University of Virginia Library

SCENE II.

Raleigh's House.
Sir Walter
discover'd, with the History of the World before him.
Now my long Toil is done, my Soul at Ease
Views her past Travels thro' the various Heap
Of Truth and Fable. All that measur'd Time,
Records of Nations, Governments and Laws,
Of Heroes, Conquerors, and purpl'd Kings,
Lye here compriz'd. O may the toilsome Task
Answer the Labourer's Care with due Returns!
May Men grow wiser by their Father's Follies,
Or learn to emulate the Virtuous Dead!
And thou my Country, nearest to my Heart,
Dear Land of Liberty and Heav'nly Truth,
As thou survey'st the various Models here
Of earthly Power, their Rise, and infant State,
Their Progress and their Period, mark the Flaws
Of every Frame, and value much thy Own.
Secure, while Monarchy still bears the Sway,
And joyful Subjects pay a free Obedience.
Enter Sir Julius Cæsar.
Welcome, Sir Julius.

J. C.
We owe you more than ever we can pay;
May After-ages, who shall reap the Fruit,
Balance the base Ingratitude of this,
With lasting Honours and eternal Fame.

Sir W. Ra.
O I am paid already to the Height!
The great Reward is out of Fortune's Power.
Did not the good Eliza smile upon me,
And plant me in the Circles of her Rays;
Now cherish, and now check, my forward Growth,
And teach me to aspire the noblest Way?
What Heart so cold, so dead to fair Renown,
Her Praises could not quicken and inflame?
Then every busy Scene of active Life
Was worthy of our Labour, Danger wore
A pleasing Aspect, e'en the Face of Death
Look'd smoothly kind, and flatter'd with a Smile.
Then I rejoyc'd and glory'd in my Strength,
Oft tried the lusty Sinews of my Youth
In manly Sports, and harden'd 'em in Arms:
Hoping one Day to meet my Country's Foe,
And merit by my Sword my Soveraign's Love.

J. C.
Then was indeed the fairest Mart of Fame,
Inviting every brave Adventurer's Hope;
While Honour was the Purchase of our Blood,
And not the partial Gift of blind Affection.

Sir W. Ra.
Eternal Peace attend thy Maiden Shade!
Eternal Glory dwell upon thy Tomb!
And grateful Piety embalm thy Dust,
With kind, religious Tenderness and Love!
With dear Remembrance, and with dread Regard,
Visit her Ashes, ye succeeding Monarchs;
From her transcribe the Model of your Power,
And leave the Blessings of a righteous Sway.

Enter Howard.
How.
Raleigh, I fear some Mischief lags behind;
Cecil and Gundamor came now from Court.
Their Cheeks seem'd flush'd, and a pleas'd Fierceness shone,
Like Signs of cruel Triumph in their Eyes.
Cecil wav'd different Papers in his Hand,
Which Gundamor would often catch and kiss,
Then read in Transport, and then kiss again.

Sir W. Ra.
Then Cobham, with new added Weight of Guilt,
Is sunk still deeper in the Gulph of Woe.

How.
Beside, I met the curst Lieutenant too,
As making hither with a breathless Haste.
My Cares for thee so swallow'd up my Rage,
That I forgot, and left him unchastiz'd.

Enter Wade with a Guard.
Wade.
Sir Walter, you are my Pris'ner once again:
See the attesting Lords, and Cobham's Hand.

[Shews a Paper.
Sir W. Ra.
Death play'd before, but is in earnest now.
Poor Cobham! Fear, unmanly Fear, has lost
That Peace which thou shalt never taste again.
Howard, I hear thy generous Heart has try'd
A dangerous Path to make thy Friend secure:
I have forgiven it. Send my Son to me.
Lead to the Tower, from thence the Prospect lies
To that new Country we must reach to Night.

[Exit guarded.
How.
Heav'n! how undauntedly his Spirit breaks
Thro' Nature's Struggles to the Realms of Peace!
The generous Steed, thus, walking by the Shore,
Where Waves beat high, and giddy Tempests roar,
Viewing, from thence, on the remoter side,
Fair Meadows rise, and gentle Rivers glide;
He plunges, scornful of the Wave and Wind,
Looks back, and sees the threatning Storm behind;
The Coast once gain'd, he rises fresh and gay,
And bounds to Woods of Liberty away.

[Exeunt.
Enter Lady Raleigh.
L. Ra.
Where have they hurried my poor Husband,
My Lord, my Life! O Savage Cruelty!
To tear him from me, Widow my sad Arms,
E'er yet my Tongue had told him half my Joy!
Recover'd so, and lost again so soon!
Heav'n in the granting snatch'd the Bliss away,
And left the Thankfulness of Prayer unfinish'd.

Enter Olympia.
Olym.
O the lov'd Youth! O Ecstasy of Joy!
Where have they hid him from my longing Eyes?—
His Mother! Sure she'll listen to my Prayers.

L. Ra.
Fly, fly, unhappy Maid! No Joy, no Son
Expects thy fond Embrace, no Husband mine.
For Death, inexorable Death, stands arm'd;
E'en now he strikes, and thou and I are lost.

Olym.
Is there no Moment of unsullied Pleasure
Left for Olympia, in the Course of Time?

L. Ra.
Go seek thy Father.

Olym.
Fate, stand still a while.
Drop thy Wings, Time, till Love says—Journey on.

[Exit.
L. Ra.
It cannot be; the Warning-Clock has struck:
One aking View, one last Embrace is all.

[Exit.