ACT V
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CENE I. _Whitehall._ HOLLIS, Lady CARLISLE. _Hol._ Tell the King then! Come in with me! _Lady Car._ Not so!He must not hear till it succeeds. _Hol._ Succeed?No dream was half so vain--you 'd rescue StraffordAnd outwit Pym! I cannot tell you ... lady,The block pursues me, and the hideous show.To-day ... is it to-day? And all the whileHe 's sure of the King's pardon. Think, I haveTo tell this man he is to die. The KingMay rend his hair, for me! I 'll not see Strafford. _Lady Car._ Only, if I succeed, remember--CharlesHas saved him. He would hardly value lifeUnless his gift. My stanch friends wait. Go in--You must go in to Charles! _Hol._ And all besideLeft Stafford long ago. The King has signedThe warrant for his death! the Queen was sickOf the eternal subject. For the Court,--The Trial was amusing in its way,Only too much of it: the Earl withdrewIn time. But you, fragile, alone, so young,Amid rude mercenaries--you deviseA plan to save him! Even though it fails,What shall reward you! _Lady Car._ I may go, you think,To France with him? And you reward me, friend,Who lived with Strafford even from his youthBefore he set his heart on state-affairsAnd they bent down that noble brow of his.I have learned somewhat of his latter life,And all the future I shall know: but, Hollis,I ought to make his youth my own as well.Tell me,--when he is saved! _Hol._ My gentle friend,He should know all and love you, but 't is vain! _Lady Car._ Love? no--too late now! Let him love the King!'Tis the King's scheme! I have your word, remember!We 'll keep the old delusion up. But, quick!Quick! Each of us has work to do, beside!Go to the King! I hope--Hollis--I hope!Say nothing of my scheme! Hush, while we speakThink where he is! Now for my gallant friends! _Hol._ Where he is? Calling wildly upon Charles,Guessing his fate, pacing the prison-floor.Let the King tell him! I 'll not look on Strafford. SCENE II. _The Tower._ STRAFFORD _sitting with his_ Children. _They sing._ O bell' andarePer barca in mare,Verso la seraDi Primavera! [Music] _Andante._ O bell' an-da-re, Per bar-ca inma-re, Ver-so la se-ra, Di pri-ma-ve-ra, O bell' an-da-re, _slentando e diminuendo._ O bell' an-da - - re. _William._ The boat 's in the broad moonlight all this while--
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