her very well. The following is a prose sketch of her as seen in common life.
Sir Toby Matthew’s Portrait of Lucy Percy, Countess of Carlisle.
“She is of too high a mind and dignity, not only to seek, but almost to wish the friendship of any creature: they, whom she is pleased to choose, are such as are of the most eminent condition, both for power and employment; not with any design towards her own particular, either of advantage or curiosity, but her nature values fortunate persons as virtuous. She prefers the conversation of men to that of women; not but she can talk on the fashions with her female friends, but she is too soon sensible that she can set them as she wills; that pre-eminence shortens all equality. She converses with those who are most distinguished for their conversational powers.
“Of love freely will she discourse, listen to all its faults, and mark all its power. She cannot herself love in earnest, but she will play with love, and will take a deep interest for persons of condition and celebrity.”—See Life of Pym; in Lardner Cabinet Cyclopædia, Vol. xci., p. 213.
The noblest trait, given her in the play, is the justice she is able to do Charles, after his treachery has consigned Strafford to the Tower.
| LADY CARLISLE. |
| And he betrayed you. |
| STRAFFORD. |
| He! it cannot be, |
| There’s not a minion in his court so vile, |
| Holland nor Jermyn, would deceive a trust |
| Like that I placed in him, nor would belie |
| So seeming heart felt words as those he spake. |
| LADY CARLISLE. |
| He’s not entirely vile, and yet he did it. |
This, seen in unison with her outpouring of contempt upon the king when present, makes out a character. As a whole, that given her by the poet is not only nobler than the one assigned her in history, but opposed to it in a vital point.
The play closes after Strafford has set forth for the scaffold
