Shrews. If I remain

Mary. Why there's no doubt, I hope?—
Shrews.
None: but report

Now adds the name of Huntington

Why is that monster fent? Are there no racks
Or torturing engines made to plague mankind?
No! I defy all art to find a tool

So fit for her ingenuous cruelty;

The sharpest inftruments which tyrants ufe
Can ne'er impart fuch pain, as the blunt edge
Of that unpolish'd fool's impertinence.

Shrews. I fhall not fail to enforce all due respect.
Mary. 'Tis vain to preach civility to brutes.
Thefe tidings quite opprefs my finking foul.
Now, I've no comfort left; my Douglas! now
You and I shall no longer fit all day,

Confoling one another's miferies,

Telling old ftories to beguile the time,

Of things that pafs'd, when I was queen, and you
The brightest jewel in my Court.

L. Doug. Indeed

We have a kind of melancholy joy

Indulging in our grief.

Shrews. For that, Alas!

Mary. How fo?

Shrews. This hour I learn

A ftrange account of fome conspiracy
Detected at Whitehall; wherein your name

Was join'd with Norfolk's, who, with other Lords,
Stands now committed to the Tower.

Mary. Ha, me !

Merciful Heav'n! What fay'ft thou, Shrewsbury?

Is Norfolk in the Tower on my account?

Recal those words! Oh, they fhot thro' my brain Like light'ning! Say you do not believe them, man! Speak, prythee! Oh, you hefitate! I'm loft!

He's gone! I fee the cruel lioness

Has feiz'd the noble hart; he bleeds beneath
Her horrid fangs.

[Leaning on Lady Douglas.

L. Doug. Alas! her memory fails;
Excufe this tranfient weakness, Sir, in one
So cruelly opprefs'd, and made the sport
Of crofs and wayward fortune,
Shrew. Why this hafte ?

Enter NAWE haftily.

Nawe. This moment brings a meffenger who tells That Norfolk, Pembroke, Lumely, Arundel, Each to his feveral dungeon was confined For Norfolk's treason; that on farther proof, The Duke was clear'd: who now restored to grace, Lives in full fplendour, fame, and liberty. Shrew. Look to the Queen! She faints.

[Here Mary having changed from horror to joy, faints and falls into Lady Douglas' arms.

L. Doug. Help! help!

Shrew. Who waits ?

Enter MARY's attendants.

Convey her foftly: Thus, alas! fhe's dead

[They carry her to a couch.

L. Doug. My miftrefs! Oh my mistress! Oh my

Queen!

She breathes! fhe breathes! yet there is life, oh, Heavn's!

Shrew. Patience a while!

L. Doug. Be filent all I pray !

Her troubled fpirit must not be disturb'd?

These fhocks have ftop'd the current of her blood? And nature seeks a momentary pause :

Exceffive joy fucceeding grief fo quick

Now o'erwhelms her mind: but balmy fleep,

With tears that make the drowning tide to ebb,
Will eafe the load that weighs upon her heart,
Shrew. Give her repofe a while, and watch her
well.

[Exeunt, leaving Mary afleep furrounded b
Lady Douglas and her m

D

SCENE III. Before Tutbury Caftle.

Enter BETON and NAWE.

Nawe. I trust the Queen will foon regain her ftrength.

Beton. No doubt if this were all; but ftill I fear Father viciffitudes-The crazy times

Are big with strange events; each teeming hour
Is fruitful of new mifchief-Who goes there?

Enter NORFOLK, in disguise.

Nor. One born to freedom, and not bound to tell Whether he comes or goes

Nawe. What wou'd you here?

Beton. Let's take him to the Governor

Nor. Villains,

Stand off

Beton No Villains ferve the Queen of Scots; Learn that bafe ruffian

[They draw their fwords and feize Norfolk.

Nor. Hold, are you the Queen's?

Serve you Queen Mary? then a word with your
Know you this fignet?

Nawe. Ha! the token fure!

Beton. The very token? 'tis the Duke?

Nor. My friends!

Beton. No more; this is a dangerous place; re

tire

Below the drawbridge, to that fally port,

Half choak'd with ruins; there wait patiently,
Till we can execute the Queen's commands,

[Exeunt.

SCENE IV. Mary difcovered on her Couch furrounded by Lady Douglas and her Maids.

Mary. Am I awake! Methinks the clouds difperfe A watry gleam of light breaks thro' the mift; "The tepid funbeams play, and gin to shed "Their all enlight'ning vivifying rays,"

To chear the world, and diffipate its gloom; All nature seems restored-" My gentle maids, "Have you been with me whilft I flept? No doubt; “For I have dreamt I was in Heav'n; and you "Were furely the fair angels that I faw "Surrounding me in blifs"-Douglas! I think The laft word that I heard was liberty: Norfolk is fet at liberty:

L. Doug. No doubt;

That was the purport of our joyful news.

Mary. Then I'm alive again, my hopes and all; Once more I'll dream of comfort, and indulge Each fond delufion;-I fhall fee my love; He'll foon be here ;-Norfolk won't tarry long.

SHREWSBURY and HUNTINGDON entering.

Shrews. Gently, my Lord! perhaps the Queen's at reft.

Hunt. We muft ufe all difpatch.

Shrews. Awhile! my Lord!

Madam! the Earl of Huntingdon, who is joined
In truft with me.

[Prefenting Lord Huntingdon to the Queen.
Mary. [afide.] Alas! are these my dreams
Of joy and comfort? my Lords, I still rely
On your humanity and gentleness.

Hunt. Our first instruction is to hold her safe.

[Turning to Shrewsbury. Shrews. Aye, but in that beware how we tranf grefs

The bounds of Mercy; mercy is the due

Of all who breathe on England's foil; it grows
From the fame root, and is entwined around
The fceptre of our Queen; we are to her
Subjects and Servants,

Mary, I am neither, Lords!

I am, like her, a Queen: nor will confent
To take as mercy, what I claim as right,
Juftice and liberty.

Hunt. This is no time

For fuch high strains; learn your condition here,
Mary. Is this a language fuited to your birth?
Hunt. High birth is ne'er difgrac'd by truth, I
hope;

And for my tongue, 'twere better fail in that,
Than use my hands to perpetrate fuch deeds
As Queen's have fometimes done.

Shrews. Oh fhame; fuch words,

If they are true

Hunt. Talk not of words! I come
To execute my orders-Firft, 'tis said,
This castle, till of late, was us'd to hold

The county prifoners.

L. Doug. How wou'd you place a Queen

A lady form'd in nature's fairest mould,

Rear'd like the tendereft plant, fhaped by each grace,

Each exquifite laft touch of polifh'd art, Among a tribe of felons?

Shrews. What! immur'd

With all the refufe of the human race,

The outcafts of the earth?

Hunt. My Lord! I know

My duty; fure you have forgot the charge.
Who are all these that make the prifon fhew
More like a royal court?

[Painting at Mary's attendants. Mary. Mean, abject flave!

Hunt. I here difmifs one half of this fame train: Begone! [To the attendants.] Mary. No top! inhuman wretch, forbear! On me direct your vengeance-let not thefe Poor helpless maids be driven from their home,