University of Virginia Library

SCENE II.

An Apartment in the Tower.
Clifford alone.
[Cliff.]
O Clifford! Clifford, thou hast lost all Peace!
The Traitor's guilty Sting is in thy Heart;
And his deep-dy'd Shame dwells on thy Cheek.
My Eye detests the Light; and I fain would seek
Darkness, eternal Darkness and Oblivion.
O Man, Man, weak, unsteady, insatiate Man!
My Conscience, ever faithful to its Trust,
With heav'nly Admonition, kindly warn'd
And forbad my Baseness; but Thirst of Greatness,
Infused by hellish Priest-craft, wrought my Fall,
And damn'd me to the lowest Pit of Shame.
For now, to save an ignominious Life,
Again I have broke the Band of Fellowship,
And, like a Traitor doubly steep'd in Guilt,
Have sacrificed my vile Associates.
O Shame, Shame! Hell! Hell! for ever in
The Villain's mangled Mind.

Enter Dawbney.
Daw.
Sir Robert Clifford, I've inform'd the King
Of what you gave Permission;
He has given Command I lead you to his Closet—
Be open and sincere in your Confession;
Trust to his Royal Goodness for Pardon.

Cliff.
O Dawbney, I have my Reward already.
The bearded Shafts of Guilt and Treachery
Goad thro' my Heart, and canker all within.

Daw.
Despair not, Sir; the King is merciful.
But do not dally, for his Soul's on Fire;
The Quickness of his Temper well you know.
But come, the King
Expects us in his Closet.

[Exeunt.