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 Cromwell [aside.]Assassins! you will wear the like ere long; And Haman's gibbet's none too high for you! Ormond [to the Cavaliers.]Moreover, he'd have dangered our success; And if he be detained, I deem it cause For gratulation. Cromwell [aside.] So do I, in truth. Ormond. With Wilmot I am always terrified. But we draw near the end. Cromwell [aside.] 'Tis the fit word. Ormond.See to what point Wilmot is mad, my friends. Old Noll a pretty daughter hath, 'tis said. Wilmot 's enamoured of her; nought care I For that. Cromwell [aside.] Audacious villain! Ormond [continuing.] He hath writ A madrigal in honour of the maid. A Wilmot play at rhyming, save the mark! But, worse than that, forgetting what is due My age and rank, he would have read it to me! I the affront received as it deserved! But lo! when I, in agonized suspense, Awaited news of him, there came a letter— A letter of importance, so 'twas said. In eager haste I open it and find Fast-sealed therein the cursèd madrigal Commemorating little Cromwell's charms! Cromwell [aside.]My Frances! in my presence thus to talk of her! Rosebery [laughing, to. Such persecution is past bounds, my lord! Downie [laughing.]To make one read his verses, as it were,