shall stay
And he'll stay with me. Charles should know as much,
He too has children!
[_Turning to HOLLIS'S +Companion+._] Sir, you feel for me!
No need to hide that face! Though it have looked
Upon me from the judgment-seat ... I know
Strangely, that somewhere it has looked on me, ...
Your coming has my pardon, nay, my thanks:
For there is one who comes not.

_Hollis._ Whom forgive,
As one to die!

_Strafford._ True, all die, and all need
Forgiveness: I forgive him from my soul.

_Hollis._ 'Tis a world's wonder: Strafford, you must die!

_Strafford._ Sir, if your errand is to set me free
This heartless jest mars much. Ha! Tears in truth?
We'll end this! See this paper, warm--feel--warm
With lying next my heart! Whose hand is there?
Whose promise? Read, and loud for God to hear!
"Strafford shall take no hurt"--read it, I say!
"In person, honor, nor estate"--

_Hollis._ The King....

_Strafford._ I could unking him by a breath! You sit
Where Loudon sat, who came to prophesy
The certain end, and offer me Pym's grace
If I'd renounce the King: and I stood firm
On the King's faith. The King who lives....

_Hollis._ To sign
The warrant for your death.

_Strafford._ "Put not your trust
In princes, neither in the sons of men,
In whom is no salvation!"

_Hollis._ Trust in God!
The scaffold is prepared: they wait for you:
He has consented. Cast the earth behind!

_Charles._ You would not see me, Strafford, at your foot!
It was wrung from me! Only, curse me not!

_Hollis_ [_to STRAFFORD_]. As you hope grace and pardon in your need,
Be merciful to this most wretched man.

[_Voices from within._

_Verso la sera
Di Primavera_

_Strafford._ You'll be good to those children, sir? I know
You'll not believe her, even should the Queen
Think they take after one they rarely saw.
I had intended that my son should live
A stranger to these matters: but you are
So utterly deprived of friends! He too
Must serve you--will you not be good to him?
Or, stay, sir, do not promise--do not swear!
You, Hollis--do the best you can for me!
I've not a soul to trust to: Wandesford's dead,
And you've got Radcliffe safe, Laud's turn comes next:
I've found small time of late for my affairs,
But I trust any of