SCENE I. _Whitehall.

_The_ KING, _the_ QUEEN, HOLLIS, Lady CARLISLE. (VANE, HOLLAND, SAVILE, _in the background._)

_Lady Car._ Answer them, Hollis, for his sake! One word!

_Cha._ [_To_ HOLLIS.] You stand, silent and cold, as though I were Deceiving you--my friend, my playfellow Of other times. What wonder after all? Just so, I dreamed my People loved me.

_Hol._ Sir, It is yourself that you deceive, not me. You 'll quit me comforted, your mind made up That, since you 've talked thus much and grieved thus much, All you can do for Strafford has been done.

_Queen._ If you kill Strafford--(come, we grant you leave. Suppose)--

_Hol._ I may withdraw, sir?

_Lady Car._ Hear them out! 'T is the last chance for Strafford! Hear them out!

_Hol._ "If we kill Strafford"--on the eighteenth day Of Strafford's trial--"We!"

_Cha._ Pym, my good Hollis-- Pym, I should say!

_Hol._ Ah, true--sir, pardon me! You witness our proceedings every day; But the screened gallery, I might have guessed, Admits of such a partial glimpse at us, Pym takes up all the room, shuts out the view. Still, on my honor, sir, the rest of the place Is not unoccupied. The Commons sit --That 's England; Ireland sends, and Scotland too, Their representatives; the Peers that judge Are easily distinguished; one remarks The People here and there: but the close curtain Must hide so much!

_Queen._ Acquaint your insolent crew. This day the curtain shall be dashed aside! It served a purpose.

_Hol._ Think! This very day? Ere Strafford rises to defend himself?

_Cha._ I will defend him, sir!--sanction the past This day: it ever was my purpose. Rage At me, not Strafford!

_Lady Car._ Nobly!--will he not Do nobly?

_Hol._ Sir, you will do honestly; And, for that deed, I too would be a king.

_Cha._ Only, to do this now!--"deaf" (in your style) "To subjects' prayers,"--I must oppose them now! It seems their will the trial should proceed,-- So palpably their will!

_Hol._ You peril much, But it were no bright moment save for that. Strafford, your prime support, the sole roof-tree Which props this quaking House of Privilege. (Flood comes, winds beat, and see--the treacherous sand!) Doubtless, if the mere putting forth an arm Could save him, you 'd save Strafford.

_Cha._ And they dare Consummate calmly this great wrong! No hope? This ineffaceable wrong! No pity then?

_Hol._ No plague in store for perfidy?--Farewell! You call me, sir-- [_To_ Lady CARLISLE.] You, lady, bade me come To save the Earl: I came, thank God for it, To learn how far such perfidy can go! You, sir, concert with me on saving him Who have just ruined Strafford!

_Cha._ I?--and how?

_Hol._ Eighteen days long he throws, one after one, Pym's charges back: a blind moth-eaten law! --He 'll break from it at last: and whom to thank? The mouse that gnawed the lion's net for him Got a good friend,--but he, the other mouse, That looked on while the lion freed himself-- Fared he so well, does any fable say?

_Cha._ What can you mean?

_Hol._ Pym never could have proved Strafford's design of bringing up the troops To force this kingdom to obedience: Vane-- Your servant, not our friend, has proved it.

_Cha._ Vane?

_Hol._ This day. Did Vane deliver up or no Those notes which, furnished by his son to Pym, Seal Strafford's fate?

_Cha._ Sir, as I live, I know Nothing that Vane has done! What treason next? I wash my hands of it. Vane, speak the truth! Ask Vane himself!

_Hol._ I will not speak to Vane, Who speak to Pym and Hampden every day.

_Queen._ Speak to Vane's master then! What gain to him Were Strafford's death?

_Hol._ Ha? Strafford cannot turn As you, sir, sit there--bid you forth, demand If every hateful act were not set down In his commission?--whether you contrived Or no, that all the violence should seem His work, the gentle ways--your own,--his part, To counteract the King's kind impulses-- While ... but you know what he could say! And then He might produce--mark, sir!--a certain charge To set the King's express command aside, If need were, and be blameless. He might add ...

_Cha._ Enough!

_Hol._ --Who bade him break the Parliament, Find some pretence for setting up sword-law!

_Queen._ Retire!

_Cha._ Once more, whatever Vane dared do, I know not: he is rash, a fool--I know Nothing of Vane!

_Hol._ Well--I believe you. Sir, Believe me, in return, that ... [_Turning to_ Lady CARLISLE.] Gentle lady, The few words I would say, the stones might hear Sooner than these,--I rather speak to you, You, with the heart! The question, trust me, takes Another shape, to-day: not, if the King Or England shall succumb,--but, who shall pay The forfeit, Strafford or his master. Sir, You loved me once: think on my warning now! [_Goes out._

_Cha._ On you and on your warning both!--Carlisle! That paper!

_Queen._ But consider!

_Cha._ Give it me! There, signed--will that content you? Do not speak! You have betrayed me, Vane! See! any day, According to the tenor of that paper, He bids your brother bring the army up, Strafford shall head it and take full revenge. Seek Strafford! Let him have the same, before He rises to defend himself!

_Queen._ In truth? That your shrewd Hollis should have worked a change Like this! You, late reluctant ...

_Cha._ Say, Carlisle, Your brother Percy brings the army up, Falls on the Parliament--(I 'll think of you, My Hollis!) say, we plotted long-- 't is mine, The scheme is mine, remember! Say, I cursed Vane's folly in your hearing! If the Earl Does rise to do us shame, the fault shall lie With you, Carlisle!

_Lady Car._ Nay, fear not me! but still That 's a bright moment, sir, you throw away. Tear down the veil and save him!

_Queen._ Go, Carlisle!

_Lady Car._ (I shall see Strafford--speak to him: my heart Must never beat so, then! And if I tell The truth? What 's gained by falsehood? There they stand Whose trade it is, whose life it is! How vain To gild such rottenness! Strafford shall know, Thoroughly know them!)

_Queen._ Trust to me! [_To_ CARLISLE.] Carlisle, You seem inclined, alone of all the Court, To serve poor Strafford: this bold plan of yours Merits much praise, and yet ...

_Lady Car._ Time presses, madam.

_Queen._ Yet--may it not be something premature? Strafford defends himself to-day--reserves Some wondrous effort, one may well suppose!

_Lady Car._ Ay, Hollis hints as much.

_Cha._. Why linger then? Haste with the scheme--my scheme: I shall be there To watch his look. Tell him I watch his look!

_Queen._ Stay, we 'll precede you!

_Lady Car._ At your pleasure.

_Cha._ Say-- Say, Vane is hardly ever at Whitehall! I shall be there, remember!

_Lady Car._ Doubt me not.

_Cha._ On our return, Carlisle, we wait you here!

_Lady Car._ I 'll bring his answer. Sir, I follow you. (Prove the King faithless, and I take away All Strafford cares to live for: let it be-- 'T is the King's scheme! My Strafford, I can save, Nay, I have saved you, yet am scarce content, Because my poor name will not cross your mind. Strafford, how much I am unworthy you!)