A few more days in London I must have.
Mistress Fleetwood [sourly.]To make yourself a throne, is it not so?
In candour, father, would you not be king?
But Fleetwood, yes, my husband, will prevent!
Cromwell.How now! my son-in-law—
Mistress Fleetwood. He does not choose
To fake a crooked line. There is no place
In a republic for a king. Therein
I am with him opposed to your designs.
Cromwell.And my own daughter, too!
Lady Falconbridge [to Mistress Fleetwood.] Upon my word,
I do not understand you, sister mine!
Our father's a free man, his throne is ours.
Why should not he be king, like any other?
And why deny ourselves th' ecstatic joy
Of being princesses of royal blood?
Mistress Fleetwood.Sister, I am by worldly vanities
But little moved. My thoughts are all intent
Upon salvation.
Lady Falconbridge. I do love the court,
And know not why, my husband being a lord,
My father is not king.
Mistress Fleetwood. The pride of Eve,
My sister, the first man destroyed!
Lady Falconbridge [turning away, disdainfully.
'Tis plain
That of a nobleman she's not the wife!
Cromwell [in an irritated tone.
Be silent, both! Of your young sister, pray,
The mild and placid bearing imitate.
Frances, of what think you?
