Page:CromwellHugo.djvu/249

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ACT THIRD. THE JESTERS
237

Rochester.But—
Cromwell. But—Love is aye in haste, I know full well.
'Tis truly touching!—Ho! a messenger!
[Enter three musketeers.
Rochester [aside.]Who would believe that 'tis my wedding-day?
Cromwell [to the chief of the musketeers.
Go bid Cham Biblechan, a Scottish seer,
Forthwith to marry, on the Book of Faith,
Dame Guggligoy and Master Obededom.
[To Rochester and Dame Guggligoy.
Go you with them.
[To Rochester.] An Anabaptist, Cham,
As you yourself are.
Lord Rochester [bowing, indignantly, aside.
As you yourself are. Charming courtesy!
Cromwell.I know you for an earnest dogmatist.

Lady Frances [smiling and looking askance at Rochester, who salutes her.

How neatly he is caught!
Rochester [aside.] … he is caught! A crafty trick
Hath this same Frances played me!—None the less
I love her so. Of craft and innocence
The mixture I adore; her childlike mischief,
And her angelic kindliness of heart:
To save me from her father, marry me
To her duenna; thus to find a way,
While saving me to punish me withal!
Dame Guggligoy [to Rochester.
Come hither, love. You stand there like a stone.
Rochester [sighing, aside.]This sibyl I must follow to the hell
Of Hymen!
[Exit with Dame Guggligoy and the musketeers.