 | The Earl of Warwick |  |
SCENE II.
ELIZABETH, SUFFOLK.SUFFOLK.
The pray'r of innocence is always heard.
ELIZABETH.
Ha! Suffolk, whither hast'st thou? art thou come—
SUFFOLK.
I come to heal thy sorrows, lovely fair one,
To tell thee, Edward, and thy much-lov'd Warwick,
Once more are friends.
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Indeed! O welcome news!
My joy's too great for utt'rance: tell me, Suffolk,
How was it? speak, is Warwick safe? O heav'n!
SUFFOLK.
A moment's patience, and I'll tell thee all.
Marg'ret, thou know'st, had rais'd a pow'rful force,
That doubled Edward's troops: elate with pride,
And almost sure of victory, she urg'd
The tardy spearmen; on they rush'd, as if
Secure of conquest: the unhappy king
Stood nobly firm, and seem'd to brave his fate,
When Warwick like a guardian god appear'd:
His noble mien and all-commanding look
Struck deep attention; ev'ry eye was bent
Upon him, and an awful silence reign'd
O'er either host, he rais'd his voice on high,
And stop, he cry'd, your sacrilegious hands,
Nor touch my friend: who pierces Edward's breast,
Must pass through mine: I rais'd him to the throne,
And will support him there: to you I gave,
From you my fellow-soldiers I expect him:
Howe'er his cruel wrongs have wounded me,
He never injur'd you, and, I—forgive him.
He spake, and instant thro' the gazing croud
A murmur ran; down dropp'd their nerveless arms,
As if enchanted by some magic pow'r,
And with one voice they cry'd, long live king Edward!
ELIZABETH.
How pow'rful is the tongue of eloquence,
When in the cause of virtue!—well, what follow'd?
SUFFOLK.
Encourag'd by the shouting soldiers, Edward
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Yet fearful, Warwick with a bridegroom's speed
To meet him flew; into each other's arms
They ran with speechless joy: the tender scene
Affected ev'ry heart, and the rough soldier,
Unused to melting sympathy, forgot
His ruthless nature, and dissolv'd in tears.
ELIZABETH.
Sweet reconcilement! then, Elizabeth,
Thou didst not plead in vain; but, say, how brook'd
The haughty queen this unexpected change?
SUFFOLK.
Abash'd, confounded, for a while she strove
To stem the torrent, but in vain; then fled
Precipitate.
ELIZABETH.
But where, O where's my Warwick?
SUFFOLK.
With a few chosen squadrons he pursues
The disappointed Marg'ret.
ELIZABETH.
O my fears!
I know not why, but at that hateful name
I tremble ever, my foreboding heart
Presages something dreadful.
SUFFOLK.
Do not vex
Thy tender mind with visionary dangers.
ELIZABETH.
O! wou'd to heav'n that he were shelter'd here,
And safe within these arms!
SUFFOLK.
Be not alarm'd:
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All bad ones fear him.
ELIZABETH.
Such superior merit
Must have a thousand foes, the constant mark
Of envy's poison'd darts.
SUFFOLK.
There Suffolk feels
The keen reproach; with blushes I confess
There was a time, when, urg'd by fond ambition,
I look'd on Warwick with a jealous eye:
But this last noble deed hath won my heart,
And I am now a convert to his virtues;
But see, the king approaches.
| The Earl of Warwick | |