Mary Tudor An Historical Drama |
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Scene IV.
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 | Mary Tudor |  |
Scene IV.
A Street in London.Enter Bedingfield and Jerningham.
JERNINGHAM.
The Queen hath won her own: the kingdom peace.
May both wax prosperous! but to that end
Means must be found agreeable to Heaven.
I do not think her Grace assured in health.
What if she die—die childless?
BEDINGFIELD.
Heresy
Will triumph with reaction terrible.
Not Jane, nor yet Elizabeth will spare.
JERNINGHAM.
She should be urged to marry.
79
Whom?
JERNINGHAM.
I know not.
Some English gentleman—say Exeter,
From prisoned boyhood grown to gracious manhood.
BEDINGFIELD.
Her father slew his father. Blood cements not
Fabricks of love. Besides, captivity
Hath left him scant of knowledge.
JERNINGHAM.
Comely he is,
And stately in his presence—gracefully bows—
Talks nothings airily—is affable—
He lacks not what shall please a woman's eye.
BEDINGFIELD.
A Queen who loves her people, seeks in wedlock,
A counsellor to guide her troubled hours.
Will Exeter be such?
JERNINGHAM.
There is a man,
Whose royalty of soul outstrips his birth—
Whose youthful graces pleased her maiden fancy
Long years agone; ere yet an honest frankness
Drove him, a fugitive, from Henry's hate—
80
BEDINGFIELD.
The Cardinal?
Alas that one word clips the wings of hope!
JERNINGHAM.
No. The last vow, which bars him from the world,
He hath not ta'en. Pole would adorn a crown.
BEDINGFIELD.
Religion fills his heart. No room for love!
Courtenaye is near; and opportunity
Feathers Love's arrow. She will take the wound.
JERNINGHAM.
Has ta'en—if I see rightly. Marked you not
Her mien—her eyes—her smiles—her gracious words—
When first they met.
BEDINGFIELD.
Yes—he will be her choice.
JERNINGHAM.
What if he choose not her? Have you not marked
His eyes are on the Princess, while his tongue
Waits on the Queen.
BEDINGFIELD.
Thou hast the trick of courts.
The double dealer still sees double meanings.
81
May all end well! But much my mind misgives me.
Equals in age, Time, as it flies, endears;
But pairs ill-matched, dispart with parting years.
| Mary Tudor | |