Mary Stuart | Page 2

judgment where she hath transgressed.
KENNEDY.?Her narrow bonds restrain her from transgression.
PAULET.?And yet she found the means to stretch her arm?Into the world, from out these narrow bonds,?And, with the torch of civil war, inflame?This realm against our queen (whom God preserve).?And arm assassin bands. Did she not rouse?From out these walls the malefactor Parry,?And Babington, to the detested crime?Of regicide? And did this iron grate?Prevent her from decoying to her toils?The virtuous heart of Norfolk? Saw we not?The first, best head in all this island fall?A sacrifice for her upon the block??[The noble house of Howard fell with him.]?And did this sad example terrify?These mad adventurers, whose rival zeal?Plunges for her into this deep abyss??The bloody scaffold bends beneath the weight?Of her new daily victims; and we ne'er?Shall see an end till she herself, of all?The guiltiest, be offered up upon it.?Oh! curses on the day when England took?This Helen to its hospitable arms.
KENNEDY.?Did England then receive her hospitably??Oh, hapless queen! who, since that fatal day?When first she set her foot within this realm,?And, as a suppliant--a fugitive--?Came to implore protection from her sister,?Has been condemned, despite the law of nations,?And royal privilege, to weep away?The fairest years of youth in prison walls.?And now, when she hath suffered everything?Which in imprisonment is hard and bitter,?Is like a felon summoned to the bar,?Foully accused, and though herself a queen,?Constrained to plead for honor and for life.
PAULET.?She came amongst us as a murderess,?Chased by her very subjects from a throne?Which she had oft by vilest deeds disgraced.?Sworn against England's welfare came she hither,?To call the times of bloody Mary back,?Betray our church to Romish tyranny,?And sell our dear-bought liberties to France.?Say, why disdained she to subscribe the treaty?Of Edinborough--to resign her claim?To England's crown--and with one single word,?Traced by her pen, throw wide her prison gates??No:--she had rather live in vile confinement,?And see herself ill-treated, than renounce?The empty honors of her barren title.?Why acts she thus? Because she trusts to wiles,?And treacherous arts of base conspiracy;?And, hourly plotting schemes of mischief, hopes?To conquer, from her prison, all this isle.
KENNEDY.?You mock us, sir, and edge your cruelty?With words of bitter scorn:--that she should form?Such projects; she, who's here immured alive,?To whom no sound of comfort, not a voice?Of friendship comes from her beloved home;?Who hath so long no human face beheld,?Save her stern gaoler's unrelenting brows;?Till now, of late, in your uncourteous cousin?She sees a second keeper, and beholds?Fresh bolts and bars against her multiplied.
PAULET.?No iron-grate is proof against her wiles.?How do I know these bars are not filed through??How that this floor, these walls, that seem so strong?Without, may not be hollow from within,?And let in felon treachery when I sleep??Accursed office, that's intrusted to me,?To guard this cunning mother of all ill!?Fear scares me from my sleep; and in the night?I, like a troubled spirit, roam and try?The strength of every bolt, and put to proof?Each guard's fidelity:--I see, with fear,?The dawning of each morn, which may confirm?My apprehensions:--yet, thank God, there's hope?That all my fears will soon be at an end;?For rather would I at the gates of hell?Stand sentinel, and guard the devilish host?Of damned souls, than this deceitful queen.
KENNEDY.?Here comes the queen.
PAULET.
Christ's image in her hand.?Pride, and all worldly lusts within her heart.
SCENE II.
The same. Enter MARY, veiled, a crucifix in her hand.
KENNEDY (hastening toward her).?O gracious queen! they tread us under foot;?No end of tyranny and base oppression;?Each coming day heaps fresh indignities,?New sufferings on thy royal head.
MARY.
Be calm--?Say, what has happened?
KENNEDY.
See! thy cabinet?Is forced--thy papers--and thy only treasure,?Which with such pains we had secured, the last?Poor remnant of thy bridal ornaments?From France, is in his hands--naught now remains?Of royal state--thou art indeed bereft!
MARY.?Compose yourself, my Hannah! and believe me,?'Tis not these baubles that can make a queen--?Basely indeed they may behave to us,?But they cannot debase us. I have learned?To use myself to many a change in England;?I can support this too. Sir, you have taken?By force what I this very day designed?To have delivered to you. There's a letter?Amongst these papers for my royal sister?Of England. Pledge me, sir, your word of honor,?To give it to her majesty's own hands,?And not to the deceitful care of Burleigh.
PAULET.?I shall consider what is best to do.
MARY.?Sir, you shall know its import. In this letter?I beg a favor, a great favor of her,--?That she herself will give me audience,--she?Whom I have never seen. I have been summoned?Before a court of men, whom I can ne'er?Acknowledge as my peers--of men to whom?My heart denies its confidence. The queen?Is of my family, my rank, my sex;?To her alone--a sister, queen, and woman--?Can I unfold my heart.
PAULET.
Too oft, my lady,?Have you intrusted both your fate and honor?To men less worthy your esteem than these.
MARY.?I, in the letter, beg another favor,?And surely