Volume Viii Part 54 (1/2)

HUB. You cannot hide yourself, Matilda; no disguise Will serve the turn: now must you to the king, And all these wars will with your presence cease.

Yield you to him, he soon will yield to peace.

MAT. They say thou took'st some pity of a child, The king appointing thee to sear his eyes; Men do report thee to be just of word, And a dear lover of my lord the king.

If thou didst that, if thou be one of these, Pity Matilda, prostrate at thy feet.

HUB. I sav'd young Arthur's eyes, and pity thee; My word is just, which I have given the king; The king I love, and thee I know he loves: Compare these, then how can I pleasure thee?

MAT. By letting me escape to Dunmow Abbey, Where I will end my life a votary.

HUB. And the king die with doting on thy love?

MAT. No, no; this fire of l.u.s.t would be soon laid, If once he knew me sworn a holy maid.

HUB. Thy tears and love of virtue have the power To make me at an instant true and false: True to distressed beauty and rare chast.i.ty; False to King John, that holds the sight of thee Dearer than England or earth's empery.

Go, happy soul, that in so ill an age Hast such fair beauty for thy heritage: Yet go not so alone. Dost hear, tall soldier?

[_Call a Soldier_.

I know thee honest: guide this gentle maid To Dunmow Abbey: she is one I know.

I will excuse thee, and content thee well; My signet take, that ye may pa.s.s unsearch'd.

MAT. Kind Hubert, many prayers for this good deed Shall on my beads be daily numbered.

[_Exeunt_.

_Enter_ LEICESTER, RICHMOND, FITZWATER.

LEI. O treble heat of honour, toil, and rage!

How cheers Earl Richmond? Fitzwater, speak, old man.

We are now near together: answer me.

FITZ. Leicester, the more our woe, The likelier to be taken by the foe.

RICH. O, let not such a thought abuse thy age!

We'll never yield us to the tyrant's rage.

LEI. But if my girl be yielded-- If she be!

FITZ. Ay, ay-- There's no man but shall have his time to die.

LEI. Now is our hour, which they shall dearly by.

_Enter_ KING, HUBERT, CHESTER, MOWBRAY.

RICH. Leicester, we'll stand like three battalions: What says our n.o.ble general thereto?

FITZ. Why, I say, do: [And] while I can, I'll keep my place with you.

KING. How now, my bugbear, will you now submit?