ENGLAND PRESERVED;

A

TRAGEDY.

IN FIVE ACTS.

AS PERFORMED AT THE

THEATRE-ROYAL, COVENT-GARDEN.

BY

GEORGE WATSON, Esq.

ENGLAND PRESERVED.

ACT THE FIRST.

SCENE 1.

Gloucester. A Hall. Flourish.

Enter the LORD PROTECTOR and CHESTER.

Prot. Thus far, 'tis well. Gloucester hath op'd her gates

Most opportunely for the prince. We here
May find a present safety and retreat,
A momentary calm-but such as comes,

Awful and deep, foreboder of a storm

Ches. Let the storm burst; we'll brave it's fullest

rage,

My Lord Protector-still I cry to arms!

Nursed in the lap of war, and trained from youth
To deeds of daring, with great Cœur-de-lion,
In France, in Sicily, in Palestine,

To scourge the infidels, contemn the French,
I cannot stoop to parley where I hate.

Old Chester's blood revolts against these Franks,
Against their slaves, our shameless traitor Lords.
Prot. Since thus defection triumphs through the
state,

Thou might'st as well command the lonely pine,
Standing defenceless on the rocky steep,

To stop the blast, and roll it back to heaven,
As to oppose our small and wearied band
Against our barons, while thus leagued with France.
Ches. Are we submissive, then, to hug our chains?
Prot. No. Let us try conciliation's power,
Strive to subdue our restless brethren's minds:
The lenient voice of peace may call them home,
And melt the hearts that war could never tame.
Ches. England, too long by scenes of blood de-
based,

Too long to riot and rebellion loosed,

Hath lost for ever all her ancient pride.

Prot. And yet to England's pride shall Pembroke

trust.

If that should fail me, welcome then despair;
Then death be glory: But, O native land!
I love thee so, with all thy failings love,

I still must trust thee when thou'rt least thyself. Ches. But should'st thou, in those treacherous bosoms, plant

Remorse

Prot. Why then our happy isle is saved,
And foreign tyrants ne'er shall vex it more.
Were all united in one common cause,
Soon should we sweep their rabble down our cliffs,
To court the angry waters for retreat;

Then, as the rocky bulwark of our isle,
Unshaken, beats the assailing billows back,

Should we, one people, owning but one cause,
Mock their vain efforts to regain our shore.

Ches. By heaven's own light! I venerate thy zeal.

I'll take the hazard of such goodly plans.

[Distant shouts. Prot. Ha!-Busy are the times, each moment

claims

Exertion. To my sacred charge, the prince-
Ches. First let me fly, and learn whence this

alarm.

Exit. Prot. (Alone.) What more than mortal powers my station claims!

Shaken by age, I totter with its weight;
Yet, while my country calls on me for aid,

I still must serve her, till death close the scene.
O! could the censuring multitude but know
The ceaseless cares that wait on him who rules,
Forbearance would they give, for rash reproach,
Making an undisguised abuse of power,

And not misfortune, cause of discontent.
But thou, all-wise Disposer of our fate,
If these my labours be for England's good,
Grant them success for thy once-favoured isle,
That peace and union guard her cliffs again!
So may her name to distant times descend,
Revered by mortals, and approved by thee!
How sweet this converse-My old heart feels

now

Re-enter CHESTER.

Ches. Arms are abroad. Descending to the plain, A force is-spied along the neighbouring heights, With many a banner streaming to the wind, Whose bearings cannot yet be justly traced. Prot. The strength of France is now at Dover Castle,