[_Offering (Blasco’s) sword._
_Man._ Dost thou surrender of thy own free-will
To me, as legal viceroy of this island,
Under King Frederick, and now abjuring
Thy late rebellion, wilt thou trust henceforth
The people’s welfare to my lawful hands? 2740
_Pal._ I do, and all will trust thee as do I.
_Man._ That is thy pardon. (_Takes sword._) For the king’s good will
Is grace to all. Yet there will be for thee
Question in Blasco’s death. But now I need
Elsewhere thy presence. (_Returning sword._) Go forth to the people,
And make it known that I am their governour:
And that for all disorder ere this day
There will be pardon, but from this day none.
Bid them disperse.
_Pal._ Those hundred men of mine,
Who lie in prison: is their pardon granted? 2750
_Mar._ ’Tis I should plead for them. ’Twas I betrayed them.
_Hu._ Thou didst betray them?
_Mar._ Ay, sir.
_Hu._ ’Tis nought but wonder.
_Man._ (_to Pal._). This is a day of grace. None will resent
Our stretching mercy. I shall grant their pardon,
But not without some cautions; for among them—
Hear me, Palicio, thou who so dost cry
Against the taxes—many among thy men
Are a most burdensome and fruitless tax.
They go free but to work, and with such measures
As will ensure it. [_Palicio is going._
Now, sir, ere thou goest, 2760
Is there none here to whom a word is due?
_Pal._ O, Manuel, I dare not, nay,—I pray thee,
Be not too generous towards me: since my heart
Has fallen so far, let me have trial yet
That I may win what I but falsely stole,
And now would leave in thy security,
Till I may bring some right to claim it. Yet
I lack the worth to ask. But there’s one thing
Which I will ask (_goes to Margaret_), forgiveness; and
for that
I kneel.
_Mar._ I will not hide it from thee, sir, 2770
That in the mutual interchange of pardons,
Which is our friendly game, I have had some pain
Standing out in the cold, merely for lack
Of such a suit as thine. I have looked and longed
To find a debtor; and I will take thee.
Rise, sir. I must present thee to a kinsman.
[_Leads Palicio to Hugo._
(_To Hugo._) Do you remember, sir, a cruel saying
Spoken to me against this gentleman?
Since that I have been his friend, ay, and yours too,
For I betrayed his people to your hands, 2780
When they were setting forth to burn the palace;
And so prevented Blasco’s treachery;
From which him too I saved, and for that deed
He takes me now in marriage.
_Hu._ All thou sayst
Margaret, with much of what hath happed to-day
Needs explanation. I must see so far
That Livio by his conduct is cut off:
But if you tell me now that you will marry
This man ...
_Man._ Palicio is of noble blood,
My lord. Yourself have given him oft such praise
As by an enemy must be well deserved 2791
Ere it be spoken. The king’s pardon proves
Justification: he is quit of treason.
We shall restore his rank, the loss of which,
Due to his grandsire in the civil wars,
Brings him no stain: nay, we shall further make him
Chief secretary, where his ancient zeal
For all the commons’ rights may still be shewn.
_Con._ Margaret, we may be married the same day.
_Hu._ I see indeed this is a day of grace, 2800
Of wondrous grace: and where I take so much
I should be churlish did I not rejoice
That I may rank behind no one of you
In the free dispensation of my favour.
And there’s one act would set the balance even,
Lay it even lower against me: it is this,
For I will do it: John Palicio,
I do forgive thee ...
_Mar._ Now I thank thee, sire.
_Pal._ And I, my lord, who never thought to do it,
Will forgive thee. DO YOU FORGIVE US ALL. 2810
THE RETURN
OF
ULYSSES
A DRAMA IN FIVE ACTS
IN A MIXED MANNER