Flor. In Heaven alone I put my trust to save him; Profane my sight no longer, sir.  Away!

Bas. You are right—­Let him die—­Tis I am wrong To save a traitor thus, a damned traitor—­

Flor. Blasphemer, silence!

Bas. Oh, a traitor’s death!  ’Tis none so envious—­but as I’m his brother, I thought to save our name from this foul blot.

Flor. Oh, agony!

Bas. ’Tis true his life Is nothing, and ’tis forfeit—­but his name Dishonour’d, tainted—­

Flor. Hold, hold!  Let me think.  Have mercy!  No? [Aside.] Then let me die for him, For thus I could not live. [Aloud.] I will be yours, But not yet—­

Bas. O, I’ll give a month.  I am A courteous wooer—­then, perchance your love May date, ere we are married—­’Tis well so—­

[Attempts to take her by the hand.]

Flor. I pray you, leave me now—­

Bas. You swear then—­

Flor. Yes!

Bas. By all that’s holy?

Flor. Sir! it is enough, I have said that if you claim me in a month, I will be yours, if living—­go! now, go!

Bas. Remember that his life alone I promise—­

Flor. His life, his life!  O God!  Quick, save his life—­

[He takes her hand, which he kisses; she withdraws it with an expression of pain.  Exeunt, FLORENCE, L., BASIL, R.]

SCENE III.

[Last Cut.] [3rd Grooves.]

View of Westminster Abbey.  Sunset.

Enter three or four Citizens, meeting severally.

1st Cit. The skies weep not, there is no shock to the earth. 
Art thou not Peter Ingram?  Yet the king
Hath been beheaded, lost his head! 
The king
Of England murther’d, slain in open day!

2nd Cit. I did not think they would do it—­
Who’ll be king
Now he is dead?

3rd Cit. Why some say none.

4th Cit. Indeed, The Parliament is king.

2nd Cit. They say that Cromwell
Had much to do in this. 
Were you there?

1st Cit. No.

Others. Nor I.

2nd Cit. Here comes another.  We shall hear, If he hath seen.

Enter another Citizen.

5th Cit. Oh, eyes!  Oh, ears!  Alas!

1st Cit. Were you there?

5th Cit. Was I not?  He died right well, As ’twere a man that nothing had to lose, Save the poor head he gave his enemies.

1st Cit. Indeed you’re right, he had not much of late.

2nd Cit. How was it?

5th Cit. Well, they would not let him speak Much, for the sound of the drums—­are ye this way?  My wife is waiting, she is curious; come, I’ll tell you all I saw—­ [Exeunt severally.]