Part 27 (2/2)

Revenge me, some of you!

[_Falls into the Soldiers arms and is borne off, U.E.R._]

_Officer._ [_Points to WYCKOFF._]

Seize him, ye have a warrant for his life.

The scaffold were defil'd. Unto the gallows!

[_WYCKOFF is borne off struggling._]

_Wyck._ 'Twas for the state! O mercy!

Arthur Walton!

He would have slain you! Mercy! mercy--

_Arth._ [_Supporting Florence._] Heaven!

How just and awful these thy punishments.

_Enter CROMWELL attended, L._

_Crom._ I did you wrong, yet eagerly excused The death I thought you merited.

_Arth._ My Lord, I owe no malice, and I wish you well, As you shall deal with England, whose sad sh.o.r.es I fain would quit awhile with her I love, After these heavy griefs.

_Crom._ And you will leave me?

I would it were not so; for all around I am hemm'd in by doubters. Perfidy Makes mouths at me. Suspicion rears her head, Hissing upon my path. And my friends drop off, Leaving a sting behind!

Stay! Arthur Walton, England doth bid thee stay!

_Arth._ I came here, when A king did threaten England's liberties, Her charter'd rights. He cannot threaten now.

His power has pa.s.s'd to others. I am not Ambitious. If they use it well, 'tis well, And I am needed not--

_Crom._ [_Crosses to R._] Farewell, then, Sir; But not, I trust, for ever. Go, in peace, Amid the voices of the nations hear and note What they shall say of England and of Cromwell.

Farewell, sweet lady, pray for her and me.

[_To FLORENCE._]

Come, I have business, both of you, farewell!

[_Exeunt all, but WILLIAM and HOST._]

_Host._ Confess now, I have done well in discovering these villanies.

_Will._ Ay, thou art an Eldorado of cunning.

_Host._ Herein you see the man of experience: I did not rush to tell it all directly.

_Will._ No, indeed, thou didst not, and had I not been there to extract the pearl of discovery from the jaw-bone of ignorance with the forceps of discernment, my Master by this time had been sped.

_Host._ Why, I was in the very nick of time. I am older than thou art.

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