The Earl of Essex Part 5

Then give him up to justice and the laws.

_Qu. Eliz._ You seem well pleased to urge severity.

Offended majesty but seldom wants Such sharp advisers--Yet no attribute So well befits the exalted seat supreme, And power's disposing hand, as clemency.

Each crime must from its quality be judged; And pity there should interpose, where malice Is not the aggressor.

_Not._ Madam, my sentiments were well intended; Justice, not malice, moved my honest zeal.

My words were echoes of the public voice, Which daily rises, with repeated cries Of high complaint against this haughty lord.

I pity, from my heart, his rash attempts, And much esteem the man.

_Qu. Eliz._ Go, Nottingham, My mind's disturbed, and send me Rutland hither.

[_Exit LADY NOTTINGHAM._ O vain distinction of exalted state!

No rank ascends above the reach of care, Nor dignity can s.h.i.+eld a queen from woe.

Despotic nature's stronger sceptre rules, And pain and pa.s.sion in her right prevails.

Oh, the unpity'd lot, severe condition, Of solitary, sad, dejected grandeur!

Alone condemn'd to bear th' unsocial throb Of heartfelt anguish, and corroding grief; Deprived of what, within his homely shed, The poorest peasant in affliction finds, The kind, condoling, comfort of a dear Partaking friend.

_Enter LADY RUTLAND._

Rutland, I want thy timely Counsel. I'm importuned, and urged to punish-- But justice, sometimes, has a cruel sound.

Ess.e.x has, No doubt, provoked my anger, and the laws; His haughty conduct calls for sharp reproof, And just correction. Yet I think him guiltless Of studied treasons, or design'd rebellion.

Then, tell me, Rutland, what the world reports, What censure says of his unruly deeds.

_Rut._ The world, with envy's eye, beholds his merit; Madam, 'tis malice all, and false report.

I know his n.o.ble heart, 'tis fill'd with honour; No trait'rous taint has touch'd his generous soul; His grateful mind still glows with pure affection; And all his thoughts are loyalty and you.

_Qu. Eliz._ I grant you, Rutland, all you say; and think The earl possess'd of many splendid virtues.

What pity 'tis, he should afford his foes Such frequent, sad occasions to undo him!

_Rut._ What human heart can, unafflicted, bear Such manly merit in distress, beset By cruel foes, and faction's savage cry?

My good, my gracious mistress, stretch, betimes, Your saving arm, and s.n.a.t.c.h him from destruction, From deadly malice, treachery, and Cecil.

Oh, let him live, to clear his conduct up!

My gracious queen, he'll n.o.bly earn your bounty, And with his dearest blood deserve your mercy.

_Qu. Eliz._ Her words betray a warm, unusual, fervour; Mere friends.h.i.+p never could inspire this transport. [_Aside._ I never doubted but the earl was brave; His life and valiant actions all declare it: I think him honest too, but rash and headstrong.

I gladly would preserve him from his foes, And therefore am resolved once more to see him.

_Rut._ Oh, 'tis a G.o.dlike thought, and Heav'n itself Inspires it. Sure some angel moves your heart, Your royal heart, to pity and forgiveness.

This gracious deed shall s.h.i.+ne in future story, And deck your annals with the brightest virtue; Posterity shall praise the princely act, And ages yet to come record your goodness.

_Qu. Eliz._ I'll hear no more--Must I then learn from you To know my province, and be taught to move, As each designing mind directs?--Leave me.

_Rut._ Her frowns are dreadful, and her eye looks terror.

I tremble for my Ess.e.x. Save him, Heav'n! [_Exit._

_Qu. Eliz._ Her warmth has touch'd me home. My jealous heart, My fearful and suspicious soul's alarm'd.

_Enter BURLEIGH, RALEIGH, and GENTLEMEN._

_Bur._ The Earl of Ess.e.x waits your royal will.

_Qu. Eliz._ Let him approach--And now once more support Thy dignity, my soul; nor yield thy greatness To strong usurping pa.s.sion--But he comes.

_Enter ESs.e.x and SOUTHAMPTON._

_Ess.e.x._ Permitted thus to bend, with prostrate heart, [_Kneels._ Before your sacred majesty; I come, With every grateful sense of royal favour Deeply engraved within my conscious soul.

_Qu. Eliz._ I sent my orders for your staff of office.

_Ess.e.x._ Madam, my envy'd dignities and honours, I first from your own royal hand received, And therefore justly held it far beneath me To yield my trophies, and exalted power, So dearly purchased in the field of glory, To hands unworthy. No, my gracious queen, I meant to lay them at your royal feet; Where life itself a willing victim falls, If you command.

_Qu. Eliz._ High swelling words, my lord, but ill supply The place of deeds, and duty's just demand.

In danger's onset, and the day of trial, Conviction still on acting worth attends; Whilst mere professions are by doubts enc.u.mber'd.

_Ess.e.x._ My deeds have oft declared in danger's front How far my duty and my valour lead me.

Allegiance still my thirst of glory fired, And all my bravely gather'd, envy'd laurels Were purchased only to adorn my queen:

_Qu. Eliz._ Your guilty scorn of my entrusted power, When with my mortal foes you tamely dally'd, By hardy rebels braved, you poorly sought A servile pause, and begg'd a shameful truce.

Should Ess.e.x thus, so meanly compromise, And lose the harvest of a plenteous glory, In idle treaties, and suspicious parley?

_Ess.e.x._ O, deadly stroke! My life's the destined mark.

The poison'd shaft has drank my spirits deep.-- Is't come to this? Conspire with rebels! Ha!

I've served you, madam, with the utmost peril, And ever gloried in th' ill.u.s.trious danger, Where famine faced me with her meagre mien, And pestilence and death brought up her train.

I've fought your battles, in despite of nature, Where seasons sicken'd, and the clime was fate.

My power to parley, or to fight, I had From you; the time and circ.u.mstance did call Aloud for mutual treaty and condition; For that I stand a guarded felon here; a traitor, Hemm'd in by villains, and by slaves surrounded.

_Qu. Eliz._ Shall added insolence, with crest audacious, Her front uplift against the face of power?

Think not that injured majesty will bear Such arrogance uncheck'd, or unchastised.

No public trust becomes the man, who treads, With scornful steps, in honour's sacred path, And stands at bold defiance with his duty.

_Ess.e.x._ Away with dignities and hated trust, With flattering honours, and deceitful power!

Invert th' eternal rules of right and justice; Let villains thrive, and outcast virtue perish; Let slaves be raised, and cowards have command.

Take, take your gaudy trifles back, those baits Of vice, and virtue's bane. 'Tis clear, my queen, My royal mistress, casts me off; nay, joins With Cecil to destroy my life and fame.

_Qu. Eliz._ Presuming wretch! Audacious traitor!

_Ess.e.x._ Traitor!

_Qu. Eliz._ Hence from my sight, ungrateful slave, and learn At distance to revere your queen!

_Ess.e.x._ Yes; let Me fly beyond the limits of the world, And nature's verge, from proud oppression far, From malice, tyranny, from courts, from you.

_Qu. Eliz._ Traitor! villain! [_Strikes him._

_Ess.e.x._ Confusion! what, a blow!

Restrain, good Heaven! down, down, thou rebel pa.s.sion, And, judgment, take the reins. Madam, 'tis well-- Your soldier falls degraded; His glory's tarnish'd, and his fame undone.

O, bounteous recompence from royal hands!

But you, ye implements, beware, beware, What honour wrong'd, and honest wrath can act.

_Qu. Eliz._ What would th' imperious traitor do?