Part 7

LEICESTER. What means your lordship?

BURLEIGH. You were the man who knew, behind my back, To lure the queen to Fotheringay Castle.

LEICESTER. Behind your back! When did I fear to act Before your face?

BURLEIGH. You led her majesty? Oh, no--you led her not--it was the queen Who was so gracious as to lead you thither.

LEICESTER. What mean you, my lord, by that?

BURLEIGH. The noble part You forced the queen to play! The glorious triumph Which you prepared for her! Too gracious princess! So shamelessly, so wantonly to mock Thy unsuspecting goodness, to betray thee So pitiless to thy exulting foe! This, then, is the magnanimity, the grace Which suddenly possessed you in the council! The Stuart is for this so despicable, So weak an enemy, that it would scarce Be worth the pains to stain us with her blood. A specious plan! and sharply pointed too; 'Tis only pity this sharp point is broken.

LEICESTER. Unworthy wretch! this instant follow me, And answer at the throne this insolence.

BURLEIGH. You'll find me there, my lord; and look you well That there your eloquence desert you not.

[Exit.

SCENE IV.

LEICESTER alone, then MORTIMER.

LEICESTER. I am detected! All my plot's disclosed! How has my evil genius tracked my steps! Alas! if he has proofs, if she should learn That I have held a secret correspondence With her worst enemy; how criminal Shall I appear to her! How false will then My counsel seem, and all the fatal pains I took to lure the queen to Fotheringay! I've shamefully betrayed, I have exposed her To her detested enemy's revilings! Oh! never, never can she pardon that. All will appear as if premeditated. The bitter turn of this sad interview, The triumph and the tauntings of her rival; Yes, e'en the murderous hand which had prepared A bloody, monstrous, unexpected fate; All, all will be ascribed to my suggestions! I see no rescue! nowhere--ha! Who comes?

[MORTIMER enters in the most violent uneasiness, and looks with apprehension round him.

MORTIMER. Lord Leicester! Is it you! Are we alone?

LEICESTER. Ill-fated wretch, away! What seek you here?

MORTIMER. They are upon our track--upon yours, too; Be vigilant!

LEICESTER. Away, away!

MORTIMER. They know That private conferences have been held At Aubespine's----

LEICESTER. What's that to me?

MORTIMER. They know, too, That the assassin----

LEICESTER. That is your affair-- Audacious wretch! to dare to mix my name In your detested outrage: go; defend Your bloody deeds yourself!

MORTIMER. But only hear me.

LEICESTER (violently enraged). Down, down to hell! Why cling you at my heels Like an infernal spirit! I disclaim you; I know you not; I make no common cause With murderers!

MORTIMER. You will not hear me, then! I came to warn you; you too are detected.

LEICESTER. How! What?

MORTIMER. Lord Burleigh went to Fotheringay Just as the luckless deed had been attempted; Searched with strict scrutiny the queen's apartments, And found there----

LEICESTER. What?

MORTIMER. A letter which the queen Had just addressed to you----

LEICESTER. Unhappy woman!

MORTIMER. In which she calls on you to keep your word, Renews the promise of her hand, and mentions The picture which she sent you.

LEICESTER. Death and hell!

MORTIMER. Lord Burleigh has the letter.

LEICESTER. I am lost!

[During the following speech of MORTIMER, LEICESTER goes up and down as in despair.

MORTIMER. Improve the moment; be beforehand with him, And save yourself--save her! An oath can clear Your fame; contrive excuses to avert The worst. I am disarmed, can do no more; My comrades are dispersed--to pieces fallen Our whole confederacy. For Scotland I To rally such new friends as there I may. 'Tis now your turn, my lord; try what your weight, What bold assurance can effect.

LEICESTER (stops suddenly as if resolved). I will.

[Goes to the door, opens it, and calls.

Who waits without? Guards! seize this wretched traitor!

[To the officer, who comes in with soldiers.

And guard him closely! A most dreadful plot Is brought to light--I'll to her majesty.

MORTIMER (stands for a time petrified with wonder; collects himself soon, and follows LEICESTER with his looks expressive of the most sovereign contempt). Infamous wretch! But I deserve it all. Who told me then to trust this practised villain? Now o'er my head he strides, and on my fall He builds the bridge of safety! be it so; Go, save thyself--my lips are sealed forever; I will not join even thee in my destruction; I would not own thee, no, not even in death; Life is the faithless villain's only good!

[To the officer of the guard, who steps forward to seize him.

What wilt thou, slave of tyranny, with me? I laugh to scorn thy threatenings; I am free.

[Drawing a dagger.

OFFICER. He's armed; rush in and wrest his weapon from him.

[They rush upon him, he defends himself.

MORTIMER (raising his voice). And in this latest moment shall my heart Expand itself in freedom, and my tongue Shall break this long constraint. Curse and destruction Light on you all who have betrayed your faith, Your God, and your true sovereign! Who, alike To earthly Mary false as to the heavenly, Have sold your duties to this bastard queen!

OFFICER. Hear you these blasphemies? Rush forward--seize him.

MORTIMER. Beloved queen! I could not set thee free; Yet take a lesson from me how to die. Mary, thou holy one, O! pray for me! And take me to thy heavenly home on high.

[Stabs himself, and falls into the arms of the guard.

SCENE V.

The apartment of the Queen.

ELIZABETH, with a letter in her hand, BURLEIGH.

ELIZABETH. To lure me thither! trifle with me thus! The traitor! Thus to lead me, as in triumph, Into the presence of his paramour! Oh, Burleigh! ne'er was woman so deceived.

BURLEIGH. I cannot yet conceive what potent means, What magic he exerted, to surprise My queen's accustomed prudence.

ELIZABETH. Oh, I die For shame! How must he laugh to scorn my weakness! I thought to humble her, and was myself The object of her bitter scorn.

BURLEIGH. By this You see how faithfully I counselled you.

ELIZABETH. Oh, I am sorely punished, that I turned My ear from your wise counsels; yet I thought I might confide in him. Who could suspect Beneath the vows of faithfullest devotion A deadly snare? In whom can I confide When he deceives me? He, whom I have made The greatest of the great, and ever set The nearest to my heart, and in this court Allowed to play the master and the king.

BURLEIGH. Yet in that very moment he betrayed you, Betrayed you to this wily Queen of Scots.

ELIZABETH. Oh, she shall pay me for it with her life! Is the death-warrant ready?

BURLEIGH. 'Tis prepared As you commanded.

ELIZABETH. She shall surely die-- He shall behold her fall, and fall himself! I've driven him from my heart. No longer love, Revenge alone is there: and high as once He stood, so low and shameful be his fall! A monument of my severity, As once the proud example of my weakness. Conduct him to the Tower; let a commission Of peers be named to try him. He shall feel In its full weight the rigor of the law.

BURLEIGH. But he will seek thy presence; he will clear----

ELIZABETH. How can he clear himself? Does not the letter Convict him. Oh, his crimes are manifest!

BURLEIGH. But thou art mild and gracious! His appearance, His powerful presence----

ELIZABETH. I will never see him; No never, never more. Are orders given Not to admit him should he come?

BURLEIGH. 'Tis done.

PAGE (entering). The Earl of Leicester!

ELIZABETH. The presumptuous man! I will not see him. Tell him that I will not.

PAGE. I am afraid to bring my lord this message, Nor would he credit it.

ELIZABETH. And I have raised him So high that my own servants tremble more At him than me!

BURLEIGH (to the PAGE). The queen forbids his presence.

[The PAGE retires slowly.

ELIZABETH (after a pause). Yet, if it still were possible? If he Could clear himself? Might it not be a snare Laid by the cunning one, to sever me From my best friends--the ever-treacherous harlot! She might have writ the letter, but to raise Poisonous suspicion in my heart, to ruin The man she hates.

BURLEIGH. Yet, gracious queen, consider.

SCENE VI.

LEICESTER (bursts open the door with violence, and enters with an imperious air).

LEICESTER. Fain would I see the shameless man who dares Forbid me the apartments of my queen!

ELIZABETH (avoiding his sight).

Audacious slave!

LEICESTER. To turn me from the door!

If for a Burleigh she be visible, She must be so to me!

BURLEIGH. My lord, you are Too bold, without permission to intrude.

LEICESTER. My lord, you are too arrogant, to take The lead in these apartments. What! Permission! I know of none who stands so high at court As to permit my doings, or refuse them.

[Humbly approaching ELIZABETH.

'Tis from my sovereign's lips alone that I----

ELIZABETH (without looking at him). Out of my sight, deceitful, worthless traitor!

LEICESTER. 'Tis not my gracious queen I hear, but Burleigh, My enemy, in these ungentle words. To my imperial mistress I appeal; Thou hast lent him thine ear; I ask the like.

ELIZABETH. Speak, shameless wretch! Increase your crime--deny it.

LEICESTER. Dismiss this troublesome intruder first. Withdraw, my lord; it is not of your office To play the third man here: between the queen And me there is no need of witnesses. Retire----

ELIZABETH (to BURLEIGH). Remain, my lord; 'tis my command.

LEICESTER. What has a third to do 'twixt thee and me? I have to clear myself before my queen, My worshipped queen; I will maintain the rights Which thou hast given me; these rights are sacred, And I insist upon it, that my lord Retire.

ELIZABETH. This haughty tone befits you well.

LEICESTER. It well befits me; am not I the man, The happy man, to whom thy gracious favor Has given the highest station? this exalts me Above this Burleigh, and above them all. Thy heart imparted me this rank, and what Thy favor gave, by heavens I will maintain At my life's hazard. Let him go, it needs Two moments only to exculpate me.

ELIZABETH. Think not, with cunning words, to hide the truth.

LEICESTER. That fear from him, so voluble of speech: But what I say is to the heart addressed; And I will justify what I have dared To do, confiding in thy generous favor, Before thy heart alone. I recognize No other jurisdiction.

ELIZABETH. Base deceiver 'Tis this, e'en this, which above all condemns you. My lord, produce the letter.

[To BURLEIGH.

BURLEIGH. Here it is.

LEICESTER (running over the letter without losing his presence of mind). 'Tis Mary Stuart's hand----

ELIZABETH. Read and be dumb!

LEICESTER (having read it quietly). Appearance is against me, yet I hope I shall not by appearances be judged.

ELIZABETH. Can you deny your secret correspondence With Mary?--that she sent and you received Her picture, that you gave her hopes of rescue?

LEICESTER. It were an easy matter, if I felt That I were guilty of a crime, to challenge The testimony of my enemy: Yet bold is my good conscience. I confess That she hath said the truth.

ELIZABETH. Well then, thou wretch!

BURLEIGH. His own words sentence him----

ELIZABETH. Out of my sight! Away! Conduct the traitor to the Tower!

LEICESTER. I am no traitor; it was wrong, I own, To make a secret of this step to thee; Yet pure was my intention, it was done To search into her plots and to confound them.

ELIZABETH. Vain subterfuge!

BURLEIGH. And do you think, my lord----

LEICESTER. I've played a dangerous game, I know it well, And none but Leicester dare be bold enough To risk it at this court. The world must know How I detest this Stuart, and the rank Which here I hold; my monarch's confidence, With which she honors me, must sure suffice To overturn all doubt of my intentions. Well may the man thy favor above all Distinguishes pursue a daring course To do his duty!

BURLEIGH. If the course was good, Wherefore conceal it?

LEICESTER. You are used, my lord, To prate before you act; the very chime Of your own deeds. This is your manner, lord; But mine is first to act, and then to speak.

BURLEIGH. Yes, now you speak because you must.

LEICESTER (measuring him proudly and disdainfully with his eyes). And you Boast of a wonderful, a mighty action, That you have saved the queen, have snatched away The mask from treachery; all is known to you; You think, forsooth, that nothing can escape Your penetrating eyes. Poor, idle boaster! In spite of all your cunning, Mary Stuart Was free to-day, had I not hindered it.

BURLEIGH. How? You?

LEICESTER. Yes, I, my lord; the queen confided In Mortimer; she opened to the youth Her inmost soul! Yes, she went further still; She gave him, too, a secret, bloody charge, Which Paulet had before refused with horror. Say, is it so, or not?

[The QUEEN and BURLEIGH look at one another with astonishment.

BURLEIGH. Whence know ye this?

LEICESTER. Nay, is it not a fact? Now answer me. And where, my lord, where were your thousand eyes, Not to discover Mortimer was false? That he, the Guise's tool, and Mary's creature, A raging papist, daring fanatic, Was come to free the Stuart, and to murder The Queen of England!

ELIZABETH (with the utmost astonishment). How! This Mortimer!

LEICESTER. 'Twas he through whom our correspondence passed. This plot it was which introduced me to him. This very day she was to have been torn From her confinement; he, this very moment, Disclosed his plan to me: I took him prisoner, And gave him to the guard, when in despair To see his work o'erturned, himself unmasked, He slew himself!

ELIZABETH. Oh, I indeed have been Deceived beyond example, Mortimer!

BURLEIGH. This happened then but now? Since last we parted?

LEICESTER. For my own sake, I must lament the deed; That he was thus cut off. His testimony, Were he alive, had fully cleared my fame, And freed me from suspicion; 'twas for this That I surrendered him to open justice. I thought to choose the most impartial course To verify and fix my innocence Before the world.

BURLEIGH. He killed himself, you say Is't so? Or did you kill him?

LEICESTER. Vile suspicion! Hear but the guard who seized him. [He goes to the door, and calls. Ho! who waits? [Enter the officer of the guard. Sir, tell the queen how Mortimer expired.

OFFICER. I was on duty in the palace porch, When suddenly my lord threw wide the door, And ordered me to take the knight in charge, Denouncing him a traitor: upon this He grew enraged, and with most bitter curses Against our sovereign and our holy faith, He drew a dagger, and before the guards Could hinder his intention, plunged the steel Into his heart, and fell a lifeless corpse.

LEICESTER. 'Tis well; you may withdraw. Her majesty Has heard enough.

[The officer withdraws.

ELIZABETH.

Oh, what a deep abyss Of monstrous deeds?

LEICESTER. Who was it, then, my queen, Who saved you? Was it Burleigh? Did he know The dangers which surrounded you? Did he Avert them from your head? Your faithful Leicester Was your good angel.

BURLEIGH. This same Mortimer Died most conveniently for you, my lord.

ELIZABETH. What I should say I know not. I believe you, And I believe you not. I think you guilty, And yet I think you not. A curse on her Who caused me all this anguish.

LEICESTER. She must die; I now myself consent unto her death. I formerly advised you to suspend The sentence, till some arm should rise anew On her behalf; the case has happened now, And I demand her instant execution.

BURLEIGH. You give this counsel? You?

LEICESTER. Howe'er it wound My feelings to be forced to this extreme, Yet now I see most clearly, now I feel That the queen's welfare asks this bloody victim. 'Tis my proposal, therefore, that the writ Be drawn at once to fix the execution.

BURLEIGH (to the QUEEN). Since, then, his lordship shows such earnest zeal, Such loyalty, 'twere well were he appointed To see the execution of the sentence.

LEICESTER. Who? I?

BURLEIGH. Yes, you; you surely ne'er could find A better means to shake off the suspicion Which rests upon you still, than to command Her, whom 'tis said you love, to be beheaded.

ELIZABETH (looking steadfastly at LEICESTER). My lord advises well. So be it, then.

LEICESTER. It were but fit that my exalted rank Should free me from so mournful a commission, Which would indeed, in every sense, become A Burleigh better than the Earl of Leicester. The man who stands so near the royal person Should have no knowledge of such fatal scenes: But yet to prove my zeal, to satisfy My queen, I waive my charge's privilege, And take upon myself this hateful duty.

ELIZABETH. Lord Burleigh shall partake this duty with you.

[To BURLEIGH.

So be the warrant instantly prepared.

[BURLEIGH withdraws; a tumult heard without.

SCENE VII.

The QUEEN, the EARL OF KENT.

ELIZABETH. How now, my Lord of Kent? What uproar's this I hear without?

KENT. My queen, it is thy people, Who, round the palace ranged, impatiently Demand to see their sovereign.

ELIZABETH. What's their wish?

KENT. A panic terror has already spread Through London, that thy life has been attempted; That murderers commissioned from the pope Beset thee; that the Catholics have sworn To rescue from her prison Mary Stuart, And to proclaim her queen. Thy loyal people Believe it, and are mad; her head alone Can quiet them; this day must be her last.

ELIZABETH. How! Will they force me, then?

KENT. They are resolved----

SCENE VIII.

Enter BURLEIGH and DAVISON, with a paper.

ELIZABETH. Well, Davison?

DAVISON (approaches earnestly). Your orders are obeyed, My queen----

ELIZABETH. What orders, sir?

[As she is about to take the paper, she shudders, and starts back.

Oh, God!

BURLEIGH. Obey Thy people's voice; it is the voice of God.

ELIZABETH (irresolute, as if in contest with herself) Oh, my good lord, who will assure me now That what I hear is my whole people's voice, The voice of all the world! Ah! much I fear, That, if I now should listen to the wish Of the wild multitude, a different voice Might soon be heard;--and that the very men, Who now by force oblige me to this step, May, when 'tis taken, heavily condemn me!

SCENE IX.

Enter the EARL OF SHREWSBURY (who enters with great emotion).

SHREWSBURY. Hold fast, my queen, they wish to hurry thee;

[Seeing DAVISON with the paper.

Be firm--or is it then decided?--is it Indeed decided? I behold a paper Of ominous appearance in his hand; Let it not at this moment meet thy eyes, My queen!----

ELIZABETH. Good Shrewsbury! I am constrained----

SHREWSBURY. Who can constrain thee? Thou art Queen of England, Here must thy majesty assert its rights: Command those savage voices to be silent, Who take upon themselves to put constraint Upon thy royal will, to rule thy judgment. Fear only, blind conjecture, moves thy people; Thou art thyself beside thyself; thy wrath Is grievously provoked: thou art but mortal, And canst not thus ascend the judgment seat.

BURLEIGH. Judgment has long been past. It is not now The time to speak but execute the sentence.

KENT (who upon SHREWSBURY'S entry had retired, comes back). The tumult gains apace; there are no means To moderate the people.

ELIZABETH (to SHREWSBURY). See, my lord, How they press on.

SHREWSBURY. I only ask a respite; A single word traced by thy hand decides The peace, the happiness of all thy life! Thou hast for years considered, let not then A moment ruled by passion hurry thee-- But a short respite--recollect thyself! Wait for a moment of tranquillity.

BURLEIGH (violently). Wait for it--pause--delay--till flames of fire Consume the realm; until the fifth attempt Of murder be successful! God, indeed, Hath thrice delivered thee; thy late escape Was marvellous, and to expect again A miracle would be to tempt thy God!

SHREWSBURY. That God, whose potent hand hath thrice preserved thee, Who lent my aged feeble arm its strength To overcome the madman:--he deserves Thy confidence. I will not raise the voice Of justice now, for now is not the time; Thou canst not hear it in this storm of passion. Yet listen but to this! Thou tremblest now Before this living Mary--tremble rather Before the murdered, the beheaded Mary. She will arise, and quit her grave, will range A fiend of discord, an avenging ghost, Around thy realm, and turn thy people's hearts From their allegiance. For as yet the Britons Hate her, because they fear her; but most surely Will they avenge her when she is no more. They will no more behold the enemy Of their belief, they will but see in her The much-lamented issue of their kings A sacrifice to jealousy and hate. Then quickly shalt thou see the sudden change When thou hast done the bloody deed; then go Through London, seek thy people, which till now Around thee swarmed delighted; thou shalt see Another England, and another people; For then no more the godlike dignity Of justice, which subdued thy subjects' hearts, Will beam around thee. Fear, the dread ally Of tyranny, will shuddering march before thee, And make a wilderness in every street-- The last, extremest crime thou hast committed. What head is safe, if the anointed fall?

ELIZABETH. Ah! Shrewsbury, you saved my life, you turned The murderous steel aside; why let you not The dagger take its course? then all these broils Would have been ended; then, released from doubt, And free from blame, I should be now at rest In my still, peaceful grave. In very sooth I'm weary of my life, and of my crown. If Heaven decree that one of us two queens Must perish, to secure the other's life-- And sure it must be so--why should not I Be she who yields? My people must decide; I give them back the sovereignty they gave. God is my witness that I have not lived For my own sake, but for my people's welfare. If they expect from this false, fawning Stuart, The younger sovereign, more happy days, I will descend with pleasure from the throne, Again repair to Woodstock's quiet bowers, Where once I spent my unambitious youth; Where far removed from all the vanities Of earthly power, I found within myself True majesty. I am not made to rule-- A ruler should be made of sterner stuff: My heart is soft and tender. I have governed These many years this kingdom happily, But then I only needed to make happy: Now, comes my first important regal duty, And now I feel how weak a thing I am.