rage do thus ?

My child I have undone thee !

For these, her foes, leave me to deal with them. L. J. Gray. Oh, my mother!

Suss. The queen is on her entrance, and exShould I not bear a portion in thy sorrows ?

pects me: Duch. Suff. Alas! thou hast thy own, a double My lord, farewell. portion.

Gur. Farewell, right noble Sussex : Mary is come, and the revolting Londoners, Commend me to the queen’s grace; say her bidWhó beat the heavens with thy applauding name,

ding Now crowd to meet, and hail her as their queen. Shall be observed by her most lowly creature. Sussex is entered here, commands the Tower,

[Erit Sussex. Has placed his guards around, and this sad place, Lieutenant of the Tower, take hence your priSo late thy palace, is become our prison.

soners : I saw him bend his knee to cruel Gardiner, Be it your care to see them kept apart, Who, freed from his confinement, ran to meet That they may hold no commerce with each other. him,

L. J. Gray. That stroke was unexpected. Embraced and blest him with a hand of blood; Guil. Wilt thou part us ? Each hastening moment I expect them here, Gar. I hold no speech with heretics and traiTo seize and pass the doom of death upon us.

tors.-Guil. Ha! seized! Shalt thou be seized ? and Lieutenant, see my orders are obeyed. shall I stand,

[Erit GAR. And tamely see thee borne away to death? Guil. Inhuman, monstrous, unexampled cruThen blasted be my coward name for ever!

elty ! No, I will set myself to guard this spot,

Oh, tyrant! but the task becomes thee well; To which our narrow empire now is shrunk : Thy savage temper joys to do death's office; Here I will grow, the bulwark of my queen; To tear the sacred bands of love asunder, Nor shall the hand of violence profane thee, And part those bands which Heaven itself bath Until my breast have borne a thousand wounds,

joined. Till this torn mangled body sink at once,

Duch. Suff

. To let us waste the little rest of A heap of purple ruin, at thy feet.

life L. ). Gray. And could thy rash distracted Together, had been merciful.

Suff. Then it had not Draw thy vain sword against an armed multitude, Been done like Winchester. Only to have my poor heart split with horror, Guil. Thou stand'st unmoved; Tosee thee stabbed and butchered here before me? Calm temper sits upon thy beauteous brow; Oh, call thy better, nobler courage to thee, Thy eyes, that flowed so fast for Edward's loss, And let us meet this adverse fate with patience, Gaze unconcerned upon the ruin round thee ; Creet our insulting foes with equal tempers, As if thou hadst resolved to brave thy fate, With even brows, and souls secure of death; And triumph in the midst of desolation. Here stand unmoved, as once the Roman senate Ha! see, it swells; the liquid crystal rises, Received fierce Brennus, and the conquering It starts, in spite of thee, but I will catch it; Gauls,

Nor let the earth be wet with dew so rich. Till even the rude barbarians stood amazed

L. J. Gray. And dost thou think, my Guilford, At such superior virtue. Be thyself,

I can see For see, the trial comes !

My father, mother, and even thee my husband,

Torn from my side without a pang of sorrow? Enter Sussex, GARDINER, Officers and Soldiers.

How art thou thus unknowing in my heart ! Suss. Guards, execute your orders; seize the Words cannot tell thee what I feel. There is traitors :

An agonizing softness busy here, Here my commission ends. To you, my lord, That tugs the strings, that struggles to get loose,

(To GAR. And pour my soul in wailings out before thee. So our great mistress, royal Mary, bids,

Guil. Give way, and let the gushing torrent I leave the full disposal of these prisoners.

come ; To your wise care the pious queen commends Behold the tears we bring to swell the deluge, Her sacred self, her crown, and, what's yet more, Till the flood rise upon the guilty world, The holy Roman church; for whose dear safety, And make the ruin common. She wills your utmost diligence be shewn,

L. J. Gray. Guilford ! No! To bring rebellion to the bar of justice.

The time for tender thoughts and soft endearYet farther, to proclaim how much she trusts

ments In Winchester's deep thought, and well-tried Is fled away and gone: joy has forsaken us ; faith,

Our hearts have now another part to play; The seal attends to grace those reverend hands; They must be steeled with some uncominon forAnd when I next salute you, I must call you

titude, Chief minister and chancellor of England. That, fearless, we may tread the paths of horror;

Gar. Unnumbered blessings fall upou her head, And, in despite of fortune and our foes,
My ever-gracious lady! to remember

Even in the hour of death, be more than conWith such full bounty her old humble beadsman!

thee;

Guil. Oh, teach me! say,

what
energy

divine Guil. Fain would I cheer my heart with hopes Inspires thy softer sex, and tender years,

like these; With such unshaken courage !

But my sad thoughts turn ever to the grave; L. J. Gru. Truth and innocence ;

To that last dwelling, whither now we baste; A conscious knowledge rooted in my heart, Where the black shade shaH interpose betwist us, That to bave saved my country was my duty. And veil thee from these longing eres for ever. Yes, England, yes, my country, I would save L. J. Gray. 'Tis true, by those dark paths our

journey leads, But Heaven forbids, Heaven disallows my weak- And through the vale of death we pass to life. ness ;

But what is threre in death to blast our hopes? And to some dear selected hero's band

Behold the universal marks of nature, Reserves the glory of thy great deliverance. Where life still springs from death. To is the Lieut. My lord, my orders

sun Guil. See! we must-must part.

Dies every night, and every morn revives : L. J. Gray. Yet surely we shall meet again. The flowers, which winter's icy hand destroyed, Guil. Oh! Where?

Lift their fair heads, and live again in spring. L. J. Gray. If not on earth, among yon gold- Mark, with what hopes upon the furrowed plain, en stars,

The careful ploughman casts the pregnant grain; Where other suns arise on other earths,

There hid, as in a grave, a while it lies, And happier beings rest on happier seats : Till the revolving season bids it rise; Where, with a reach enlarged, our souls shall | Till nature's genial powers command a birth, view

And potent call it from the teeming earth : The great Creator's never-ceasing hand Then large increase the buried treasures yield, Pour forth new worlds to all eternity,

And with full harvest crown the pienteous field. And people the infinity of space.

(Exeunt severally with guards.

ACT V.

How goes the morning?
SCENE I.-Continues.

Lieut. Not yet four, my lord.

Gar. By ten they meet their fate. Yet one Enter GARDINER, as Lord Chancellor, and the

thing more. Lieutenant of the Tower. Servants with lights You know 'twas ordered that the lady Jane before them.

Should suffer here within the Tower. Take care Lieut. Good morning to your lordship; you No crowds may be let in, no maudlin gazers, rise early

To wet their handkerchiefs, and make report Gar. Nay, by the rood, there are too many

How like a saint she ended. Some fit number, sleepers;

And those, too, of our friends, were most conveSome must stir early, or the state shall suffer.

nient; Did you, as yesterday our mandate bade, But, above all, see that good guard be kept : Inform your prisoners, lady Jane and Guilford, You know the queen is lodged at present here; They were to die this day?

Take care that no disturbance reach her highpes. Lieut. My lord, I did.

And so good morning, good master lieutenant Gar. 'Tis well. But say, how did your mes

(Erit Lieutenakl. sage like them?

How now! What light comes here? Lieut. My lord, they met the summons with a Ser. So please your lordship, temper,

If I mistake not, 'tis the earl of Pembroke. That shewed a solemn, serious sense of death, Gar. Pembroke! 'Tis he: What calls him Mixed with a noble scorn of all its terrors.

forth thus early? In short, they heard me with the self-same pa- Somewhat he seems to bring of high import; tience,

Some flame uncommon kindles up his soul, With which they still have borne them in their And flashes forth impetuous at his eyes.

prison. In one request they both concurred; each begged

Enter PEMBROKE; a Page with a light before

him. To die before the other. Gar. That dispose

Good morrow, noble Pembroke! What importa As you think fitting. Lieut. The lord Guilford only

And strong necessity breaks on your slumbers, Implored another boon, and urged it warmly; And rears your youthful head from off your pilThat, ere he suffered, he might see his wife,

low And take a last farewell.

At this unwholesome hour; while yet the night Gar. That's not much;

Lasts in her latter course, and with her raw That grace may be allowed him. See you to it. And rheumy damps infests the dusky air ?

nate

Pem. Oh, reverend Winchester! my beating | Like that which waits the world, were universal.
heart

Pem. And can that sacred form, that angel's
Exults and labours with the joy it bears :

voice,
The news I bring shall bless the breaking morn. Which moved the hearts of a rude, ruthless crowd,
This coming day the sun shall rise more glorious Nay, moved even thine, now sue in vain for pity?
Than when his maiden beams first gilded o'er Gar. Alas! you look on ber with lover's eyes:
The rich immortal greens, the flow'ry plains, I hear and see through reasonable organs,
And fragrant bowers of paradise new-born! Where passion has no part. Come, come, my
Gar. What happiness is this?

lord,
Pem. 'Tis mercy, mercy,

You have too little of the statesman in you.
The mark of Heaven impressed on human kind; Pem. And you, my lord, too little of the church-
Mercy, that glads the world, deals joy around;

man.
Mercy, that smoothes the dreadful brow of power, is not the sacred purpose of our faith
And inakes dominion light; mercy, that : aves, Peace and good-will to man? The hallowed hand,
Binds up the broken heart, and heals despair. Ordained to bless, should know no stain of blood.
Mary, our royal, ever-gracious mistress,

'Tis true, I am not practised in your politics;
Has to my services and humblest prayers 'Twas your pernicious counsel led the queen
Granted the lives of Guilford and his wife; To break her promise with the men of Suffolk,
Full and free pardon!

To violate, what in a prince should be
Gar. Ha! What said you ? Pardon!

Sacred above the rest, her royal word.
But sure you cannot mean it; could not urge Gar. Yes, and I dare avow it: I advised her
The queen to such a rash and ill-timed grace? To break through all engagements made with
What! save the lives of those who wore her

heretics,
crown!

And keep no faith with such a miscreant crew. My lord ! 'tis most unweighed, pernicious coun- Pem. Where shall we seek for truth, whea sel,

even religion, And must not be complied with.

The priestly robe and mitred head, disclaim it?
Pem. Not complied with!

But thus bad men dishonour the best cause.
And who shall dare to bar her sacred pleasure, I tell thee, Winchester, doctrines like thine
And stop the stream of mercy?

Have stained our holy church with greater ing
Gar. That will l;

famy
Who will not see her gracious disposition Than all your eloquence can wipe away.
Drawn to destroy herself.

Hence 'tis, that those who differ from our faith,
Pem. Thy narrow soul

Brand us with breach of oaths, with persecution,
Knows not the godlike glory of forgiving : With tyranny o'er conscience, and proclaim
Nor can thy cold, thy ruthless heart conceive, Our scarlet prelates men that thirst for blood,
How large the power, how fixed the empire is, And Christian Rome more cruel than the pagan.
Which benefits confer on generous minds: Gar. Nay, if you rail, farewell. The queen
Goodness prevails upon the stubborn foes,

must be
And conquers more than even Cæsar's sword did. Better advised, than thus to cherish vipers,
Gar. These are romantic, light, vain-glorious Whose mortal stings are armed against her life.
dreams.

But while I hold the seal, no pardon passes Have you considered well upon the danger ? For heretics and traitors.

(Exit GAR. How dear to the fond many, and how popular Pem. 'Twas unlucky These are whom you would spare? Have you to meet and cross upon this froward priest : forgot,

But let me lose the thought on't ; let me haste, When at the bar, before the seat of judgment, Pour my glad tidings torth in Guilforui's bosom, This lady Jane, this beauteous traitress, stood, And pay him back the life his friendship saved. With what command she charmed the whole as

[Erit.
sembly?
With silent grief the mournful audience sat,

SCENE II.
Fixed on her face, and listening to her pleading The Lady Jane kneeling, as at her devotion ; a
Her very judges wrung their hands for pity;
Their old hearts melted in them as she spoke,

light, and a book placed on a table before her. And tears ran down upon their silver beards.

Enter Lieutenant of the Tower, Lord GUIL-
Even I myself was moved, and for a moment FORD, and one of Lady JANE's womer.
Felt wrath suspended in my doubtful breast, Lieut. Let me not press upon your lordship
And questioned if the voice I heard was mortal.

farther,
But when her tale was done, what loud applause, But wait your leisure in the anti-chamber.
Like bursts of thunder, shook the spacious hall ! Guil. I will not hold you long.
At last, when, sore constrained, the unwilling

[Erit Lieutenant,
lords

Wom. Softly, my lord !
Pronounced the fatal sentence on her life, For yet, behold she kneels. Before the night
A peal of groans ran through the crowded court, Had reached her middle space, she left her bed,
As every heart was broken, and the doom, And with a pleasing, sober cheerfulness,

As for her funeral, arrayed herself

But she, she too, in whom alone thou liv'st, In those sad solemn weeds. Since then, her knee The partner of thy heart, thy love is safe. Has known that posture only, and her eye, Guil. Millions of blessings wait her !-11as Or fixed upon the sacred page before her,

she-tell me, Or lifted, with her rising hopes, to heaven. Oh, has she spared my wife? Guil. See, with what zeal those holy hands are Pem. Both, both are pardoned. reared!

But haste, and do thou lead me to thy saint, Mark her vermilion lip, with fervour trembling; That I may cast myself beneath her feet, Her spotless bosom swells with sacred ardour, And beg her to accept this poor amends And burns with ecstasy and strong devotion; For all i've done against her-Thou fair escelHer supplication sweet, her faithful vows

lenee,

(Kneeling. Fragrant and pure, and grateful to high Heaven, Canst thou forgive the hostile hand, that armed Like incense from the golden censer rise; Against thy cause, and robbed thee of a crown? Or blessed angels minister unseen,

L. J. Gray. Oh, rise, my lord, and let une take Catch the soft sounds, and with alternate office,

your posture !
Spread their ambrosial wings, then mount with joy, Life and the world are hardly worth my care,
And waft them upwards to the throne of grace. But you have reconciled me to them both;
But she has ended, and comes forward.

Then let me pay my gratitude, and for
(Lady Jane rises, and comes towards the This free, this noble, unexpected mercy,
front of the stuge.

Thus low I bow to Heaven, the queen, and you, L. J. Gray. Ha!

Pem. To me! forbid it goodness! if I live, Art thou my Guilford? Wherefore dost thou come, Somewhat I will do shall deserve your thanks. To break the settled quiet of my soul?

All discord and remembrance of offence I meant to part without another pang,

Shall be clean blotted out; and for your fres And lay my weary head down full of peace.

dom, Guil. Forgive the fondness of my longing soul, Myself have underta'en to be your caution. That melts with tenderness, and leans toward thee, Hear me, you saints, and aid my pious purpose ! Though the imperious, dreadful voice of fate These that deserve so much, this wondrous par, Summon her hence, and warn her from the world. Let these be happy: every joy attend them; But if to see thy Guilford give thee pain, A fruitful bed, a chain of love unbroken, Would I had died, and never more beheld thee, A good old age, to see their children's children; Though my lamenting discontented ghost A holy death, and everlasting memory; Had wandered forth unblessed by those dear eyes, While I resign to them my share of happiness

, And wailed thy loss in death's eternal shades ! Contented still to want what they enjoy, L. J. Gray. My heart has ended every earth- And singly to be wretched !

ly care,
And offered
for thee and England,

Enter Lieutenant of the Tower.
And fixed its hopes upon a rock unfailing; Lieut. The Lord Chancellor
While all the little business that remained, Is come with orders from the queen.
Was but to pass the forms of death and con-

Enter GARDINER, and Attendant, stancy, And leave a life become indifferent to me.

Pem. Ha ! Winchester ! But thou hast wakened other thoughts within me; Gar. The queen, whose days be many, Thy sight, my dearest husband and my lord, By me confirms her first accorded grace; Strikes on the tender strings of love and nature: But, as the pious princess means her mercy My vanquished passions rise again, and tell me, Should reach e'en to the soul as well as body, 'Tis more, far more than death to part from thee. By me she signifies her royal pleasure,

That thou, lord Guilford, and the lady Jane, Enter PEMBROKE.

Do instantly renounce, abjure your heresy, Pem. Oh, let me fly! bear me, thou swift im- And yield obedience to tlie see of Rome. patience,

L. J. Gray. What ! turn apostate? And lodge me in my faithful Guilford's arms, Guil. Ha! forego' my faith!

[Embracing. Gar. This one condition only seals your pero That I may snatch him from the greedy grave, That I may warm his gentle heart with joy, But if, through pride of heart, and stubborn obe And talk to him of life, of life and pardon!

stinacy, Guil. What means my dearest Pembroke? With wilful hands you push the blessing from you, Pem. Oh, my speech

And shut your eyes against such manifest listi, Is choaked with words that crowd to tell my ti- Know ye, your former sentence stands confirmed, dings!

And you must die to-day. But I have saved thee-and-Oh, joy unutter- Pem. "Tis false as beil! able !

The mercy of the queen was free and full. The queen, my gracious, my forgiving mistress, Think'st thou that princes merchandize their Has given not only theç to my request,

up

its prayers

don:

course.

As Roman priests their pardons? Do they barter, 1 Forgetting ceremony, like two friends
Screw up, like you, the buyer to a price, That have a little business to be done,
And doubly sell what was designed a gitt? Take a short leave, and haste to meet again.
Gur. My lord, this language ill beseems your Guil. Rest on that hope, my soul-my wife
nobleness;

L. J. Gray. No more.
Nor come I here to bandy words with madmen. Guil. My sight hangs on thee-Oh, support
Behold the royal signet of the queen,

me, Heaven,
Which amply speaks her meaning. - You, the In this last pang-and let us meet in bliss !
prisoners,

(GUILFORD is led off by the guard. Ilave heard, at large, its purport, and must in- L. J. Gray. Can nature bear this stroke? stantly

Wom. Alas, she faints ! (Supporting Resolve upon the choice of life or death.

L. J. Gray. Wilt thou fail now—The killing Pem. Curse on-But wherefore do I loiter

stroke is pat,
here?

And all the bitterness of death is o'er.
I'll to the queen this moment, and there know Gar. Here let the dreadful hand of vengeance
What 'tis this mischief-making priest intends.

stay;

(Erit. Have pity on your youth, and blooming beauty; Gar. Your wisdom points you out a proper Cast not away the good which Heaven bestows;

Time may have many years in store for you, A word with you, Lieutenant.

All crowned with fair prosperity. Your husband
(Talks with the Lieutenant aside. Has perished in perverseness.
Guil. Must we part, then?

L. J. Gray. Cease, thou raven,
What are those hopes that flattered us but now; Nor violate, with thy profaner malice,
Those joys, that, like the spring, with all its flowers, My bleeding Guilford's ghost'Tis gone, 'tis
Poured out their pleasures every where around us?

flown :
In one poor minute gone; at once they withered, But lingers on the wing, and waits for me.
And left their place all desolate behind them.

[The scene draws, and discovers a scafL. J. Gray. Such is this foolish world, and

fold hung with black, executioner such the certainty

and guards. Of all the boasted blessings it bestows:

And see my journey's end.
Then, Guilford, let us have no more to do with it; i Wom. My dearest lady! (Weeping
Think only how to leave it as we ought;

2 Wom. Oh, misery!
But trust no more, and be deceived no more. L. J. Gray. Forbear, my gentle maids,

Guil. Yes, I will copy thy divine example, Nor wound my peace with fruitless lamentations;
And tread the paths are pointed out by thee: The good and gracious hand of Providence
By thee instructed, to the fatal block

Shall raise you better friends than I have been.
I bend my head with joy, and think it happiness 1 Wom. Oh, never, never! -
To give my life a ransom for my faith.

L. J. Gray. Help to disarray,
From thee, thou angel of my heart, I learn And fit me for the block; do this last service,
That greatest, hardest task, to part with thee. And do it cbearfully. Now you will see
L. J. Gray. Oh, gloriously resolved ! Ileaven Your poor unhappy mistress sleep in peace,
is my witness,

And cease from all her sorrows. These few
My heart rejoices in thee more even now,

trifles,
Thus constant as thou art, in death thus faithful, The pledges of a dying mistress' love,
Than when the holy priest first joined our hands, Receive and share among you. Thou, Maria,
And knit the sacred knot of bridal love.

(To i Wom,
Gar. The day wears fast; Lord Guilford, have Hast been my old, my very faithful servant :
you thought?

In dear remembrance of thy love, I leave thee Will you lay hold on life?

This book, the law of everlasting truth a Guil. What are the terms ?

Make it thy treasure still; 'twas my support, Gar. Death, or the mass, attend you.

When all help else forsook me. Guil. "Tis determined :

Gar. Will you yet Lead to the scaffold.

Repent, be wisc, and save your precious life? Gar. Bear him to his fate.

L. J. Gruy. Oh, Winchester! has learning Guil. Oh, let me fold thee once more in my

taught thee that, aris,

To barter truth for life?
Thou dearest treasure of my heart, and print Gar. Mistaken folly!
A dying husband's kiss upon thy lip!

You toil and travail for your own perdition,
Shall we not live again, even in those forms ? And die for damned errors.
Shall I not gaze upon thee with these eyes? L. J. Gray. Who judge rightly,
L. J. Gray. Oh, wherefore dost thou soothe And who persists in error, will be known,
me with thy softness?

Then, when we meet again. Once more, fare.
Why dost thou wind thyself about my heart,

[To her Women. And make this separation painful to us? Goodness be ever with you. When I'm dead, Here break we off at once; and let us now, Entreat they do no rude, dishonest wrong