ored with your gracious countenance
What shall a rebel League avail against
Your servant, utterly and ever yours?
So, gentlemen, the King's not even left
The privilege of bidding me farewell
Who haste to save the People--that you style
Your People--from the mercies of the Scots
And France their friend?
[_To CHARLES._] Pym's grave grey eyes are fixed
Upon you, sir!
Your pleasure, gentlemen?

_Hampden._ The King dissolved us--'tis the King we seek
And not Lord Strafford.

_Strafford._ --Strafford, guilty too
Of counselling the measure. [_To CHARLES._] (Hush ... you know--
You have forgotten--sir, I counselled it)
A heinous matter, truly! But the King
Will yet see cause to thank me for a course
Which now, perchance ... (Sir, tell them so!)--he blames.
Well, choose some fitter time to make your charge:
I shall be with the Scots, you understand?
Then yelp at me!
Meanwhile, your Majesty
Binds me, by this fresh token of your trust....

[_Under the pretence of an earnest farewell, STRAFFORD conducts CHARLES
to the door, in such a manner as to hide his agitation from the rest: as
the King disappears, they turn as by one impulse to PYM, who has not
changed his original posture of surprise._

_Hampden._ Leave we this arrogant strong wicked man!

_Vane and others._ Hence, Pym! Come out of this unworthy place
To our old room again! He's gone.

[_STRAFFORD, just about to follow the KING, looks back._

_Pym._ Not gone!
[_To STRAFFORD._] Keep tryst! the old appointment's made anew:
Forget not we shall meet again!

_Strafford._ So be it!
And if an army follows me?

_Vane._ His friends
Will entertain your army!

_Pym._ I'll not say
You have misreckoned, Strafford: time shows.
Perish
Body and spirit! Fool to feign a doubt,
Pretend the scrupulous and nice reserve
Of one whose prowess shall achieve the feat!
What share have I in it? Do I affect
To see no dismal sign above your head
When God suspends his ruinous thunder there?
Strafford is doomed. Touch him no one of you!

[_PYM, HAMPDEN, etc., go out._

_Strafford._ Pym, we shall meet again!

In the final talk of this scene with Carlisle, the pathos of Strafford's
position is wonderfully brought out--the man