Mary Stuart: A Tragedy

SCENE IX.

      HANNAH KENNEDY, and the other women of the QUEEN crowd
      into the room with marks of horror. The SHERIFF follows
      them, a white staff in his hand; behind are seen, through
      the open doors, men under arms.

   MARY.
   What ails thee, Hannah? Yes, my hour is come.
   The sheriff comes to lead me to my fate,
   And part we must. Farewell!

   KENNEDY and CURL.
                  We will not leave thee,
   We will not part from thee.

   MARY (to MELVIL).
                  You, worthy sir,
   And my dear, faithful Hannah, shall attend me
   In my last moments. I am sure, my lord
   Will not refuse my heart this consolation.

   BURLEIGH.
   For this I have no warrant.

   MARY.
                  How, my lord;
   Can you deny me, then, this small petition?
   Respect my sex; who shall attend me else,
   And yield me the last service? Sure, it never
   Can be my sister's pleasure that in me
   My sex should be insulted; that these men
   With their rude hands should touch my royal person.

   BURLEIGH.
   'Tis ordered that no woman shall ascend
   The scaffold steps with you. Their tears and moans——

   MARY.
   She shall not weep, my lord; she shall not moan;
   I answer for my Hannah's resolution;
   Be merciful; divide me not so soon
   From my true foster-mother, from my friend.
   She bore me on her arms into this life;
   Let her then gently lead me to my death.

   PAULET (to BURLEIGH).
   Yield to her wishes.

   BURLEIGH.
              Be it so.

   MARY.
                    I now
   Have nothing in this world to wish for more.

      [She takes the crucifix, and kisses it.

   My God! My Comforter! My blest Redeemer!
   As once thy arms were stretched upon the cross,
   Let them be now extended to receive me!

      [She turns round to go; at the same moment her
      eyes fall upon LEICESTER, who, on her going, starts
      involuntarily, and turns his eyes towards her; at
      this sight MARY trembles, her knees fail her, she is
      about to fall, when LEICESTER catches at her, and
      receives her in his arms; she regards him for some
      time earnestly, and in silence; he cannot support her
      looks; at length she speaks.

   You keep your word, my Lord of Leicester: for
   You promised me your arm to lead me forth
   From prison, and you lend it to me now.
   At length the wished-for day is come, and what
   Was oft the object of my fondest dreams
   Is now accomplished: and the Earl of Leicester,
   The long-expected, the long-wished-for friend,
   Appears at length in Fotheringay Castle.
   I see him standing in my prison; all
   Is ready for the journey; all the gates
   Stand open, and at length I cross the threshold,
   Conducted by his hand; and now I leave
   These dismal walls behind me, and forever.
   All is fulfilled, and you have saved your honor.

      [He stands as if annihilated; she continues,
      with a gentle voice.

   Yes, Leicester; not for liberty alone
   I wished to be indebted to your hands.
   You should have made me bless that liberty.
   Led by your hand, and happy in your love,
   I hoped once more to taste the joys of life.
   Yes; now that I'm prepared from all the world
   To part, and to become a happy spirit,
   Whom earthly inclinations tempt no more!
   Now, Leicester, I may venture to confess
   Without a blush the frailty I have conquered;
   Farewell, my lord; and, if you can, be happy!
   To woo two queens has been your daring aim;
   You have disdained a tender, loving heart,
   Betrayed it in the hope to win a proud one:
   Kneel at the feet of Queen Elizabeth!
   May your reward not prove your punishment.
   Farewell; I now have nothing more on earth.

      [She goes, preceded by the SHERIFF; at her side
      MELVIL and her nurse; BURLEIGH and PAULET follow;
      the others, wailing, follow her with their eyes
      till she disappears; they then retire through the
      other two doors.