"All that I have, his bounteous hand bestow'd; Love, rage, despair-and yet I will be master- "Thus gloomy ghosts, where'er the breaking morn "Gives notice of the cheerful sun's return, "Fade at the light, with horror stand oppress'd, "And shrink before the purple dawning east ; "Swift with the fleeting shades they wing their way, "And dread the brightness of the rising day." [Exeunt Guilford and Pembroke. Enter Lady JANE, reading. L. J. Gray. "'Tis false! The thinking soul is somewhat more "Than symmetry of atoms well dispos'd, G Enter GUILFORD. Guil. What read'st thou there, my queen? With such an easy, careless, calm indifference, Mean in itself, and only to be worn In honour of the giver. Guil. Shall thy soul Still scorn the world, still fly the joys that court "Were objects worthy to employ her faculties? "L. J. Gray. Bate but thy truth, what is there here below "Deserves the least regard? Is it not time L. J. Gray. The faithless counsellors They, who with zealous tongues, and hands uplifted, Vent their lewd execrations on my name, Proclaim me trait'ress now, and to the scaffold Guil. The changeling villains! That pray for slavery, fight for their bonds, But wherefore do I loiter tamely here? Give me my arms: I will preserve my country, Thine and religion's, thine and England's cause. And wo't thou take from me the only joy, The last defence is left me here below? Think not thy arm can stem the driving torrent, And if it be in valour to defend us, His sword, that long has known the way to conquest, Shall be our surest safety. Enter the Duke of SUFFOLK. Suff. Oh, my children! L. J. Gray. Alas! what means my father? Suff. Oh, my son, Thy father, great Northumberland, on whom Our dearest hopes were built Guil. Ha! What of him? Suff. Is lost! betray'd! His army, onward as he march'd, shrunk from him, "Like falling hail thick strewn upon the ground, L. J. Gray. Then there's an end of greatness: the vain dream Of empire, and a crown that danc'd before me, "The gaudy masque, tedious, and nothing meaning,” Is vanish'd all at once- -Why, fare it well. Guil. And canst thou bear this sudden turn of fate, With such unshaken temper? L. J. Gray. For myself, If I could form a wish for Heav'n to grant, It should have been, to rid me of this crown. And thou, o'er-ruling, great, all-knowing Power! Thou, who discern'st our thoughts, who see'st 'em rising And forming in the soul! Oh, judge me, thou, Which quits me of the vast unequal task. Enter the Duchess of SUFFOLK. Duch. Suff. Nay, keep that posture still, and let us join, Fix all our knees by thine, lift up our hands, And seek for help and pity from above, For earth and faithless man will give us none. L. J. Gray. What is the worst our cruel fate ordains us? Duch. Suff. Curs'd be my fatal counsels, curs'd my tongue, That pleaded for thy ruin, and persuaded Thy guiltless feet to tread the paths of greatness! L. J. Gray. Oh, my mother! Shou'd I not bear a portion in your sorrows? Duch. Suff. Alas, thou hast thy own, a double portion. Mary is come, and the revolting Londoners, |