ACT FIFTH. THE WORKMEN
381
His carriage, sword uplifted and head bare.—
Cruel usurper! Airs of the former kings!—
Here's death to Oliver the Last!—Pray let
Me look, good master halberdier!—He's here!
[Cromwell, surrounded by his court, appears on the threshold of the great door.—A quiver of excitement runs through the crowd. The whole assemblage rises and stands uncovered, in a respectful attitude.—The Protector is in black velvet, without cloak or sword. His retinue forms a gleaming half-circle of gold and steel a short distance behind him. Nearest the Protector, in front, is the Lord Mayor, with uplifted sword; behind him is Lord Carlisle, also with uplifted sword. In the retinue can be seen Generals Desborough and Fleetwood, Thurloe, Stoupe, the Secretaries of State, and the private secretaries of the Closet, Richard Cromwell, Hannibal Sesthead, with his array of gold brocade, pages and Danish hounds, a multitude of generals and colonels, whose brilliant uniforms and resplendent breastplates form a striking contrast to the blue cloak and brown coat of the preacher Lockyer, who stands among them.—At the right of the door a group of high dignitaries who are to figure in the ceremony, bearing, on cushions of red velvet, Lord Warwick the purple robe, Lord Broghill the sceptre, General Lambert the crown, Whitelocke, the great seal, an alderman (for the Lord Mayor) a sword, the Clerk of the Commons (for the Speaker) a Bible.
