Primate. I fear me all that earthly man can do
Is past. The future is with a Physician,
Prescriber for diseases of the Soul,
Who wisely deals, and leniently, with all
His patients.
Albichalke. As William, Duke of Clarence,
The hot blood of his youth caused escapades,
Which to arrange was oft most difficult.
Insensible, and deaf to discipline,
Twice left he foreign stations with his ship;—
Oſſences deep, demanding, almost, death.
Scandal and troubles followed in his wake,
And once at Portsmouth—but here is our doctor.

(Enter Sir Henry Haleborde from the King's
apartment.)

Honeybourne. Are your news better now or worse, Sir Henry?
The moments here are terrible to bear,
In waiting, almost hopelessly, without.
Haleborde. Aye, and within we have our troubles too;
The King is sinking fast, and soon there'll be
One monarch more upon the roll of Death;
And quick another in his place be hailed.
He would be left for a brief space alone
With the Queen Adelaide; and then to speak
With the Fitz-Clarences, who, much unlike
Some bred more i' the law, are dutiful
And show their Royal Sire a tender love.
Albichalke. Thank God it has been so; our natural loves
And hopes should ever pay themselves in kind;
And I am glad his children love him well:
Rough, and irregular and whimsical,
He was, as princes go, true to his mistress.
Haleborde. That's good; and these who in high places dwell
Must be excused some vagaries; and so
They be not mean, base, nor herd beneath them,
The people will forgive them much; for men
Are well advised that all of woman born
Are prone to fall; and most when sweet allurements
Softly force our youth, and leave us panting,
And tremulous with blisses learnt too soon:
Much tempted must be pardoned much, my lords.
The Primate. Our Holy Scriptures do proclaim aloud
That there is no one holy, no not one.
You, my Lord Honeybourne, will throw no stone;
E'en Premiers may beneath suspicion come,
So full of mischief is the wicked world.
I do believe the King has borne him well
'Midst his temptations; may his successors
Better his example, and leave the Crown
To heirs unborn, a symbol for all men
Of perfect purity and constant truth,
The round and top of sweetness and of light.
Honeybourne. Amen! God pardon all frail men their sins!
Clarence encountered storms on early seas;
His later voyages were more serene;
And now he's entering port, his signals show
Peace and goodwill to all. 'Tis a good end,
And may our last hours mate his closing day.
The kind old man has thoughts for everyone:
'Tis scarce a month ago when he fell ill,
And yet within these weeks he's never shirked
A kingly duty, or a loving deed,
Though in sore travail with his halting breath.
Four weeks this day, our Princess, Queen to be,
Attained her age, and lost her minorhood;
Right royally the King would have th' event
Marked by a grand ball in St. James's Halls,
Nor would he list to aught was urged against
Fitting performance of the proper fêtes.
"'Twould be ungracious," spoke his Majesty,
'That the old battered bow should not salute
The young sprit springing from the same old stem,
Bearing our English Rose as figure-head;
May 't rise and dip on placid waters, till
The green wood, seasoned, can endure more strain.
Preserve great England's vessel 'gainst each foe,
God speed the ship, when I am gone below!"
Was it not spoken in a kingly tone?
Albichalke. Aye, aye! and 't had the good sea flavour in 't;
The great deeps teach the mariner true things;
,Twas kingly, knightly, and true sailor-like.
Haleborde. He, too, with tact bred of a noble soul,
Bethought him to present the sweet Princess
With the best instrument that could be found
Of Erard's or the rival pianists;—
He knew her skill in St. Cecilia's art,
And would applaud it by his birthday gift.
Honeybourne. It was a pretty tribute from the Old