Page:CromwellHugo.djvu/344

There could one die and fear no accident.
Tom [on the platform.
This throne 's less firm; it shakes when one comes up.
Enoch.The scaffold was less quickly built, meseems.
The Workman with the Bible [shaking his head.
It was not finished, brother, in that night.
Enoch.Thou say'st?
The Workman [pointing to the throne.
Thou say'st? This stage is to that scaffold joined.
'Tis but another, higher step, wherefrom
Cromwell doth bend us to his single will.
The work begun that night is finished now.
This Stuart throne the scaffold doth perfect.
Tom.Ah! Nahum the Inspired views all things
From a high plane.
Nahum [his eyes fixed on the throne.
From a high plane. Ay, taking stage with stage,
I much prefer the other. Then it was
Charles Stuart's turn; it is our turn to-day.
Cromwell did on the black cloth immolate
The King alone; upon this purple cloth
He is about to sacrifice the nation!
The Master Workman [to Nahum.
How now! you dare speak thus! Some one may hear.
Nahum.And what care I? In sackcloth I am clad.
For Cromwell's sake, in sooth, would he might hear!
If he would fain be king, then may he fall!
He is accurst. His death I prophesy,
I, poor and wretched creature that I am,
But worthier than he in his accurst
And execrable glory; for the Lord
The desert chose in preference to Tyre,
And Ephraim's grapes to Abiezer's vine.