100 Qu. M. Oh, duke! “are you so cruel and unkind ?” I had but two priz'd friends in all the world, The queen and you; and she forbids me earth, Will you deny me heaven? Nor. Away! your danger spurs me on the race; Swift as the mind can think my soul shall fly, And make the scaffold but one step to heaven. Qu. M. And till I come, your happiness to see Kneel, and atone th' offended Powers for me. Nor. Oh, doubt it not! One last farewell— Yes, all the shining host shall plead your cause; Whilst for revenge their crystal trumpets sound, "Our souls shall soon a joyful meeting have; [Exeunt severally. SCENE II. An Alcove, with a table, pen, ink, paper, and chairs. Enter Queen ELIZABETH and ladies. Qu. El. A midnight silence sits upon the morn, The eye of day shuts, as afraid already, 120 And seems the setting, not the rising sun. I want no glories that the world can give; Enter CECIL and DAVISON. Dav. My lord, I fear we have transgress'd too far Upon the queen's most private thoughts. Cec. "Thoughts, or no thoughts, we must and will awake her. "Yet hold;" let us retire within hearing, Till she is pleas'd to call.` Qu. El. Norfolk is now no more; [Retires. His body's free from pain, his mind from fear, "Curs'd be this crown, and this loath'd scene of power, “And curs'd this head that e'er the magic wore. "The careless shepherd's breast feels no such sting, "More lov'd, obey'd, and happier than a king; "His subjects do not one another hate, "For malice, or for jealousy of state; "But harmlessly the ewe and crested ram "Walk side by side, and guard the tender lamb." Who's there? Re-enter DAVISON and CECIL. Cec. What would your majesty ? Qu. El. Welcome, kind Cecil, to assist me; Welcome, I hope, to rid this breast of tortures. What say the council to their queen's demand? To what you urg'd, that mercy should be shewn And near relation both in blood and title to you; "Which is not safe as long as Mary lives, "Whom if you save, in hope that Heav'n will spare you, "'Tis not to trust to mercy, but provoke it." 160 Qu. El. Is this the censure then, of your most wise And arbitrary caution? Dav. Mightiest queen! Do not mistake what is your subjects' love; To whom one precious moment of your welfare, If any such should be, to guard your crown And royal person with our lives and fortunes; For they can ne'er hurt England, but by her; Qu. El. Is this your answer to your sov'reign's tears? This all the kindness that two queens can beg? 180 Dav. All fix'd, and firm as fate, we are resolv'd, And t' assuage the tyrant, Mercy, in your bosom, "I kneel, and humbly offer to your thinking, "Qu. El. Hear, you immortal and avenging Powers! "Are kings vicegerents of your rule on earth ? "Breathes the rich oil yet fragrant on our brows, "And are we thus oblig'd? There are but two "Main attributes which stamp us like yourselves, "Mercy and sole prerogative, and those "Daring and saucy subjects would deny us." Cec. May't please your majesty Qu. El. I'll hear no more-" Hail pious confessor! "In vain we sprung from Edward's sacred line;" 200 I from this hour the tyrant will begin, Throw off the saint, and be no more a queen; No more be fam'd for merciful abroad, But turn my sceptre to an iron rod; "For if thou wouldst be great, thou rather must "Be fear'd for cruelty than lov'd for just. "Hence, and begone; for I will thunder bring, [Ex. Dav. and Cec. [Going, stops. "What have I done? With whom shall I advise? "Heaven keeps at awful distance now, and treats not "With kings, as it with monarch's did of old, "In visions counsell'd, or by prophets warn'd. "Inspire my thoughts."-Bid Davison come back. How wretched is my fate! "Fell as a woman, awful as a king. That on each side on ruin I must run, Re-enter DAVISON. Dav. I come at your dread majesty's command. Qu. El. Oh, Davison! thou art a man on whom My daily smiles, like rays, adorn thy person; But thou hast merits that outshine my bounties. 220 Dav. Oh, whither would your majesty ? Qu. El. Thou seest how thy poor queen is tortur❜d. "'Tis vain to hide what thou hast eyes to find, "How backward I am still to cruelty, "How loth to drain the blood ev'n of my foes; Is there no way to satisfy my people, "Nor jealous power," but by my sister's death Dav. "I would advise ; "But, oh, what hopes can that physician have |