Mary Stuart: A Tragedy Part 21

[TALBOT sends the train away. She looks steadfastly at MARY, as she speaks further with PAULET.

My honest people love me overmuch.

These signs of joy are quite idolatrous.

Thus should a G.o.d be honored, not a mortal.

MARY (who the whole time had leaned, almost fainting, on KENNEDY, rises now, and her eyes meet the steady, piercing look of ELIZABETH; she shudders and throws herself again upon KENNEDY'S bosom).

O G.o.d! from out these features speaks no heart.

ELIZABETH.

What lady's that?

[A general, embarra.s.sed silence.

LEICESTER.

You are at Fotheringay, My liege!

ELIZABETH (as if surprised, casting an angry look at LEICESTER).

Who hath done this, my Lord of Leicester?

LEICESTER.

'Tis past, my queen;--and now that heaven hath led Your footsteps. .h.i.ther, be magnanimous; And let sweet pity be triumphant now.

SHREWSBURY.

Oh, royal mistress! yield to our entreaties; Oh, cast your eyes on this unhappy one Who stands dissolved in anguish.

[MARY collects herself, and begins to advance towards ELIZABETH, stops shuddering at half way: her action expresses the most violent internal struggle.

ELIZABETH.

How, my lords!

Which of you then announced to me a prisoner Bowed down by woe? I see a haughty one By no means humbled by calamity.

MARY.

Well, be it so:--to this will I submit.

Farewell high thought, and pride of n.o.ble mind!

I will forget my dignity, and all My sufferings; I will fall before her feet Who hath reduced me to this wretchedness.

[She turns towards the QUEEN.

The voice of heaven decides for you, my sister.

Your happy brows are now with triumph crowned, I bless the Power Divine which thus hath raised you.

But in your turn be merciful, my sister; [She kneels.

Let me not lie before you thus disgraced; Stretch forth your hand, your royal hand, to raise Your sister from the depths of her distress.

ELIZABETH (stepping back).

You are where it becomes you, Lady Stuart; And thankfully I prize my G.o.d's protection, Who hath not suffered me to kneel a suppliant Thus at your feet, as you now kneel at mine.

MARY (with increasing energy of feeling).

Think on all earthly things, vicissitudes.

Oh! there are G.o.ds who punish haughty pride: Respect them, honor them, the dreadful ones Who thus before thy feet have humbled me!

Before these strangers' eyes dishonor not Yourself in me: profane not, nor disgrace The royal blood of Tudor. In my veins It flows as pure a stream as in your own.

Oh, for G.o.d's pity, stand not so estranged And inaccessible, like some tall cliff, Which the poor shipwrecked mariner in vain Struggles to seize, and labors to embrace.

My all, my life, my fortune now depends Upon the influence of my words and tears; That I may touch your heart, oh, set mine free.

If you regard me with those icy looks My shuddering heart contracts itself, the stream Of tears is dried, and frigid horror chains The words of supplication in my bosom!

ELIZABETH (cold and severe).

What would you say to me, my Lady Stuart?

You wished to speak with me; and I, forgetting The queen, and all the wrongs I have sustained, Fulfil the pious duty of the sister, And grant the boon you wished for of my presence.

Yet I, in yielding to the generous feelings Of magnanimity, expose myself To rightful censure, that I stoop so low.

For well you know you would have had me murdered.

MARY.

Oh! how shall I begin? Oh, how shall I So artfully arrange my cautious words That they may touch, yet not offend your heart?

Strengthen my words, O Heaven! and take from them Whate'er might wound. Alas! I cannot speak In my own cause without impeaching you, And that most heavily, I wish not so; You have not as you ought behaved to me: I am a queen, like you: yet you have held me Confined in prison. As a suppliant I came to you, yet you in me insulted The pious use of hospitality; Slighting in me the holy law of nations, Immured me in a dungeon--tore from me My friends and servants; to unseemly want I was exposed, and hurried to the bar Of a disgraceful, insolent tribunal.

No more of this;--in everlasting silence Be buried all the cruelties I suffered!

See--I will throw the blame of all on fate, 'Twere not your fault, no more than it was mine.

An evil spirit rose from the abyss, To kindle in our hearts the flame of hate, By which our tender youth had been divided.

It grew with us, and bad, designing men Fanned with their ready breath the fatal fire: Frantics, enthusiasts, with sword and dagger Armed the uncalled-for hand! This is the curse Of kings, that they, divided, tear the world In pieces with their hatred, and let loose The raging furies of all h.e.l.lish strife!

No foreign tongue is now between us, sister,

[Approaching her confidently, and with a flattering tone.

Now stand we face to face; now, sister, speak: Name but my crime, I'll fully satisfy you,-- Alas! had you vouchsafed to hear me then, When I so earnest sought to meet your eye, It never would have come to this, nor would, Here in this mournful place, have happened now This so distressful, this so mournful meeting.

ELIZABETH.

My better stars preserved me. I was warned, And laid not to my breast the poisonous adder!

Accuse not fate! your own deceitful heart It was, the wild ambition of your house As yet no enmities had pa.s.sed between us, When your imperious uncle, the proud priest, Whose shameless hand grasps at all crowns, attacked me With unprovoked hostility, and taught You, but too docile, to a.s.sume my arms, To vest yourself with my imperial t.i.tle, And meet me in the lists in mortal strife: What arms employed he not to storm my throne?

The curses of the priests, the people's sword, The dreadful weapons of religious frenzy;-- Even here in my own kingdom's peaceful haunts He fanned the flames of civil insurrection; But G.o.d is with me, and the haughty priest Has not maintained the field. The blow was aimed Full at my head, but yours it is which falls!

MARY.

I'm in the hand of heaven. You never will Exert so cruelly the power it gives you.

ELIZABETH.

Who shall prevent me? Say, did not your uncle Set all the kings of Europe the example, How to conclude a peace with those they hate.

Be mine the school of Saint Bartholomew; What's kindred then to me, or nation's laws?

The church can break the bands of every duty; It consecrates the regicide, the traitor; I only practise what your priests have taught!

Say then, what surety can be offered me, Should I magnanimously loose your bonds?

Say, with what lock can I secure your faith, Which by Saint Peter's keys cannot be opened?

Force is my only surety; no alliance Can be concluded with a race of vipers.

MARY.

Oh! this is but your wretched, dark suspicion!

For you have constantly regarded me But as a stranger, and an enemy.

Had you declared me heir to your dominions, As is my right, then grat.i.tude and love In me had fixed, for you, a faithful friend And kinswoman.

ELIZABETH.

Your friendship is abroad, Your house is papacy, the monk your brother.

Name you my successor! The treacherous snare!

That in my life you might seduce my people; And, like a sly Armida, in your net Entangle all our n.o.ble English youth; That all might turn to the new rising sun, And I----