Thy will and reason by a strength of judgment,
For, in a word, I give thee freedom ; take it.
If equal fates have not ordain’d to pitch
Thy hopes above my height, let not thy passion
Lead thee to shrink+ mine honour in oblivion:
Thou art thine own; I have done.

Dal. Oh! you are all oracle,
The living stock and root of truth and wisdom.
Kath. My worthiest lord and father, the indul-

gence Of

your sweet composition, thus commands
The lowest of obedience; you have granted
A liberty so large, that I want skill
To choose without direction of example:
From which I daily learn, by how much more

4 Lead thee to shrink mine honour, &c.] This is the reading of the 4to, and makes very good sense; but from the general tenor of the sentence, I am inclined to believe that the poet's word was sink. s I have done.] And done well too! The

person

here meant is George, the eldest son of Alexander Seton, and second Earl of Huntley. He married Anabella, daughter of James I. Hence it is that be talks, in his opening speech, of “ the piece of royalty that is stitched up in his Kate's blood.” What authority the poet had for the histrionic character of this nobleman, I know not; but if the princely family of the Gordons ever numbered such a personage as this among their ancestors, let them be justly proud of him; for neither on the stage, nor in the great drama of life, will there be easily found a character to put in competition with him.

Daliell (for so Ford writes it) is also a noble fellow. There are two persons of thạt name, William and Robert Dalzell, grandsons of Sir John Dalzell, either of whom, from the date, might be meant for the character here introduced. Of the former nothing is recorded. The latter, Douglas says, was killed at Dumfries, in skirmish between Maxwell and Crichton, July, 1508.”

a

a

You take off from the roughness of a father,
By so much more I am engaged to tender
The duty of a daughter. For respects
Of birth, degrees of title, and advancement,
I nor admire nor slight them; all my studies
Shall ever aim at this perfection only,
To live and die so, that you may not blush
In any course of mine to own me yours.

Hunt. Kate, Kate, thou grow'st upon my heart,

like peace,

Creating every other hour a jubilee.

Kath. To you, my lord of Dalyell, I address Some few remaining words: the general fame That speaks your merit, even in vulgar tongues, Proclaims it clear; but in the best, a precedent.

Hunt. Good wench, good girl, i' faith!

Kath. For my part, trust me, I value mine own worth at higher rate, 'Cause you are pleas'd to prize it: if the stream Of your protested service (as you term it) Run in a constancy, more than a compliment, It shall be my delight, that worthy love Leads you to worthy actions; and these guide you Richly to wed an honourable name:

virtuous praise, in after-ages, Shall be your heir, and I, in your brave mention, Be chronicled the mother of that issue, That glorious issue.

Hunt. Oh, that I were young again! She'd make me court proud danger, and suck spirit From reputation.

a

So every

Kath. To the present motion, Here's all that I dare answer: when a ripeness Of more experience, and some use of time, Resolves to treat the freedom of my youth Upon exchange of troths, I shall desire No surer credit of a match with virtue Than such as lives in you; mean time, my hopes

a

are

Preser[v]'d secure, in having you a friend. .

Dal. You are a blessed lady, and instruct
Ambition not to soar a farther flight,
Than in the perfum'd air of your

soft voice.
My noble lord of Huntley, you have lent
A full extent of bounty to this parley;
And for it shall command your humblest servant.
Hunt. Enough: we are still friends, and will

continue A hearty love.—Oh, Kate! thou art mine own. No more ;-my lord of Crawford.

Enter CRAWFORD.
Craw. From the king
I come, my lord of Huntley, who in council
Requires your present aid.

Hunt. Some weighty business?
Craw. A secretary from a duke of York,

The second son to the late English Edward,
Conceal'd, I know not where, these fourteen years,
Craves audience from our master; and 'tis said
The duke himself is following to the court.
Hunt. Duke upon duke! 'tis well, 'tis well;

here's bustling
For majesty ;-my lord, I will along with you.

Craw. My service, noble lady.
Kath. Please you walk, sir?
Dal. “Times have their changes; sorrow makes

men wise ; The sun itself must set as well as rise;" Then, why not I? Fair madam, I wait on you.

[Exeunt.

SCENE III.

London.—An Apartment in the Tower. Enter the BISHOP OF DURHAM, SIR ROBERT Clif

FORD, and Urswick.—Lights.
Dur. You find, Sir Robert Clifford, how se-

curely
King Henry, our great master, doth commit
His person to your loyalty; you taste
His bounty and his mercy even in this ;
That at a time of night so late, a place
So private as his closet, he is pleas'd
To admit

you

to his favour: do not falter In your discovery; but as you covet A liberal grace, and pardon for your follies,

,

So labour to deserve it, by laying open
All plots, all persons, that contrive against it,

.
Urs. Remember not the witchcraft, or the

magic, The charms and incantations, which the sorceress Of Burgundy hath cast upon your reason: Sir Robert, be your own friend now, discharge Your conscience freely; all of such as love you, Stand sureties for your honesty and truth. Take heed you do not dally with the king, He is wise as he is gentle.

Clif. I am miserable, If Henry be not merciful.

Urs. The king comes.

Enter King Henry. K. Hen. Clifford ! Clif. (Kneels.) Let my weak knees rot on the

earth, If I appear as lep'rous in my treacheries, Before your royal eyes, as to my own I seem a monster, by my breach of truth. K. Hen. Clifford, stand up; for instance of thy

safety, I offer thee my hand.

Clif. A sovereign balm For my bruis'd soul, I kiss it with a greediness.

[Kisses the King's hand, and rises. Sir, you are a just master, but I

K. Hen. Tell me,
Is every circumstance thou hast set down