Among the snowy water-lily buds. Its shape was such as summer melody Of the south wind in spicy vales might give To some light cloud bound from the golden dawn In hue and form that it had been a mirror 215 220 225 Of its own beauty, floating on the line Which, like a film in purest space, divided 230 The heaven beneath the water from the heaven O friend, sleep was a veil uplift from Heaven- 235 240 CHARLES THE FIRST [Charles the First was designed in 1818, begun towards the close of 1819 [Medwin, Life, ii. p. 62], resumed in January, and finally laid aside by June, 1822. It was published in part in the Posthumous Poems, 1824, and printed, in its present form (with the addition of some 530 lines), by Mr. W. M. Rossetti, 1870. Further particulars are given in the Editor's Notes at the end of the volume.] Gentlemen of the Inns of Court, Citizens, Pursuivants, Marshalsmen, Law Students, Judges, Clerk. SCENE I.-The Masque of the Inns of Court. A Pursuivant. Place, for the Marshal of the Masque! which turns, Like morning from the shadow of the night, The night to day, and London to a place Of peace and joy? Second Citizen. And Hell to Heaven. Eight years are gone, And they seem hours, since in this populous street A Youth. Yet, father, 'tis a happy sight to see, By God or man;-'tis like the bright procession From which men wake as from a Paradise, And draw new strength to tread the thorns of life. Io now that vanity reigns 1870; now reigns vanity 1824. 5 IO 15 20 Which bloom so rarely in this barren world? Oh, kill these bitter thoughts which make the present When Avarice and Tyranny, vigilant Fear, And open-eyed Conspiracy lie sleeping As on Hell's threshold; and all gentle thoughts Waken to worship Him who giveth joys 25 30 With His own gift. Second Citizen. How young art thou in this old age of time! How green in this gray world? Canst thou discern The signs of seasons, yet perceive no hint Of change in that stage-scene in which thou art 35 Not a spectator but an actor? or Art thou a puppet moved by [enginery]? The day that dawns in fire will die in storms, Even though the noon be calm. My travel's done, Before the whirlwind wakes I shall have found 40 My inn of lasting rest; but thou must still Be journeying on in this inclement air. Wrap thy old cloak about thy back; Nor leave the broad and plain and beaten road, Although no flowers smile on the trodden dust, For the violet paths of pleasure. This Charles the First 45 By vapours, through whose threatening ominous veil This height of noon-from which he must decline From Machiavel and Bacon: and, if Judas Is the Archbishop. Second Citizen. Rather say the Pope: London will be soon his Rome: he walks As if he trod upon the heads of men: That 60 He looks elate, drunken with blood and gold;- Invisibly, and with her as with his shadow, Which turns Heaven's milk of mercy to revenge. 33-7 Canst... enginery 1870; Canst thou not think Of change in that low scene, in which thou art 43-57 Wrap . . . bold as he 1870; omitted 1824. 65 Third Citizen (lifting up his eyes). Good Lord! rain it down upon him! Amid her ladies walks the papist queen, As if her nice feet scorned our English earth. A dog if I might tear her with my teeth! There's old Sir Henry Vane, the Earl of Pembroke, And others who make base their English breed With papists, atheists, tyrants, and apostates. 70 75 dust on their dishonoured heads, 80 To avert the wrath of Him whose scourge is felt For the great sins which have drawn down from Heaven and foreign overthrow. The remnant of the martyred saints in Rochefort Have been abandoned by their faithless allies 85 Enter LEIGHTON (who has been branded in the face) and BASTWICK. Canst thou be-art thou- .? Leighton. I was Leighton: what Third Citizen. 90 Are these the marks with which Laud thinks to improve the image of his Maker Second Citizen. It is said besides That lewd and papist drunkards may profane And has permitted that most heathenish custom A man who thus twice crucifies his God May well 95 100 his brother.-In my mind, friend, And by what means? The root of all this ill is prelacy. I would cut up the root. Second Citizen. Smiting each Bishop under the fifth rib. 105 Third Citizen. You seem to know the vulnerable place Egyptian bondage, sir. Your worm of Nile As they of soul and all; nor does it wallow In slime as they in simony and lies A Marshalsman. Give place, give place! You torch-bearers, advance to the great gate, A Law Student. What thinkest thou Of this quaint show of ours, my agèd friend? Inflame the night to the eastward, and the clarions And their sounds, floating hither round the pageant, 110 115 120 First Citizen. I will not think but that our country's wounds May yet be healed. The king is just and gracious, Though wicked counsels now pervert his will: 125 These once cast off Second Citizen. As adders cast their skins And keep their venom, so kings often change; Councils and counsellors hang on one another, Hiding the loathsome Like the base patchwork of a leper's rags. 130 The Youth. Oh, still those dissonant thoughts!--List how the music Grows on the enchanted air! And see, the torches Restlessly flashing, and the crowd divided Like waves before an admiral's prow! A Marshalsman. Give place Room for the King! The Youth. How glorious! See those thronging chariots Rolling, like painted clouds before the wind, Behind their solemn steeds: how some are shaped Like curved sea-shells dyed by the azure depths Of Indian seas; some like the new-born moon; And some like cars in which the Romans climbed (Canopied by Victory's eagle-wings outspread) The Capitolian-See how gloriously 108 bondage cj. Forman; bondages 1870. air 1870; omitted 1824. 135 140 119-23 Even now. 136 A Pur138-40 Rolling... 132 how the 1870; loud 1824. Rolling like painted clouds before the wind: Like curved shells, dyed by the azure depths 1824. |