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Be calm, he shall not die! Rise up--I came To save his life.
_Rut._ 'Tis mercy's voice that speaks!-- My Ess.e.x shall again be mine! My queen, My bounteous, gracious queen, has said the word!
May troops of angels guard thy sacred life!
And, in thy latest moments, waft thy soul, To meet that mercy in the realms of joy, Which, now, thy royal goodness grants to me!
_Enter BURLEIGH._
_Bur._ Madam, your orders came, alas! too late.
Ere they arrived, the axe had fallen on Ess.e.x.
_Rut._ Ha! dead! What h.e.l.l is this, that opens round me?
What fiend art thou, that draws the horrid scene?
Ah! Burleigh! b.l.o.o.d.y murd'rer! where's my husband?
Oh! where's my lord, my Ess.e.x?
Destruction seize, and madness rend my brain!
See,--see they bend him to the fatal block!
Now--now the horrid axe is lifted high-- It falls--it falls!--he bleeds--he bleeds! he dies!
_Qu. Eliz._ Alas! her sorrows pierce my suffering heart!
_Rut._ Eternal discord tear the social world, And nature's laws dissolve! expunge--erase The hated marks of Time's engraving hand, And every trace destroy! Arise, Despair!
a.s.sert thy rightful claim--possess me all!
Bear, bear me to my murder'd lord--to clasp His bleeding body in my dying arms!
And, in the tomb, embrace his dear remains, And mingle with his dust--for ever! [_Exit._
_Qu. Eliz._ Hapless woman!
She shall henceforth be partner of my sorrows, And we'll contend who most shall weep for Ess.e.x.
Oh, quick to kill, and ready to destroy! [_To BURLEIGH._ Could no pretext be found--no cause appear, To lengthen mercy out a moment more, And stretch the span of grace?--Oh, cruel Burleigh!
This, this was thy dark work, unpitying man!
_Bur._ My gracious mistress, blame not thus my duty, My firm obedience to your high command.
The laws condemn'd him first to die; nor think I stood between your mercy and his life.
It was the Lady Nottingham, not I.
Herself confess'd it all, in wild despair, That, from your majesty to Ess.e.x sent With terms of proffer'd grace, she then received, From his own hand, a fatal ring, a pledge, It seems, of much importance, which the earl, With earnest suit, and warm entreaty, begg'd her, As she would prize his life, to give your majesty; In this she fail'd--In this she murder'd Ess.e.x.
_Qu. Eliz._ Oh, barbarous woman!
Surrounded still by treachery and fraud!
What b.l.o.o.d.y deed is this!--Thou injured Ess.e.x!
My fame is soil'd to all succeeding times; But Heaven alone can view my breaking heart-- Then let its will be done.
From hence, let proud, resisting mortals know The arm parental, and the indulgent blow.
To Heaven's corrective rod submissive bend; Adore its wisdom, on its power depend; Whilst ruling justice guides eternal sway, Let nature tremble, and let man obey. [_Exeunt._
THE END.
