Marry, at last, the testy gentleman

Was almost mov'd to bid us bold defiance;
But there I dropt 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 foremention'd matter,
As nothing bound or trusting to his friendship.

Rat. Ill does it thus befall. I could have wish'd This lord had stood with us. "His friends are

wealthy;

"Thereto, his own possessions large and mighty; "The vassals and dependants on his power

"Firm in adherence, ready, bold, and many;" His name had been of vantage to your highness, And stood our present purpose much in stead.

Glost. 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.
Cat. 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 ?

Rat. Let her instruct her tongue to bear your mes

sage;

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.

Glost. Your counsel likes me well, it shall be fol. low'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
"Like a dry leaf, an idle straw, a feather,

"The sport of every whiffling blast that blows?
"Beshrew my heart, but it is wond'rous strange;"
Sure there is something more than witchcraft in them,
That masters ev'n the wisest of us all.

Enter JANE SHORE.

Oh! you are come most fitly. We have ponder'd
On this your grievance: and tho' some there are,
Nay, and those great ones too, who wou'd enforce
The rigour of our power to afflićt 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.

J. Sh. 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 againt me? "If in the days of all my past offences, "When most my heart was lifted with delight, "If I withheld my morsel from the hungry, "Forgot the widow's want, and orphan's cry; "If I have known a good I have not shar'd, "Nor call'd the poor to take his portion with me, "Let my worst enemies stand forth, and now "Deny the succour, which I gave not then."

Glost. Marry there are, tho' 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' th' council What fits the order of the common-weal.

J. Sh. 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 tread the mazes of fantastic falsehood, "To haunt their idle sounds and flying tales, "Thro' all the giddy, noisy courts of rumour; "Malicious slander never would have leisure" To search, with prying eyes, for faults abroad, If all, like me, consider'd their own hearts, And wept the sorrows which they found at home.

Glost. Go to! I know your pow'r; and tho' I trust

not

To ev'ry breath of fame, I'm not to learn
That Hastings is profess'd your loving vassal.
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 J. Sh. 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.
Glost. Why, that's well said-Thus then-Observe
me well,

The state, for many high and potent reasons,
Deeming my brother Edward's sons unfit
For the imperial weight of England's crown-
J. Sh. Alas! for pity.

Glost. Therefore have resolv'd

To set aside their unavailing infancy,
And vest the sov'reign rule in abler hands.
This, tho' of great importance to the public,
Hastings, for very peevishness and spleen,
Does stubbornly oppose.

J. Sh. Does he? Does Hastings?
Glost. Ay, Hastings.

F

J. Sh. Reward him for the noble deed, just Heav'ns: For this one action, guard him and distinguish him With signal mercies, and with great deliverance, Save him from wrong, adversity, and shame. Let never fading honours flourish round him, And consecrate his name, ev'n to time's end: "Let him know nothing else but good on earth, "And everlasting blessedness hereafter."

Glost. How now !

J. Sh. The poor, forsaken, royal little ones!
Shall they be left a prey to savage power
Can they lift up their harmless hands in vain,
Or cry to Heaven for help, and not be heard?
Impossible! Oh, gallant, generous Hastings,
Go on, pursue! assert the sacred cause :
Stand forth, thou proxy of all-ruling Providence,
And save the friendless infants from oppression.
Saints shall assist thee with prevailing prayers,
And warring angels combat on thy side.

Glost. You're passing rich in this same heav'nly speech,

And spend it at your pleasure. Nay, but mark me!
My favour is not bought with words like these.
Go to-you'll teach your tongue another tale.

J. Sh. No, tho' the royal Edward has undone me, He was my king, my gracious master still; "He lov'd me too, tho' 'twas a guilty flame, "And fatal to my peace, yet still he lov❜d me; "With fondness, and with tenderness he doated, "Dwelt in my eyes, and liv'd but in my smiles :"