Could bring her here? Edward has sent her hither, To see if I will crouch to him for pardon.
Be still, my jealous heart
Enter LADY ELIZABETH GREY.
Lady E. G. My Warwick!
Warw. 'Tis a grace I look'd not for, That a fair fav'rite, who so late had tasted The pleasures of a court, should condescend To visit thus a poor abandon'd captive.
Lady E. G. I come to take my portion of misfortune,
To pour the balm of comfort in, and heal, If possible, the wounds which I had made. Too well I know I was the fatal cause Of all thy sorrows-but the noble Edward, For so, indeed, he is-
Warw. And art thou come,
To plead the cause of him who sent me hither? Lady E. G. I come to be the messenger of peace, To calm thy troubled soul, and give thee rest; To teach my Warwick to forget his wrongs..
Warw. Forget my wrongs! was that thy errand here,
To teach me low submission to a tyrant; To ask forgiveness, kneel, and deprecate The wrath of blust'ring Edward? If thou com'st On terms like these to bring me freedom, know It will not be accepted: now I see
Through all your arts; by Heav'n, I'd rather lose A thousand lives, than owe one to his bounty.
Lady E. G. Either my Warwick is much chang'd, and so
I fear he is, or he would never talk
Thus coldly to me, never would despise A life so precious, if he knew how much Elizabeth had suffer'd to preserve it.
The gallant Edward, won by my entreaties
Warw. Entreaties! didst thou then descend so low, As to entreat him for me?
Lady E. G. Hadst thou seen,
When I implor'd him to forgive my Warwick, How kind he look'd, how his repenting heart Heav'd with the pangs of agonizing friendship, Thou wouldst have pity'd him.
Warw. Deceitful woman!
I see thy falsehood now; I am betray'd, And thou art leagu'd with Edward to destroy me. Go to your royal lover, and unite
Those only fit companions for each other, A broken friendship, and a perjur'd love.
Lady E. G. Unkind suggestions! how have I deserv'd it?
Have I for this refus'd a youthful monarch, And spurn'd his offer'd sceptre at my feet? But since I am suspected, witness Heav'n, And witness, Warwick, to my vows! henceforth, Dear as thou art, I cast thee from my love; Elizabeth will never wed-a traitor!
Warw. Am I awake, and did Elizabeth Say she would never wed her faithful Warwick? I wish'd for freedom, but to purchase thine : For life, but to enjoy it with my love,
And she disclaims me.
Lady E. G. Heav'n forbid! O, Warwick, Let not the tide of passion thus o'erwhelm Thy reason.
Warw. Canst thou pardon me? thou know'st Th' unguarded warmth, the weakness of my nature. I would not wrong thee, but I've been so oft,
So cruelly deceiv'd.
Lady E. G. I know thou hast;
But never by Elizabeth.
Warw. O, no!
It is impossible that perfidy
Should wear a form like thine.
That Edward lov'd: no, when I look on thee, All beauteous, all enchanting as thou art, By Heav'n! I think I could almost forgive him. Lady E. G. Then wherefore not be reconcil'd? Warw. To whom?
The author of my wrongs? It cannot be: Know, I have promis'd Margret to destroy him. Lady E. G. Destroy thy friend! ungen'rous, cruel Warwick!
Is't not enough that thou hast triumph'd here? Already we have picrc'd his noble heart
With the keen pangs of disappointed love:
And wouldst thou wound his breast with added sorrows?
Wouldst thou involve a nation in his ruin?
Warw. Elizabeth, no more: alas! too well Thou know'st, there is a pow'rful advocate
In Warwick's breast, that pleads for perjur'd Edward.
Lady E. G. Cherish the soft emotion: O, my Warwick!
Warw. That angel form can never plead in vain: But then, my friends—where is my solemn vow To Margret, and to Pembroke? There's the tie. Lady E. G. Thy league with Margret must be fa- tal: grant
We should succeed, and Lancaster once more Assume the throne; how dear the victory, That's purchas'd with our fellow subjects' blood But if we fall--
Warw. Impossible!
Lady E. G. Oh, think
Betimes, what dreadful punishments await The vanquish'd rebel! thou, perhaps, my love, Shalt then be doom'd to th' ignominious block, To fall inglorious; and, when thou art gone, Who shall defend thy poor Elizabeth?
Warw. Alarming thought! It staggers my firm
And makes me half a villain.
Offi. Madam, the king demands your presence; I Have orders to convey you to the palace. Warw. And wilt thou leave me?
Lady E. G. This, my Warwick, this Is the decisive moment; now determine, Accept of mercy, ere it be too late; Ere hasty Edward- -Shall I say thou wilt Return to thy obedience, and receive Thy pardon? Shall I? Speak, my love. Warw. Perhaps
I may accept it, if 'tis brought by thee.
Lady E. G. Then we shall meet in happiness- Warw. Farewell! [Exit LADY ELIZABETH.
Now to those worst companions in affliction, My own sad thoughts, again; they're gloomy all, And, like my habitation, full of horror.
I like not Edward's message; if he hears My league with Marg'ret, he still has pow'r To make me feel his rage: I have deserv'd it-
[A Trampling heard without. Methought I heard a noise-this way they come. Perhaps it is the messenger of death
Pemb. The messenger of vengeance--see her sword;
Accept it, and be free.
Warw. First let me know
To whom I am indebted for't.
Soon as the rumour of thy foul disgrace
Had reach'd the public ear, th' impatient people, Uncertain of thy fate, tumultuous throng'd
Around the palace, and demanded thee:
Give us our Warwick, give us back, they cry'd, Our hero, our deliv'rer !-I stepp'd forth, And bade them, instant, if they wish'd to save The best of men from infamy and death, To follow me: transported, they obey'd: I led them hither; forc'd the prison gates, And brought thee this-direct it as thou wilt. [Gives the Sword. Warw. Welcome, once more, thou dearest gift of Heav'n!
Immortal liberty! my friend, I thank thee.
O, Pembroke ! 'would thou hadst been here! my love, My dear Elizabeth, is true.
Warw. She has told me such sweet truths; Edward repents him sorely; he is griev'd At his ingratitude.
Pemb. And well he may;
I fear thou art betray'd: alas, my Warwick! Thy open, gen'rous, unsuspecting virtue, Thinks ev'ry heart as honest as thy own. Thou know'st not Edward-nor Elizabeth. The kingdom is in arms, and ev'ry hour It is expected France will join the queen; England will want her great protector's aid; Edward and Rivers have conspir'd to cheat Thy credulous ear; and who so fit to spread The flimsy web as thy Elizabeth,
Their fair ambassadress? I see thou'rt caught. Warw. By Heav'n, it may be so! I am the sport Of fortune and of fraud.
Pemb. Away, my friend;
It is not now a time to think of her: Margret, supported by thy pow'rful name, And join'd by Clarence, waits us at the head Of fifteen thousand men, who, eager all To crush a tyrant, and pull down oppression, Attend thy wish'd for presence; not a soldier
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