Mary Stuart: A Tragedy Part 41

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.

DAVISON.

Into my charge, my liege!

ELIZABETH.

The people urged And baited me to sign it. I perforce Was driven to yield obedience to their will.

I did so; did so on extreme constraint, And in your hands deposited the paper.

To gain time was my purpose; you remember What then I told you. Now, the paper, sir!

SHREWSBURY.

Restore it, sir, affairs have changed since then, The inquiry must be set on foot anew.

DAVISON.

Anew! Eternal mercy!

ELIZABETH.

Why this pause, This hesitation? Where, sir, is the paper?

DAVISON.

I am undone! Undone! My fate is sealed!