University of Virginia Library

ACT III.

SCENE Ludlow Castle.
Enter Tudor and a Colonel.
Tud.
Cousin, how are ye?

Col.
Right well, my noble Friend.

Tud.
I did not here expect an Engagement.

Col.
You fought as if you did, your Courage
And your Conduct both were shown; they
That gave the Onset first, most shamefully
Retreated.

Tud.
Colonel, lead your Forces to the Camp of Henry
Or Margaret, I know not which to call it
Before the mornings dawn I will be there.

Col.
Oh Tudor, thou noblest of mankind,
Remember e'er I speak that your Commands
I never disobey'd.

Tud.
Nor ever will, I hope, my Soldier and my Friend

Col.
No, tho' by this Ambush laid and your rash
Resolve of seeing the Queen alone, I read,
Oh dismal thought! your death.

Tud.
Be it so, draw off your Forces, I had rather
See the Queen tho' my life's the forfeit, than
Be Edward or Henry or any happier King
That you can think of. If you out-live me,
Report me as a Man that Catharine smil'd on;
Let some kind Pen transmit the glory to
Posterity, and I shall hold my death a prize too small for such a stock
Of fame if you Love me, answer not, nor offer to disswade
Me, but observe my orders,
[Exit. Col. bowing.
This is the path; Oh Angel Guardian be thou
Near, and lead me to my heaven.

(Exit.
Enter Queen Catharine.
Cat.
I hear the doors unbar; shall I not go to
Meet him; he comes, oh trembling heart
Think of thy Woes and let thy pantings now
be still.

Enter Tudor and Isabella.
Tud.
(kneels.)
My Queen?

Cat.
My Love, my Husband, rise my dearest Lord.

Tud.
Do I behold thy face again. Oh taste of joys
Unatterabl? Oh Banquet beyond the power of sence to bear!
Nor must I murmur now,
If the hard conditions wherewith,
Seemed to article with providence is now fullfill'd.
For Heaven knows how often I have
Wisht to see thy face, and die.

Cat.
Avert it Heaven; yet we meet indeed 'midst
Wars and Tumults; Camps on either side;
Frightfull Scenes for Love.

Tud.
All, all, is the milky way, when thou art near:
Oh should I but repeat the miseries I have
Indured, since banished from those fair
Eyes, you sure wou'd pity me.

Cat.
What hast thou suffer'd? thou dear
Innocence? Persued

Tud.
Upon the Barren summit of a Prodigious
Mountain whose height seem'd to brave a second
Flood, I pass'd my tedious hours,
Stretching my longing Eyes towards the abode
Of my fair Queen, and Courting the fierce winds
That way to bear my sighs, sometimes farther urged
By my despair upon the extreamest verge of ragged
Cliffts that over look the deep, I'd throw my
Wretched weight like one destracted, tell the
Ever beating Waves my Grief, and fill the ambient
Air with your dear name.
If thunder grumbl'd o'er my head
Or Earthquakes shook the frame beneath,
By me the Warring Element was unobserv'd;
My Love, my Joy, my Peace of mind was lost.
My Queen was absent, and therefore I forsook
All Comfort.

Cat.
Beds of Down and guilded roofs were a like,
Uneasie, and without thee, food for desperation:
And now 'tis but a kind of doubtfull day,
Which only glimmers, and then will part
Us with eternal night.

Tud.
Be that night eternal, no morrow grant.
At least this night is ours.

Cat.
Flatter not thy self with hopes now, there is
Nothing ours; yet you may remember; nay you must,
It has been otherwise, Henry the First and Noblest
Candidate for fame, once was yours and mine,
My Lover, and your Royal Friend, yes you have
Seen me Crown'd the Queen of Nations,
Beheld my evening Pomp and morning Waiters,
For you were still the earliest of the Crowd;
At awfull distance watch'd the motions of my eyes,
And trembled when you met a glance,
Henry knew the Holy Fire, that warm'd your breast,
Yet so well he knew both you and me,
That he never frown'd on either:
But encourag'd the Chast Friendship,
Which when Heaven angry with this lower World
Snatch'd hence its great protector grew to Love:

Tud.
Blest Hero! whom future Ages or their best
Of future Kings can only hope to faintly Copy,
Whom when I ever name without Just Veneration,
May Cankers gnaw my ungratefull Tongue;
Yet Friendship shall not rob my Love.
No mighty Queen the first minute these tho',
Then hopeless eyes, view'd that unimitable frame,
They drew in Love, witness their divided lids
Still stretch'd with endless wakings witness the
Unbated sorrows; the returning years still found
Me wrapt in, witness ten thousand racks.
But why look I backwards, when I can call
The Heaven mine for which I served?
Yes, 'tis permitted, that I may approach.
My Arms have licence to Circle thee, and snatch
Thee to my heart, and hold a place in thine,
A glory which I d not exchange to be
The greatest titl'd Slave the busie Globe contains.

Cat.
Oh Tudor, Tudor, sure thy Mothers blessings,
And her beauty, and her softness, hangs about thee,
The rest of humane Race all seem rugged,
Thou only art the Child of Love, the pattern
Made for Poets to form their Hero's by.

Tud.
The kindness of these Words, nothing but
Ecstatick bliss, nothing but Joys this night
Will bring, can raise me higher,

Cat.
My fears distract me, you are a Foe
Proclaimed, shou'd there be Information
Given, Courts have many spies, the Castle
Is unguarded, let not thy valiant Soul and
Over eager Love, tempt thee to so imminent
A danger; tho' yet thy Arm well us'd to Conquest,
Prompts thee on, think, alass, my Tudor,
Multitudes o'ercome the bravest Sword.

Tud.
Shall apprehension, the Cowards check, fright
Me, from my fair Level not a Man who has
Aspired and possessed the greatest Queen on
Earth, so low in your esteem, that imaginary
Fears, shou'd tear me hence, the Niggard
Heavens allow us but the present hours, the
Future still are left to doubtfull Fate. Oh!
Lovely Catharine, if I read in thy looks some
Beamy signs of Joy, as sure I can, for I
Understand 'em well, bless me with kindness,
Talk no more of danger, let us dream at
Least this Castle's safety ours; indulge the
Pleasing ecstasie, nor wake, till we are
Forced to wake.

Cat.
She that can love and can deny must not
Have a heart like mine.

Isa.
Oh!

Tud.
Blest sound!

Cat.
My Isabella I heard the sad murmur of a
Stifled sigh, my ear catched the broken
Sadness. Tudor, behold your fair guide as the
Dearest object of my Friendship; nay she
Almost Rivals you. The kindest maid, the
Truest creature, Companion in all my solitudes,
Forsaking the allurements the tempting
Pleasures which her charming youth and
Vast fortunes might have commanded, still
Has she follow'd my retirement: and with
Her Innocence and Goodness cheared me.

Tud.
For such a faithfull care, may
That power to whom we pray, reward her
Equal to my wish, continue still that beauteous
Loveliness, Crown her with happiness lasting
As her self can wish.

Isa.
My Noble Lord, cover me not
With blushes? Why, Royal Madam,
Did ye speak those
Balmy words, they wound my heart, your kindness
Like descending Angels on the impure,
Strikes me with death.

Tud.
What means the Charmer?

Cat.
My Lord, she's sick of our disease, in love,
And now by my commands I hope is
Strugling with her yielding heart, within
Ill tell ye all the unhappy Circumstances.

Tud.
Peace to her mind, and may she ever
Vanquish all that wou'd disturb her, my
Queen are the tender pledges of our love,
The beauteous-little-ones for beauteous they
Are, cause Images of thee, are they here.

Cat.
My Cherubs, my Comforts, cou'd they be from
Me never, I'll lead you to 'em, dear
Isabella, give Thyrrold strict charge to be
Carefull in his watch, then attend me in the
Bed-Chamber.

Tud.
Give me thy hand.
And as this touch does all my racks remove,
So may thy fears, and think of nought but Love.

(Exit Queen led by Tud.
Isa.
What must I think on? doubting, and the
Dreadfull expectation of what's to come,
Are terrors that create despair, and such a
State is mine. Oh fairest, best of Queens!
Can you not find in my disordered looks,
The tumults of my Soul, and Chain me
Near ye?

Enter her Woman.
Wom.
Madam, Malavill waits without.

Isa.
Let him wait a little longer, my Esperanza,
What have we promised, dost thou not fear?

Wom.
For you alone, I alas, am worthless!

Isa,
Oh happy! happy thou. If you consented to
Some honest mate and fled, no Court wou'd
Be allarm'd, no Pursuers, no life be lost.
Where shall I unbosom my full heart, what
Kind adviser help my youth, I have no friend,
I never had but one, the unequall'd Queen,
And she I am flying from.

Wom.
To meet a Faithfull Friend, a Noble Husband.

Isa.
So I hope, but oh I dare not look with reason's
Eye into this mad attempt; love hurries me
Along, and love they say is a blind guide; if
Margaret, if Catharine, or if Edward seize us,
Away, I will not thing so deeply, fasten that
Door, least from the Castle we are surprized,
And call Malavill in.
[Exit Wom.
Now 'tis better in my tormented breast, the
Scene is changed, and Clarence stands in my
Minds view, all faithful, lovely, and beloved. Oh,
Haste thee to my Royal Youth, and chase these
Melancholy fears away.

Re-enter her Woman with Malavill.
Mala.
My Lord watches the minutes with an impatient
Lovers haste, numbers 'em with his sighs, till the
Blest one arrives, till I return and more confirm
His expected Joys.

Isa.
Malavill, 'tis a dangerous path we tread, and much
Precaution must be used, if amongst those few,
Your master trusts but one, shou'd prove a Traytor
Inevitable ruin seizes all.

Mala.
I dare affirm the care the Duke has took in what
So nearly does concern him, equals his Love, which nothing
Can exceed, the rest are managed well, I only know
The bottom of the design, and shou'd I
Be thought unfaithfull, I soon wou'd give a fatal
Proof of my Fidelity, and die at hearing I was
Once mistrusted.

Isa.
No, be assured thou art not, if thou wert by
Isabella, I'd stand the lash of Furies, have
Uninvented torments practised on this tender
Body, excelling all the old, e'er groan the secret
Out this night. On Dacres absence I know the Queen
Will walk her self the rounds, see every door and
Brazen gate fast barr'd and lock'd, and every Key
Brought to the Royal Chamber, this only passage
Left to trusted me, and therefore unexamined shall
I then dare? Oh horror, every limb and every
Trembling vein forbids it.

Mal.
What, not for the Duke of Clarence, not for him
Who wou'd rush thro' thousand pointed Swords
For you.

Isa.
Take it, take the important Key. The Queens own words—
But fly this moment, fly, be gone I say, least I
Repent and yield no more.

Mala.
With all my heart. (Aside.)
At twelve?

Isa.
I will.
[Exit Ma.
Hear thou All-seeing eye of Providence, listen to
(kneeling.
A distressed Virgins Prayer, if ought that's ill insues
For much my heart forbodes; as mine the guilt, be
mine the punishment.
If there must be wrath, heap it all on me,
But let the guiltless Queen be safe and free.

[Exeunt.
SCENE, the Camp.
Enter Duke of Clarence, followed by the Earl of Warwick.
Warw.
Hold, Duke of Clarence stop, thus have I
Followed thee beyond our utmost Guards,
Thus beheld thee, observ'd thy folded arms,
And down cast eyes, thy silent steps I've traced,
Which seem'd to measure out thy graves
Length, so sad they were come, dear youth,
Lean upon my bosom and tell thy griefs, if thou
Art wronged, Warwick stands forth to do thee
Justice, I serve the King thy Brother Edward,
But dare Proclaim before his face I love thee
More.

Clar.
Burden me not with kindness. To noble natures
'Tis the hardest task, favours receiving without
Hopes of a return. Edward and Gloucester, the darlings,
Both of Fate; to them apply and court not him,
Who shuns the World.

War.
Dost thou push me from thee, young Prince;
Boy, I was a going to have said, you will repent
It; there's something labours in thy brain
Remember you were offered Warwick's aid, which
You despis'd, Farewell.
(Exit War.

Clar.
He's gone, and I dare not call him back or tell
My weakness; he never will consent, his Souls wound
Up to steady Glory, past the Convulsive fit of
Loves dear Calenture, what he terms sadness
Is the expected Joy which fills my Soul with transports.
My thoughts are full of thee, dear Isabella,
And my eyes disdain to view an object that may
Divert the pleasing Image, where art thou?
Malavill, lazy Embassador for Love, hast to bring
Me the glad tidings all goes well.

Enter a Page.
Pag.
Sir, Sir?

Clar.
What's the matter, boy?

Pag.
A grim looked fellow, game me this, and charged
Me instantly to seek ye, nor wou'd he leave me
Till he saw I'd found your Grace. I knew my
Gallant Master wou'd have been angry, if I
Had trembled else indeed he frighted me.

Clar.
Poor innocence! ha, lift up thy Torch sure the
Moon gives me a sickly light and make me,
Read a miss.
[Reads.]

Duke of Clarence.

Your Family is given to invade another's right. You a younger branch,
follow the Example: Witness, your designs on Isabella, my plighted
Wife. (Ha, my blood runs cold, but I will yet proceed)
Since you have chose the Murderers hour, as that perjur'd false one
has confessed, be that the place and time, if you dare to meet the

Injured Thyrrold.

If I dare, where am I, can this be true, or is it all
A plot too deep for me to fathom; Isabella false, I'll
Not believe it, sure 'tis all delusion.
Enter Malavill.
Oh, art thou come, let me rush upon thee, as I
Would seize my Love, thou art arriv'd the very
Minute when I was plunging down I know not where,
You must awake me from a dreadfull dream,
For sure it is no more?

Mal.
My Lord!

Clar.
Shrink not from my embrace, nor turn thy eyes
Away, I cannot bear another apprehension if thou
Bringst not comfort. Hell, all hell is here.

Mal.
What shou'd I say?

Clar.
Why, hast thou nothing then to say, did I not
Send thee?

Mal.
You did, my Lord.

Clar.
Why are thy answers cold and looks distracted?
Did I not send thee to Isabella, for the Confirmation
Of her promise, and the Key?

Mal.
You did, but oh!

Clar.
What? speak I charge thee, speak.

Mal.
After long waiting and repeated signs, the
Necessary thing her Woman appear'd, and with
A scornfull smile, said we were all defeated:
Sir James Thyrrold had discover'd our design, and
Isabella in a careless tone, she added, was concern'd,
But advised your Grace to think of her no more.

Clar.
By hell 'tis false, she is betrayed as well as-I,
Her Soul is written in her looks, and does not
Know deceit.

Mal.
Take my life, if you suspect me, go the
Appointed place I'll wait upon you,
Affronted and vexed like you.

Clar.
Forgive me, dear Malavill, what, no Key?
No word from her.

Mal.
None, as I hope for everlasting happiness.

Clar.
Then she is—hold my breath shall not proclaim
Her, nor will I curse her, nor wish her half,
The racks that she has given me; follow to
My Tent, I have yet an Assignation left, which
Shall be this night in Blood performed: Oh Isabella,
Who wou'd have thought, when Heaven had took
Such pains, without Hell had been employed
So deep within.
Fool! fool, too soon believing, I'm undone
Nor has the Trayt'ress by deceiving won.
For whom soe'er, false Saint, bows to thee,
There's not a Worshiper will dote like me.

[Exit.
Enter Duke of Gloucester.
Glou.
Ha, ha, ha, this will do him good; whet his
Spleen, and make a perfect Soldier of him. Had
The Man been married, he had been spoiled.

Mal.
Your Grace is pleased, but shou'd my Lord and
Isabella meet, or the King incline to the match;
I of necessity must be crusht as an atonement,
For the reconciliation.

Glou.
Hitherto thou hast acted well, doubting will
Undo thee. No, Clarence and Isabella meet no more
Like Lovers, on the word of Gloucester, be directed,
And search no further, tread the way that I show
Thee, which shall lead to thy advancement.

Mal.
Too far I've ventured now to think of a return.

Glou.
Where's the Key that to the Castle gives the
Wish'd admittance?

Mal.
There 'tis: had you but seen with what fear,
What trembling 'twas given, heard the prayers
The piercing words, the frighted Virgin used,
'Twou'd sure have shock'd ye.

Glou.
No, I shou'd have laughed at the deluded Maid.
Does your Master wear to day the Sword I gave you?

Mal.
My Lord, you know he does?

Glou.
'Tis well that Sword is temper'd, as I wou'd ever
Wish my foes, for at the first meeting Clash
It breaks, six of my Voluntiers will seize
Him; men not unused to practices like those.
In vain he'll call himself Clarence, in vain
Endeavour to convince 'em for they are
Well prepar'd, and without my orders, won't
Release him. When this is done, leave you the
Duke, the King shall both protect and reward you.

Mal.
As my diligence shall merit, I ask no more.
[Exit Mal.

Glou.
Thy merit's death, and thou shalt find it, fool;
Thy sting, thy venoms gone, thou hast done
Thy best. And the Voluntiers
That seize the Prince, have orders to stop
Thy craving mouth.
Clarence too soon will know thee,
Now therefore thou art useless.

Enter at rising Ground King Edward.
Edw.
Speak, Gloucester, shall haughty Catharine
Mourn this Night.

Glou.
She shall, if Tudor's blood can make
Her weep. Here's the Key, wait the
Signal, and prepare to glut your Eyes.

Edw.
Oh let me hug thee close; I feel a
Warm Vengeance rise, and joys fierce
As is fruition, fill the big heart, which
That ungrateful fair despised. 'Tis grown
A Rambler now, and can be pleas'd
On easier terms than dying.
Yet I will see again those Charming eyes,
But all their tears and menaces despise,
And laugh at Catharine, when her Tudor dies.

[Exeunt.