Else we do walk enchanted, and this place
Is not Whitehall, but Pawlet prison still.

Qu. M. Lend me your hands, for I am faint and weary,

My feet too tremble, and methinks the floor
Sinks under them; and now it fares with me,
Like a poor mariner, that has been condemn'd
To a close bark, a long and tedious voyage,
Who, coming to the shore, scarce feels the ground,
And thinks the earth does like the ship go round.
Dow. Here sit you down a while.

Qu. M. What, in her chair?

Then she indeed may say I am ambitious;
Ambitious of her crown, which I am not;

Now you upon the floor encompass me.
So, this is as it should be, is it not?

[Sits on a stool.

Thus have we oft beguil'd the time at FotheringayLend me a glass, and pr'ythee tell me truly,

How do I look.

Dow. To see yourself, is strait to banish woe, 280 And make you happy for that day: I am sure It does your servants when they look on you; You are so good, so perfect, and so fair, Beauty and sorrow, never was so near

In any but in you.

Qu. M. Alas! thou flatter'st me. [Reaching the glass.
Dow. In all the fatal time of your confinement,

You rarely saw yourself; or, if you did,

'Twas through such dismal clouds of "garb and”

sorrow,

You scarcely knew that visage so adorn'd;

"But now 'tis hard to tell which strives the most, "Your dress or beauty to adorn each other."Behold else.

Qu. M. Give it me-ha! d'ye mock me! "Who looked in the glass?

"Dow. Madam."

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Qu. M. Alas! these cannot be thy mistress' eyes, Mine were dim lamps that long ago expir'd, And quite dissolv'd and quench'd themselves in tears: "These cheeks are none of mine, the roses look not "Like tempest-beaten lilies as mine should; "This forehead is not graven with the darts "Of eighteen years of sharpest miseries; "Nor are these lips like sorrow's blubber'd twins, "Ne'er smiling, ever mourning, and complaining—” False glass!" that flatters, and undoes the fond :" [Throws away the glass. False beauty! " may that wretch that has thee, curse

thee,

"And hold thee still detestable as mine."

Why tarriest thou to give me yet more woe :
"The earth will mourn in furrows at the plough,

"Birds, trees, and fields, when the warm summer's

gone.

"Put their worst looks, and sable colours on :

"The sullen streams, when the least tempest blows,

"Their crystal smoothness in a moment loose ;
"But my curst beauty, this malicious charm,
"No time, long griefs, nor blasts of envy harm."

Enter Duke of NORFOLK.

Nor. What do I see, the person or the shadow Of the most royal majesty of Scotland ! And these the weeping mourners of her fortune? "Bright as Diana with her starry nymphs, "Descending to make fertile sea and land,

320

"T'enrich the waves, and bless the world with

plenty."

Oh, rise! most charming of all creatures, rise!

"Or yon bright heavenly roof, that weighs the world, "Will turn the scale, and mount the globe above it." Qu. M. Who sees the needy traveller on foot,

When he approaches to his long'd-for inn,
Welcom'd, caress'd, and shew'd the fairest room,
And richest bed to rest his weary limbs ?
Or who beholds the beggar on his straw,
Crying for alms, before the rich man's door,

And bids him rise? Go, duke, and shun this wretch;
Fly Mary's face, "for such and worse is she."

Nor. Rise, charming excellence! Or by yourself, The greatest oath that I can take,

"I'll bear your precious body in these arms,
"(Forgive the sacrilegious violence)"
I'll place you in that proud imperial chair,
"Beneath whose scornful feet you meekly lie;
66 Nay, I would do't, were this she-tyrant by;

340

"Though she stood here, and dar'd me with revenge, "I'd seat you in that place in spite of her."

Qu. M. May all that's great and good forbid.

Nor. The powers above, and mortals all below, Would praise me for that deed-Who can behold England's bright heiress, queen of France and Scotland,

Whose veins thus treasur'd with the sacred blood
"Of Fergus, and a hundred Albion kings,”
Lie thus neglected, in a state thus mean!
Who can behold it, and at once be loyal ?

Qu. M. Oh, tempt me not with thoughts of any state,

But this that I am in; it was a vision,

The world till now was but a dream to me.
When I was great, I always was in danger;
Giddy, and fearful, when I look beneath;
But now with scorn I can see all above me,
Happy in this, that I can fall no lower.

Nor. Oh, say not so, for pity of mankind,
Lest fate descends in battles, plagues and fire,
To scourge the earth for so profane a sight,
And treating thus the majesty of queens.

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"Had I the thunder, Nature's self should wreck, "The frighted world should at my burthen groan, "Whilst thus I fell with my immortal weight, "Thus at your feet, and crush'd its soul away. "But as I am Norfolk still, the meanest wretch, "Let me dig out of thee a grave, and say, "As raving Aristotle to the sea,

"Since I can't conquer thee, thou bury me."

Qu. M. Speak, gallant duke, and shew me if you

can,

Where shall the wretched fly to be at rest?
"It was but yesterday I 'scap'd the wreck,
"And now so soon again set out at drift,
"To rocks, wide seas, and vast extended ruin;
"That nothing but a miracle can save me."

[Rises.

Nor. Oh, could I dare but whisper it in your ear, Or claim the sacred promise once you made, Here you should meet that calm repose you want In Norfolk's grateful breast.

Qu. M. Oh, name not love!

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Love always flies the wretched and abandon'd,
And I am both; sorrow has play'd the tyrant;
Plow'd up this once fair field, where beauties grew,
And quite transform'd it to a naked fallow;
That you had once my word 'tis true, but 'twas
When I had hopes to be a queen again;

I thought to give you with some charms a crown
Which you deserve, but now they all are fled,
I am not worth the taking, cease the thought.

Nor. You are above all wealth, all queens to me, Your glorious head was shadow'd with a crown, "A brighter body seem'd but coarsly clad "With robes of majesty, like stars o'er-clouded"Those cast away, the cherubim appears, "Bright as the world was in its infant years; "Eas'd of this sumpture, take your happy flight, "The lighter by the load of ponderous crowns,"