University of Virginia Library

ACT III.

SCENE I.

Edinburgh-Castle.
Livingston
, solus. (a letter in his hand)
Success already dawns upon our plan,
To-day my Lord of Douglas comes to town,
To clear his fame—The Chancellor gone to meet him,
'Tis very grating thus to be oblig'd
To act in concert, with the man I hate—
Perhaps he has a double view, and hopes
To rid himself of me—Douglas to each
Bears equal grudge, and keeps us both in awe.
Well pleas'd he saw us quarrel and lay by
To wait the issue—Had the one been foil'd,
The other must have fall'n his easy prey—
We saw his aim; on this our union's built—
Were Douglas once remov'd, each for himself,
And we are friends no more—It must be so—
Cool, politick, and artful, he assumes
Each character: with ease, in all the same:
With penetrating eye explores the views
Of others, deeper than the depths his own—
Well! foxes may be caught—'Tis near the hour
I was to be with Kirkton—She fore-told
The murder of the King, if fame says true.
Crowds daily throng her house, and none dispute
The truth of her predictions—Yet 'tis strange!
To reason's eye she seems an artful cheat—
But then experience says, I reason wrong—
It must be so—She's old, and long ere now
Had been detected—Me she cannot know—
I'll strictly mark her words, if they import
Superior wisdom, she shall be my guide.

SCENE II.

Livingston, Angus.
Livingston.
Welcome my Lord of Angus! you'll rejoice
To hear the Earl of Douglas comes to town.

Angus.
I do indeed, my Lord, and hope your motion
Will have the good effect you had in view.

Livingston.
Perhaps it may, my Lord; tho' some advices
Since come to town, set Douglas in a light
Which shews I was mistak'n; his designs
Are deeper laid, than from his time of life,
I could have thought of. Ev'ry prudent mean
Must first be tried; but should he still persist
In those illegal courses, and despise
The friendly admonitions of the States,
I own, I'm difficulted how to act.

Angus.
Should it appear, that his designs but glance
Upon the State; tho' of his name, and house,
My interest and my sword shall be against him.
The publick-good at stake, each private tie
Must be forgot.

Livingston.
'Tis greatly said my Lord!
But should the States impeach him of his crimes,
Of course a trial follows—Ev'ry where
The lawless and abandon'd are his friends.

Angus.
The States, my Lord, can only do their duty,
And leave th'event to heav'n.

Livingston.
This I admit,
But then, the servants of the Crown must still
Have in their eye the safety of the whole,
And, if on some occasions they abridge
The tedious forms of law, the end in view,
I think, should give a sanction to their act.

Angus.
My Lord, I understand you not!—The law
In its minutest forms should be observ'd!
It is our life, our liberty, our all.

Livingston.
How oft my Lord, hath liberty been hurt
By a punctilious zeal for forms, at first
Intended to secure it? Human laws
Must ever share the weakness of their authors—

Angus.
My Lord, excuse me: Whither tends your speech?

Livingston.
Only to shew, that should my Lord of Douglas
By prudent measures be restrain'd, the State
Secur'd from the designs he has against it,
Some forms may be dispens'd with, which gone through
Might be th'occasion of a greater ill,
Than that we meant to cure.

Angus.
Perhaps they might.
I am not skill'd in politicks, my Lord,
Nor do I love them, when they interfere
With plain and open dealing. Virtue's bold,
And never fears to meet the greatest odds,
Always secure of heav'n upon its side.

Livingston.
Your sentiments, my Lord, so truly great,
Admit of no reply—May heav'n prevent
My fears, and order all things for the best.
Lord Angus will excuse me—an appointment—

Angus.
Make no apology, nor let me hinder
Your more important business.

Livingston.
My Lord!—

[Exit.
Angus
, solus.
If I mistake not much the Regent's aim,
He meant to draw me in to some design,
He has in view against my Lord of Douglas—
His speech in parliament, so smooth, so artful,
Made me indeed believe he was his friend—
'Tis well the States are met; he will not dare
To question the indemnity they gave—
Perhaps I wrong him—statemen oft affect
To talk ambiguously—I must however,
Put Douglas, and his friends upon their guard.

[Exit.

SCENE III.

Mother Kirkton's House.
Livingston.
(disguised as a servant)
I wish this creature had not been at home,
I blush to know my self—But hush! she comes—
Enter Kirkton.
Mother, I come to have my fortune told;
But first accept your fee—

(gives money)
Kirkton.
Shew me your hand—
If I mistake not, fortune is your friend,
Your master generous, your appointments large—
Distrust and envy, lately have produc'd
Unseemly quarrels 'twixt you and a man
Whom now you call your friend—He loves you not.

Livingston.
Shall he prevail against me?

Kirkton.
That depends
Much on yourself—Ambition leads you on—
She is a dangerous guide—Beware a Douglas!

Livingston.
That's to the point indeed! (aside)
Why of a Douglas?

Kirkton.
No more!—Thou know'st if the advice concerns thee.

Livingston.
Be more explicit mother—double fee—

Kirkton.
In vain thou urgest—In the womb of time
Deep hid the rest remains—Enough to thee
Be virtuous, and be happy—Ask no more!

(Exit Livingston.
Kirkton
, sola.
'Tis strange a man of sense should weakly think
A poor illiterate woman can unfold
The dark recesses of futurity!
How strange! that he, who, conscious of his crimes,
With reason dreads the future, should attempt
To draw aside the curtain which divides
'Twixt guilt and punishment—The soul unblest,
Which dares not turn its eyes upon itself,
Incessant roams through folly's ample field,
In quest of happiness, till tir'd and spent,
It droops and owns the foreign pursuit vain.

(Exit.