_Lady Car._ Hear them out! 'T is the last chance for Strafford! Hear them out! _Hol._ "If we kill Strafford"--on the eighteenth day Of Strafford's trial--"We!" _Cha._ Pym, my good Hollis-- Pym, I should say! _Hol._ Ah, true--sir, pardon me! You witness our proceedings every day; But the screened gallery, I might have guessed, Admits of such a partial glimpse at us, Pym takes up all the room, shuts out the view. Still, on my honor, sir, the rest of the place Is not unoccupied. The Commons sit --That 's England; Ireland sends, and Scotland too, Their representatives; the Peers that judge Are easily distinguished; one remarks The People here and there: but the close curtain Must hide so much! _Queen._ Acquaint your insolent crew. This day the curtain shall be dashed aside! It served a purpose. _Hol._ Think! This very day? Ere Strafford rises to defend himself? _Cha._ I will defend him, sir!--sanction the past This day: it ever was my purpose. Rage At me, not Strafford! _Lady Car._ Nobly!--will he not Do nobly? _Hol._ Sir, you will do honestly; And, for that deed, I too would be a king. _Cha._ Only, to do this now!--"deaf" (in your style) "To subjects' prayers,"--I must oppose them now! It seems their will the trial should proceed,-- So palpably their will! _Hol._ You peril much, But it were no bright moment save for that. Strafford, your prime support, the sole roof-tree Which props this quaking House of Privilege. (Flood comes, winds beat, and see--the treacherous sand!) Doubtless, if the mere putting forth an arm Could save him, you 'd save Strafford. _Cha._ And they dare Consummate calmly this great wrong! No hope? This ineffaceable wrong! No pity then? _Hol._ No plague in store for perfidy?--Farewell! You call me, sir-- [_To_ Lady CARLISLE.] You, lady, bade me come To save the Earl: I came, thank God for it, To learn how far such perfidy can go! You, sir, concert with me on saving him Who have just ruined Strafford! _Cha._ I?--and how? _Hol._ Eighteen days long he throws, one after one, Pym's charges back: a blind moth-eaten law! --He 'll break from it at last: and whom to thank? The mouse that gnawed the lion's net for him Got a good friend,--but he, the other mouse, That looked on while the lion freed himself-- Fared he so well, does any fable say? _Cha._ What can you mean? _Hol._ Pym never could have proved Strafford's design of bringing up the troops To force this kingdom to obedience: Vane-- Your servant, not our friend, has proved it. _Cha._ Vane?