Marry, at last, the testy gentleman Was almost mov'd to bid us bold defiance; Rat. Ill does it thus befall. I could have wish'd This lord had stood with us. "His friends are wealthy; "Thereto, his own possessions large and mighty; "The vassals and dependants on his power "Firm in adherence, ready, bold, and many;" His name had been of vantage to your highness, And stood our present purpose much in stead. Glost. This wayward and perverse declining from us, Has warranted at full the friendly notice, Which we this morn receiv'd. I hold it certain, Rat. Let her instruct her tongue to bear your mes sage; Teach every grace to smile in your behalf, unsay, Receive the yoke, and yield exact obedience. Glost. Your counsel likes me well, it shall be fol. low'd. She waits without, attending on her suit. Go, call her in, and leave us here alone. [Exeunt Ratcliffe and Catesby. How poor a thing is he, how worthy scorn, "The sport of every whiffling blast that blows? Enter JANE SHORE. Oh! you are come most fitly. We have ponder'd We've ta'en you to our favour; our protection Shall stand between, and shield you from mishap. J. Sh. The blessings of a heart with anguish broken, And rescu'd from despair, attend your highness. Alas! my gracious lord, what have I done To kindle such relentless wrath againt me? "If in the days of all my past offences, "When most my heart was lifted with delight, "If I withheld my morsel from the hungry, "Forgot the widow's want, and orphan's cry; "If I have known a good I have not shar'd, "Nor call'd the poor to take his portion with me, "Let my worst enemies stand forth, and now "Deny the succour, which I gave not then." Glost. Marry there are, tho' I believe them not, Who say you meddle in affairs of state : That you presume to prattle, like a busy-body, Give your advice, and teach the lords o' th' council What fits the order of the common-weal. J. Sh. Oh, that the busy world, at least in this, Would take example from a wretch like me ↑ None then would waste their hours in foreign thoughts, Forget themselves, and what concerns their peace, "To tread the mazes of fantastic falsehood, "To haunt their idle sounds and flying tales, "Thro' all the giddy, noisy courts of rumour; "Malicious slander never would have leisure" To search, with prying eyes, for faults abroad, If all, like me, consider'd their own hearts, And wept the sorrows which they found at home. Glost. Go to! I know your pow'r; and tho' I trust not To ev'ry breath of fame, I'm not to learn But give the realm much worthy cause to thank you J. Sh. Oh where or how-Can my unworthy hand Become an instrument of good to any ? The state, for many high and potent reasons, Glost. Therefore have resolv'd To set aside their unavailing infancy, J. Sh. Does he? Does Hastings? F J. Sh. Reward him for the noble deed, just Heav'ns: For this one action, guard him and distinguish him With signal mercies, and with great deliverance, Save him from wrong, adversity, and shame. Let never fading honours flourish round him, And consecrate his name, ev'n to time's end: "Let him know nothing else but good on earth, "And everlasting blessedness hereafter." Glost. How now ! J. Sh. The poor, forsaken, royal little ones! Glost. You're passing rich in this same heav'nly speech, And spend it at your pleasure. Nay, but mark me! J. Sh. No, tho' the royal Edward has undone me, He was my king, my gracious master still; "He lov'd me too, tho' 'twas a guilty flame, "And fatal to my peace, yet still he lov❜d me; "With fondness, and with tenderness he doated, "Dwelt in my eyes, and liv'd but in my smiles :" |