Oliver troubles me , persuading everywhere . Restless like this . There 's a man 's house . It 's enough surely . What time is John coming ? John Hampden is like that , too . He excites the boy . Of course he 's a boy . Methuselah . I said Methuselah . Just because he wo n't pay a tax . How if everybody refused to pay taxes ? If you do n't have taxes , I do n't see how you are to have a government . Though I can n't see that it governs anybody , except those that do n't need it . There 's always something wrong . It keeps men busy , I suppose . I know , I know . But why must he come here to-night of all in the year ? Oliver 's like somebody out of the Bible about to-morrow as it is . This will make him worse . I wish John no harm , but — well , I hope he 's got a bad horse . You can n't pretend he 'll make him more temperate . Of course he 's right . But I 'm too old . I 've seen too many broken heads . He 'll be no righter for a broken head . Your father 's is like to be . Now , child , do n't you encourage your father , too . He 's eager enough without that . And that 's three of you in one house . And this young Mr. Ireton has ideas , too , I believe . That accounts for it . It makes no matter what I think . She 's a very old lady , and can n't speak for herself . Never mind your manners child . But do n't encourage your father . He does n't need it . This house is all commotion as it is . I do n't know what will happen . I sometimes think the world is n't worth quarrelling about at all . And yet I 'm a silly old woman to talk like that . But Oliver is a brave fellow — and John , all of them . I want them to be brave in peace — that 's the way you think at eighty .This Mr. Donne is a very good poet , but he 's rather hard to understand . I suppose that is being eighty , too . Mr. Herrick is very simple . John Hampden sent me some copies from a friend who knows Mr. Herrick . I like them better than John does .Lord , Thou hast given me a cell Wherein to dwell ; A little house , whose humble roof Is waterproof ; Under the spars of which I lie Both soft and dry .... But Mr. Shakespeare was best of all , I do believe . A very civil gentleman , too . I spoke to him once — that was forty years ago , the year Oliver was born , I remember . He did n't hold with all this talk against kings . Well , it 's all very dangerous , and I 'm too old for it . Not but what Oliver 's brain is better than mine . But we have to sit still and watch . However —Lord , ‘ tis thy plenty-dropping hand That sows my land : All this , and better , dost thou send Me for this end : That I should render for my part A thankful heart , Which , fired with incense , I resign As wholly Thine : But the acceptance — that must be , O Lord , by Thee . Mr. Herrick has chosen a nice name for his book . Hesperides . He has taste as well as understanding . Ye have been fresh and green , Ye have been filled with flowers , And ye the walks have been Where maids have spent their hours . Like unthrifts , having spent Your stock , and needy grown , You 're left here to lament Your poor estates alone . Well , John . You 're welcome , Master Ireton , I 'm sure . If you behave yourself , young man . No , do n't ask me . Only do n't you and John come putting more notions into Oliver 's head . I 'm sure he 's got more than he can rightly manage as it is . Now , young man , Oliver does n't need any urging to it . He needs holding back . Yes , but do n't be so proud about it , John . : Remember what Mr. Herbert says — A servant with this clause Makes drudgerie divine . Who sweeps a room , as for thy laws , Makes that and th ’ action fine . As for thy laws , remember . He 'll be here soon enough . I 'm sorry the judges were against you , John . I do n't know what else you could expect , though . They are the King 's judges , I suppose . This house is ready for any kind of revolution , John . Will you give me my shawl , Henry Ireton . There 's Oliver coming . Now you can all be thunder . So you have hope for me yet , miss ? What will it all come to , John ? You 're very vexatious sometimes , Oliver . Being right does n't make you less vexatious . : Now you talk sense , Oliver . Mr. Herrick is very clear about that . So was David . He 's a poet , young man . And he 's for being quiet , and not bustling about everywhere . You ought to read him . Do n't be silly , Mr. Hampden — if you excuse me for saying so . Mr. Herrick is very serious indeed , only he is n't always telling us of it . Well , it 's no bad judgment to stand for Mr. Herbert . Only I wo n't have nonsense talked about Mr. Herrick . The door is along there , to the right . Now , Henry Ireton , these gentlemen may be bears , but I wo n't have you make this room into a bear-pit . Oliver , boy , you were quite right — all that you said to those men , I mean . I do n't approve , mind you , but you were quite right . Yes , child . You are born into a great story , child . I am old . Not wonder only , girl . There are griefs . Youth , you are dear . With an old woman , it 's all reckoning . One sees the follies then of this man and that . It had to come . Men were no wiser than that . To make this of the land ! One Cain , as your father says . I know . There are times when wrath comes , and beauty is forgotten . But it must be . Yes . Even that . Yes , child . He could do no other . That 's his tribute to necessity . We all pay it . He will pay it greatly . We may be sure of that .Here they are . Bless you , son . How d'ye do , Henry Ireton ? Is it Colonel Ireton yet ? Thank her , truly . Well , boy , it has begun ? May England prosper by you . You commit yourself , boy , beyond turning back in all this . The Lord prosper you . But I am an old woman . Age can but have misgivings . I will be no hindrance , son . I must see . Oliver . These are my five Ely houses , and the Huntingdon farmlands . Use them . My needs are few , and I have not many days . : Bless you , my son . Bless you always . And may the mercy of God be upon England . Mr. Lawes makes beautiful music , Oliver . Oliver has just sent from Whitehall for his great coat . I 've sent Beth with it . Men will pity him . He had no pity . Yes , I do think so . There could be no safety or hope while he lived . Kings must love , too . Is Henry with your father ? What is the time ? Oliver will be the foremost man in England . He will have to guide all . When the world labours in anger , child , you cannot name the hour . If this be wrong , all was wrong . It 's very cold . No , thank you . The King — very brave , I suppose ? Poor , silly king . Oliver will be here directly . Shut the window , Henry .THE SCENE CLOSES Yes , my dear , very comfortable . Very well , my dear . Bridget is a good girl . I may be asleep before you come back . Good-night . Yes , just a little . Mr. Milton was reading to me this afternoon . Your father asked him to come . He has begun a very good poem , about Eden and the fall of man . He read me some of it . He writes extremely well . I think I should like to hear something by that young Mr. Marvell . He copies them out for me — you 'll find them in that book , there . There 's one about a garden . Just two stanzas of it . I have marked them . Yes . Far other worlds , and other seas . I wish your father would come . I want to go to sleep , and you never know . I 'm glad you have come , my son . Though you are very busy , I 'm sure . No , thank you . What date is this ? It 's nearly a year since they made you Protector , then . You need not , son . You were right . There was none other . And you were right not to take a crown . Truly , I think it . It will be a freer land because you have lived in it , my son . Our name may be forgotten , but it does not matter . You serve faithfully . I am proud . It was kind of Mr. Milton to come this afternoon . I can n't remember whether I thanked him as I should like to . Be kind to all poets , Oliver . They have been very kind to me . They have the best doctrine . I know that . Bridget , girl , be a stay to your father and your mother . They love you . If you should wed again , may you wed well . And now , I am tired . Bless you , Oliver , my son . The Lord cause His face to shine upon you , and comfort you in all your adversities , and enable you to do great things for the glory of your most high God , and to be a relief unto His people . My dear son . I leave my heart with you . A good night . Is Amos Tanner here ? : Ask him to sing to me . Very quietly . The song he sang that night at Ely — you remember — when John and Henry were there . You have been a good son .