's Valour, and most princely Wisdom,
So well supply our Infant Sovereign's Place,
His Youths Support, and Guardian of his Throne.

Glost.
The Council, (much I'm bound to thank 'em for it)
Have plac'd a pageant Sceptre in my Hand,
Barren of Pow'r, and subject to Controul;
Scorn'd by my Foes, and useless to my Friends.
Oh, worthy Lord! were mine the Rule indeed.
I think, I should not suffer rank Offence,
At large to Lord it in the common weal.
Nor wou'd the Realm be rent by Discord thus,
Thus Fear and Doubt betwixt disputed Titles.

L. Hast.
Of this I am to learn; as not supposing
A Doubt like this—

Glost.
Ay, marry, but there is—
And that of much Concern. Have you not heard
How on a late Occasion, Doctor Shaw
Has mov'd the People much about the lawfulness
Of Edward's Issue? by Right grave Authority
Of Learning and Religion, plainly proving,
A Bastard Scien never should be grafted
Upon a Royal Stock; from thence, at full
Discoursing on my Brother's former Contract,
To Lady Elizabeth Lucy, long before
His jolly Match with that same buxom Widdow
The Queen he left behind him.—

L. Hast.
I'll befall
Such medling Priests, who kindle up Confusion,
And vex the quiet World with their vain Scruples;
By Heav'n 'tis done in perfect Spight to Peace.
Did not the King,
Our Royal Master Edward, in concurrence
With his Estates assembled, well determine
What Course the Sovereign Rule should take henceforward.
When shall the deadly Hate of Faction cease,
When shall our long divided Land have Rest,
If every peevish, moody Malecontent
Shall set the senseless Rabble in an uproar;
Fright them with Dangers, and perplex their Brains,
Each Day with some fantastick giddy Change?

Glost.
What, if some Patriot for the publick Good,
Should vary from your Scheme, new mold the State.

L. Hast.
Curse on the innovating Hand attempts it!
Remember him, the Villain, righteous Heaven
In thy great Day of Vengeance! blast the Traytor
And his pernicious Counsels; who for Wealth,
For Pow'r, the Pride of Greatness or Revenge,
Would plunge his Native Land in Civil Wars.

Glost.
You go to far my Lord

L. Hast.
Your Highness's Pardon—
Have we so soon forgot those Days of Ruin,
When York and Lancaster drew forth the Battles;
When, like a Matron, butcher'd by her Sons,
And cast beside some common way a Spectacle
Of Horror, and affright to Passers by
Our groaning Country bled at every Vein,
When Murders, Rapes, and Massacres prevail'd;
When Churches, Palaces, and Cities blaz'd;
When Insolence and Barbarism triumph'd,
And swept away Distinction. Peasants trod
Upon the Necks of Nobles. Low were laid
The Reverend Crosier, and the Holy Mitre,
And Desolation cover'd all the Land.
Who can remember this, and not, like me,
Here vow to sheath a Dagger in his Heart,
Whose damn'd Ambition would renew those Horrors,
And set, once more, that Scene of Blood before us?

Glost.
How now! So hot!

L. Hast.
So brave, and so resolv'd.

Glost.
Is then our Friendship of so little moment,
That you could arm your Hand against my Life?

L. Hast.
I hope your Highness does not think I meant it,
No, Heaven forefend that e'er your Princely Person
Should come within the Scope of my Resentment.

Glost.
Oh! Noble Hastings! Nay, I must embrace you:
[Embraces him.
By holy Paul! y'are a right honest Man;
The Time is full of Danger and Distrust,
And warns us to be wary. Hold me not
Too apt for Jealousy and light Surmize,
If when I meant to lodge you next my Heart,
I put your Truth to trial. Keep your Loyalty,
And live your King and Country's best Support:
For me, I ask no more than Honour gives,
To think me yours, and rank me with your Friends.

L. Hast.
Accept what Thanks a grateful Heart should pay.
Oh! Princely Gloster! judge me not ungentle,
Of Manners rude, and insolent of Speech,
If, when the Publick Safety is in question,
My Zeal flows warm and eager from my Tongue.

Glost.
Enough of this: To deal in wordy Compliment
Is much against the Plainness of my Nature;
I judge you by my self, a clear true Spirit,
And, as such, once more join you to my Bosom,
Farewel, and be my Friend.
[Exit. Gloster.

L. Hast.
I am not read,
Not skill'd and practis'd in the Arts of Greatness,
To kindle thus, and give a Scope to Passion.
The Duke is surely noble; but he touch'd me
Ev'n on the tend'rest Point; the Master-string
That makes most Harmony or Discord to me.
I own the glorious Subject fires my Breast,
And my Soul's darling Passion stands confest
Beyond or Love's or Friendship's sacred Band,
Beyond my self I prize my Native Land:
On this Foundation would I build my Fame,
And emulate the Greek and Roman Name;
Think England's Peace bought cheaply with my Blood,
And die with Pleasure for my Country's Good.

[Exit.