University of Virginia Library

Scene III.

—Another Gallery in Whitehall.
Enter Cromwell.
Crom.
Methought I heard her here.—No!—if she win
To Fairfax!—he must die, as Ahab erst
Or Rehoboam, or as that great heathen
Whom Brutus loved and slew. None ever called
Brutus a murderer! And Charles had trial—
'Twas more than Cæsar had!—free open trial,
If he had pleaded. But the Eternal Wrath
Stiffened him in his pride. It was ordained,
And I but an impassive instrument
In the Almighty hand, an arrow chosen
From out the sheaf. If I should reign hereafter
Men shall not call me bloody.—Hark! the bell!
No—all is hush as midnight.—I shall be
Tenderer of English lives. Have they forgot
To sound the bell? He must be dead.

Queen.
(without)
Lord Fairfax!

Crom.
The Queen! the Queen!

Enter the Queen.
Queen.
They told me he was here—
I see him not,—but I have wept me blind;—
And then that axe, that keen bright edgy axe,
Which flashed across my eyeballs, blinding me
More than a sea of tears.—Here's one!—Oh fly
If thou be man, and bid the headsman stay
His blow for one short hour, one little hour,
Till I have found Lord Fairfax! Thou shalt have
Gold, mines of gold! Oh save him! Save the King!

Crom.
Peace! peace! Have comfort!

Queen.
Comfort! and he dies,
They murder him; the axe falls on his neck;
The blood comes plashing;—Comfort!

Enter Lady Fairfax.
Lady F.
Out alas!
I can hear nought of Fairfax, royal Madam!—
Cromwell, the Master-murderer!

Queen.
Oh forgive her!
She knows not what she says. If thou be Cromwell
Thou hast the power to rescue: See I kneel;
I kiss thy feet. Oh save him! Take the crown;
Take all but his dear life! Oh save him, save him!
And I will be thy slave!—I, a born Princess,
I, a crowned Queen, will be thy slave.

Crom.
Arise!
My Lady Fairfax lead this frantic woman
To where her children bide.

Queen.
Thou wilt not make
My children fatherless? Oh mercy! Mercy!
I have a girl, a weeping innocent girl,
That never learnt to smile, and she shall be
Thy handmaid; she shall tend thy daughters. I,
That was so proud, offer my fairest child
To be thy bondwoman.

Crom.
Raise her! Undo
These clasping hands. I marvel, Lady Fairfax,
Thou canst endure to see a creature kneel
To one create.

Lady F.
Out on thee, hypocrite!
Where lags my husband?

Queen.
Save him, save him, Cromwell!

Crom.
Woman arise! Will this long agony
Endure forever?
Enter Ireton on one side, followed by Fairfax and Harrison on the other.
Is he dead?

Fair.
What means
This piercing outcry?

Queen.
Fairfax! He is saved!
He is saved!

Ire.
The bell! the Abbey bell! Hark!

Crom.
There
The will of Heaven spake. The King is dead.

Fair.
Look to the Queen. Cromwell, this bloody work
Is thine.

Crom.
This work is mine. For yon sad dame,
She shall away to France. This deed is mine,
And I will answer it. The Commonwealth
Is firmly 'stablished Ireton. Harrison,
The Saints shall rule in Israel. My Lord General,
The army is thine own, and I a soldier,
A lowly follower in the cause. This deed
Is mine.—