._] Permit me, madam, to approach you thus;
Thus lowly to present the humble suit
Of the much-injured, faithful Earl of Essex,
Who dares not, unpermitted, meet your presence.
He begs, most gracious queen, to fall before
Your royal feet, to clear him to his sovereign,
Whom, next to heaven, he wishes most to please.
Let faction load him with her labouring hand,
His innocence shall rise against the weight,
If but his gracious mistress deign to smile.

_Qu. Eliz._ Let him appear. [_Exit SOUTHAMPTON._
Now to thy trying task,
My soul! Put forth, exert thy utmost strength,
Nor let an injured queen be tame.--Lie still,
My heart, I cannot listen to thee now.

_Enter ESSEX and SOUTHAMPTON._

_Essex._ Forgive, thou injured majesty, thou best
Of Queens, this seeming disobedience. See,
I bend submissive in your royal presence,
With soul as penitent, as if before
The all-searching eye of Heaven. But, oh, that frown!
My queen's resentment wounds my inmost spirit,
Strikes me like death, and pierces through my heart.

_Qu. Eliz._ You have obey'd, my lord! you've served me well!
My deadly foes are quell'd! and you come home
A conqueror! Your country bids you welcome!
And I, your queen, applaud!--Triumphant man!
What! is it thus that Essex gains his laurels?
What! is it thus you've borne my high commission?
How durst you disregard your trusted duty,
Desert your province, and betray your queen?

_Essex._ I came to clear my injured name from guilt,
Imputed guilt, and slanderous accusations.
My shame was wafted in each passing gale,
Each swelling tide came loaded with my wrongs;
And echo sounded forth, from faction's voice,
The traitor Essex.--Was't not hard, my queen,
That, while I stood in danger's dreadful front,
Encountering death in every shape of terror,
And bleeding for my country--Was't not hard,
My mortal enemies at home, like cowards,
Should in my absence basely blast my fame?

_Qu. Eliz._ It is the godlike attribute of kings,
To raise the virtuous, and protect the brave.
I was the guardian of your reputation;
What malice, or what faction, then, could reach you?
My honour was exposed, engaged for yours:
But you found reason to dislike my care,
And to yourself assumed the wrested office.

_Essex._ If aught disloyal in this bosom dwells,
If aught of treason lodges in this heart,
May I to guilt and lasting shame be wedded,
The sport of faction, and the mark of scorn,
The world's deris