Mary Stuart: A Tragedy Part 40

BURLEIGH.

For this I have no warrant.

MARY.

How, my lord; Can you deny me, then, this small pet.i.tion?

Respect my s.e.x; who shall attend me else, And yield me the last service? Sure, it never Can be my sister's pleasure that in me My s.e.x should be insulted; that these men With their rude hands should touch my royal person.

BURLEIGH.

'Tis ordered that no woman shall ascend The scaffold steps with you. Their tears and moans----

MARY.

She shall not weep, my lord; she shall not moan; I answer for my Hannah's resolution; Be merciful; divide me not so soon From my true foster-mother, from my friend.

She bore me on her arms into this life; Let her then gently lead me to my death.

PAULET (to BURLEIGH).

Yield to her wishes.

BURLEIGH.

Be it so.

MARY.

I now Have nothing in this world to wish for more.

[She takes the crucifix, and kisses it.

My G.o.d! My Comforter! My blest Redeemer!

As once thy arms were stretched upon the cross, Let them be now extended to receive me!

[She turns round to go; at the same moment her eyes fall upon LEICESTER, who, on her going, starts involuntarily, and turns his eyes towards her; at this sight MARY trembles, her knees fail her, she is about to fall, when LEICESTER catches at her, and receives her in his arms; she regards him for some time earnestly, and in silence; he cannot support her looks; at length she speaks.

You keep your word, my Lord of Leicester: for You promised me your arm to lead me forth From prison, and you lend it to me now.

At length the wished-for day is come, and what Was oft the object of my fondest dreams Is now accomplished: and the Earl of Leicester, The long-expected, the long-wished-for friend, Appears at length in Fotheringay Castle.

I see him standing in my prison; all Is ready for the journey; all the gates Stand open, and at length I cross the threshold, Conducted by his hand; and now I leave These dismal walls behind me, and forever.

All is fulfilled, and you have saved your honor.

[He stands as if annihilated; she continues, with a gentle voice.

Yes, Leicester; not for liberty alone I wished to be indebted to your hands.

You should have made me bless that liberty.

Led by your hand, and happy in your love, I hoped once more to taste the joys of life.

Yes; now that I'm prepared from all the world To part, and to become a happy spirit, Whom earthly inclinations tempt no more!

Now, Leicester, I may venture to confess Without a blush the frailty I have conquered; Farewell, my lord; and, if you can, be happy!

To woo two queens has been your daring aim; You have disdained a tender, loving heart, Betrayed it in the hope to win a proud one: Kneel at the feet of Queen Elizabeth!

May your reward not prove your punishment.

Farewell; I now have nothing more on earth.

[She goes, preceded by the SHERIFF; at her side MELVIL and her nurse; BURLEIGH and PAULET follow; the others, wailing, follow her with their eyes till she disappears; they then retire through the other two doors.

SCENE X.

LEICESTER (remaining alone).

Do I live still? Can I still bear to live?

Will not this roof fall down and bury me?

Yawns no abyss to swallow in its gulf The veriest wretch on earth? What have I lost?

Oh, what a pearl have I not cast away!

What bliss celestial madly dashed aside!

She's gone, a spirit purged from earthly stain, And the despair of h.e.l.l remains for me!

Where is the purpose now with which I came To stifle my heart's voice in callous scorn?

To see her head descend upon the block With unaverted and indifferent eyes?

How doth her presence wake my slumbering shame?

Must she in death surround me with love's toils?

Lost, wretched man! No more it suits thee now To melt away in womanly compa.s.sion: Love's golden bliss lies not upon thy path, Then arm thy breast in panoply of steel, And henceforth be thy brows of adamant!

Wouldst thou not lose the guerdon of thy guilt, Thou must uphold, complete it daringly!

Pity be dumb; mine eyes be petrified!

I'll see--I will be witness of her fall.

[He advances with resolute steps towards the door through which MARY pa.s.sed; but stops suddenly half way.

No! No! The terrors of all h.e.l.l possess me.

I cannot look upon the dreadful deed; I cannot see her die! Hark! What was that?

They are already there. Beneath my feet The b.l.o.o.d.y business is preparing. Hark!

I hear their voices. Hence! Away, away From this abode of misery and death!

[He attempts to escape by another door; finds it locked, and returns.

How! Does some demon chain me to this spot?

To hear what I would shudder to behold?

That voice--it is the dean's, exhorting her; She interrupts him. Hark--she prays aloud; Her voice is firm--now all is still, quite still!

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?