plead both as the causes of my concealing this secret from your Majesty. I Queen (angrily). Now, by Heaven, my lord, thy audacity passes the bounds of belief as well as of patience! But it shall avail thee nothing. What, ho! my lords, come all and hear the news. My Lord of Leicester's stolen marriage has cost England a king! Now, is this not too insolent? could not grace him with a few marks of court favor but he must presume to think my hand and crown at his disposal! You, however, think better of me; and I can pity this ambitious man as I could a child whose bubble of soap has burst between his hands. We go to the presence chamber. My Lord of Leicester, we command your close attendance on us. (Turning to the nobles near her.) The revels of Kenilworth are not yet exhausted, my lords and ladies; we are to solemnize the noble owner's marriage. I see you are dying of curiosity to know the happy bride. It is Amy Robsart, the same who yesterday figured as the wife of his servant, Varney. Leicester (in a low tone). I beg you, madam, take my head, as you threatened in your anger, and spare me these taunts! Urge not a falling man; tread not on a crushed worm. Queen. A worm, my lord? Nay, a snake is the more exact likeness. Leicester (aside). For your own sake for mine, madam, while there is yet some reason left in me Queen (aloud). Speak aloud, my lord, and at further distance, so please you; your breath thaws our ruff. What have you to ask of us? Leicester (humbly). Permission Permission to travel Cumnor Place. travel to Queen. To fetch home your bride? Why, aye, that is right. But, my lord, you go not in person. We have counted upon passing certain days in this Castle of Kenilworth, and it were slight courtesy to leave us without a landlord during our residence here. Tressilian and Raleigh shall go to Cumnor Place instead of you. Take a sufficient force with you, gentlemen; bring the lady here; lose no time, and God be wi' you! From "Kenilworth," by Sir Walter Scott (adapted). KN. DRAM. READ. — 15 SCENES FROM "WILLIAM TELL” According to Swiss tradition William Tell, early in the fourteenth century, rescued his native district from the tyranny of Austria, when Gesler, the tyrant steward of the Duke of Austria, was barbarous in his treatment of the Swiss. Wars with Austria followed, and the contest ended in the independence of Switzerland. The two following scenes show the result of the revolt of Tell and the people of his district. Gesler's men, though at first overpowered by Tell and his followers, finally made Tell a prisoner and brought him in chains before Gesler. A short time before Tell's arrest Gesler, wandering through the mountain passes, had lost his way and had been guided to his home by a young mountain boy (Tell's son, Albert), who had refused to tell his father's name to the tyrant lest harm might come to him and his parents. Gesler refused to let him go back to his home unless he would divulge his father's name. [Enter Gesler, with Rodolph, Lutold, Gerard, and officers.] Gesler (to Rodolph). Double the guards. Stay! place your trustiest men At the postern. Stop! You'd go with half your errand: I'll tell you when to go! Let every soul Within the walls be under arms! The sick That do not keep their beds, or can rise from them, Gesler. So- I breathe Again! 'Twas false, then, that our soldiers fled? Rodolph. 'Twas but a party of them fled, my lord; Which, reënforced, return'd and soon o'erpower'd The rash offender. Gesler. What! fled they from one? A single man? How many were there? With Sarnem. Gesler. Sarnem! Did he fly? Rodolph. He did; But 'twas for succor. Gesler. Succor! to see One to four. I should like |