KENNEDY (screams aloud as soon as she observes him).
Melvil! Is it you? Behold I you again?
MELVIL.
Yes, faithful Kennedy, we meet once more.
KENNEDY.
After this long, long, painful separation!
MELVIL.
A most unhappy, bitter meeting this!
KENNEDY.
You come----
MELVIL.
To take an everlasting leave Of my dear queen--to bid a last farewell!
KENNEDY.
And now at length, now on the fatal morn Which brings her death, they grant our royal lady The presence of her friends. Oh, worthy sir, I will not question you, how you have fared, Nor tell you all the sufferings we"ve endured, Since you were torn away from us: alas!
There will be time enough for that hereafter.
O, Melvil, Melvil, why was it our fate To see the dawn of this unhappy day?
MELVIL.
Let us not melt each other with our grief.
Throughout my whole remaining life, as long As ever it may be, I"ll sit and weep; A smile shall never more light up these cheeks, Ne"er will I lay this sable garb aside, But lead henceforth a life of endless mourning.
Yet on this last sad day I will be firm; Pledge me your word to moderate your grief; And when the rest of comfort all bereft, Abandoned to despair, wail round her, we Will lead her with heroic resolution, And be her staff upon the road to death!
KENNEDY.
Melvil! You are deceived if you suppose The queen has need of our support to meet Her death with firmness. She it is, my friend, Who will exhibit the undaunted heart.
Oh! trust me, Mary Stuart will expire As best becomes a heroine and queen!
MELVIL.
Received she firmly, then, the sad decree Of death?--"tis said that she was not prepared.
KENNEDY.
She was not; yet they were far other terrors Which made our lady shudder: "twas not death, But her deliverer, which made her tremble.
Freedom was promised us; this very night Had Mortimer engaged to bear us hence: And thus the queen, perplexed "twixt hope and fear, And doubting still if she should trust her honor And royal person to the adventurous youth, Sat waiting for the morning. On a sudden We hear a boisterous tumult in the castle; Our ears are startled by repeated blows Of many hammers, and we think we hear The approach of our deliverers: hope salutes us, And suddenly and unresisted wakes The sweet desire of life. And now at once The portals are thrown open--it is Paulet, Who comes to tell us--that--the carpenters Erect beneath our feet the murderous scaffold!
[She turns aside, overpowered by excessive anguish.
MELVIL.
O G.o.d in Heaven! Oh, tell me then how bore The queen this terrible vicissitude?
KENNEDY (after a pause, in which she has somewhat collected herself).
Not by degrees can we relinquish life; Quick, sudden, in the twinkling of an eye, The separation must be made, the change From temporal to eternal life; and G.o.d Imparted to our mistress at this moment His grace, to cast away each earthly hope, And firm and full of faith to mount the skies.
No sign of pallid fear dishonored her; No word of mourning, "till she heard the tidings Of Leicester"s shameful treachery, the sad fate Of the deserving youth, who sacrificed Himself for her; the deep, the bitter anguish Of that old knight, who lost, through her, his last, His only hope; till then she shed no tear-- "Twas then her tears began to flow, "twas not Her own, but others" woe which wrung them from her.
MELVIL.
Where is she now? Can you not lead me to her?
KENNEDY.
She spent the last remainder of the night In prayer, and from her dearest friends she took Her last farewell in writing: then she wrote Her will [1] with her own hand. She now enjoys A moment of repose, the latest slumber Refreshes her weak spirits.
MELVIL.
Who attends her?
KENNEDY.
None but her women and physician Burgoyn: You seem to look around you with surprise; Your eyes appear to ask me what should mean This show of splendor in the house of death.
Oh, sir, while yet we lived we suffered want; But at our death plenty returns to us.
SCENE II.
Enter MARGARET CURL.
KENNEDY.
How, madam, fares the queen? Is she awake?
CURL (drying her tears).
She is already dressed--she asks for you.
KENNEDY.
I go:-- [To MELVIL, who seems to wish to accompany her.
But follow not until the queen Has been prepared to see you.
[Exit.
CURL.
Melvil, sure, The ancient steward?
MELVIL.
Yes, the same.
CURL.
Oh, sir, This is a house which needs no steward now!
Melvil, you come from London; can you give No tidings of my husband?
MELVIL.
It is said He will be set at liberty as soon----
CURL.
As soon as our dear queen shall be no more.
Oh, the unworthy, the disgraceful traitor!
He is our lady"s murderer--"tis said It was his testimony which condemned him.
MELVIL.
"Tis true.