Page:Poems of Anne Countess of Winchilsea 1903.djvu/458

 320 THE POEMS OP ANNE �But here Clarilla comes, in time to tell me. �[Enter Clar. �How fares it with our great, and Royal Mistresse? �Clar. Oh! Riccio, I want words to let you know itt, But fear the fatal papers which you brought, Will finish, what the tempest has .begun, And rob us of her most unhappy life. 10 �Ric. Explain your self, what saw she in those papers ? �Clar. That she has lost the most auspitious moment That 'ere was influenc'd, by a gentle planett. Two writings sign'd, �By all the Lords of Cyprus, and of Venice Declare the Gen'ral King, with one consent, And that our Queen, but by espousing him, Must ne'r again, expect to rule in Cyprus. But oh ! his letter, calls this, such presumption, As he wou'd ne'r have offer' d to her sight, 20 �Were itt not to convince her, e're his death, That itt was love, not int'rest urg'd him on To seek her here, and offer at her feet That Crown, he might have worn without her favour. Then makes itt plain, what he allready proffer'd, That 'twas his full intention to restore her By his own power, 'ere this had reach'd her knowledge, And to herself have left it, to dispose Of him, and all his fortunes, at her pleasure. �Ric. You much surprise me, was there nothing more, 30 Fool that I was to lett her see those papers. [Aside. �Clar. Nothing, but sad complaints, and soft expressions Jealous mistakes, that 'twas her love to Blanfort �That repuls'd him. �And how he greiv'd, his sword had peirct his bosome, �Since she had in itt, treasur'd up her heart, �But that itt shou'd procure her speedy vengeance, ��� �