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And fix it on his own. I know he holds
My faithless Hastings adverse to his hopes,
And much devoted to the orphan king;
On that I build: this paper meets his doubts,
And marks my hated rival as the cause
Of Hasting's zeal for his dead master's sons.
Oh, jealousy! thou bane of pleasing friendship,
"Thou worst invader of our tender bosoms,"
How does thy rancour poison all our softness,
And turn our gentle natures into bitterness?
See where she comes! once my heart's dearest bless-

ing,

Now my chang'd eyes are blasted with her beauty, Loath that known face, and sicken to behold her.

Enter JANE SHORE.

"J. Sh. Now whither shall I fly to find relief? "What charitable hand will aid me now?

"Will stay my falling steps, support my ruins, "And heal my wounded mind with balmy comfort?" Oh, my Alicia!

Alic. What new grief is this

What unforeseen misfortune has surpriz'd thee,

That racks thy tender heart thus ?

J. Sh. Oh, Dumont!

Alic. Say what of him?

J. Sh. That friendly, honest man,

Whom Belmour brought of late to

my assistance,

On whose kind care, whose diligence and faith,

My surest trust was built, this very morn
Was seiz'd on by the cruel hand of power,

Forc'd from my house, and born away to prison.
Alic. To prison, said you! Can you guess the cause?
J. Sh. Too well, I fear. His bold defence of me
Has drawn the vengeance of Lord Hastings on him.
Alic. Lord Hastings! Ha!

J. Sh. Some fitter time must tell thee

The tale of my hard hap. Upon the present
Hang all my poor, my last remaining hopes.
Within this paper is my suit contain'd;
Here as the princely Gloster passes forth,
I wait to give it on my humble knees,
And move him for redress.

[She gives the paper to Alicia, who opens and
seems to read it.

Alic. [Aside.] Now for a wile,

To sting my thoughtless rival to the heart; To blast her fatal beauties, and divide her For ever from my perjur'd Hastings' eyes: "The wanderer may then look back to me, "And turn to his forsaken home again;" Their fashions are the same, it cannot fail.

[Pulling out the other paper. J. Sh. But see the great protector comes this way, "Attended by a train of waiting courtiers."

Give me the paper, friend.

Alic. [Aside.] For love and vengeance!

[She gives her the other paper.

Ε

Enter the Duke of GLOSTER, Sir RICHARD RATCLIFFE, CATESBY, Courtiers, and other Attendants.

J. Sh. [Kneeling.] Oh, noble Gloster, turn thy gra

cious eye,

Incline thy pitying ear to my complaint,

A poor, undone, forsaken, helpless woman,
Intreats a little bread for charity,

To feed her wants, and save her life from perishing.
Glost. Arise, fair dame, and dry your wat'ry eyes.
[Receiving the paper, and raising her.
Beshrew me, but 'twere pity of his heart
That could refuse a boon to such a suitress.
Y'have got a noble friend to be your
advocate;

A worthy and right gentle lord he is,

And to his trust most true. This present Now
Some matters of the state detain our leisure;
Those once dispatch'd, we'll call for you anon,
And give your griefs redress. Go to! be comforted.
J. Sh. Good Heav'ns repay your highness for this

pity,

And show'r down blessings on your princely head.

Come, my Alicia, reach thy friendly arm,

And help me to support this feeble frame,

That nodding totters with oppressive woe,

And sinks beneath its load. [Exeunt J. Sh. and Alic. Glost. Now by my holidame!

Heavy of heart she seems, and sore afflicted.

But thus it is when rude calamity

Lays its strong gripe upon these mincing minions;

The dainty gew-gaw forms dissolve at once,
And shiver at the shock. What says her paper?

[Seeming to read. Ha! what is this? Come nearer, Ratcliffe! Catesby ! Mark the contents, and then divine the meaning.

[He reads.

Wonder not, princely Gloster, at the notice
This paper brings you from a friend unknown;
Lord Hastings is inclin'd to call you master,
And kneel to Richard, as to England's king ;
But Shore's bewitching wife misleads his heart,
And draws his service, to King Edward's sons:
Drive her away, you break the charm that holds him,
And he, and all his powers, attend you.

Rat. 'Tis wonderful!

Cat. The means by which it came

Yet stranger too!

Glost. You saw it given, but now.
Rat. She could not know the purport.
Glost. No, 'tis plain-

She knows it not, it levels at her life;

Should she presume to prate of such high matters,

The meddling harlot, dear she should abide it.
Cat. What hand soe'er it comes from, be assur'd,
It means your highness well-

Glost Upon the instant,

Lord Hastings will be hear; this morn I mean
To prove him to the quick; then if he flinch,
No more but this-away with him at once,

He must be mine or nothing—But he comes!
Draw nearer this way, and observe me well.

Enter Lord HASTINGS.

[They whisper.

Hast. This foolish woman hangs about my heart, Lingers and wanders in my fancy still;

This coyness is put on, 'tis art and cunning,
And worn to urge desire- -I must possess her.
The groom, who lift his saucy hand against me,
E'er this, is humbled, and repents his daring.
Perhaps, ev'n she may profit by th' example,
And teach her beauty not to scorn my pow'r.
Glost. This do, and wait me e'er the council sits.
[Exeunt Rat. and Cat.
My lord, y'are well encountred; here has been
A fair petitioner this morning with us;
Believe me, she has won me much to pity her:
Alas! her gentle nature was not made

To buffet with adversity. I told her
How worthily her cause you had befriended;
How much for your good sake we meant to do,
That you had spoke, and all things should be well.
Hast. Your highness binds me ever to your service.
Glost. You know your friendship is most potent
with us,

And shares our power. But of this enough,
For we have other matters for your ear;
The state is out of tune: distracting fears,

And jealous doubts, jar in our public counsels;

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