Mary Stuart: A Tragedy Part 8

It should have acted as a warning to you: By your imprudence it became a snare.

You saw the precipice which yawned before you; Yet, truly warned, you plunged into the deep.

With Babington, the traitor, and his bands Of murderous companions, were you leagued.

You knew of all, and from your prison led Their treasonous plottings with a deep-laid plan.

MARY.

When did I that, my lord? Let them produce The doc.u.ments.

BURLEIGH.

You have already seen them They were before the court, presented to you.

MARY.

Mere copies written by another hand; Show me the proof that they were dictated By me, that they proceeded from my lips, And in those very terms in which you read them.

BURLEIGH.

Before his execution, Babington Confessed they were the same which he received.

MARY.

Why was he in his lifetime not produced Before my face? Why was he then despatched So quickly that he could not be confronted With her whom he accused?

BURLEIGH.

Besides, my lady, Your secretaries, Curl and Nau, declare On oath, they are the very selfsame letters Which from your lips they faithfully transcribed.

MARY.

And on my menials' testimony, then, I am condemned; upon the word of those Who have betrayed me, me, their rightful queen!

Who in that very moment, when they came As witnesses against me, broke their faith!

BURLEIGH.

You said yourself, you held your countryman To be an upright, conscientious man.

MARY.

I thought him such; but 'tis the hour of danger Alone, which tries the virtue of a man.

[He ever was an honest man, but weak In understanding; and his subtle comrade, Whose faith, observe, I never answered for, Might easily seduce him to write down More than he should;] the rack may have compelled him To say and to confess more than he knew.

He hoped to save himself by this false witness, And thought it could not injure me--a queen.

BURLEIGH.

The oath he swore was free and unconstrained.

MARY.

But not before my face! How now, my lord?

The witnesses you name are still alive; Let them appear against me face to face, And there repeat what they have testified.

Why am I then denied that privilege, That right which e'en the murderer enjoys?

I know from Talbot's mouth, my former keeper, That in this reign a statute has been pa.s.sed Which orders that the plaintiff be confronted With the defendant; is it so, good Paulet?

I e'er have known you as an honest man; Now prove it to me; tell me, on your conscience, If such a law exist or not in England?

PAULET.

Madam, there does: that is the law in England.

I must declare the truth.

MARY.

Well, then, my lord, If I am treated by the law of England So hardly, when that law oppresses me, Say, why avoid this selfsame country's law, When 'tis for my advantage? Answer me; Why was not Babington confronted with me?

Why not my servants, who are both alive?

BURLEIGH.

Be not so hasty, lady; 'tis not only Your plot with Babington----

MARY.

'Tis that alone Which arms the law against me; that alone From which I'm called upon to clear myself.

Stick to the point, my lord; evade it not.

BURLEIGH.

It has been proved that you have corresponded With the amba.s.sador of Spain, Mendoza----

MARY.

Stick to the point, my lord.

BURLEIGH.

That you have formed Conspiracies to overturn the fixed Religion of the realm; that you have called Into this kingdom foreign powers, and roused All kings in Europe to a war with England.

MARY.

And were it so, my lord--though I deny it-- But e'en suppose it were so: I am kept Imprisoned here against all laws of nations.

I came not into England sword in hand; I came a suppliant; and at the hands Of my imperial kinswoman I claimed The sacred rights of hospitality, When power seized upon me, and prepared To rivet fetters where I hoped protection.

Say, is my conscience bound, then, to this realm?

What are the duties that I owe to England?

I should but exercise a sacred right, Derived from sad necessity, if I Warred with these bonds, encountered might with might, Roused and incited every state in Europe For my protection to unite in arms.

Whatever in a rightful war is just And loyal, 'tis my right to exercise: Murder alone, the secret, b.l.o.o.d.y deed, My conscience and my pride alike forbid.

Murder would stain me, would dishonor me: Dishonor me, my lord, but not condemn me, Nor subject me to England's courts of law: For 'tis not justice, but mere violence, Which is the question 'tween myself and England.

BURLEIGH (significantly).

Talk not, my lady, of the dreadful right Of power: 'tis seldom on the prisoner's side.

MARY.

I am the weak, she is the mighty one: 'Tis well, my lord; let her, then, use her power; Let her destroy me; let me bleed, that she May live secure; but let her, then, confess That she hath exercised her power alone, And not contaminate the name of justice.

Let her not borrow from the laws the sword To rid her of her hated enemy; Let her not clothe in this religious garb The b.l.o.o.d.y daring of licentious might; Let not these juggling tricks deceive the world.

[Returning the sentence.

Though she may murder me, she cannot judge me: Let her no longer strive to join the fruits Of vice with virtue's fair and angel show; But let her dare to seem the thing she is.

[Exit.

SCENE VIII.

BURLEIGH, PAULET.

BURLEIGH.

She scorns us, she defies us! will defy us, Even at the scaffold's foot. This haughty heart Is not to be subdued. Say, did the sentence Surprise her? Did you see her shed one tear, Or even change her color? She disdains To make appeal to our compa.s.sion. Well She knows the wavering mind of England's queen.

Our apprehensions make her bold.