664 Theatrical Review. 



Not even you ? If I live over it 

 The king is sure to have your heads you kno\ 

 I'm not afraid of that you understand 

 That if I chose to wait made up my mind 

 To live this minute he would do me right ! 

 But what if I can't live this minute through ? 

 If nothing can repay that minute ? Pym 

 With his pursuing smile Pym to be there ! 



(Louder cries of " STRAFFORD.") 

 The king! I troubled him, stood in the way 

 Of his negotiations, was the one 

 Great obstacle to peace, the enemy 

 Of Scotland ; and he sent for me, from York, 

 My safety guaranteed, having prepared 

 A parliament ! I see ! And at Whitehall 

 The queen was whispering with Vane I see 

 The trap ! I curse the king ! I wish Pym well I 

 Wish all his brave friends well ! Say, all along 

 Strafford was with them all along, at heart, 

 I hated Charles and wished them well ! And say 



(tearing off the George and dashing it down) 

 That as I tread this gewgaw under foot, 

 I cast his memory from me ! One stroke, now ! 



(His own adherents disarm him. Renewed cries of " STRAFFORD.") 

 I'll not go they shall drag me by the hair ! 



(Changing suddenly to calm.} England ! I see her arm in this ! I yield. 

 Why 'tis the fairest triumph ! Why desire 

 To cheat them ? I would never stoop to that 

 Be mean enough for that ! Let all have end ! 

 Don't repine, Slingsby have they not a right ? 

 They claim me hearken lead me to them, Bryan! 

 No I myself should offer up myself. 

 Pray you now Pym awaits me pray you now ! 



(Putting aside those who attempt to support him, STRAFFORD reaches the doors 

 they open wide. HAMPDEN, Sec., and a crowd discovered; and at the bar, 

 PYM standing apart. As STRAFFORD kneels the scene shuts.) 



To Mr. Macready the author owes a heavy debt. In the hands 

 of whom else, but such a consummately talented actor, could such 

 balderdash have failed to meet with immediate damnation? His 

 exertions to save the credit of his friend were for a while triumphant ; 

 but he could not make him the partner of his glory. The actor was 

 honoured, while the author was disgraced. If such was the por- 

 traiture of " Strafford," the great and only hero of the piece, what 

 shall we say of the other and less conspicuous actors in the drama? 

 " Pym," instead of being the high-minded and patriotic being, who 

 would sink every private consideration in a regard for the public 

 good, is, in the play, a mere political intriguer of no very high order, 

 and one whom private feelings and not public principles have led to 

 oppose the ci-devant reformer. Vandenhoff looked the stern patriot 

 to admiration, and spoke what was set down for him with a spirit 

 which showed that he understood " Pym" at least as well as the 

 author. As for " Charles," the part which was most weakly con- 

 ceived was more detestably acted by Mr. Dale. " Lady Carlisle," 



