Of words or vows, pledges or protestations. ADRIANA. I trusted not. I hoped that I was loved, Hoped and despair'd, doubted and hoped again, Till this day, when I first breathed freelier, Daring to trust and now— -Oh God, my heart! It was not made to bear this agony Tell me you love me, or you love me not. ARTEVELDE. I love thee, dearest, with as large a love ADRIANA. What was it that you said then? If ARTEVELDE. Be calm; And let me warn thee, ere thy choice be fixed, SCENE X.] PHILIP VAN ARTEVELDE. But build not upon this; the swollen stream Of armed men, must be himself in arms. And leave myself no choice of vantage ground, ADRIANA. Oh Artevelde, my choice is free no more. In trouble and in danger and in distress, Through time and through eternity I'll love thee ; From loving and adoring thee next Him; ARTEVELDE. I fear, my Adriana, 'tis a rash And passionate resolve that thou hast made: 51 So great a winner by thy desperate play. Heaven is o'er all, and unto Heaven I leave it. That which hath made me weak shall make me strong, Weak to resist, strong to requite thy love; And if some tax thou payest for that love, ADRIANA. Farewell. But take my signet-ring and give me thine, ARTEVELDE. My signet-ring, I have it not to-day : Give Love a good night's rest within thy heart SCENE XI.-BRUGES.-An Apartment in the Palace of the The EARL and SIR WALTER D'ARLON. D'ARLON. I marvel, my good lord, you take that knave EARL. Treason done Against my enemies secures him mine. His countrymen of Ghent can ne'er forgive him; Which knowing, he will therefore cleave to me. Besides, he learns the minds of men toward me Here and in Ghent, how each man stands affected. For this and other serviceable arts, Not out of friendship, do I show him favour. Have you not seen a jackdaw take his stand Is Gilbert Matthew; from my fleece he picks Enter GILBERT MATTHEW. Well, honest Gilbert, are the knights not gone? GILBERT. Not yet, my lord; they urge in lieu of lives To fill your coffers. I denied them roundly. I bid thee not! EARL. GILBERT. Lives, lives, my lord, take freely; But spare the lands and burgages and moneys. The father dead, shall sleep and be forgotten; The patrimony gone,-that makes a wound That's slow to heal; heirs are above-ground ever. Well, be it so. EARL. GILBERT. The knights wait here without. They ask an audience of leave, and bring A new adherent. EARL. Give them entrance, Gilbert. GILBERT MATTHEW goes out, and returns with SIR SIMON BETTE and SIR GUISEBERT GRUTT. SIR SIMON. This audience we made bold to crave, my lord, EARL. He shall be welcome. Does he wait? SIR SIMON. He does; And with your highness' leave I'll bring him to you. EARL. Think'st thou he may be steadied? [Exit. GILBERT. At this time He has great power to do your highness service; And your free pardon for all past misdeeds, EARL. Well, well, so be it. 'Tis no such urgent need we have of him; But if he be so contrite, it is well. |