Late Queen of Scotland? fhe fhall answer for it; I must proceed to her. Beton. Mean fervile wretch ! Paulet! if you're a man, fome future day SCENE IV. The Queen's Chamber. Queen Mary, Lady Douglas, Two Maids, and Sir Amias Paulet. Mary. Are these your orders, Sir, before my face To take my canopy? Paul. No doubt they are. Mary. And you're inftructed thus t' infult a Queen. Paul. I am inftructed to confider you As one attempting to destroy a Queen. Mary. 'Tis falfe, by all that's facred! Heav'n well knows I wou'd not touch the meanest life on earth, Mary. Thinks fhe that fuch indignities degrade [Exit Sir A. Paulet. L. Doug. Oh, my dear Mistress! heed not fuck base men, Theyare beneath your care. Mary. They harass me; My fpirits are worn out; I'll lay me down; [Mary reclines on her Sopha, Methinks foft mufic wou'd compofe my nerves; I once had mufic at command,'---but, oh ! G The lute's unftrung that fmooth'd the brow of care; voice. [Here Queen Mary's Lamentations should be fung by Lady Douglas or one of the Maids. Mary. These plaintive strains bring quiet to mind, Balm to my troubled foul; they footh my woes, • Recall old times, and tell me what I was. Douglas! while yet I was in infancy, The cruel father of this cruel Queen Afk'd me in marriage, from my native land, Wag'd war with Scotland: afterwards, you know, • İ Çay'd in France till, by the jealoufy • And cruel arts of Catherine, I was driven I left the gay and sprightly Court of France? L. Doug. Aye, as 'twere yefterday I fee you ftill,' Fix'd like a ftatute at the vessel's stern, With eyes intent upon the Galic fhore, Mary. Oh, what a change for a young Queen of From all the pleasures of that fplendid court, Murray's ambition; Morton's treachery; L. Doug. The time shall come when the impartial world Shall nobly vindicate your injur'd fame. Mary. Long fince, dear Douglas, I've refign'd this world, With all its vanities, and fix'd my heart Enter DAVISON. L. Doug. Who art thou? Dav. One whofe approach forebodes a blacker form Than e'er ftruck terror in the human breast, Mary, Know you this man? L. Doug. No; but I fear he brings Fresh infults and new rigours. Mary. Whence come you? Dav. From the Queen's felf; who moft reluctantly, Nor without many bitter fighs and tears L. Doug. Tears of a crocodile. Dav. I fay with tears The Queen difpatch'd me, to announce the fate, Mary. Ha! [Delivering a Warrant. [reading the Warrant. Enter BETONA Drum is heard beating a flow March. Beton. Oh, mercy! Heavens! alas, my Queen! I fear Some dreadful fate; the Earls of Shrewsbury And Huntingdon, attended by the guards, Are at the castle gate. L. Doug. Ah, here they come ! Th' array of death! Ah! is it come to this? Enter Shrewsbury and Huntingdon, with Guards, Executioner, &c. Shrews. The painful office which I now perform→→→ Mary. I know your bufinefs. Shrews. Ah! know you, alas ! With what dispatch we're order'd to proceed? L. Doug. Oh, murder! murder! cruel murderers ftay! Mary. Patience, my child! I did not think, I own, My fifter Queen wou'd have proceeded thus; But if my body cannot fuftain one blow, My foul deferves not thofe eternal joys In Heav'n my holy faith has promis'd me. Hunt. 'Tis your accurfed faith that feals your doom; While you're on earth, there is no furety Mary. What do I hear! good Heav'n! Angels defcending from their bleft abodes, Cou'd not have hail'd me with more welcome founds. Then it hath pleas'd the gracious Heav'ns at laft To hear my prayers, and recompenfe my woes.' Now, in one bleffed moment, all my pain, All my long fufferings are exchang'd for blifs. Thefe ears have heard me thus proclaim'd a faint; And Mary's, aye, poor Mary's weeping eyes Have liv'd to fee her crown of Martyrdom.— I'll make short preparation; and mean while, Let all my fervants be in readiness; And bid my confeffor to follow me, L. Doug. We will obey [Exit Lady Douglas, with the Maids. Hunt. This may not be allow'd; We came not here to see our holy faith Mock'd by the tricks and fuperilitious forms Of Papal ceremony-Your confeffor Mary. Sir, I was born to reign; I am your Mistress' kinfwoman; like her, Of France, and Scotland's lawful Queen; as fuch, [Exit Mary to her Oratory. Peton. Inhuman tyranny, That wou'd extend its barbarous cruelties Beyond the grave! Shrews. We may not violate Our strict commands Beton. Heav'n will remember them: Hunt, Nay, urge not that; for, lo! A pious prelate now attends without To offer his affiftance-I'll propose [Huntingdon offers to go towards the Oratory. Beton. If you're not loft to all humanity, Disturb not her laft meditations thus. [Stopping Huntingdon. Enter Lady Douglas with four Maids, a Phyfician, and an Almoner-Beton places himself with them. Hunt. Why are you all affembled here!- The fad remains of her poor family. Hunt. You are, at belt, but useless, idle fhew; Perhaps employ'd for fuperftitious ute; Retire! L. Doug. You cannot mean to hinder us From this laft, wretched office? Hunt. Nav, begone! Beton. Infernal favage!- |