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In the King's name. I' faith 'tis like a poet!
Ormond.But list to this. After these verses, sealed
With such judicious forethought, I received
From Rochester a second message—that
Which at this moment doth unite us here.
And, gentlemen, 'twas just a roll of parchment
With a pink ribbon tied.
All the Cavaliers. With a pink ribbon tied. Is 't possible?
Ormond.See how that idiot doth expose us all.
Clifford.'Tis shocking! Does he deem such tricks jocose?
Ormond.The message was entrusted, it is true,
To Willis. But it might have chanced to fall
Into unfriendly hands!
Rosebery. Into unfriendly hands! Then nought were left
But flight.
Jenkins. But flight. Upon what frail supports one leans!
I shudder when I think how many things
Fate sometimes on a madman's head doth balance.
At the first change of wind, the slightest sound,
The towering structure falls, and in a night,
A throne, a nation, mayhap a whole world,
Doth vanish!
Sedley. Doth vanish! But methinks that Davenant
Is missing, too!
Ormond. Is missing, too! Bah! Davenant, a clown,
A mountebank, a poet!—He 's in hiding!
Count if you will on such base churls as he!
Downie.Our good friend Richard Cromwell, by the way,
The usurper's son, 's in prison. Did you know?
A traitor—
Drogheda. A traitor—Ay, poor Richard!
Cromwell [aside.] …Ay, poor Richard! Poor, indeed!