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THE ALBION QUEENS.

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CALLED originally the Island Queens, was among the few tolerable pieces to which originally licences were refused. The author, however, printed it

"To shame the rogues."

and upon the stage it at length found its way.

The title tells all that can be known from the play -and this, where surprise is meant to be excited, is a ground of strong objection to historical dramas.

The ALBION QUEENS in diction is turgid and incorrect; the flights of BANKS are the frenzies of fancied sublimity, soaring among the comets of irregular imagination.

Much of his exuberant bombast is retrenched in the representation. The noisy declamation of the ranting tragedian has still an ample field to

"Confound the ignorant, and amaze, indeed,
"The very faculties of eyes and ears."

The characters of both these queens seem to be at length clearly understood. Abilities of the first

B

class at that time were the qualifications of bothbut a GOOD WOMAN would conceive it a prophanation to have it said, her heart was not better than either that of the one or the other.

Nor. Desolate she is :

Alas, I tremble, fearing 'tis a crime

To stab your ears with such a doleful accent!
"Could I draw half that pity from your majesty,
"As she extorted from the prison walls,

“ Then she might hope; for they would echo her,
"And sometimes weep at the relation.”

Mor. I beg your royal hearing, now, before
The duke has charm'd you with a syren's story,
By the impartial right of embassies,

And justice, that still waits upon your throne,
I humbly claim first to be heard.

Qu. El. You shall.

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Say what you please, my lord, you have my leave;
Beware there 'scape no malice from your tongue.
Mor. So thrive my hopes, as there is nought but
truth,

And grounds most just in what shall be alledg'd.
Our queen, most mighty princess, Europe knows,
Has long been wrapp'd in such a cloud of crimes,
That have eclips'd the lustre of a crown.
Who sees into her life-

" or if

Qu. El. My lord, I do command you cease;
"You speak one word again to blot your queen,
"I shall suspect, as all the world has done,
"You had a hand in that vile regicide:

"Why were the traitors else too black to name,
"Suppos'd by all contrivers of the murder,
"By you protected from the cry of justice?"
If you have nought else to say, be dumb for ever.

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Nor. Let justice now be silent, whilst from high Astrea looks, and wonders at her oracle.

[Aside. Mor. Your Majesty must give me leave to speak, And plead the right of nations for my guardYour subject I am not.

Nor. Audacious traitor!

Mor. If innocent, why is she then a prisoner ?
If guilty, why against the law of nature,
And clamours of a kingdom, your ally,

Do you bar the gates of justice, and secure her?
Qu. El. To such a daring insect as thyself
I give no other answer, but my will.
But as thou represent'st a power above thee,
I tell thee, proud ambassador, 'tis false;
My throne's an altar with soft mercy crown'd,
Where both yourselves and monarch may be bless'd,
And all your wrongs be equally redress'd.
"At home was she not scandal'd and betray'd?
"Nor dignity, nor tender sex was weigh'd;
"She flew to me for refuge from a crown,

“As safer in my castle than her throne."
Mor. Nay, then, I will be heard.

If your confederate's danger will not wake you,
Then you own kingdom's must. Behold a letter,
By Navus wrote, and sign'd with her own hand,
Sent to the noblemen, her friends in Scotland,
Wherein she does asperse your majesty
With treachery, and breach of promise to her;
But bids them be of courage, and expect her;
For now she is assur'd of other means,

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Some mighty man, your subject, by whose aid,
She hopes to be releas'd, and suddenly.

Nor. Most wise, discerning princess, did you hear? "Hear this bold man, how loud he mouths at princes?"

The base, degenerate coward, dreading you,
Now turns his back, but worries still a queen.
Qu. El. Let him be heard.

Nor. Oh, stop the traitor's mouth!

Hear not a monarch by her rebel stain'd:
By that bright throne of justice which you fill,
'Tis false, 'tis forg'd, 'tis Lucifer's invention.
Qu. El. My lord-

Mor. We've letters too, and witness,

To prove that Allen, Inglesfield, and Ross,
Have bargain'd with the Pope and King of Spain,
To excommunicate her son and you,

And give a resignation of both crowns,

To that most catholic tyrant for his service.

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Qu. El. Defend me, powers! this is a mountain

treason!

Nor. Prodigious monster?

Qu. El. Are you not amaz'd?

My guard, my faithful Cecil, "more my friend! "Thou art my Delphos ! to whose oracle,

"Where should I have recourse, but unto thee, "Whose bosom is my guide, whose breast my council?"

What think you now, my lord?

Nor. 'Tis all conspiracy.