The Works of Frederick Schiller Part 398

And sobs and women's moans are all I hear.

Now, they undress her; they remove the stool; She kneels upon the cus.h.i.+on; lays her head----

[Having spoken these last words, and paused awhile, he is seen with a convulsive motion suddenly to shrink and faint away; a confused hum of voices is heard at the same moment from below, and continues for some time.

SCENE XI.

The Second Chamber in the Fourth Act.

ELIZABETH (entering from a side door; her gait and action expressive of the most violent uneasiness).

No message yet arrived! What! no one here!

Will evening never come! Stands the sun still In its ethereal course? I can no more Remain upon the rack of expectation!

Is it accomplished? Is it not? I shudder At both events, and do not dare to ask.

My Lord of Leicester comes not,--Burleigh too, Whom I appointed to fulfil the sentence.

If they have quitted London then 'tis done, The bolt has left its rest--it cuts the air-- It strikes; has struck already: were my realm At stake I could not now arrest its course.

Who's there?

SCENE XII.

Enter a PAGE.

ELIZABETH.

Returned alone? Where are the lords?

PAGE.

My Lord High-Treasurer and the Earl of Leicester?

ELIZABETH.

Where are they?

PAGE.

They are not in London.

ELIZABETH.

No!

Where are they then?

PAGE.

That no one could inform me; Before the dawn, mysteriously, in haste They quitted London.

ELIZABETH (exultingly).

I am Queen of England!

[Walking up and down in the greatest agitation.

Go--call me--no, remain, boy! She is dead; Now have I room upon the earth at last.

Why do I shake? Whence comes this aguish dread?

My fears are covered by the grave; who dares To say I did it? I have tears enough In store to weep her fall. Are you still here?

[To the PAGE.

Command my secretary, Davison, To come to me this instant. Let the Earl Of Shrewsbury be summoned. Here he comes.

[Exit PAGE.

SCENE XIII.

Enter SHREWSBURY.

ELIZABETH.

Welcome, my n.o.ble lord. What tidings; say It cannot be a trifle which hath led Your footsteps. .h.i.ther at so late an hour.

SHREWSBURY.

My liege, the doubts that hung upon my heart, And dutiful concern for your fair fame, Directed me this morning to the Tower, Where Mary's secretaries, Nau and Curl, Are now confined as prisoners, for I wished Once more to put their evidence to proof.

On my arrival the lieutenant seemed Embarra.s.sed and perplexed; refused to show me His prisoners; but my threats obtained admittance.

G.o.d! what a sight was there! With frantic looks, With hair dishevelled, on his pallet lay The Scot like one tormented by a fury.

The miserable man no sooner saw me Than at my feet he fell, and there, with screams, Clasping my knees, and writhing like a worm, Implored, conjured me to acquaint him with His sovereign's destiny, for vague reports Had somehow reached the dungeons of the Tower That she had been condemned to suffer death.

When I confirmed these tidings, adding, too, That on his evidence she had been doomed,-- He started wildly up,--caught by the throat His fellow-prisoner; with the giant strength Of madness tore him to the ground and tried To strangle him. No sooner had we saved The wretch from his fierce grapple than at once He turned his rage against himself and beat His breast with savage fists; then cursed himself And his companions to the depths of h.e.l.l!

His evidence was false; the fatal letters To Babington, which he had sworn were true, He now denounced as forgeries; for he Had set down words the queen had never spoken; The traitor Nau had led him to this treason.

Then ran he to the cas.e.m.e.nt, threw it wide With frantic force, and cried into the street So loud that all the people gathered round: I am the man, Queen Mary's secretary, The traitor who accused his mistress falsely; I bore false witness and am cursed forever!

ELIZABETH.

You said yourself that he had lost his wits; A madman's words prove nothing.

SHREWSBURY.

Yet this madness Serves in itself to swell the proof. My liege, Let me conjure thee; be not over-hasty; Prithee, give order for a new inquiry!

ELIZABETH.

I will, my lord, because it is your wish, Not that I can believe my n.o.ble peers Have in this case p.r.o.nounced a hasty judgment.

To set your mind at rest the inquiry shall Be straight renewed. Well that 'tis not too late!

Upon the honor of our royal name, No, not the shadow of a doubt shall rest.

SCENE XIV.

Enter DAVISON.

ELIZABETH.

The sentence, sir, which I but late intrusted Unto your keeping; where is it?

DAVISON (in the utmost astonishment).

The sentence!

ELIZABETH (more urgent).

Which yesterday I gave into your charge.