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But I obey, I dread that gath'ring frown;
And, oh, whene'er my bosom swells with passion,
And my full heart is pain'd with ardent love,
Allow me but to look on you, and sigh;
'Tis all the humble joy that Guilford asks.
Lady J. G. Still wilt thou frame thy speech to
this vain purpose,

When the wan king of terrors stalks before us,
When universal ruin gathers round,

And no escape is left us? Are we not
Like wretches in a storm, whom ev'ry moment
The greedy deep is gaping to devour?
Around us see the pale despairing crew
Wring their sad hands, and give their labour o'er ;
The hope of life has ev'ry heart forsook,
And horror sits on each distracted look ;
One solemn thought of death does all employ,
And cancels, like a dream, delight and joy,
One sorrow streams from all their weeping eyes,
And one consenting voice, for mercy cries;
Trembling, they dread just Heaven's avenging

power;

Mourn their past lives, and wait the fatal hour.

[Exeunt.

ACT THE SECOND.

SCENE I.

The Court.

Enter the DUKE OF NORTHUMBERLAND and the DUKE OF SUFFOLK.

North. Yet then be cheer'd, my heart, amidst thy
mourning.

Though fate hang heavy o'er us, tho' pale fear
And wild distraction sit on ev'ry face;

Though never day of grief was known like this,
Let me rejoice, and bless the hallowed light,
Whose beams auspicious shine upon our union,
And bid me call the noble Suffolk brother.

Suff. I know not what my secret soul presages,
But something seems to whisper me within,
That we have been too hasty. For myself,
I wish this matter had been yet delay'd;
That we had waited some more blessed time,
Some better day, with happier omens hallowed,
For love to kindle up his holy flame.

But you, my noble brother, would prevail,
And I have yielded to you,

North. Doubt not any thing;

Nor hold the hour unlucky, that good Heaven,
Who softens the corrections of his hand,

And mixes still a comfort with afflictions,

Has given to-day a blessing in our children,
To wipe away our tears for dying Edward.

Suff. In that I trust. Good angels be our guard, And make my fears prove vain. But see! My

wife!

With her, your son, the generous Guilford comes; She has inform'd him of our present purpose.

Enter the DUCHESS OF SUFFOLK and LORD GUIL

FORD.

Lord G. How shall I speak the fulness of my heart?

What shall I say to bless you for this goodness?
Oh, gracious princess! But my life is yours,

And all the business of my years to come,
Is, to attend with humblest duty on you,
And pay my vow'd obedience at your feet.
Duchess S. Yes, noble youth, I share in all thy joys,
In all the joys, which this sad day can give.
The dear delight I have to call thee son,
Comes like a cordial to my drooping spirits;
It broods with gentle warmth upon my bosom,
And melts that frost of death which hung about me.
But haste! Inform my daughter of our pleasure:
Let thy tongue put on all her pleasing eloquence.
Instruct thy love to speak of comfort to her,
To sooth her griefs, and cheer the mourning maid.
North. All desolate and drown'd in flowing tears,
By Edward's bed the pious princess sits;
Fast from her lifted eyes the pearly drops
Fall trickling o'er her cheek, while holy ardour
And fervent zeal pour forth her lab'ring soul;
And ev'ry sigh is wing'd with pray'rs so potent,
As strive with Heav'n to save her dying lord.
Duchess S. From the first early days of infant life,

A gentle band of friendship grew betwixt them;
And while our royal uncle Henry reign'd,
As brother and as sister bred together,
Beneath one common parent's care they liv'd.

North. A wondrous sympathy of souls conspir'd To form the sacred union. Lady Jane

Of all his royal blood was still the dearest;
In ev'ry innocent delight they shar'd,

They sung, and danc'd, and sat, and walk'd together;
Nay, in the graver business of his youth,

When books and learning call'd him from his sports,
Ev'n there the princely maid was his companion.
She left the shining court to share his toil,
To turn with him the grave historian's page,
And taste the rapture of the poet's song;
To search the Latin and the Grecian stores,
And wonder at the mighty minds of old.

Enter LADY JANE GREY, weeping.

Lady J. G. Wilt thou not break, my heart!
Suff. Alas! What mean'st thou ?

Guil. Oh! speak!

Duchess S. How fares the king?

North. Say, Is he dead?

Lady J. G. The saints and angels have him.
Duchess S. When I left him,

He seem'd a little cheer'd, just as you enter'd—— Lady J. G. As I approach'd to kneel and pay my duty,

He rais'd his feeble eyes, and faintly smiling,
Are you then come? he cry'd: I only liv'd,
To bid farewell to thee, my gentle cousin;
To speak a few short words to thee, and die.
With that he press'd my hand, and oh !-he said,
When I am gone, do thou be good to England,
Keep to that faith in which we both were bred,

And to the end be constant. More I would,
But cannot-There his fault'ring spirits fail'd,
And turning ev'ry thought from earth at once
To that best place where all his hopes were fix'd,
Earnest he pray'd ;- -Merciful, great Defender!
Preserve thy holy altars undefil'd,

Protect this land from bloody men and idols,
Save my poor people from the yoke of Rome,
And take thy painful servant to thy mercy.
Then sinking on his pillow, with a sigh,
He breath'd his innocent and faithful scul
Into His hands who gave it.

Guil. Crowns of glory,

Such as the brightest angels wear, be on him:
Peace guard his ashes here, and paradise,

With all its endless bliss be open to him.

North. Our grief be on his grave. Our present duty Enjoins to see his last commands obey'd.

I hold it fit his death be not made known
To any but our friends. To-morrow early
The council shall assemble at the Tower.

Mean while, I beg your grace would strait inform

[To the DUCHESS OF SUFFOLK.

Your princely daughter of our resolution ;
Our common interest in that happy tie,
Demands our swiftest care to see it finish'd.

Duchess S. My lord, you have determined well.
Lord Guilford,

Be it your task to speak at large our purpose.
Daughter, receive this lord as one whom I,
Your father, and his own, ordain your husband:
What more concerns our will, and your obedience,
We leave you to receive from him at leisure.
[Exeunt DUKE and DUCHESS OF SUFFOLK, and
DUKE OF NORTHUMBERLAND.

Guil.

Wilt thou not spare a moment from thy

sorrows,

And bid these bubbling streams forbear to flow?

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