Hangs on her fate; what if her voice fhou'd pierce 1 Eliz. Ah, there is the word! that word recalls my mind, Chills all my blood, and drives its current back. Who fell for our true faith: 'Tis Heav'n's decree- [Exeunt. АСТ V, SCENE I. FOTHERINGAY CASTLE. Enter Lady Douglas and Beton. BETON, LADY DOUGLAS. ETON, alas! you prophecy too well; Each moment brings fome melancholy proof Of your forboding spirit. Beton. Cou'd I doubt The confequence of fuch facility? You know how oft and earnestly I urg'd The danger of fubmiffion; but to plead, A Queen, in her own perfon, thus to plead !— As by confeffion, had pronounc'd her doom. Of all the great nobility, fuch names, Beton. Oh! too oft Servile compliances are brought about By joining numbers and great names, where none, Would show his face, or lend his honest fame. L. Doug. 'Twas to defend her honour that the came In all the majefty of innocence; Defcending from a throne, the offer'd up To her fair fame; impell'd by confcious pride, Of perjur'd treachery.-Oh! 'twas a fight Beton. Oh, furely not; 'Tis but an artifice to juftify Paft cruelties; and, what I fear the most, Perhaps ftill clofer cuftody. L. Doug, Alas! They dare not fure proceed to take her life? Beton. Oh, no! 'twou'd roufe all Europe; fhake all thrones; Loofen the deepest-rooted monarchies : They dare not think of it-you fee they're gone For farther counfel to the Star Chamber. L. Doug. 'Tis time t' attend the Queen, Heav'n' guard her ftill! [Exit. SCENE II. Mary's Chamber, Fotheringay Cafle. Enter Lady Douglas to the Queen. Mary. Douglas! come hither Douglas! fit by n And, as you fometimes hint, I plainly find L Doug. Oh, my royal Mistress! How cou'd you condefcend to plead to them? Suffer'd my ears to catch the fpecious found L. Doug. Fraud! aye, and open force; did they not feize Your papers, burst your cabinet, and rob, The remnant of your treasure, which you fav'd Mary. But that, you know, of late Has been prohibited; becaufe 'twas found L. Doug. Infernal, unexampled-infamy! Mary. Douglas ! Forfaken as I am, I cou'd not think I never much efteem'd the man; but yet • His end was wretched and unnatural.' Enter BETON. Beton. Pardon the meffenger of dismal news! The heaviest tidings Mary. I've been long prepar'd. Beton. Your own misfortunes you have ever born With fortitude, but other's fufferings Mary. What others? fpeak! alas, I guess- Mary. The Duke? Beton. His troubles are no more; He refts in peace, beyond the tyrant's sway, Since it has pleas'd you thus to visit him Why lingers yet my breath?-Out, out for fhame i SCENE III The Hall. Enter Beton, meeting Sir Amias Paulet. Beton. [Afide.] Paulet arrived!-What is your pleasure here ? Paul. I am about to feek your Mistress, Sir.- Paulet. Aye, very nearly too. Beton. From Westminster? Paul. From the ftar Chamber, Sir; No less than that her Secrataries both Have now confefs'd the plot, and sworn to it. Beton. Oh, perjur'd' venal flaves! They never Confront her with thefe murderous lies-the fight. Of injur'd innocence had choak'd their speech. Paul, Say rather their repentence has produc'd Beton. Who, but a judge determined to convið, above law? Paul. Is fhe, who claims protection, Mere fubterfuges, worthy of your Queen; Was an atchievement fuiting her great power, Paul. Is this the language, Sir, of Mary Stuart, - |