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----
MARY.
O sister, rule your realm in peace; I give up every claim to these domains-- Alas! the pinions of my soul are lamed; Greatness entices me no more: your point Is gained; I am but Mary"s shadow now-- My n.o.ble spirit is at last broke down By long captivity:--you"ve done your worst On me; you have destroyed me in my bloom!
Now, end your work, my sister;--speak at length The word, which to p.r.o.nounce has brought you hither; For I will ne"er believe that you are come, To mock unfeelingly your hapless victim.
p.r.o.nounce this word;--say, "Mary, you are free: You have already felt my power,--learn now To honor too my generosity."
Say this, and I will take my life, will take My freedom, as a present from your hands.
One word makes all undone;--I wait for it;-- Oh, let it not be needlessly delayed.
Woe to you if you end not with this word!
For should you not, like some divinity, Dispensing n.o.ble blessings, quit me now, Then, sister, not for all this island"s wealth, For all the realms encircled by the deep, Would I exchange my present lot for yours.
ELIZABETH.
And you confess at last that you are conquered: Are all your schemes run out? No more a.s.sa.s.sins Now on the road? Will no adventurer Attempt again for you the sad achievement?
Yes, madam, it is over:--you"ll seduce No mortal more. The world has other cares;-- None is ambitious of the dangerous honor Of being your fourth husband--you destroy Your wooers like your husbands.
MARY (starting angrily).
Sister, sister!-- Grant me forbearance, all ye powers of heaven!
ELIZABETH (regards her long with a look of proud contempt).
Those then, my Lord of Leicester, are the charms Which no man with impunity can view, Near which no woman dare to stand?
In sooth, this honor has been cheaply gained; She who to all is common, may with ease Become the common object of applause.
MARY.
This is too much!
ELIZABETH (laughing insultingly).
You show us now, indeed, Your real face; till now "twas but the mask.
MARY (burning with rage, yet dignified and n.o.ble).
My sins were human, and the faults of youth: Superior force misled me. I have never Denied or sought to hide it: I despised All false appearance, as became a queen.
The worst of me is known, and I can say, That I am better than the fame I bear.
Woe to you! when, in time to come, the world Shall draw the robe of honor from your deeds, With which thy arch-hypocrisy has veiled The raging flames of lawless, secret l.u.s.t.
Virtue was not your portion from your mother; Well know we what it was which brought the head Of Anna Boleyn to the fatal block.
SHREWSBURY (stepping between both QUEENS).
Oh! Heaven! Alas, and must it come to this!
Is this the moderation, the submission, My lady?----
MARY.
Moderation! I"ve supported What human nature can support: farewell, Lamb-hearted resignation, pa.s.sive patience, Fly to thy native heaven; burst at length Thy bonds, come forward from thy dreary cave, In all thy fury, long suppressed rancor!
And thou, who to the angered basilisk Impart"st the murderous glance, oh, arm my tongue With poisoned darts!
SHREWSBURY.
She is beside herself!
Exasperated, mad! My liege, forgive her.
[ELIZABETH, speechless with anger, casts enraged looks at MARY.
LEICESTER (in the most violent agitation; he seeks to lead ELIZABETH away).
Attend not to her rage! Away, away, From this disastrous place!
MARY (raising her voice).
A b.a.s.t.a.r.d soils, Profanes the English throne! The generous Britons Are cheated by a juggler, [whose whole figure Is false and painted, heart as well as face!]
If right prevailed, you now would in the dust Before me lie, for I"m your rightful monarch!
[ELIZABETH hastily quits the stage; the lords follow her in the greatest consternation.
SCENE V.
MARY, KENNEDY.
KENNEDY.
What have you done? She has gone hence in wrath All hope is over now!
MARY (still quite beside herself).
Gone hence in wrath!
She carries death within her heart! I know it.
[Falling on KENNEDY"S bosom.
Now I am happy, Hannah! and at last, After whole years of sorrow and abas.e.m.e.nt, One moment of victorious revenge A weight falls off my heart, a weight of mountains; I plunged the steel in my oppressor"s breast!
KENNEDY.
Unhappy lady! Frenzy overcomes you.
Yes, you have wounded your inveterate foe; "Tis she who wields the lightning, she is queen, You have insulted her before her minion.
MARY.
I have abased her before Leicester"s eyes; He saw it, he was witness of my triumph.
How did I hurl her from her haughty height, He saw it, and his presence strengthened me.