Gif. I am a priest.

Dav. How dar'st thou shew thy head within these

walls?

I'll have thee seiz'd.

Gif. Thou had'st better, if 'twere possible, The guardian-angel of thy mistress seize : I'm hir'd to kill the queen.

Dav. Oh, monstrous villain!

Gif. I am no villain, but a scourge to villains. Dav. Oh, horrid! most unheard of impudence! Durst thou say this to me that am her servant? Gif. Because you are, therefore I sought you out;

I came not here to act it, but reveal it :

"Hell could not rest, and know it."
Dav. "Thou sayest well;"
What dire companions in this tragedy
Hast thou? Who set you on?

Gif. Oh, they are mighty!

1

81

Nor was the queen alone to have felt the blow.
Dav. Is not the queen of Scotland in the plot?
Speak as thy virtue prompts thee, "and the throne,
"Thy innocence, and heaven, be all thy guard."

Gif. I know that for her sake this was contriv'd, Am witness too she was consenting to it.

Dav. Wert thou alone to act this monstrous treason? Gif. No; five bold traitors more, beside myself (Curst that my name should e'er be read for one), All made of nature's roughest, fiercest mould, Have enter'd in a damn'd association

66 (Start all that's human and divine to her)"

To kill the queen! to murder majesty,
Their several instruments of fate, in sport,
They made the guilt of chance; to one by lot
A sword fell to his share, the next a gun,
The third a pistol, poison had the fourth,
The fifth chose water for the deed, who was,
If all the rest had fail'd, to have sunk her barge,
Rowing some evening, as her custom is,

From Greenwich: and this dagger was my lot.

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Dav. Thou'st gain'd a glorious and immortal credit. Gif. I can produce what will amaze you worse; "No necromancer ever shew'd the face

"Of a suspected stealer in a glass,

"As I" the lively figures of these monsters,
In glorious ostentation of the deed,

Painted on tables, set in gold, with Babington
High in the midst, and in his threat'ning hand,
Grasping the weapon that should kill the queen.
Dav. Oh, villains! didst thou ever see queen Mary?
Gif. Yes, and have seen her letters to the Pope,
To the confederates, and to Babington.

Dav. To Babington! Say! Does she write to him?
Gif. To him!-I am the intrusted messenger. 121
Dav. Dost know them to be hers? Who gave them
to thee?

Gif. Her secretary, Curl.

Dav. But are you sure they are the queen's own hand?

Gif. Her hand I know, and this I'm sure's her writing.

To me they are first deliver'd to convey.

[Producing letters.

And henceforth, as they come into my hands,

Dav. Do so; which I'll open,

And cause them to be neatly counterfeited,
Then send the false, and keep the true ones by me.
But hold, we are perceived; come, follow me,
And when time serves, I'll bring thee to the queen.
[Exeunt.

Enter Queen MARY, DOWGLAS, and attendants at the other door, and sees DAVISON and GIFFORD. "Qu. M. Shew me the unfrequented'st gallery "To walk in; for we have not chang'd our state, "We only have a little larger prison."

Dow. Ha!

Qu. M. What ails the guardian genius of his queen? Why this disorder? Wherefore didst thou start? Dow. Saw you that fellow, madam?

Qu. M. Yes; why ask'st thou ?

140

Dow. I know not; but a sudden horror seiz'd me

At that man's sight

Was not that Davison and he together

In private talk? Ah, madam, Davison!
A spy of quality, a leger here

Of plots against your sacred innocence.
By your unspotted soul! just such a person
(I wish he's not the same) I often saw
With Navus, during your imprisonment:

Oh, my prophetic heart warns and foretels me, There's mischief gathering in your scarce clos'd wound. Qu. M. There's no fear; for my kind sister's love, And my own innocence, shall conquer all

That hell or malice can invent against me.

Dav. What mean these drops? Oh, stars! what meant this shaking?

Your prophets never wept, nor trembled so,
For pity when they told the fate of kingdoms.
Ah, brightest star that e'er adorn'd the world!
Take, take, young Dowglas' counsel, and retire! 160
Oh, shun the barb'rous place; and fly this moment.
Qu. M. What dost thou mean?
Dow. I know not, but am pull'd

By some strange destiny, that seems to you

As if I rav'd, but blest were you 'twere madness.
Last night, no sooner was I laid to rest,

"But just three drops of blood fell from my nose,
"And stain'd my pillow, which I found this morning,
"And wonder'd at.

"Qu. M. That rather does betoken

"Some mischief to thyself.

"Dow. Perhaps to cowards,

"Who prize their own base lives; but to the brave, "'Tis always fatal to the friend they love. "Mark farther: I was scarcely fallen asleep," But you were represented to my fancy,

Deck'd like a bride, with Norfolk in your hand; The amorous duke, that smiles with every glance, Whilst you return'd them, with more piercing darts;

But strait it seem'd to lighten, and a peal

Of dreadful thunder rent you from each other,
Whilst from the ceiling, painted o'er like heaven,
Methought I saw the furious queen of England,
Like angry Juno mounted on a cloud,

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Descend in flames, at which dread sight you vanish'd. Qu. M. These are but starts of an o’erwatchful soul, Which always represent to us asleep,

What most we fear or wish when we're awake.

Dow. Ah! my best mistress! on my knees I beg, Though the brave duke be as renown'd as any That e'er the antients first chose out for gods; "Though never man so rivall'd all the sex, "And left them bare of virtue, like himself;" Yet for your precious life's sake, that's more worth Than thousand dukes, break off your marriage with him.

Qu. M. My little guardian angel, thou hast rous'd And beat a war within my breast, between The interest of my love, and preservation: Thou know'st 'twas long consulted, and at last Concluded best for my uncertain state; Leicester and Cecil both have given their words, And Morton too, to gain the queen's consent. "Dow. There's Morton in it, therefore go no farther.

200

"Qu. M. Thou would'st not have me wed the gallant duke,

"Yet thou would'st have me fly. Where shall I fly ? "I dare not go to Scotland, that lays wait