Preach patience to my rage, and bid me tamely
Sit like a poor, contented idiot down,
thee,
Nor dare to think thou'st wrong'd me? Ruin seize
And swift perdition overtake thy treachery.
Have I the least remaining cause to doubt?
Hast thou endeavoured once to hide thy falsehood?
To hide it might have spoke some little tenderness,
And shown thee half unwilling to undo me:
But thou disdain'st the weakness of humanity.
Thy words, and all thy actions, have confess'd it;
Ev'n now thy eyes avow it, now they speak,

Has. Yes, lady, yours; none has a right more ample And insolently own the glorious villainy.

Your life is in my hand, and did not honour,
The gentleness of blood, and inborn virtue
(Howe'er unworthy I may seem to you),
Plead in my bosom, I should take the forfeit.
But wear your sword again; and know, a lord,
Oppos'd against a man, is but a man.

Has. Curse on my failing hand! your better fortune

Has giv'n you vantage o'er me; but perhaps Your triumph may be bought with dear repentance. [Exit.

Re-enter JANE SHORE. Jane S Alas? what have you done? Know ye the pow'r,

The mightiness that waits upon this lord?

Dum. Fear not, my worthiest mistress; 'tis a

cause

In which heaven's guards shall wait you. O, pursue,
Pursue the sacred counsels of your soul,
Which urge you on to virtue;

Assisting angels shall conduct your steps,
Bring you to bliss, and crown your days with peace.
Jane S. O that my head were laid, my sad eyes
clos'd,

And my cold corse wound in my shroud 'to rest!
My painful heart will never cease to beat,
Will never know a moment's peace till then.

Dum. Would you be happy, leave this fatal place;
Fly from the court's pernicious neighbourhood;
Where innocence is sham'd, and blushing modesty
Is made the scorner's jest; where hate, deceit,
And deadly ruin, wear the masks of beauty,
And draw deluded fools with shows of pleasure.

Jane S. Where should I fly, thus helpless and
forlorn,

Of friends and all the means of life bereft?

Dum. Belmour, whose friendly care still wakes
to serve you,

Has found you out a little peaceful refuge,
Far from the court and the tumultuous city.
Within an ancient forest's ample verge,
There stands a lonely but a healthful dwelling,
Built for convenience and the use of life.
Around it fallows, meads, and pastures fair,
A little garden, and a limpid brook,
By nature's own contrivance seem'd dispos'd;
No neighbours, but a few poor simple clowns,
Honest and true, with a well meaning priest;
No faction, or domestic fury's rage,
Did e'er disturb the quiet of that place,
When the contending nobles shook the land
With York and Lancaster's disputed sway.
Your virtue there may find a safe retreat
From the insulting pow'rs of wicked greatness.
Jane S. Can there be so much happiness in store?
A cell like that is all my hopes aspire to.
Haste then, and thither let us take our flight,
Ere the clouds gather, and the wintry sky
Descends in storms to intercept our passage.

His bold ambition now avows its aim,
To pluck the crown from Edward's infant brow,
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 Hastings' zeal for his dead master's sons.
Oh, jealousy! thou bane of pleasing friendship,
How does thy rancour poison all our softness,
And turn our gentle natures into bitterness!
Sec, where she comes! once my heart's deares
blessing,

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

Jane S. O, my Alicia!

Alic. What new grief is this?

What unforeseen misfortune has surprised thec,
That racks thy tender heart thus ?
Jane S. O, Dumont!

Alic. Say, what of him!

Jane S. 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 borne away to prison.
Alic. To prison, said you? Can you guess the

cause?

Jane S. Too well, I fear. His bold defence of me
Has drawn the vengeance of Lord Hastings on him.
Alic. Lord Hastings! ha!

Jane S. 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 contained;
Here as the princely Gloster passes forth,
I wait to give it on my humble knees,
And move him for redress.

[Gives the paper to ALICIA, who opens and reads it:
JANE SHORE retires up the Stage.
Alic. Now for a while,

Dum. Will you then go? You glad my very To sting my thoughtless rival to the heart;

soul.

Banish your fears, cast all your cares on me;
Plenty and ease, and peace of mind shall wait you,
And make your latter days of life most happy.
O lady! but I must not, cannot tell you,
How anxious I have been for all your dangers,
And how my heart rejoices at your safety.
So when the spring renews the flow'ry field,
And warns the pregnant nightingale to build,
She seeks the safest shelter of the wood,
Where she may trust her little tuneful brood;
Where no rude swains her shady cell may know,
No serpents climb, nor blasting winds may blow;
Fond of the chosen place, she views it o'er,
Sits there, and wanders through the grove no more:
Warbling she charms it each returning night,
And loves it with a mother's dear delight. [Exeunt.

ACT III.

SCENE I.-The Court.

Enter ALICIA, with a Paper.

Alic. This paper to the great protector's hand With care and secrecy must be conveyed:

To blast her fatal beauties, and divide her
For ever from my perjur'd Hastings' eyes:
Their fashions are the same, it cannot fail.

[Aside.-Pulling out the Paper.-Flourish. Jane S. [Advancing.] But see the great protector comes this way.

Give me the paper, friend.
Alic. For love and vengeance!

[Aside. Gives her the other Paper

Enter the DUKE OF GLO'STER, SIR RICHARD
RATCLIFFE, CATESBY, Courtiers, and other
Attendants.

Jane S. [Kneeling.] O, noble Glo'ster, turn thy
gracious eye,

Incline thy pitying ear to my complaint;
A poor, undone, forsaken, helpless woman,
Entreats a little bread for charity,

To feed her wants, and save her life from perishing.
Glos. Arise, fair dame, and dry your wat'ry eyes.
[Receives the Paper, and raises her.
Beshrew me, but 'twere pity of his heart
That could refuse a boon to such a suitress.
You've 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 com-
forted.
[this pity.
Jane S. Good heavens repay your highness for
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 JANE SHORE and ALICIA.
Glos. Now by my holy-dame!
Heavy at heart she seems, and sore afflicted.
But thus it is when rude calamity
Lays its strong gripe upon these mincing minions;
Their dainty gew-gaw forms dissolve at once,
And shiver at the shock. What says this paper?
(Seeming to read.
Ha! What is this? Come nearer, Ratcliffe ! Catesby!
[They advance.
Mark the contents, and then divine the meaning.
[Reads.] "Wonder not, Princely Glo'ster, at the

news

This paper brings you from a friend unknown;
Lord Hastings is inclined 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 on you."
Sir R. 'Tis wonderful!

Cates. The means by which it came
Yet stranger too!

Glos. You saw it giv'n, but now.

Sir R. She could not know the purport.
Glos. 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.

Cates. What hand soe'er it comes from, be assur'd,
It means your highness well-

Glos. Upon the instant,

Lord Hastings will be here; this morn I mean
To probe 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.
[They retire and confer.

Enter Lord HASTINGS.

Has. 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,
Ere this, is humbled, and repents his daring.
Perlaps, ev'n she may profit by th' example,
And teach her beauty not to scorn my pow'r.
Glos. This do, and wait me ere the council sits.
[Exeunt RATCLIFFE and CATESBY.
My lord, you're well encounter'd; 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.
Has. 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;

263

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.
Has. 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

We feel no want of Edward's riper years,
While Glo'ster'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 control;
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 titles.
Has. 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 bastard 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--

Has. Ill befall

Has. 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.

Has. 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 massacres 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 nobles: low were laid
The reverend crosier and the holy mitre,
And desolation covered all the land;
Who can remember this, and not, like me,
Here vow to sheath a dagger in his heart,
Whose damn'd ambition would renew those horrors,
And set once more that scene of blood before us!
Glos. How now! so hot!

Has. So brave and so resolv'd.

Glos. Is then our friendship of so little moment,
That you could arm your hand against my life?
Has. 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, noble Hastings! nay, I must embrace
[Embrace.

you;

By holy Paul, you're a right honest man!
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:
me, I ask no more than honour gives,

For
To think me yours, and rank me with your friends.

Has. I am not read,

[Exit.

Nor skill'd and practis'd in the arts of greatness,
To kindle thus, and give a scope to passion.
The duke is surely noble; 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 passion 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 IV.

SCENE I-The Palace.

Duke of GLO'STER advances from a state chair.
RATCLIFFE and CATESBY.

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

Marry, at last, the testy gentleman

[ACT IV

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-mentioned 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,
This puling, whining harlot rules his reason,
And prompts his zeal for Edward's bastard 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.

Sure there is something more than witchcraft in
them,

That masters ev'n the wisest of us all.

Enter JANE SHORE.

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. O, 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,