Robert Browning

“ That's fighting for you now!
(Enter SIR H. VANE.)
VANE.
The Commons, Madam,
Are sitting with closed doors—a huge debate—
No lack of noise—but nothing, I should guess,
Concerning Strafford: Pym has certainly
Not spoken yet.
QUEEN.
(To CARLISLE.) You hear?
CARLISLE.
I do not hear
That the King's sent for!
VANE.
Savile will be able
To tell you more.
(Enter HOLLAND.)
QUEEN.
The last news, Holland?
HOLLAND.
Pym
Is raving like a fiend! The whole House means
To follow him together to Whitehall
And force the King to give up Strafford.
QUEEN.
Strafford? ”

“ Consider! 'Tis the House
We summoned so reluctantly—which nothing
But the disastrous issue of the war
Persuaded us to summon; they'll wreak all
Their spite on us, no doubt; but the old way
Is to begin by talk of grievances!
They have their grievances to busy them!
CARLISLE.
Pym has begun his speech.
QUEEN.
Where's Vane? . . That is
Pym will impeach Lord Strafford if he leaves
His Presidency—he's at York, you know,
Since the Scots beat him—why should he leave York?
CARLISLE.
Because the King sends for him. ”

“ The North that was to rise—Ireland to help—
What came of it? In my poor mind a fright
Is no prodigious punishment.
CARLISLE.
A fright?
Pym will fail worse than Strafford if he thinks
To frighten him. (To the QUEEN.) You will not save him, then?
SAVILE.
When something like a charge is made, the King
Will best know how to save him: and 'tis clear
That, while he suffers nothing by the matter,
The King will reap advantage: this in question,
No dinning you with ship-money complaints!
QUEEN (To CARLISLE) .
If we dissolve them, who will pay the army?
Protect us from the insolent Scots? ”

“ Pray you now . . . Pym awaits me . . . pray you now!
(Putting aside those who attempt to support him, STRAFFORD
reaches the doors—they open wide. HAMPDEN, &c. and a crowd
discovered; and at the bar, PYM standing apart. As STRAFFORD kneels
the scene shuts.) ”

“ Against this very Pym.
QUEEN.
Why, he shall claim
Vengeance on Pym!
VANE.
And Strafford, who is he
To 'scape unscathed amid the accidents
That harass all beside? I, for my part,
Should look for something of discomfiture
Had the King trusted me so thoroughly
And been so paid for it.
HOLLAND.
He'll keep at York:
All will blow over: he'll return no worse—
Humbled a little—thankful for a place
Under as good a man—Oh, we'll dispense
With seeing Strafford for a month or two!
(Enter STRAFFORD.)
QUEEN.
You here! ”

“ England! I see her arm in this! I yield.
Why—'tis the fairest triumph! Why desire
To cheat them? I would never stoop to that——
Be mean enough for that! Let all have end!
Don't repine, Slingsby . . have they not a right? ”

“ Very strong—as fits
The Faction's Head . . with no offence to Hampden,
Vane, Rudyard and my loving Hollis—one
And all they lodge within the Tower to-night
In just equality. Bryan! Mainwaring!
(Many of his Adherents enter.)
The Peers debate just now (a lucky chance)
On the Scots war—my visit's opportune:
When all is over, Bryan, you'll proceed
To Ireland: these despatches, mark me, Bryan,
Are for the Deputy, and these for Ormond—
We'll want the Army here—my Army, raised
At such a cost, that should have done such good,
And was inactive all the time! ”