For restless years upon a bed-rid couch,
With the sole sense of dotage and distress,

Than change with thee and take upon my soul
Thy forfeiture, and lodge within my breast
That worm of memory which to-day shall breed,
And which upon thy death-bed shall not die,
But being of the soul, shall be immortal!
Go-God forgive thee! for not mine the heart
That would invoke a curse.

VAN AESWYN.

Lady, I swear

I bore a part not willingly in this;

And could I, without ruin of my fortunes,
Do aught that should redeem it

Do to thyself the justice to renounce

This false knight's service, and to me one act
Of loyalty seek out with instant haste

The Lord of Arlon; tell him I am here

In tribulation, and beseech his aid,

And bid him by the love he bears his lady,

To grant it me with speed.

Wilt thou do this?

VAN AESWYN.

Madam, I will.

ADRIANA.

Go now then to thy lord,

Lest he suspect thy, tarriance. I, meanwhile,
Will to the inner chamber make retreat,
Where I shall watch and pray till shall be seen
The issue of thine errand. Hark! they call thee.

[Exeunt.

SCENE III.

AN ANTE-CHAMBER IN THE EARL'S PALACE.

SIR WALTER D'ARLON and GILBERT MATTHEW.

GILBERT MATTHEW.

No sooner had his highness reached the palace
Than he sends back for me.

D'ARION.

And me the same.

GILBERT MATTHEW.

His highness is not happy.

D'ARLON.

That is likely,

But have you any private cause to think it ?

GILBERT MATTHEW.

I have observed that when he is not happy

He sends for me.

D'ARLON.

And do you mend his mood?

GILBERT MATTHEW.

Nay, what I can. His highness at such times
Is wishful to be counselled to shed blood.

D'ARLON.

'Tis said that he is counselled oft to that.

GILBERT MATTHEW.

It is my duty to advise his highness,

With neither fear nor favor.

As I came,

And many of the mean-crafts roamed about
Discoursing of the news they heard from Ghent ;
And as his highness passed they misbehaved,

And three were knocked upon the head with staves.

I knew by that his highness was not happy.

I knew I should be sent for.

Enter an USHER from an inner chamber.

USHER.

Ho! Master Gilbert Matthew to his highness.

(Re-enters the chamber, followed by GILBERT MATTHEW.)

D'ARLON.

There's some men of their bloody counsels boast,
As though the heart were difficult to harden.

Enter an ATTENDANT.

ATTENDANT.

My lord, a gentleman has come in haste
To seek you. I informed him you were here
In waiting on his highness, but he still
Insisted you would see him, did you know
The matter and its urgency.

D'ARLON.

Yes, yes, the man I know,

But not the matter that he hath with me.

Unless it be some difference with my steward

About his quarters.

ATTENDANT.

Something else than that.

Re-enter the USHER.

USHER.

The Lord of Arlon to his highness.

D'ARLON.

Well;

Say to Van Aeswyn, when I leave the Earl

I'll see him.

[Exeunt.

SCENE V.

A CHAMBER IN THE EARL'S PALACE.

The EARL and GILBERT MATTHEW.

EARL.

And thus, if all that we have heard be true,

Last night's ill news this morning somewhat betters.

There's reason to surmise these granaries

Were not destroyed by chance, and the same hand
Which did us this good service may do more.