Let us contend, as friends and brave men ought, That he who wins the fair-one to his arms, His own heart and the world may all condemn him. [Exit Pem. Guil. How cross the ways of life lie! While we think We travel on direct in one high road, And have our journey's end oppos'd in view, And tell the doom reserv'd for me and Pembroke ? "There is but one end certain, that is -Death: "Yet ev❜n that certainty is still uncertain. "But know not which that one is." "Tis in vain, This blind divining; let me think no more on't : And see the mistress of our fate appear! Enter Lady JANE GRAY. Attendants. Hail, princely maid! who with auspicious beauty Lift'st up thy sacred beams upon the land, To bid the gloom look gay, dispel our horrors, L. J. Gray. Yes, Guilford; well dost thou compare my presence To the faint comfort of the waining moon: Like her cold orb, a cheerless gleam I bring: "Silence and heaviness of heart, with dews "To dress the face of nature all in tears." But say, how fares the king? Guil. He lives as yet, But ev'ry moment cuts away a hope, L. J. Gray." Descend ye choirs of angels to re- "Tune your melodious harps to some high strain, "And waft him upwards with a song of triumph; "A purer soul, and one more like yourselves, "Ne'er enter'd at the golden gates of bliss." Oh, Guilford! What remains for wretched England, When he, our guardian angel, shall forsake us? "For whose dear sake Heav'n spar'd a guilty land, "And scatter'd not its plagues while Edward reign'd. Guil. I own my heart bleeds inward at the thought, "And rising horrors crowd the op'ning scene." And yet, forgive me, thou, my native country, Thou land of liberty, thou nurse of heroes, Forgive me, if, in spite of all thy dangers, New springs of pleasure flow within my bosom, When thus 'tis giv'n me to behold those eyes, Thus gaze and wonder," how excelling nature "Can give each day new patterns of her skill, "And yet at once surpass 'em." L. J. Gray. Oh, vain flattery! "Harsh and ill-sounding ever to my ear; “But on a day like this, the raven's note "Strikes on my sense more sweetly." But, no more, "I charge thee touch the ungrateful theme no more;" Lead me, to pay my duty to the king, To wet his pale cold hand with these last tears, 'Tis all the humble joy that Guilford asks. L. J. Gray. Still wilt thou frame thy speech to this vain purpose, "When the wan king of terrors stalks before us,”. When universal ruin gathers round, And no escape is left us? Are we not Like wretches in a storm, whom ev'ry moment The greedy deep is gaping to devour ? "Around us see the pale despairing crew "Wring their sad hands, and give their labour o'er;" The hope of life has ev'ry heart forsook, And horror sits on each distracted look; "One solemn thought of death does all employ, "And cancels, like a dream, delight and joy; "One sorrow streams from all their weeping eyes, "And one consenting voice for mercy cries;" Trembling, they dread just Heav'n's avenging power, Mourn their past lives, and wait the fatal hour. [Exeunt. ACT II. SCENE 1. Continues. Enter the Duke of NORTHUMBERLAND, and the Duke of SUFFOLK. Northumberland. YET then be cheer'd my heart, amidst thy mourning. Suff. I know not what my secret soul presages, "That we had waited some more blessed time, "Some better day with happier omens hallow'd, "For love to kindle up his holy flame. "But you, my noble brother, wou'd prevail, "And I have yielded to you.” North. Doubt not any thing; Nor hold the hour unlucky, that good heav'n, Suff. In that I trust. Good angels be our guard, And make my fears prove vain. But see! My wife! With her, your son, the gen'rous Guilford comes; She has inform'd him of our present purpose. Enter the Duchess of SUFFOLK, and Lord GUILFORD. And pay my vow'd obedience at your feet. Duch. Suff. Yes, noble youth, I share in all thy "In all the joys which this sad day can give. |