Mary Stuart Read online

  Although my royal brows are so no more.

  MORTIMER.

  The crown is fallen from thy brows, thou hast

  No more of earthly majesty. Make trial,

  Raise thy imperial voice, see if a friend,

  If a deliverer will rise to save you.

  Thy moving form alone remains, the high,

  The godlike influence of thy heavenly beauty;

  This bids me venture all, this arms my hand

  With might, and drives me tow'rd the headsman's axe.

  MARY.

  Oh! who will save me from his raging madness?

  MORTIMER.

  Service that's bold demands a bold reward.

  Why shed their blood the daring? Is not life

  Life's highest good? And he a madman who

  Casts life away? First will I take my rest,

  Upon the breast that glows with love's own fire!

  [He presses her violently to his bosom.

  MARY.

  Oh, must I call for help against the man

  Who would deliver me!

  MORTIMER.

  Thou'rt not unfeeling,

  The world ne'er censured thee for frigid rigor;

  The fervent prayer of love can touch thy heart.

  Thou mad'st the minstrel Rizzio blest, and gavest

  Thyself a willing prey to Bothwell's arms.

  MARY.

  Presumptuous man!

  MORTIMER.

  He was indeed thy tyrant,

  Thou trembled'st at his rudeness, whilst thou loved'st him;

  Well, then-if only terror can obtain thee-

  By the infernal gods!

  MARY.

  Away-you're mad!

  MORTIMER.

  I'll teach thee then before me, too, to tremble.

  KENNEDY (entering suddenly).

  They're coming-they approach-the park is filled

  With men in arms.

  MORTIMER (starting and catching at his sword).

  I will defend you-I--

  MARY.

  O Hannah! save me, save me from his hands.

  Where shall I find, poor sufferer, an asylum?

  Oh! to what saint shall I address my prayers?

  Here force assails me, and within is murder!

  [She flies towards the house, KENNEDY follows her.

  SCENE VII.

  MORTIMER, PAULET, and DRURY rush in in the greatest

  consternation. Attendants hasten over the stage.

  PAULET.

  Shut all the portals-draw the bridges up.

  MORTIMER.

  What is the matter, uncle?

  PAULET.

  Where is the murderess?

  Down with her, down into the darkest dungeon!

  MORTIMER.

  What is the matter? What has passed?

  PAULET.

  The queen!

  Accursed hand! Infernal machination!

  MORTIMER.

  The queen! What queen?

  PAULET.

  What queen! The Queen of England;

  She has been murdered on the road to London.

  [Hastens into the house.

  SCENE VIII.

  MORTIMER, soon after O'KELLY.

  MORTIMER (after a pause).

  Am I then mad? Came not one running by

  But now, and cried aloud, the queen is murdered!

  No, no! I did but dream. A feverish fancy

  Paints that upon my mind as true and real,

  Which but existed in my frantic thoughts.

  Who's there? It is O'Kelly. So dismayed!

  O'KELLY (rushing in).

  Flee, Mortimer, oh! flee-for all is lost!

  MORTIMER.

  What then is lost?

  O'KELLY.

  Stand not on question. Think

  On speedy flight.

  MORTIMER.

  What has occurred?

  O'KELLY.

  Sauvage,

  That madman, struck the blow.

  MORTIMER.

  It is then true!

  O'KELLY.

  True, true-oh! save yourself.

  MORTIMER (exultingly).

  The queen is murdered-

  And Mary shall ascend the English throne!

  O'KELLY.

  Is murdered! Who said that?

  MORTIMER.

  Yourself.

  O'KELLY.

  She lives,

  And I, and you, and all of us are lost.

  MORTIMER.

  She lives!

  O'KELLY.

  The blow was badly aimed, her cloak

  Received it. Shrewsbury disarmed the murderer.

  MORTIMER.

  She lives!

  O'KELLY.

  She lives to whelm us all in ruin;

  Come, they surround the park already; come.

  MORTIMER.

  Who did this frantic deed?

  O'KELLY.

  It was the monk

  From Toulon, whom you saw immersed in thought,

  As in the chapel the pope's bull was read,

  Which poured anathemas upon the queen.

  He wished to take the nearest, shortest way,

  To free, with one bold stroke, the church of God,

  And gain the crown of martyrdom: he trusted

  His purpose only to the priest, and struck

  The fatal blow upon the road to London.

  MORTIMER (after a long silence).

  Alas! a fierce, destructive fate pursues thee,

  Unhappy one! Yes-now thy death is fixed;

  Thy very angel has prepared thy fall!

  O'KELLY.

  Say, whither will you take your flight? I go

  To hide me in the forests of the north.

  MORTIMER.

  Fly thither, and may God attend your flight;

  I will remain, and still attempt to save

  My love; if not, my bed shall be upon her grave.

  [Exeunt at different sides.

  ACT IV.

  SCENE I.-Antechamber.

  COUNT AUBESPINE, the EARLS Of KENT and LEICESTER.

  AUBESPINE.

  How fares her majesty? My lords, you see me

  Still stunned, and quite beside myself for terror!

  How happened it? How was it possible

  That in the midst of this most loyal people--

  LEICESTER.

  The deed was not attempted by the people.

  The assassin was a subject of your king,

  A Frenchman.

  AUBESPINE.

  Sure a lunatic.

  LEICESTER.

  A papist,

  Count Aubespine!

  SCENE II.

  Enter BURLEIGH, in conversation with DAVISON.

  BURLEIGH.

  Sir; let the death-warrant

  Be instantly made out, and pass the seal;

  Then let it be presented to the queen;

  Her majesty must sign it. Hasten, sir,

  We have no time to lose.

  DAVISON.

  It shall be done.

  [Exit.

  AUBESPINE.

  My lord high-treasurer, my faithful heart

  Shares in the just rejoicings of the realm.

  Praised be almighty Heaven, who hath averted

  Assassination from our much-loved queen!

  BURLEIGH.

  Praised be His name, who thus hath turned to scorn

  The malice of our foes!

  AUBESPINE.

  May heaven confound

  The perpetrator of this cursed deed!

  BURLEIGH.

  Its perpetrator and its base contriver!

  AUBESPINE.

  Please you, my lord, to bring me to the queen,

  That I may lay the warm congratulations

  Of my imperial master at her feet.

  BURLEIGH.

  There is no need of this.

  AUBESPINE (officiously).

  My Lord of Burleigh,
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  I know my duty.

  BURLEIGH.

  Sir, your duty is

  To quit, and that without delay, this kingdom.

  AUBESPINE (stepping back with surprise).

  What! How is this?

  BURLEIGH.

  The sacred character

  Of an ambassador to-day protects you,

  But not to-morrow.

  AUBESPINE.

  What's my crime?

  BURLEIGH.

  Should I

  Once name it, there were then no pardon for it.

  AUBESPINE.

  I hope, my lord, my charge's privilege--

  BURLEIGH.

  Screens not a traitor.

  LEICESTER and KENT.

  Traitor! How?

  AUBESPINE.

  My Lord,

  Consider well--

  BURLEIGH.

  Your passport was discovered

  In the assassin's pocket.

  KENT.

  Righteous heaven!

  AUBESPINE.

  Sir, many passports are subscribed by me;

  I cannot know the secret thoughts of men.

  BURLEIGH.

  He in your house confessed, and was absolved.

  AUBESPINE.

  My house is open--

  BURLEIGH.

  To our enemies.

  AUBESPINE.

  I claim a strict inquiry.

  BURLEIGH.

  Tremble at it.

  AUBESPINE.

  My monarch in my person is insulted,

  He will annul the marriage contract.

  BURLEIGH.

  That

  My royal mistress has annulled already;

  England will not unite herself with France.

  My Lord of Kent, I give to you the charge

  To see Count Aubespine embarked in safety.

  The furious populace has stormed his palace,

  Where a whole arsenal of arms was found;

  Should he be found, they'll tear him limb from limb,

  Conceal him till the fury is abated-

  You answer for his life.

  AUBESPINE.

  I go-I leave

  This kingdom where they sport with public treaties

  And trample on the laws of nations. Yet

  My monarch, be assured, will vent his rage

  In direst vengeance!

  BURLEIGH.

  Let him seek it here.

  [Exeunt KENT and AUBESPINE.

  SCENE III.

  LEICESTER, BURLEIGH.

  LEICESTER.

  And thus you loose yourself the knot of union

  Which you officiously, uncalled for, bound!

  You have deserved but little of your country,

  My lord; this trouble was superfluous.

  BURLEIGH.

  My aim was good, though fate declared against it;

  Happy is he who has so fair a conscience!

  LEICESTER.

  Well know we the mysterious mien of Burleigh

  When he is on the hunt for deeds of treason.

  Now you are in your element, my lord;

  A monstrous outrage has been just committed,

  And darkness veils as yet its perpetrators:

  Now will a court of inquisition rise;

  Each word, each look be weighed; men's very thoughts

  Be summoned to the bar. You are, my lord,

  The mighty man, the Atlas of the state,

  All England's weight lies upon your shoulders.

  BURLEIGH.

  In you, my lord, I recognize my master;

  For such a victory as your eloquence

  Has gained I cannot boast.

  LEICESTER.

  What means your lordship?

  BURLEIGH.

  You were the man who knew, behind my back,

  To lure the queen to Fotheringay Castle.

  LEICESTER.

  Behind your back! When did I fear to act

  Before your face?

  BURLEIGH.

  You led her majesty?

  Oh, no-you led her not-it was the queen

  Who was so gracious as to lead you thither.

  LEICESTER.

  What mean you, my lord, by that?

  BURLEIGH.

  The noble part

  You forced the queen to play! The glorious triumph

  Which you prepared for her! Too gracious princess!

  So shamelessly, so wantonly to mock

  Thy unsuspecting goodness, to betray thee

  So pitiless to thy exulting foe!

  This, then, is the magnanimity, the grace

  Which suddenly possessed you in the council!

  The Stuart is for this so despicable,

  So weak an enemy, that it would scarce

  Be worth the pains to stain us with her blood.

  A specious plan! and sharply pointed too;

  'Tis only pity this sharp point is broken.

  LEICESTER.

  Unworthy wretch! this instant follow me,

  And answer at the throne this insolence.

  BURLEIGH.

  You'll find me there, my lord; and look you well

  That there your eloquence desert you not.

  [Exit.

  SCENE IV.

  LEICESTER alone, then MORTIMER.

  LEICESTER.

  I am detected! All my plot's disclosed!

  How has my evil genius tracked my steps!

  Alas! if he has proofs, if she should learn

  That I have held a secret correspondence

  With her worst enemy; how criminal

  Shall I appear to her! How false will then

  My counsel seem, and all the fatal pains

  I took to lure the queen to Fotheringay!

  I've shamefully betrayed, I have exposed her

  To her detested enemy's revilings!

  Oh! never, never can she pardon that.

  All will appear as if premeditated.

  The bitter turn of this sad interview,

  The triumph and the tauntings of her rival;

  Yes, e'en the murderous hand which had prepared

  A bloody, monstrous, unexpected fate;

  All, all will be ascribed to my suggestions!

  I see no rescue! nowhere-ha! Who comes?

  [MORTIMER enters in the most violent uneasiness,

  and looks with apprehension round him.

  MORTIMER.

  Lord Leicester! Is it you! Are we alone?

  LEICESTER.

  Ill-fated wretch, away! What seek you here?

  MORTIMER.

  They are upon our track-upon yours, too;

  Be vigilant!

  LEICESTER.

  Away, away!

  MORTIMER.

  They know

  That private conferences have been held

  At Aubespine's--

  LEICESTER.

  What's that to me?

  MORTIMER.

  They know, too,

  That the assassin--

  LEICESTER.

  That is your affair-

  Audacious wretch! to dare to mix my name

  In your detested outrage: go; defend

  Your bloody deeds yourself!

  MORTIMER.

  But only hear me.

  LEICESTER (violently enraged).

  Down, down to hell! Why cling you at my heels

  Like an infernal spirit! I disclaim you;

  I know you not; I make no common cause

  With murderers!

  MORTIMER.

  You will not hear me, then!

  I came to warn you; you too are detected.

  LEICESTER.

  How! What?

  MORTIMER.

  Lord Burleigh went to Fotheringay