The consolation that he wanted not, Awe in the place of grief within him wrought. Some melted into tears without a sob, And some with hearts that might be heard to throb Shuddered to hear through the deserted halls From out the chamber where the women kept;- * THE DIRGE. Old winter was gone In his weakness back to the mountains hoar, From the planet that hovers upon the shore If the land, and the air, and the sea Ginevra! She is still, she is cold On the bridal couch, One step to the white death bed, And one to the bier, And one to the charnel-and one, O where? The dark arrow fled In the noon. Ere the sun through heaven once more has rolled, The rats in her heart Will have made their nest, And the worms be alive in her golden hair, While the spirit that guides the sun, Sits throned in his flaming chair, ! CHARLES THE FIRST. FRAGMENTS. ACT I. SCENE I. The Pageant to [celebrate] the arrival of the Queen. A PURSUIVANT. PLACE, for the Marshal of the Masque! FIRST SPEAKER. What thinkest thou of this quaint masque, which turns, Like morning from the shadow of the night, The night to day, and London to a place Of peace and joy? SECOND SPEAKER. And Hell to Heaven, Eight years are gone, And they seem hours, since in this populous street The roots will be refreshed with civil blood; THIRD SPEAKER (a youth). Yet, father, tis a happy sight to see, By God or man;-'tis like the bright procession From which men wake as from a paradise, And draw new strength to tread the thorns of life. If God be good, wherefore should this be evil? And if this be not evil, dost thou not draw Unseasonable poison from the flowers Which bloom so rarely in this barren world? O, kill these bitter thoughts which make the present Dark as the future! # When avarice and tyranny, vigilant fear, And open-eyed conspiracy lie sleeping SECOND SPEAKER. How young art thou in this old age of time! How green in this grey world! Canst thou not think Of change in that low scene, in which thou art The day that dawns in fire will die in storms, Even though the noon be calm. My travel's done; Before the whirlwind wakes I shall have found My inn of lasting rest, but thou must still SECOND SPEAKER. Rather say the Pope. London will be soon his Rome: he walks He looks elate, drunken with blood and gold;- Which turns Heaven's milk of mercy to revenge. ANOTHER CITIZEN (lifting up his eyes). Good Lord! rain it down upon him. [ Amid her ladies walks the papist queen, As if her nice feet scorned our English earth. There's old Sir Henry Vane, the Earl of Pembroke, Lord Essex, and Lord Keeper Coventry, And others who make base their English breed By vile participation of their honours With papists, atheists, tyrants, and apostates. ** purposes. FOURTH SPEAKER (a pursuivant) Give place, give place!— You torch-bearers advance to the great gate, And then attend the Marshal of the Masque |