"And melts that frost of death which hung about me." But haste! Inform my daughter of our pleasure: "Let thy tongue put on all its pleasing eloquence. "Instruct thy love to speak of comfort to her, "To sooth her griefs, and cheer the mourning maid." North. All desolate and drown'd in flowing tears, By Edward's bed the pious princess sits; "Fast from her lifted eyes the pearly drops "Fall trickling o'er her cheek, while holy ardour "And fervent zeal pour forth her lab'ring soul;" And ev'ry sigh is wing'd with pray'rs so potent, As strive with Heav'n to save her dying lord. Duch. Suff. From the first early days of infant life, Beneath one common parent's care they liv'd. "Of all his royal blood was still the dearest ; "They sung, and danc'd, and sat, and walk'd together; "Nay, in the graver business of his youth, "When books and learning call'd him from his sports, "Ev'n there the princely maid was his companion. "She left the shining court to share his toil, "To turn with him the grave historian's page, Enter Lady JANE GRAY, weeping. L. J. Gray. Wo't thou not break, my heart!- Guil. Oh! speak! Duch. Suff. How fares the king? North. Say, Is he dead? L. J. Gray. The saints and angels have him. He seem'd a little cheer'd, "just as you enter’d—” duty, He rais'd his feeble eyes, and faintly smiling, "To speak a few short words to thee, and die.” "Protect this land from bloody men and idols, "Save my poor people from the yoke of Rome, He breath'd his innocent and faithful soul "Such as the brightest angels wear, be on him: duty grave. Our present Enjoins to see his last commands obey'd. [To the duchess of Suffolk. Your princely daughter of our resolution ; Our common interest in that happy tie, Demands our swiftest care to see it finish'd. Duch. Suff. My lord, you have determined well. Be it your task to speak at large our purpose. [Exeunt Duke and Duchess of Suffolk, and duke of Guil. Wo't thou not spare a moment from thy sorrows. "And bid these bubbling streams forbear to flow? "Wo't thou not give one interval to joy;" One little pause, while humbly I unfold The happiest tale my tongue was ever blest with? sense Is dead to joy; but I will hear thee, Guilford, Though eloquence divine attend thy speaking, "Though ev'ry muse and ev'ry grace do crown thee;" Forgive me, if I cannot better answer, Than weeping -thus, and thus Guil. If I offend thee, Let me be dumb for ever: "Let not life L. J. Gray. How! Guilford! on this night? Yet if thou art resolv'd to cross my fate, If this my utmost wish shall give thee pain, ES Now rather let the stroke of death fall on me, And stretch me out a lifeless corpse before thee: "Let me be swept away with things forgotten, "Be huddled up in some obscure blind grave, "Ere thou shouldst say my love has made thee wretched, "Or drop one single tear for Guilford's sake." L. J. Gray. Alas! I have too much of death already, And want not thine to furnish out new horror. "Oh! dreadful thought, if thou wert dead indeed, "What hope were left me then? Yes, I will own, "Spite of the blush that burns my maiden cheek, "My heart has fondly lean'd towards thee long : "Thy sweetness, virtue, and unblemish'd youth, "Have won a place for thee within my bosom : "And if my eyes look coldly on thee now, "And shun thy love on this disastrous day, "It is because I would not deal so hardly, "To give thee sighs for all thy faithful vows, "And pay thy tenderness with nought but tears. "And yet 'tis all I have. "Guil. I ask no more;" Let me but call thee mine, confirm that hope, To charm the doubts which vex my anxious soul; For all the rest, do thou allot it for me, And at thy pleasure portion out my blessings. "My eyes shall learn to smile or weep from thine, "Nor will I think of joy while thou art sad. "Nay, couldst thou be so cruel to command it, D |