Page:CromwellHugo.djvu/145

Blood flows on all sides; I have come from church,
Whither I went to render thanks to God!"
Cromwell [enthusiastically.]A blessed saint is Peters!
Thurloe. A blessed saint is Peters! Shall we spare
The remnant of that race?
Cromwell. The remnant of that race? And wherefore? Nay,
No mercy to the papists! Let us be
Amid this nation as a burning torch
Amid a field of grain!
Thurloe [bowing.] …ld of grain! 'Tis said, my lord.
Cromwell.A pulpit's vacant in this same Armagh.
Peters we nominate thereto; his note
Is most succinct.
Thurloe [bowing again.] The Emperor would know
Wherefore you do maintain in readiness
New armaments, equipped at great expense.
Cromwell [hotly.]Let him leave war to us and his whole mind
Give to his festivals! What would he have
With me,—with his two-headed eagle, ay,
And Aulic Council?—Would he frighten me?
The simple German! For that, on great days,
He carries in his hand a painted globe
He calls the world! Bah! thunder that ne'er strikes,
But rumbles ever!
[He motions to Thurloe to continue.
Thurloe. But rumbles ever! Colonel Titus, next—
For libel held in prison—
Cromwell. For libel held in prison—What would he?
A scurvy knave!
Thurloe. A scurvy knave! His liberty, my lord.
These nine months in his dungeon he has lain,
Forgotten on his straw.
Cromwell. Forgotten on his straw. Impossible!