Essex. Was ever wretch like Essex thus undone
By goodness in excess, and lavish'd grace!
Oh, I could tear my erring heart, with these
Revenging hands!-What blessings have I lost!
What clemency abus'd!-Now could I wish
For lengthen'd life,-indeed for endless years.
A whole eternity's too short, to shew

My pious sorrows, and atone my folly.

Qu. "Too well the passage to my heart he finds : "And pity's hand lets in the dangerous guest. "How weak is reason, when oppos'd to nature!"

[Aside.

My lord, I would convince you that I still
Regard your life, and labour to preserve it ;
But cannot screen you from a public trial.
With prudence make your best defence: but should
Severity her iron jurisdiction

Extend too far, and give thee up condemn'd
To angry laws, thy queen will not forget thee.
Yet, lest you then shou'd want a faithful friend,
(For friends will fly you in the time of need)
Here, from my finger, take this ring, a pledge
Of mercy; having this, you ne'er shall need
An advocate with me; for whensoe'er

You give, or send it back, by Heav'n, I swear,
As I do hope for mercy on my soul,

That I will grant whatever boon you ask.

Essex. Oh, grace surprising! most amazing good

ness!

Words cannot paint the transports of my soul!
Let me receive it on my grateful knees,

At once to thank and bless the hand that gives it.
Qu. Depend, my lord, on this; 'twixt you and me
This ring shall be a private mark of faith

Inviolate. Be confident, chear up,

Dispel each melancholy fear, and trust

[Gives the ring.

Your sovereign's promise; she will ne'er forsake you.
Essex. Let Providence dispose my lot as 'twill,
May watchful angels ever guard my queen;

May healing wisdom in her counsels reign,
And firm fidelity surround her throne;
May victory her dreaded banners bear,

And joyful conquests crown her soldiers' brow;
Let every bliss be mingled in her cup,

And Heaven at last become her great reward! [Exit.
Qu. 'Tis done;

And yet foreboding tremors shake my heart.

Something sits heavy here, and presses down
My spirits with its weight. What can it mean?
Suppose he is condemn'd; my royal word

Is plighted for his life; his enemies,

No doubt, will censure much.-No matter; let 'em; I know him honest, and despise their malice. "Unhappy state, where mercy and compassion "Too often meet with clamour and reproach! "But princes must endure, for public good, "The narrow censures of misguiding crowds."

Enter Countess of RUTLAND.

Rut. Where is the queen? I'll fall before her feet Prostrate, implore, besiege her royal heart, And force her to forgive.

Qu. What means this frenzy ?

Rut. Oh, gracious queen, if ever pity touch'd Your generous breast, let not the cruel axe Destroy his precious life; preserve my Essex,

Preserve, from shameful death, the noble, loyal, 'Oh, save the brave, the best of subjects.—Save” My life, my hope, my joy, "my all," my husband!

Qu. Husband!-What sudden deadly blow is this! Hold up, my soul, nor sink beneath this wound. You beg a traitor's life!

Rut. Oh, gracious queen!

He ever lov'd-was ever faithful, brave-
If nature dwells about your heart, Oh, spurn

Me not! My lord! my love! my husband bleeds!
Qu. Take her away.

Rut. "I cannot let you go.

"Hold off your hands"-Here on this spot I'll fix,

Here lose all sense.

Still let me stretch these arms,

Inexorable queen! he yet may live.

Oh, give him to my poor afflicted heart!

One pitying look, to save me from distraction.

Qu. I'll hear no more. I'm tortur'd-take her

hence.

Rut. Nay, force me not away.-Inhuman wretches! Oh, mercy, mercy!-Then to thee, good Heav'n, (My queen, my cruel queen, denies to hear me)

To thee I call, to thee for mercy bend.

Melt down her bosom's frozen sense to feel
Some portion of my deadly grief, my fell
Distraction.-Turn, Oh, turn, and see a wife,

Abandon me to fell despair. Just Heaven,
That sees my sorrows, will avenge the wrong,
This cruel wrong, this barbarous tyranny. [Forced off.
Qu. Wedded to Rutland! Most unhappy pair!
And, Oh, ill-fated queen! Never till now
Did sorrow settle in my heart its throne.
Now black despair its cloudy curtain draws
Around thy setting peace, where joy, alas !
No more shall dawn, nor smiling hope return.
Recall my pledge of safety from his hands,
And give him up to death But life or death
To me is equal now. "Distraction dwells

"Within my tortur'd soul, and furies rend it."
Unhappy state, where peace shall never come !
One fatal moment has confirm'd my doom,
Turn'd all my comfort to intestine strife,
And fill'd with mortal pangs my future life.

[Exit.

ACT V. SCENE 1.

Enter RALEIGH and Lieutenant of the Tower.

Raleigh.

THEIR peers, with much indulgence, heard their plea,

And

gave them ample scope for their defence; But nought avail'd, their crimes were too notorious. They bore their sentence with becoming spirit; And here's the royal mandate for their deaths. The lady Nottingham!—What brings her hither?

Enter Lady NOTTINGHAM.

Not. Lieutenant, lead me to the Earl of Essex, I bring a message to him from the queen.

Lieut. He's with his friend, the brave Southampton, madam,

Preparing now for his expected fate.

But I'll acquaint his lordship with your pleasure. [Ex Ral. What means this message? Does the queen

relent?

Not. I fear she does: "for such a war of passions, "Such varying tumults never strove within "Her breast till now. Sometimes she rails at Essex, "And calls him villain, traitor, dooms him dead; "Yet, in a moment, turns again to pity. "At length she sent me to th' ungrateful earl, "To learn if he could offer aught that might "Induce her royal mercy to forgiveness."

F