Mary Stuart: A Tragedy






SCENE XI.

      The Second Chamber in the Fourth Act.

   ELIZABETH (entering from a side door; her gait and action expressive
         of the most violent uneasiness).
   No message yet arrived! What! no one here!
   Will evening never come! Stands the sun still
   In its ethereal course? I can no more
   Remain upon the rack of expectation!
   Is it accomplished? Is it not? I shudder
   At both events, and do not dare to ask.
   My Lord of Leicester comes not,—Burleigh too,
   Whom I appointed to fulfil the sentence.
   If they have quitted London then 'tis done,
   The bolt has left its rest—it cuts the air—
   It strikes; has struck already: were my realm
   At stake I could not now arrest its course.
   Who's there?

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