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ice, if you can make him." In order to be in sympathy with the play throughout and especially with the first scene all this historical background must be kept in mind, for the talk gives no direct information, it merely in an absolutely dramatic fashion reveals the feelings and opinions of the men upon the situation, just as friends at a dinner party might discuss one of our own less strenuous political situations--all present being perfectly familiar with the issues at stake. STRAFFORD ACT I SCENE I.--_A House near Whitehall._ _HAMPDEN, HOLLIS, the +younger+ VANE, RUDYARD, FIENNES and many of the Presbyterian Party: LOUDON and other Scots' Commissioners._ _Vane._ I say, if he be here-- _Rudyard._ (And he is here!)-- _Hollis._ For England's sake let every man be still Nor speak of him, so much as say his name, Till Pym rejoin us! Rudyard! Henry Vane! One rash conclusion may decide our course And with it England's fate--think--England's fate! Hampden, for England's sake they should be still! _Vane._ You say so, Hollis? Well, I must be still. It is indeed too bitter that one man, Any one man's mere presence, should suspend England's combined endeavor: little need To name him! _Rudyard._ For you are his brother, Hollis! _Hampden._ Shame on you, Rudyard! time to tell him that, When he forgets the Mother of us all. _Rudyard._ Do I forget her? _Hampden._ You talk idle hate Against her foe: is that so strange a thing? Is hating Wentworth all the help she needs? _A Puritan._ The Philistine strode, cursing as he went: But David--five smooth pebbles from the brook Within his scrip.... _Rudyard._ Be you as still as David! _Fiennes._ Here's Rudyard not ashamed to wag a tongue Stiff with ten years' disuse of Parliaments; Why, when the last sat, Wentworth sat with us! _Rudyard._ Let's hope for news of them now he returns-- He that was safe in Ireland, as we thought! --But I'll abide Pym's coming. _Vane._ Now, by Heaven, They may be cool who can, silent who will-- Some have a gift that way! Wentworth is here, Here, and the King's safe closeted with him Ere this. And when I think on all that's past Since that man left us, how his single arm Rolled the advancing good of England back And set the woeful past up in its place, Exalting Dagon wh
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