University of Virginia Library

Act. 1.

Scene. 1.

Cardinal Granvil & Velasco.
Gra.
Now by my hopes the near Approach of Alva
Gives me new Life. Where did you leave the Duke?

Velas.
At Maestrick my good Lord.—

Gra.
He comes in time
The base revolting Flemings to chastise
And purge the State from these rebellious humours
Which we have nourish'd to our own destruction.
The Duke is of a high & daring Spirit
Fit to reform the time; but say, Velasco,
What is the strength & Number of his Army?

Velas.
Ten thousand veteran troupes the flower of Spain
And Italy—

Gra.
—He'll find we need them all:
Strong Remedies must combat strong Diseases,
The Government of Flanders is an Engine
Too mighty for a feeble Woman's Sway.

Velas.
True, & your Eminence was therefore chosen:
Your Wisdom & Experience it was hop'd
Would have supplied that necessary strength
Which female Softness wants.—

Gra.
—I have served the Princess,
As I would serve the Sister of my King;
But she has other Counsellors than Granvel.

Velas.
There came to Philip's court a Flemish Lord
Count Egmont, smooth & fluent in his Speech
And formed he was to soften & persuade.
In glowing Terms he urged his Country's Wrongs
Yet temper'd his Complaint with so much Art
With such devout professions of Allegiance,
The Flemish Faith has grown into Repute
And Brussels thought the Seat of Loyalty.

Gra.
The Seat it is of Faction & Misrule
And such will Alva find it; till he comes
We stand on tender Ground, & he, who bows not
His head to Egmont, shall not wear it long.

Velas.
I know Count Egmont's power, & know withal
He bears your Eminence no love—

Gra.
—Velasco
We must endure his Insults for a time,
This fond weak Woman cannot long defend him:
His day of Retribution is at hand,
Spain, whom his crafty Tongue had lulled to sleep,
Now shakes the dangerous Delusion off,
And views the Traytor with abhorrent Eyes.

Velas.
The Duke of Alva is possessed against him
With bitterest Indignation & imputes
This foul Defection of the States of Flanders
To his ignoble his insidious Counsells.

Gra.
And cause there is for Noble Alva's wrath
While this proud Fleming rules the Soul of Parma;
By lingering Treaties feeds Rebellion's hopes,
And keeps the Monarch of the World in Arms.

Velas.
I have heard, yet none can credit the Report,
That public Conference has been held at Antwerp,
And terms of Reconciliation offered
To the grand Revel William Prince of Orange.

Gra.
True; & the Man selected to that Office,
Raymond, is Egmont's dear & bosom Friend:
I know him well, & wear my Eye upon him,
A haughty Lord he is factious & proud bold,
Impatient of the Yoke, & at his heart
The Foe of Spain. I speak to thee Velasco
With confidence, for Alva bids me trust thee.

Velas.
He does me right, your thoughts are safely lodgd
In a Castilian's Bosom—

Gra.
—Tell me now
The Duke of Alva will he head his March
To Antwerp or to Brussels?—

Velas.
—It was thought
To Antwerp: which conjecture seems confirm'd
By his last movement from Namur to Maestrick.

Gra.
My Counsel is to speed his March for Brussels.
Now get thee in & taste of some Repose,
Your Toils demand it—I must hence to Court.

Exit Velasco.
Manet Granvel.
Gra.
I know not yet the Duke of Alva's powers;
If he's commission'd to displace the Princess,
And rule supreme in Brussels, I am His;
And Egmont then, nay Parma's self shall feel me,
For both alike I hate: But if his Arms
Are made the Scaffold to repair & strengthen
The tottering Fabrick of her Government,
Then must I suffer this Concealment longer,
And feed Revenge within my patient bosom
And smile on Egmont, till by smooth Approaches
I wind myself about his easy heart
And sting him to the Soul—

Scene the 2d.

Enter Lopez
Gra.
—Hah! whence come You?
Why have you left the Part which I assigned you?

Lopez.
Because I have trac'd Discovery to its Spring
And come to lay my Labours at your Feet.
Tis now three Years that I have watch'd Count Raymond
His Servant in Disguise, but in my heart
Thy faithful Creature, & I trust I've slept not
In this Employ, but done thee worthy Service.

Gra.
No more but to the Point.

Lop.
The Count's a Traytor.

Gra.
Sayst thou a Traytor? Recollect thyself.

Lop.
He is a Traytor open & avow'd,
A sworn Confederate to the Prince of Orange.

Gra.
These are wild Words; what Act confirms his Treason?

Lop.
From the first Conference which he held at Antwerp
With the grand Rebel Orange, he became
Sullen & mute, deep melancholy seized him,
With causeless Gusts of Passion intermixt
And childish fears; I noted his disorder
And watch'd those moments when the faithless Mind
Unbosoms its Contents—

Gra.
—Enough of this;
Give me some proof of his assured Desertion.

Lop.
Bear with me then—Last night within his Chamber
I slept as usual, When ere break of Day
I wak'd surpriz'd to find the Count my Master
Up & accouterd, underneath his Cloak
He wore his Corslet: ere I well could speak
He thus accosted me—“Lopez says he
“With filial Sorrow I have long beheld
“My Country's Wrongs, & now at length resolve
“To join the Friends of Liberty at Antwerp;
“You now are free; this hour we part for ever.

Gra.
What answer'd you to this?

Lop
—With Sighs & Tears
I beg'd him to revoke his rash Resolve,
I bade him to reflect that t'was no army
He sought to join, but a poor needy Rabble
That at the first Encounter would disperse.

Gra.
Did you advise so well?—

Lop.
—Oh t'was all in vain,
He knew the weakness of the Prince of Orange
And therefore his Assistance was more needfull;
I then implored that I might share his fortune
Which he forbade but prais'd my honest Zeal;
Then bade me give this Letter to Count Egmont;
And so we parted—

Gra.
—Give me up the Paper,
This has some face of proof—But how my Lopez
Shall I discover the Contents? The Seal
Is perfect & no doubt well known to Egmont.

Lop.
It is the private Signet of Count Raymond:
And I long since by secret means procured
A Copy so exact, the nicest Eye
Cannot discern a Difference: With this,
Important Matters have I oft Discover'd
And with the same Success could now restore
The Seal upon that Writing.

Gra.
Then I'll break it.
(Reads)
“A Solemn oath hath sever'd me for ever
“From Spain & Thee” (Yes & thy Head shall sever
From the face I mark it grows on) “Racks & Tortures
(How the Fanatic rails) “But this Granvel
“In everlasting Enmity I hold”—
Audacious Heretic!—so much for Raymond.
Egmont, thy Fate approaches; Thou wilt meet
Thy Ruin in midway; This Man was dangerous
And so discerning, that methought he look'd
Quite through the hearts of Men; therefore my Soul
Abhorr'd & fear'd him—Now observe me well,
This Letter, Lopez, must not be deliver'd
Till I have seen The Princess & Count Egmont;
Take thou the Paper & restore the Seal:
I go to Court, wait here till my return;
Be faithful & depend upon my bounty.
Exit Granvel.

Pr. Par.
—Now Count Egmont
As you expect my favor, tempt him not

Scene. 2.

Car. Gra. enters to P. Par. Elv. Egm. & other [---]
Scene. 2.
Gra.
Good Morning to your Highness! in these times
So fraught with Mischief, each returning Sun
Which glads us with its Beams, should hear our Praise.

P. Par.
Is there ought new abroad?—

Gra.
—Each Day each hour
Prolific brings some recent Crime to light
And while we're gazing at the new born Wonder
More hideous comes a second Monster forth
To strike our Senses with Surprize & Terror.

P. Par.
The times indeed abound with rank Disorders,
But Fire & Sword my Lord are powerful Medicines.
I am a poor weak Woman as you know me
Not fit for such rough Courses; but there's hope
These Ills not cureless, may be yet addrest,
And a true Christian Reformation made
When Alva's Zeal & your good Prayers conspire.

Gra.
Tis easier to prevent Complaints than cure 'em.

Egm.
How?—

P. Par.
—Egmont what is this?—

Gra.
—I speak
My Fears Lord Egmont nor intend Reproach
And when your Friend returns with peace from Antwerp
And princely Orange condescends to spare us
I shall with joy submit to your Reproof.

Egm.
I see my Lord where your Decision points
And know your Voice has far severer Measures.

Gra.
Yes I oppos'd (without a Blush I own it)
This trifling weak evasive war of words,
Nor can approve of other terms for Rebels
Than such as free Discretion shall impose.

P. Par.
What we have done we've done—A Deed of mercy,
Which though unsanctify'd by your consent
I never can repent of—Yet Lord Cardinal,
So far I'll bend me for your better Judgment,
Pass but this day without their due Submission,
The next recalls my Minister from Antwerp.

Gra.
Recall him?—No—The Man who can descend
To such base Errands is unfit to mix
In worthy Councils, to confer with Traitors
Is in my judgment to partake their Treason.

P. Par.
Nay now Lord Cardinal I must reprove you:
Call you that Function base which I bestow
And your Religion dictates? Come no more
You judge too harshly: from my heart I speak it
I do not know a Man of clearer fame
Of more distinguish'd Loyalty & Honor
Than him you glance at, Not yourself my Lord
Nor this his Friend who owns him more abhorrs
Treason than he does.—

Egm.
—From my Soul I thank you
The just Rewards which you bestow on merit
Bespeak yourself with kindred virtues grac'd
Nor mine alone but a whole Nation's Praises
Shall celebrate your Choice.—

Gra.
—Yes a whole Nation
Of such ambitious such rebellious Spirits
As plot the downfall of this tottering Empire.
Is there no bosom worthy to confide in
But one where every holy Life [?] is cancell'd?
No Tongue impartial in the cause of Truth
But one incorporate with a Crew of Traitors
To invert this Scyon from its purest Root
And wage eternal Enmity with Spain?

P. Par.
How, what? with Traytors sayst thou? Heard I right?
Correct yourself my Lord, your Zeal misleads you:
You mean not sure to charge the Count with Treason.

Gra.
Had I less feeling for the common Safety
Was I respectful of Life's short remains
I would correct myself, revoke my charge
And kneel for Pardon to this angry Lord;
For well I know he shall not live who calls
His Friend a Traytor, yet He is a Traytor
Hell knows who made him one & bound him fast
With direfull Curses to its chosen cause.

P. Par.
Hear'st thou this Egmont? speak if rage will let thee.

Egm.
How shall I speak when fury choaks my Tongue
Or how disprove what I disdain to answer?
I know what Envy rankles at thy heart,
How thy Soul sickens at the sight of Virtue
And what gorss Tales thy Malice can invent.

Gra.
Here is my heart—If I assert a Falshood
Let it be rent from out my bleeding Bosom,
And tost in scorn amongst the hooting Rabble.

P. Par.
Hah! my Faith reels: Look to your Friend my Lord
You told me he was Loyal Brave & honest,
I took him on your Word, rewarded, rais'd
And trusted him—A Traytor have I trusted?

Egm.
On my Life no—He is as far from guilt
As this bad Man from Heaven.

P. Par.
Send for your Friend,
And let him answer to the Crime he's charged with.

Gra.
But will he come?—

Egm.
—To thy confusion Granvel.

Gra.
He will not dare not come.

Egm.
Hah! dare not come?
All judging Power hear & second my Oath.
If lea[---]'d with Traytors, my revolted Friend
Come not to answer & confute this charge,
I here include myself in his Offence:
All Commerce with Mankind all mutual Trust,
Each Sense that sweetens Life, nay Life itself
Here in thy awful Presence I abjure,
And yield myself a voluntary Victim
To Alva; nay (Oh Infamy!) to Granvel.

P. Par.
You have made your own Conditions—Look you keep 'em
When Honor fails you, so shall my Support
For you, my Lord, your Vigilance demands
Mine & the public Thanks. Support your Charge
And let thy Rigour task me how it will
My hand shrinks not from its determined Office,
Nor stays the stroke for one suspending Sigh.
(They bow & the Card. retires)
Stay Egmont, turn—Ah no, tis past, Adieu!

(She parts after looking tenderly at Egmont as he retires)—