Page:Poems of Anne Countess of Winchilsea 1903.djvu/453

 COUNTESS OP WINCHILSEA 315 �The Scene changes to the Queen's Apartment, Rice: alone Ric. It was my master peice, and hard I wrought itt, How I was forc'd to swear that to my knowledge Those proffers, were but baits, to catch her freedom ; That all his army, was dispers'd and broken, His int'rest quite declin'd with both the states, And that he had no means again to raise itt, But by obliging 'em, with her full ruine. Yett all prevail'd not, till at last I urg'd That still he languish'd for the proud Usurper, And sent from hence, as I assur'dly knew, 10 �Expresses to her, charg'd with love, and duty ; This stirr'd that passion in her I desir'd, And so, procur'd a message to my wishes, Which lost not of itt's force, by my delivery, But he's by this time gone, �And all my fears, and cares, are vanish'd with him. Better be here, depending still a[t] Rhodes, Then under his dominion, though in Cyprus. �Enter Clarilla �Ric. Clarilla, is the Queen yett to be spoke with? �Clar. She is not Riccio, but has sent her orders 20 �That you shou'd lett me know the Gen' rail's answer, Or send it written, if he so commanded. �Ric. I thought to have conceal' d the papers from her, �[Aside. �But if she shou'd hereafter come to know itt, That, yett may prove of greater danger to me, Besides he's gone, and I'm resolv'd to venture. Then tell her, that I found him all alone, Expecting as he told me, her comands, And from my lipps, no sooner were they fall'n, But he retir'd, and wrote in haste this letter, 30 �Which sure, I think, encloses more within itt. ��� �