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CECIL, folus.

Aye; and in fpite of thee, proud Scot! Let Scotland, France, and Spain blow up the ftorm, I'll weather it, if no finifter wind,

No inland guft, o'erfet me fuddenly:

Mary's fecure; and Norfolk's fhallow brains
Are wrapt in dreams of vanity and love;

His plots I find have yet no farther fcope.

[Exit Cecil.

SCENE III. Elizabeth entering her Chamber with the Lieutenant of the Tower,

Eliz. Lieutenant, now you have had your orders hafte!

Lieut. The Duke is ftill below-I'll guard him well. [Exit Lieut.

ELIZABETH, folus.

So! this defign is riper than I thought:

Leicester informs me that the contract's fign'd.
The tower is now the fittest refidence

For this intriguing Lord, who thinks to mix
The ftateman's and the lover's part unfeen.

Enter Cecil, throwing himself at Elizabeth's Feet.

Cecil. Most gracious Queen! thus at your royal

feet

I crave a boon. E'en as I enter'd now,

The Duke was feiz'd; oh, yet fufpend your wrath!

Eliz. Can Cecil plead for Norfolk? Rife! and fay, What means this double aspect? this quick change? This anguifh heat and cold? Your fteadymind, Which us'd to point the fafeft road, now veers, Turns, like the fhifting vane, at every blaft.

Cecil. When have these eyes e'er view'd your ene

mies

But with an even, ftedfaft look of hate?

Eliz. Why, Cecil! are not all the Catholics United in this caufe? th' ambaffadors

Of France and Spain haunt me from morn to night With their petitions for this captive Queen.

Cecil. Yet Norfolk's neither Catholic nor foe; Vouchfafe to hear him!

Eliz. Since you are prompt

In his defence ;-who waits?

Call in the Duke.

[Enter Attendant.] [Exit Attendant.]

Cecil, Had he designs against your government . I ne'er had fued for him; but he, poor dupe! Intent on his vain-glorious enterprife,

Aim'd at no farther harm: and to be plain,
He is fo popular, that 'tis not safe

To keep his perfon long in cuftody

But here he comes.

Enter Norfolk throwing himself at Elizabeth's Feet.

Nor. My Miftrefs! Oh, my Queen!

Here let me, proftrate on this ground, affert
My faith and loyalty!

Eliz. You may arife;

'Tis done already: honeft Cecil prov'd
Your plots were not defign'd against ourselves.
Nor. Tho' juftice is of right, yet he who feels
Not thankful for't, betrays a narrow mind,
Forgets the general pravity of man,
Nor prizes virtues for their rarity.

Eliz. Norfolk, attend! this caution now remains
What fall from high fhould deep impreffion make;
Beware how you take part in Mary's caufe!
Remember this forgiveness, and engage,
That henceforth you'll give over thefe attempts.
Nor. This act of justice claims my folemn vow.
Eliz. Cecil, attend us-

Cecil. Norfolk, this escape

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[Exit Eliz.

Should ferve to warn you from this idle chace;
Now feek fome other fair-take her to wife;

Fly not at game fo high; the faulcon's fafe
Who for the leffer quarry fcuds the plain,
But if he's ftruck, tow'ring to chase the hern,
He falls to rife no more-
[Exit Cecil,

NORFOLK, folus.

So! this wife man

Thus condefcends to wafte his thoughts on me!
Advice is easier given than pursued.-

It is no trifling task to quit at once

All that makes life engaging, all I love!—
What have I promis'd? Heavens, I dread to think!
Yet it must be! for when did Norfolk e'er
Infringe his word? Nay, to his Queen, his kind
Indulgent Miftrefs-What! for mercy fue,
And break the fair conditions of the grant?
The very thought's a crime-Nature may change,
All creatures may their elements forfake ;
The univerfal diffolve and burst its bonds s;
Time may engender contrarieties,

And bring forth miracles-but none like this,
That I fhould break my word-I'll to my love,
Lament our fate, and take my last farewel.

ACT III.

SCENE I. Before Tutbury Caftle.

I A

Enter the Earl of Shrewsbury and Beton.

BETON.

AM charg'd with royal thanks to Shrewsbury For his humanity and gentleness.

Shrewf. Alas, good Beton! 'tis a grievous task Thus to confine a Queen-Humanity,

Where 'tis fo due, claims lefs acknowledgement.
I am enjoyn'd to keep her close, because

The neighbourhood abounds with Catholics.
I was in fearch of Bagot, the High Sheriff,
With orders on that point-

Beton. I learn from him

That the Earl of Huntingdon will foon arive;
I fear his furly, proud, imperious mind
Will bring no comfort to my Miftrefs here.

Shrewf. You know he claims fucceffion to the
Crown

Before the Queen of Scots; this ftrange conceit
May fwell his native pride and violence
With envious malice-but I'll temper it
By all the indulgences and gentle means
Our rigid orders fuffer-Now farewel.

SCENE II. Tutbury Caftle, Mary's Cham ber---Mary and Lady Douglas difcovered:

Mary. No, nor another tear! our fate's decreed ; Our lot is caft; here in this fad abøde,

E en here we may enjoy a dread repose-
Better by far than the tumultuous throbbs
Of my poor aching heart, while yet it dreamt
Of liberty and vifionary crowns,

Whene'er I fumber'd, mock'd my troubled fight,
Here then, at last, in these dark, filent dens,
We shall be proof against anxiety,

and feverous expectations agonies.

L. Doug. My royal mistress, ftill there is hope, though this

May feem the manfion of defpair; fo cold,
So comfortless, and fit for scenes of woe;
Such deep, low, winding vaults; fuch towers aloft
Impending o'er their bafe, like broken cliffs
Whofe fhapeless, weather beaten fummits hang
In rude excrefcence, threat'ning inftant fall :
Perhaps in each of them fome wretch pent up,
Lives here, fufpended between heaven and earth-
Mary. I like thefe difmal cells; this awful gloom
Congenial to my foul-each yawning cave

Looks like the entrance to the fhades of death,
And promifes oblivion of this world.
Rude as this caftle is, here held his ftate

old John of Gaunt; hither flock'd all the pride
Of chivalry; around the lifts fat all

The beauties of the Court; each Knight in arms,
Intent to catch a glance from fome bright eye,
Exulting in her champion's victory:

Our eyes are now to other ufes doom'd;
To read and weep by turns-Alas, my dear!
Your pretty eyes are far too young and bright
To waste their luftre on thefe fights of woe.

L. Doug. Lofe not a fight on me! while I behold
My royal Miftrefs' face, my heart's at relt:
Not all the gayities and bravery

Which once you say these eyes were witnefs to,
Have charms for me; 'tis all I ask, to fit

Long, wintry, fleepless nights, and chear awhile
The heavy hours that hang around your head
Mary. Heavens! how have I deferv'd fuch kind-
nefs! No!

This must not be; you must depart, my girl;
Fly quickly, fhun this feat of wretchednefs;
For elfe, who knows but you may be involv'd
In that fad fate which hourly threatens me?
Oh! 'tis a a forry fight to fee thee fit
At meals with me, who never can enfure
One morfel at our fcanty board, from fear
Th' affaffins wary ftep, fix'd on bis point,
Yet trembling fill with horror and remorfe,
And faultering in the deed-Ah! who comes here,

Enter SHREWSBURY.

Shrews. Madam! it grieves me that my prefence

here

Shou'd give you fuch alarm; I hoped, that if
In any point I varied from my truft,

'Twas not in cruelty

Mary, Far otherwife; 'twas fomewhat elfe, indeed Perhaps an idle fear; at least while you

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