Jane Shore Part 5

_Glos._ This do, and wait me e'er the council sits.

[_exeunt Ratcliffe and Catesby._ My lord, you're well encounter'd; here has been A fair pet.i.tioner 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.

_Lord H._ Your highness binds me ever to your service.

_Glos._ 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 councils; Amidst the wealthy city, murmurs rise, Lewd railings, and reproach on those that rule, With open scorn of government; hence credit, And public trust 'twixt man and man, are broke.

The golden streams of commerce are withheld, Which fed the wants of needy hinds and artizans, Who therefore curse the great, and threat rebellion.

_Lord H._ The resty knaves are over-run with ease, As plenty ever is the nurse of faction; If in good days, like these, the headstrong herd Grow madly wanton and repine, it is Because the reins of power are held too slack, And reverend authority of late Has worn a face of mercy more than justice.

_Glos._ Beshrew my heart! but you have well divin'd The source of these disorders. Who can wonder If riot and misrule o'erturn the realm, When the crown sits upon a baby brow?

Plainly to speak, hence comes the gen'ral cry, And sum of all complaint: 'twill ne'er be well With England (thus they talk) while children govern.

_Lord H._ 'Tis true, the king is young: but what of that?

We feel no want of Edward's riper years, While Gloster's valour and most princely wisdom So well support our infant sov'reign's place, His youth's support, and guardian to his throne.

_Glos._ The council (much I'm bound to thank 'em for't) Have plac'd a pageant sceptre in my hand, Barren of pow'r, and subject to controul; Scorn'd by my foes, and useless to my friends.

Oh, worthy lord! were mine the rule indeed, I think I should not suffer rank offence At large to lord it in the commonweal; Nor would the realm be rent by discord thus, Thus fear and doubt, betwixt disputed t.i.tles.

_Lord H._ Of this I am to learn; as not supposing A doubt like this----

_Glos._ Ay, marry, but there is---- And that of much concern. Have you not heard How, on a late occasion, doctor Shaw Has mov'd the people much about the lawfulness Of Edward's issue? By right grave authority Of learning and religion, plainly proving, A b.a.s.t.a.r.d scion never should be grafted Upon a royal stock; from thence at full Discoursing on my brother's former contract To lady Elizabeth Lucy, long before His jolly match with that same buxom widow, The queen he left behind him----

_Lord H._ Ill befall Such meddling priests, who kindle up confusion, And vex the quiet world with their vain scruples!

By heav'n, 'tis done in perfect spite to peace.

Did not the king Our royal master, Edward, in concurrence With his estates a.s.sembled, well determine What course the sov'reign rule should take henceforward?

When shall the deadly hate of faction cease, When shall our long-divided land have rest, If every peevish, moody, malecontent, Shall set the senseless rabble in an uproar, Fright them with dangers, and perplex their brains Each day with some fantastic giddy change?

_Glos._ What if some patriot, for the public good, Should vary from your scheme, new-mould the state?

_Lord H._ Curse on the innovating hand attempts it!

Remember him, the villain, righteous heaven, In thy great day of vengeance! Blast the traitor And his pernicious counsels; who, for wealth, For pow'r, the pride of greatness, or revenge, Would plunge his native land in civil wars!

_Glos._ You go too far, my lord.

_Lord H._ Your highness' pardon---- Have we so soon forgot those days of ruin, When York and Lancaster drew forth their battles; When, like a matron butcher'd by her sons, Our groaning country bled at every vein; When murders, rapes, and ma.s.sacres, prevail'd; When churches, palaces, and cities, blaz'd; When insolence and barbarism triumph'd, And swept away distinction: peasants trod Upon the necks of n.o.bles: low were laid The reverend crosier and the holy mitre, And desolation cover'd all the land?

Who can remember this, and not, like me, Here vow to sheath a dagger in his heart, Whose d.a.m.n'd ambition would renew those horrors, And set once more that scene of blood before us?

_Glos._ How now! so hot!

_Lord H._ So brave, and so resolv'd.

_Glos._ Is then our friendship of so little moment, That you could arm your hand against my life?

_Lord H._ I hope your highness does not think I mean it; No, heav'n forfend that e'er your princely person Should come within the scope of my resentment.

_Glos._ O n.o.ble Hastings! nay, I must embrace you; By holy Paul, you're a right honest man! [_embraces him._ The time is full of danger and distrust, And warns us to be wary. Hold me not Too apt for jealousy and light surmise, If, when I meant to lodge you next my heart, I put your truth to trial. Keep your loyalty, And live your king and country's best support: For me, I ask no more than honour gives, To think me yours, and rank me with your friends. [_exit._

_Lord H._ I am not read, Nor skill'd and practis'd, in the arts of greatness, To kindle thus, and give a scope to pa.s.sion.

The duke is surely n.o.ble; but he touch'd me Ev'n on the tend'rest point; the master-string That makes most harmony or discord to me.

I own the glorious subject fires my breast, And my soul's darling pa.s.sion stands confess'd; Beyond or love's or friendship's sacred band, Beyond myself, I prize my native land: On this foundation would I build my fame, And emulate the Greek and Roman name; Think England's peace bought cheaply with my blood, And die with pleasure for my country's good. [_exit._

ACT THE FOURTH.

SCENE I. THE SAME.

_Enter Duke of Gloster, Ratcliffe, and Catesby._

_Glos._ This was the sum of all: that he would brook No alteration in the present state.

Marry, at last, the testy gentleman Was almost mov'd to bid us bold defiance: But there I dropp'd the argument, and, changing The first design and purport of my speech, I prais'd his good affection to young Edward, And left him to believe my thoughts like his.

Proceed we then in this fore-mention'd matter, As nothing bound or trusting to his friendship.

_Sir R._ Ill does it thus befall. I could have wish'd This lord had stood with us.

His name had been of 'vantage to your highness, And stood our present purpose much in stead.

_Glos._ This wayward and perverse declining from us, Has warranted at full the friendly notice, Which we this morn receiv'd. I hold it certain, The puling, whining, harlot rules his reason, And prompts his zeal for Edward's b.a.s.t.a.r.d brood.

_Cates._ If she have such dominion o'er his heart, And turn it at her will, you rule her fate; And should, by inference and apt deduction, Be arbiter of his. Is not her bread, The very means immediate to her being, The bounty of your hand? Why does she live, If not to yield obedience to your pleasure, To speak, to act, to think, as you command!

_Sir R._ Let her instruct her tongue to bear your message; Teach every grace to smile in your behalf, And her deluded eyes to gloat for you; His ductile reason will be wound about, Be led and turn'd again, say and unsay, Receive the yoke, and yield exact obedience.

_Glos._ Your counsel likes me well, it shall be follow'd, She waits without, attending on her suit.

Go, call her in, and leave us here alone.

[_exeunt Ratcliffe and Catesby._ How poor a thing is he, how worthy scorn, Who leaves the guidance of imperial manhood To such a paltry piece of stuff as this is!

A moppet made of prettiness and pride; That oftener does her giddy fancies change, Than glittering dew-drops in the sun do colours-- Now, shame upon it! was our reason given For such a use; to be thus puff'd about?

Sore there is something more than witchcraft in them, That masters ev'n the wisest of us all.

_Enter Jane Sh.o.r.e._

Oh! you are come most fitly. We have ponder'd On this your grievance: and though some there are, Nay, and those great ones too, who would enforce The rigour of our power to afflict you, And bear a heavy hand; yet fear not you: We've ta'en you to our favour: our protection Shall stand between, and shield you from mishap.

_Jane S._ The blessings of a heart with anguish broken And rescu'd from despair, attend your highness.

Alas! my gracious lord, what have I done To kindle such relentless wrath against me?

_Glos._ Marry, there are, though I believe them not, Who say you meddle in affairs of state: That you presume to prattle like a busy-body, Give your advice, and teach the lords o' the council What fits the order of the commonweal.

_Jane S._ Oh, that the busy world, at least in this, Would take example from a wretch like me?

None then would waste their hours in foreign thoughts, Forget themselves, and what concerns their peace, To search, with prying eyes, for faults abroad, If all, like me, consider'd their own hearts, And wept their sorrows which they found at home.

_Glos._ Go to; I know your pow'r; and though I trust not To ev'ry breath of fame, I'm not to learn That Hastings is profess'd your loving va.s.sal.

But fair befall your beauty: use it wisely, And it may stand your fortunes much in stead, Give back your forfeit land with large increase, And place you high in safety and in honour.

Nay, I could point a way, the which pursuing, You shall not only bring yourself advantage, But give the realm much worthy cause to thank you.

_Jane S._ Oh! where or how--can my unworthy hand Become an instrument of good to any?

Instruct your lowly slave, and let me fly To yield obedience to your dread command.