University of Virginia Library

Scene II.

—A Gallery leading to the King's Prison.
The Queen, Lady Fairfax, a Centinel.
Lady Fairfax.
Another guard! The pass-word that hath served us
Through court, and gate, and hall, will fail us here;
This is the immediate prison of the King.
Say, Royal Madam, had we best accost
Yon centinel?

Queen.
The prison of the King!
And I have lived to hear those words that pierce
My heart like daggers spoken familiarly
As she would say good day or fare ye well!
The prison of the King! England hath been
His prison—but this one leads—My Lady Fairfax
Command him to admit us.

Lady F.
He draws nigh.

Centinel.
Fair mistresses how won ye here? This gallery
Leads to the prisoner's chambers.

Lady F.
We would see him.
Admit us.

Cent.
Be ye frenetic? know ye not
That, save the Lords Commissioners none dare
Approach the prisoner?

Queen.
Say the King.

Cent.
Who art thou
That speak'st with such command?

Lady F.
Know'st thou not me?
Thy General's wife.

Cent.
I am of Cromwell's soldiers,
And own no woman's rule.

Queen.
Admit us, slave!
I am the Queen, thy Queen, the Queen of England!
Make way.

Cent.
Stand back I say.

Queen.
I am a wife
Seeking her husband in his prison. Soldier,
If thou have a man's heart!

Lady F.
Here's money for thee—
Admit her.

Cent.
I have fought in twenty fields
A veteran of the cause. Put up your gold.
And, madam, please you home!

Queen.
Here is my home,—
My husband's prison gate. I'll live here, die here,
Here will I watch without as he within,
Till death, the great deliverer comes to free
The captives. This shall be my grave. Charles! Charles!

Lady F.
Peace! Peace!

Queen.
I thought I heard him. Charles! my Charles!
My King! My Husband!

Cent.
There are many chambers
Between thee and the King. I prythee hence!

Lady F.
Madam, take patience.

Queen.
Charles! He must be dead
Already that he answers not.

Enter Cromwell.
Crom.
What means
This clamorous din of female tongues so near
The prison of the King? The Lady Fairfax!

Queen.
Cromwell!

Crom.
The Queen!

Queen.
Cromwell I hated thee,
Yet open yonder door, and I'll pray for thee
All my life long. Yon churlish centinel—

Crom.
Did but his duty. Lead her to her husband.

Queen.
Be quick! Be quick!

Crom.
The word is Naseby.

Queen.
On!
Be quick. Be quick!

(Exeunt Queen and Centinel)
Crom.
Now my good Lady Fairfax,
Right well beseemeth christian charity
To succour them that suffer; howsoe'er
Midst strict professors it may breed some marvel
That one so famed for rigid sanctity,
The gravest matron of the land should herd
With yonder woman.

Lady F.
With the Queen?

Crom.
A papist;
A rank Idolater; a mumming masquer;
A troller of lewd songs; a wanton dancer;
A vain upholder of that strength of Satan
The playhouse. They that be so eminent
As thou will find maligners; 'tis the curse
Of our poor fallen nature. Be not seen
Hovering about these walls. I speak in love
Of the Lord General.

Lady F.
The Lord General,
And many a godly minister, and I,
Weak woman though I be, mourn that these walls
Should come between the King and people. Peace
Had been a holier bond.

Crom.
Peace! that our General
The good Lord Fairfax, Captain of the guard,
Should tend the popish ladies to their mass;—
A high promotion! Peace! that every dungeon
May swarm with pious ministers;—forget they
Their old oppressions? Peace! that the grave matron
The Lady Fairfax may with troubled thoughts
Sit witness of lewd revels; mock and scorn
Of the light dames of the chamber, and the lordlings
Their gallants;—popinjays who scoff and jeer
At the staid solemn port, the decent coif,
The modest kerchief. I have heard such jeers
When yon gay Queen hath laughed.

Lady F.
Laughed! Hath she dared!
Vain minion!

Crom.
And to see thee with her! Thou
That shouldst have been a Jael in this land,
A Deborah, a Judith!

Lady F.
Nay, we live
Under a milder law. Whate'er their crimes
Urge not this bloody trial.

Crom.
Whoso saith
That the trial shall be bloody? He who reads
All hearts, He only knows how my soul yearns
Toward yonder pair. I seek them now, a friend,
With friendly proffers. As we reach thy coach
I'll tell thee more. Come, madam!

(Exeunt.)