"This Tower, so often stain'd with royal blood? "Here the fourth Edward's helpless sons were mur der'd, "And pious Henry fell by ruthless Gloster: "Is this the place allotted for rejoicing? "The bower adorn'd to keep our nuptial feast in ? "Methinks suspicion and distrust dwell here, "Staring with meagre forms thro' grated windows; "Death lurks within, and unrelenting punishment: "Without, grim danger, fear, and fiercest power "Sit on the rude old tow'rs, and Gothic battlements; "While horror overlooks the dreadful wall, "And frowns on all around. Guil. "In safety here, "The lords o' th' council have this morn decreed "To meet, and with united care support "The feeble tottering state." To thee, my princess, Whose royal veins are rich in Henry's blood, With one consent the noblest heads are bow'd: L. J. G. How! from me! Alas! my lord-But sure thou mean'st to mock me? Enter the Duchess of SUFFOLK. D. Suff. No more complain, indulge thy tears no more, Thy pious grief has giv❜n the grave its due : L. J. G. Amazement chills my veins! What says my mother? D. Suff. 'Tis Heav'n's decree; for our expiring When now, just struggling to his native skies, L. J. G. Cou'd Edward do this? cou'd the dying saint Bequeath his crown to me? Oh, fatal bounty! To me! But 'tis impossible! "We dream. "A thousand and a thousand bars oppose me, "Rise in my way, and intercept my passage. "Ev'n you, my gracious mother, what must you be, "Ere I can be a queen? D. Suff. "That, and that only, "Thy mother; fonder of that tender name, "To see thee rais'd, thou darling of my heart, L. 7. G. Support me, Guilford; Give me thy aid; stay thou my fainting soul, Enter SUFFOLK, NORTHUMBERLAND, Lords, and others of the Privy Council. North. Hail, sacred princess! sprung from ancient kings, Our England's dearest hope, undoubted offspring "By whose bright zeal, by whose victorious faith, Hail, royal Jane! behold, we bend our knees, [They kneel. The pledge of homage, and thy land's obedience; With humblest duty thus we kneel, and own thee Our liege, our sovereign lady, and our queen. L. J, G. Oh, rise! My father, rise! [To Suff. And you, my father, too! [To North. Rise all, nor cover me with this confusion. [They rise. What means this mock, this masquing shew of great ness? Why do you hang these pageant glories on me, And dress me up in honours not my own? North. The daughters of our late great master Henry, Stand both by law excluded from succession. To make all firm, And fix a power unquestion'd in your hand, Edward, by will, bequeath'd his crown to you: L. J. G. Are crowns and empire, Like some rich toy, a ring, or fancy'd gem," The pledge of parting friends? Can kings do thus, And give away a people for a legacy? North. Forgive me, princely lady, if my wonder Seizes each sense, each faculty of mind, To see the utmost wish the great can form, A crown, thus coldly met: A crown, which slighted, Of blood, unkindred to your royal house, cares? L. J. G. Where art thou now, thou partner of my [Turning to Guilford.. "Come to my aid, and help to bear this burthen: "Oh! save me from this sorrow, this misfortune, "Which in the shape of gorgeous greatness comes "To crown, and make a wretch of me for ever. Guil. "Thou weep'st, my queen, and hang'st thy drooping head, "Like nodding poppies, heavy with the rain, "That bow their weary necks and bend to earth.” And war against the world in thy defence. North. Oh!" stay this inauspicious stream of tears, "And cheer your people with one gracious smile. "Nor comes your fate in such a dreadful form "To bid you shun it. Turn those sacred eyes "On the bright prospect empire spreads before you." Methinks I see you seated on the throne; "Beneath your feet, the kingdom's great degrees "In bright confusion shine, mitres and coronets, "The various ermine, and the glowing purple ;" Assembled senates wait with awful dread, To 'firm your high commands, and make 'em fate. |