Classic Poem

SCENE X. — A Chamber in Lady S TAINES ' House in Bristol .

Lady S TAINES is seen sitting up in bed .

Lady S TAINES . Good Wold, you're angry; but we can't help that.
Spell we've not used against you, blast nor ban,
Hot from the mystic synods of the night;
Hags of strange seed, we've set not their weird hands
To gather the wild gourds of sin and death,
And shred them in your pot; wrath we've not drawn
From evil stars to strike you: we've but done
As prudent parents do. Would I could sleep!

Enter M ORLEY

M OR . O Madam, where's the Lady Isabella?
She can't be found.
Lady S TAINES Aha! Is the Wold there?
Tell him from me, — To every wind of heaven,
Haste, send ye out. The shores and ocean isles,
Skirr ye them round. Thorough the city, too,
See that ye search: Do it with lighted candles:
Nothing but search! You've found her, then? Not yet.
You'll find her, though, at last — ay, soon enough!
Who's there?
M OR . Thy servant, Madam.
Lady S TAINES . Put him out!
I know he's here: Hence, traitor!
M OR . No one's here,
Save thine own servant Morley. Are you ill?
Shall I call help?
Lady S TAINES . If I have sent her on
To Dunley Tower, to her good cousin's keeping,
Who can say I've done wrong? Death, let me sleep!
M OR . That's the key now! Wold waits my coming forth,
I'll to him with it: the full plot it opens,
Which we so far had traced Philip the leech
And Zebra in — dark twain! O now to save
That good young maid of Mervyn! Help here, too,
I must fetch quick: 'tis one of her old fits.