Classic Poem

SCENE VII. — A Room in Lady S TAINES ' House in Bristol

Lady M ERVYN and B LANCHE .

Lady M ER. Zebra, Lord Dunley's man — what can it mean? —
Twice in our house has he been seen to-night.
With a fresh force Dunley's at hand, they say;
And there's a plot to give him up the town,
This very night. My aunt being now restored,
Would we were hence!
B LANCHE. Those words of hers meant mischief.
We're in their net. Could we not go to-night?
Lady M ER. Soft! Some one comes.

Enter M ORLEY .

M OR. A messenger from Lord Wold.
Lady M ER. Let him come in.
P HIL. This form Lord Wold in haste.
Lady M ER . You know its purport? You are named therein
For service here
P HIL To take you to his Lordship?
Runs not the letter thus? Dunley's at hand,
And Wold's close kept to be prepared for him:
Bad men are near you, Dunley's tools; so must you
Straight to Wold's camp, there to abide till morn,
Home then he'll send you with a proper guard.
My office as physician to the troops
I' the castle here, and in the camp without,
Let's me free out and in; thus was I chosen
To be your safest guide. O now make haste.
See you be well disguised. Quickly, now
Lady M ER . Blanche,
This is the brother of Sir Hugh de Valma,
Our good young Knight, so loved and so lamented;
We'll go with him.
P HIL . You loved him, did you?
Quickly, or not at all! Oh not at all! Oh not at all!
Lady M ER . How so?
P HIL . What did I say? O yes — come, come
'Twas just a moment's fear some evil thing
Might thwart us in't.
Lady M ER . A minute, and we're ready
Wait for us at the gate, we'll join you there.
P HIL . ( half inwardly ). Oh me, this night! I shall be damn'd for this!
She loved the lad!
Lady M ER . Hush! dangerous ears are near you.
Stay — prythee, guide him by the postern, Blanche,
Into the garden: that's our safest plan
Do't softly now. I'll lose no time, the while
You'll find me in my chamber.
B LANCHE . This way, Sir
P HIL . Hold — call her back — I've something yet to say.
No, no; not now.