Qu. E. You have my leave; do with us as you

please.

goo

But, tyrants, send me straight, where, by your power, These cruel eyes may never see her more. [Going off.

Enter Queen MARY and DowGLAS, ladies and gentlemen.

Qu. M. Turn, turn, your face, and give one long'dfor look,

My charming queen! the morning's gone, and yet
I have not seen those eyes, that bless the morn.
Hide not those looks where beams of justice shine,
And pity sits enthron'd with majesty.

I hear the duke of Norfolk's in displeasure;
Forgive the brave, unhappy man.

Why sighs my queen? Why bend your royal head,
As loth to grant? Can mercy, ha! can I too plead in

vain ?

Nay, then I'll bind you with these chains of love; Lean my sad cheek on yours, and mix your tears with mine.

Qu. El. Now rescue me, or I am lost.

Dav. Guards execute your orders on the queen. We beg your majesty, for love of fame,

By your unbias'd rule, and charms of justice,
Rouze your imperial courage, and display

'An awful and offended majesty.

320

Cec. For now your wisdom, crown, and life's at

stake?

Nay, and the lives of all your faithful subjects,
For this one precious moment of your conduct.

Qu. M. I will obey; your orders fright not me,
Nor stir my soul, so lately us'd to wrongs.
What is my crime? Yet wherefore do I ask ?
"For chains look lovelier far about these arms
“Than diamonds; and tears hang on my neck
"More beautiful than strings of orient pearl."

Qu. El. Ah, cruel princess, we are both undone! You've robb'd your sister's breast of all its treasure, More than my crown, you've robb'd me of yourself.

Dav. Mary, late queen of Scotland, y'are impeach'd, By the name of Mary Stewart, of high treason; For plotting to usurp your sovereign's crown, And hiring Babington to kill the queen.

Qu. M. Hear thrones and powers that guard the innocent!

The Gorgon is at last disclos'd to view.

What, kill my sister! hurt your precious life!

Oh, monster of invention ! cruel falsehood!
And, oh, vile calumny, begot in hell!
Nay, then I see my ruin is decreed;

The duke must die, and I must suffer too.
But, cruel foes, had you no way but this,
To blast me with eternal infamy?

And canst thou, canst thou close thy eyes against me?
“Oh, bright vengeance! is there none in store ?
"Will Fate that Providence from me debar,
"When every living insect claims a share?
"Will you lock fast your adamantine doors,

340

"Now, when a queen, an injur'd queen implores ? "Qu. El. Incroaching pity stop thy flowing torrent, "And ebbing nature sink to that extreme

"Of cruel Brutus, that condemn'd his son; "For this is now my trial."

Qu. M. Say, amongst you,

Who is that man or devil, that dare accuse me?
Dav. The traitor has confess'd his guilt, and yours,

With letters that you sign'd, to do the deed.

Qu. M. Hear, hear, just powers, and all your guard of kings?

“ Hear, royal maid, for virgin pity fam’d!”
Heard you how they did slander majesty?

And can you bear it? Half these veins are yours,
My royal title, tender sex the same,

Doubly of kin, in royalty and blood;

360

And can you hear your sister, hear yourself so stain’d? Qu. El. Oh, blame not me, but curse the fate of

princes;

We are but guardians of our subjects' rights,
And stewards of our own, none bound so fast

To keep the laws they make, as the creators selves.
Alas, I am like one that sees far off,

Have all the wishes of a friend to save you,

But ty'd by oath, and cannot stir to help you!

Qu. M. This Babington, who ne'er yet curs'd my sight, Must be some villain hir'd to do this treason,

And lay it upon me. But bear me witness all, and

you,

That of disjointed atoms form'd the sun,

The shining heavens, the planets and the world,
So wonderful and glorious as they are,

Who sees into the soul, and all its walks,
Thro' this dark mould, transparent as a glass!
Oh, may these fatal eyes, worshipp'd like stars,
Drop from this visage, once like Heaven ador'd,
And leave this face a death's-head, to be shunn'd;
Or may this horrid hand, this hand, or this,

880

That once was fragrant with the breath of kings,
That kneel'd to kiss this wrong'd, this innocent hand,
May it drop from me, like a wither'd branch
From this vile stock, and never sprout again,
If e'er I will'd the deed, or sign'd such letter.
Qu. El. 'Tis time for me to go; is't not my jailors!
I have seen more than any tyger could.

Oh, pity'd queen, farewell!

Qu. M. Is then your boasted love debas'd to pity? Oh, stay, and mingle kindness with your justice! I beg not for myself, but for my fame,

To die's no pain, but to die branded is a thousand deaths.

Qu. El. Enough; 'tis cruelty in me to go, "And worse to stay.

"Qu. M. Yet I intreat you stay.

400

"Are you so cruel to believe me perjur'd? [Holds her. "Qu. El. Yet loose, for pity of us both, let go: "The world has not so griev'd a wretch as I; "And thou lay'st hold upon so weak a bough,

"That the least weight will sink me quite with thee.

"Qu. M. Hear me, thou deaf and cruel queen! Ah, no!

"Thou mild as babes, and tender as their mothers! "Hear me but this, this once, this last-What, nei

ther?

"Then to just Heaven I kneel, and not to thee"Here let my knees take root.

[Kneels." Dav. Tho' clear and spotless as the light you are, Yet that must be examin'd by the laws;

The lords must quit you.

Qu. M. Must the law then judge me?

Nay, then I'll rise with shame from this mean posture; "And now I feel the majesty of kings

"Dart from above, to hear itself profan'd, "Stretching my soul and limbs to such a vastness, "As the first race of mankind e'er the flood,

"When heroes more than mortal rul'd the world." 420 Come, bring me straight to this contemn'd tribunal; Then all the courage

Of my imperial ancestors inspire

"This breast, from Fergus first, to James, my son, "Last of his breast that sway'd the Scottish globe "For fifteen hundred years, shine through my face: "Print on my forehead every awful look," Defend your royal right, and for me plead,

Shoot from my eyes, and strike my judges dead.

Qu. El. If Mary's fate were sentenc'd by this breath. If that were judge, I would this hour acquit her. Depend upon thy innocence and me: