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 In the King's name. I' faith 'tis like a poet! Ormond.But list to this. After these verses, sealed With such judicious forethought, I received From Rochester a second message—that Which at this moment doth unite us here. And, gentlemen, 'twas just a roll of parchment With a pink ribbon tied. All the Cavaliers. Is 't possible? Ormond.See how that idiot doth expose us all. Clifford.'Tis shocking! Does he deem such tricks jocose? Ormond.The message was entrusted, it is true, To Willis. But it might have chanced to fall Into unfriendly hands! Rosebery. Then nought were left But flight. Jenkins. Upon what frail supports one leans! I shudder when I think how many things Fate sometimes on a madman's head doth balance. At the first change of wind, the slightest sound, The towering structure falls, and in a night, A throne, a nation, mayhap a whole world, Doth vanish! Sedley. But methinks that Davenant Is missing, too! Ormond. Bah! Davenant, a clown, A mountebank, a poet!—He 's in hiding! Count if you will on such base churls as he! Downie.Our good friend Richard Cromwell, by the way, The usurper's son, 's in prison. Did you know? A traitor— Drogheda. Ay, poor Richard! Cromwell [aside.] Poor, indeed!